~Sittin' In~ A True Story, Short and Sweet...

"Guitar is for the head, drums are for the chest, but bass gets you in the groin."
- Suzi Quatro -

I was browsing my friend Troy's blog today.

That would be @enjoywithtroy. Troy is a musician - a pianist. He often shares with fellow Steemians music that he enjoys, and I often find that I enjoy the music he's shared.

I was listening to and enjoying The Oscar Peterson Trio performing "A Hymn For Freedom," and the string bass in their group reminded me of a short story I want to tell you.

A Bluegrass Band with a String Bass, Jamming at A.G.S.E.M. - YouTube
Note: Play this for atmosphere as you read my true story...

When it comes to music,

I'm no professional, but I love it. Jesus/God has given me a good ear for music, and I've never met a musical instrument that I didn't like.

A few years ago, I took my family on a visit to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California. The museum is a marvelous place for a visit at any time, but I didn't realize until we were there that it was almost time for their annual bluegrass music festival.

Playing a string bass...
Image courtesy of Cole Hutson and http://unsplash.com

As we strolled the grounds,

we came across a group of musicians sitting in a circle on a grassy patch of ground. I paused to listen for a minute or two. There were several guitar and banjo players, and it was quite obvious to me that they were having a really good time.

I was getting into the music as well, thoroughly enjoying it, when I noticed a big ol' string bass just lying there on the grass. They must have seen me lovingly eying the bass, because at the end of the song they were playing, one of them motioned me over with his arm. "Come on, sit in with us."

Well, I've never played a string bass before, but why let a little thing like that stop me?

I strolled over, picked up that bass, and in no time I was plunkin' away on it, accompanying the band.

It was a heavenly moment...

You know, one of those sudden, unexpected, joyful experiences that you're totally unprepared for, but that swallows you whole.

Confession: I do play the guitar, and I have a reasonable grasp of string theory, but I had not ever played a non-fretted full-sized string bass before. However, with the good ear God gave me, I didn't have any trouble at all figuring out the key they were in, and picking out a rudimentary bass accompaniment.

To my frustration,

at one point I looked over and could see that the rest of the family was becoming a little restive. When we finished that song, I reluctantly lay the bass gently back down on the grass, thanked the group very kindly for the joy just shared, and rejoined my family.

My friend, when the chance comes along,

don't walk away. Pick up that bass and start a pluckin'.

I was sure glad that I did.

_FIN

P.S. If you have an "in" with anybody at Steemit, Inc. - Would you please ask them to get rid of these damn, extremely annoying "off-website" arrow/boxes? The have, overnight, made Steemit ugly. There are much better solutions.

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I have very eclectic interests and hope, over time, to write about them all.