MY FIRST PUBLIC MUSICAL GIG:||(The Risk of limited chords)||Embarrassment Pro max

MY FIRST PUBLIC MUSICAL GIG:||(The danger of limited chords)||Embarrassment Pro max

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Hello awesome people and music lovers! I hope you are doing great?
It's been a while since I made an entry in our 'Inspired' community because I lacked inspiration (haha).

Fortunately, today I am feeling inspired! I stumbled upon a video of my first ever public performance in the presence of about Fifty (50) persons, Hence I have decided to share with you an experience that I hardly share publicly because I always believed it to be one of the most embarrassing experiences or moments of my life.

Before I get to the details, let me give you a brief background to my musical level at that time.

About seven (7) to eight (8) years ago, I started learning the guitar, after several trials and failures in learning the Piano. I discovered later that my teacher then was not a proffesional guitarist, he only knew few chords and scales which to a begginer as myself appeared as everything.

I started off with notes and scales and solfa notations of popular songs at that time. Soon I started learning the few chords he had to teach me then namely :The G, C, A, D, Am, Em. I practiced almost every hour because I really wanted to learn quickly and it gave me a sore wrist.

I must confess, I almost gave up due to the pains. I am sure guitarists would perfectly understand that pain and discomfort that comes from the early stages of gripping certain chords on the guitar fret board. Nevertheless, I endured and continued. I was quite the fast learner. I immediately mastered them and soon I started playing some of my favourite songs! What a breakthrough for me!
Shortly, my guitar teacher travelled for a long time and my lessons were truncated, I had to continue practicing the little I have learnt which seemed to me as a lot as at then.
It's important to note that then, I did not know it was possible to learn from YouTube.

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THE TRIPPING STARTED 😎

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After about four months I started showing of to my friends and families with songs I have practiced and mastered, most of them were songs known by many. Well, in my Area I was gradually becoming a sort of a Celebrity because none of them played any musical instrument. Some of my friends who were amazed by my little guitar dexterity expressed their Intrest to learn from me to which I agreed!
Soon word got out about the newest guitarist in town 😁 sorry I meant to say neighbourhood.

Six months later, it was Christmas period and a naive friend of mine who thought I was already perfect at playing the guitar came to me, and told me of the possibility of making a little money on the side with my 'talent' by presenting a song with my guitar at their school night party. I agreed immediately without really thinking about it! To me it was both an excitement to finally test my self before an audience and still make money while at it, what a great opportunity!

I started going over the songs I had learnt to know which one to present. Finally I chose to present a song by a spot light gospel artist by the named Frank Edwards. The song was recently released and was making rounds at that time.

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ON THAT FATEFUL DAY 😢😒😂

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As I arrived at the venue, I set up my guitar to the amplifier. After the third presentation (a drama) I was called up on to the scene in a little garden where the part was taking place, I came up with all enthusiasm and boom, I froze for a moment, looking at all those eyes casted upon me, I even forgot to introduce my self. I planned to sing only one song as mentioned above, titled 'omemma' by Frank Edwards but funny enough I started with another song "hallelujah" by Alexander Burke. I'm sure the stage freight and tension made me forget the song I planned on singing.

Although I knew I already messed up, I maintained my cool and everything seemed to be going fine because the audience was responsive and they knew the song, so they sang along.
After that, I went on to sing my preferred song but because of the whole tension I was experiencing, I started with a different key which was very high for my voice.
To cut things short, I almost chocked up 😂 some of them laughed and I also laughed with them because it was actually a very funny scenario. Amidst all these crisis and confusion I was experiencing, I persevered till the end of the song.

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Moral Lesson

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At that time, I did regret going to that performance but after more reflection afterwards, I felt thankful for that experience because it pushed me to learn how not to get flustered in front of an audience. I also practiced more and got better and more confident.

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Eight years later

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Now I can play very many chords and keys on the guitar and I can easily switch from one chord to another. I now play with some prominent bands in different cities.
All thanks to that embarrassing moment I had eight years ago because I feel it urged my onto perfecting my guitar skills.

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Below is my recent cover of that same song "omemma" by Frank Edwards that I chose to sing at my first public performance, this time in a more comfortable key😉😂

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Thanks for your attention 💖💖

What was your first public musical experience??

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