how playing guitar became my passion

Part 2

Anyways days passed as we kept our practice and fortunately I made a new guitarist friend who was also a like minded person like me and a little bit ahead in terms of guitar. He was supposed to be my new fellow guitarist. Later on, the practice place was decided to be my friend’s house, which was quite comfortable; and later even at my house. Practicing at my own house was the best and therein lie the reason for our final victory!

It was my dad. It was his training and tips that led the newbies like us to win.

Then came the Judgment day. We were sitting the air conditioned auditorium and yet sweating; waiting for our turn. There were participants from various colleges. One more thing worth mentioning was that we were an entry called “OTSE” (on the spot entry). This meant that had it been not our luck and there were already enough participants, we would have been denied entry into the competition. Anyways lady luck smiled after a lot of haggling with the organizers and we got entry.

Coming back to the scene; there were some really good people on keyboards, guitars, etc. accompanying other singers. Frankly speaking our greatest competition was from our own college participant who had come through eliminations and were having almost pro accompanists. Now you know, the sweat on my body had many reasons.

Finally our turn came. We performed. After the performance, we shook hands. Went down the stage and waited for the event to get over. They announced the third runner up, second runner up and I was in my own world. Not aware of anything happening around me; still thinking of how we performed and how the crowd appreciated up. Believe me, the crowd’s response had almost satisfied me for the level of guitar I played.

By the time I was thinking all this, judge announced the first prize goes to….there were shouts of OTSE 1. I didn’t knew who it was. And then the judge continued….yes it is OTSE 1. I was still unaffected until I saw my singer showing vigorous signs of victory. We had won the first prize! I couldn’t believe it! Once again we went up the stage shook hands amidst a loud applause while the judge acclaimed that it was the good singing as well as the good co ordination amongst the singers(male & female), singers and guitarists that made way for the fist prize.

Hats off to my dad for this victory! …and yes some credit to ourselves too…

Later on, I gave around 5 more performances in the college and now being in final year, doubt if I will ever again get a chance to give one more. But I know, I will do it sometime, something BIG!

How playing guitar became my passion

Part 1


Today I start with my own story. I am in my final year of graduation. I am a budding guitarist and have given performances in the college. I still remember the first performance I gave.

I wasn’t actually a performance. It was a duet singing inter college competition as a part of our college fest “SIESONS”. It was just months before that I had started practicing guitar seriously. It wasn’t exactly a craze kinda thing coz I just felt it’s the time to learn it. (BTW, impressing girls was never my motive) My dad has been a professional guitarist and so many times it was a shame for me not being able to hold a chord properly.

Anyways during my first days of learning when I decided to perform; rather compete, my journey was tough. I had to take the guitar to the college whereas this is still the most uncomfortable thing to do for me. I just feel awkward. Not because I cant play or something, but because now a days it has been linked to being a style accessory. Not sure if that is the fact, but I feel so!

I was supposed to pair with a (at that time) better guitarist who had attitude. A newbie (or noob!...whatever u call it) entering a circle of experienced guitarists with his own guitar is the worst thing that can happen to him. You barely get the play your own guitar! And when you make a serious effort to play, you get 100 recommendations and suggestions as if you are doing a crime and the judge in the court is accusing you! Over and above everything, I am an egoistic person. So I almost had a fight with one of them.

Anyways, the points on which I was criticized, I practiced hard. Hard, really till my fingers pained and the next day I had overcome that. I don’t like to boast, but sometimes it is necessary :P . The moment my ego is hurt, I work wonders! And that’s how I had learnt skating (but that’s a different story) too.

Cleaning your keyboard

Some days back i finally decided to clean my keyboard(years after it had been eating dust beneath its keys). Indeed it was a very tough decision for a person like me :D.

So the cleaning had to be thorough...inside out.
Started by disconnecting it from the PC. Brought it to the my hall, which happens to have a lot of workplace. Decided the floor as my worktable.

Turned the keyboard upside down. Next was removing the screws carefully. Mine is an intex multimedia keyoard. Anyways all screws out, it opened up. Practically speaking, the keyboard is a simple device without much of "electronic" parts inside it. You can see in the above images the what all components is a keyboard made of.
All the parts are sandwitched together. And the most important thing to remember is that the position of the white rubber pieces that lay below each of the keys is important. There should be one below each key that touches the key's function on the white sheet(which is the chip or whatever!).

All right, the keyboard is open now. Now how to clean? Ok, just give it a wash. Yeah wash it with running water. Wash everything part thoroughly, except the white sheet and the small green chip shown in the second picture. When done, keep it for drying or for quicker drying blow it or something. You can also use cloth for cleaning. After everything is dry, now its the time to fix it up.

Now this is the only part that requires patience and a bit of judgment.
Start by turning the front panel(picture 3) upside down. Keep it on your lap or something where it wouldn't shake and the positioning should be such that the board is lifted a little bit from the surface. Do this by keeping pens or something on the edges. The motive behind this is to let the keys come in the normal positoin; so that the rubber dots can be placed properly on them. Some keys have provision for more than one rubber dot(bigger keys like spacebar, enter). Make note of them, in case there is a shortage of white dots, u can use only one dot for the key.

Place all the dots patiently on the keys. After that is done, keep the white sheet on the layout so far you have completed. Before this, make sure the small green chip holding you Num lock, Caps lock & Scroll lock keys is in its original place and that that the white sheet is touching it it in the proper place(B'coz that's the place where the data transfer takes place). So this thing is quitre important to be properly fixed.

Now that everything is done, keep the base part(picture 2), without moving the white sheet or the white dots below touching it. Screw everything up and test the keyboard. If everything is fine, the keyboard should be working all right otherwise bad luck you'll have to open it up all again and check if the dots placement is proper and touching the white sheet properly. Best of luck! :D

PS:- Pls excuse my crude lang regarding the white dots, white sheet, etc. It shall be updated if I come across the correct terms.