Couldn’t play one properly if my life depended on it. \u00a0But, I love the sound of a well played guitar. \u00a0Plugged or unplugged–don’t care.<\/p>\n
My mother tried to teach me music. \u00a0“If you learn to play the piano, then you can learn to play any instrument.” \u00a0Much like the classic Merle Haggard song “Mama Tried”. \u00a0She dang sure did. \u00a0Tried she did, on numerous levels. \u00a0Music, religion, etc. \u00a0I had the chance to learn how to be the Pope that could play some serious tunes. \u00a0But, no. \u00a0I turned into a livestock junkie that has read a complete World Book encyclopedia set and a butt-load of Purple Circle, Showbox and Ag Youth magazines. \u00a0I took a serious hard turn in the wrong direction somewhere along the way. \u00a0My fault.<\/p>\n
For me, actually playing music came to an end when I learned how to play “Mary had a little lamb” on the recorder. \u00a0I can still play it on that molded plastic POS.<\/p>\n
No matter my failings, I have always felt and heard the sound of a bad ass guitar. \u00a0Like everything else, some are just better than others. \u00a0Solos, riffs or just music to my ears, there are some songs that have always just sounded wicked awesome. \u00a0I can remember what songs where playing when certain stock was in the show ring.<\/p>\n
I’m not ranking all of these. \u00a0I would be here all night. \u00a0Stevie Ray Vaughn laid down some legendary licks. \u00a0ZZ Top is a band that I should have seen live. \u00a0Their intro at the start of La Grange is hard to get out of your head. \u00a0Nugent on Stranglehold. \u00a0Skynyrd with Freebird. \u00a0Clapton–pick one, three or how many of songs.<\/p>\n
Metallica–Kirk Hammet. \u00a0The intro to Enter Sandman. \u00a0The guitar solo on “One” dang near gave me carpel tunnel while trying to play it on guitar hero.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Paige. \u00a0 You can’t have a guitar conversation without him or Zepellin being near the top. \u00a0Oh, and Hendrix. \u00a0Pick several. (Won’t argue with the best ever.)<\/p>\n
Now, the discussion gets serious.<\/p>\n
Eruption–Eddie Van Halen with Van Halen<\/p>\n
Iron Man–Randy Rhoads with Ozzy Osbourne<\/p>\n
November Rain–Slash with Guns N Roses<\/p>\n
And then it sorts again.<\/p>\n
Like any stock show with a top heavy class, there are at least two heavy hitters and then one that has everybody ringside asking “Who the heck is that?”<\/p>\n
Crazy Train–Randy Rhoads with Ozzy Osbourne<\/p>\n
You literally feel like you are riding a crazy train while listening to it. \u00a0Start to finish of this song, that \u00a0 \u00a0 guitar is killing it. \u00a0Ozzy was the name on the record but that guitar made it happen. \u00a0This song sounds better the louder it gets.<\/p>\n
A couple of years ago, I was getting a haircut by a great American. \u00a0Darrel “the barber” Gosney was trying to make this coif on my head look presentable. \u00a0As usual, there was a crowd waiting. \u00a0His phone went to ringing. \u00a0In the old “Name that Tune” tradition, I could name that song in one note. \u00a0But, he kept cutting hair. \u00a0The song kept going. \u00a0I finally elbowed him and said, ” I like that ring tone.” \u00a0 Hunh?!?!? \u00a0OH! \u00a0He then answered it. \u00a0Then hung up.<\/p>\n
I said, “I did not expect you to be a fan of Ozzy Osbourne.”<\/p>\n
He replied, ” I don’t know who that is. \u00a0But I like that ringtone because most of the time, I can hear it. \u00a0Loud guitar.” \u00a0I told him to crank it up.<\/p>\n
It is hard to measure the intrinsic values of many things in this world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cliffs of Dover–Eric Johnson<\/p>\n
If you worked anywhere near the Oklahoma State University meat lab during the fall of ’90 through 1992 then you caught a steady dose of Eric Johnson’s instrumental album “Ah Via Musicom”. \u00a0We liked the KATT radio and they liked Eric Johnson. \u00a0No big name group. \u00a0No big time videos. \u00a0That dude could wail. \u00a0And it has held up to the test of time. \u00a0Bad ass guitar playing. \u00a0NO vocals. \u00a0How good was\/is Eric Johnson? \u00a0He was included in the 2007 Guitar Heroes video game. \u00a0If you don’t know, get on google and listen to it. \u00a0You could have had me playing drums, Tyke on bass and those songs would still be killer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sweet Child o’ Mine–Slash with Guns N Roses<\/p>\n
Maybe it is an age deal. \u00a0I don’t think so. \u00a0I remember the first time that I heard this song. \u00a0The opening guitar licks sounded like a siren calling to me, calling me to listen closer. \u00a0Then, I thought the lead singer was in a bit of pain. \u00a0Then\u2026.then\u2026… the talking guitar solo. \u00a0I’m still hooked. \u00a0Decades later, I still get amped when this song hits and then I have to turn up the volume for the guitar solo. \u00a0Sure, November Rain was epic but you don’t get there without the guitar on Sweet Child o’ Mine. \u00a0And the video didn’t help Sweet Child o’ mine. \u00a0On the other hand, November Rain had maybe the best video. \u00a0Maybe. \u00a0That is for another waste of time. \u00a0Me–typing. \u00a0You–reading.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I don’t really care if you agree or not. \u00a0However, if you get me to trim hooves, clip a doe, shear wethers or photo \u00a0a buck, odds are that I’m listening to some wicked tunes. \u00a0For that matter, welding & farming also require some tunes. \u00a0Not all with a big guitar.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now, back to that image of me playing guitar while wearing the mitre (big Pope hat). \u00a0Scary? \u00a0It could have happened.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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