MIles Files: Strumming my new guitar MIles Files: Strumming my new guitar (December 17, 2003)

By Miles McMullin
7th Grader at St. Joseph's School

I am no Led Zeppelin yet, but I just got my first guitar as an early Christmas present. It is very cool and I am already learning the chords and writing songs. This guitar is the greatest gift in the world.

Not to sound crazy, but I am more than a guitarist who plays chords and reads music; I think of myself as a "soul guitarist" who plays what he feels. I have made up a few "songs" (sure, why not) and later on in this article maybe you will get to read the lyrics.

My first song is under the name of "All Night Long." Don't let the name fool you. This is not a 1960s "free love" song. So, with my acoustic guitar I play during all the extra time I have and I "go throughout the world" singing my songs.

Boy! Do I sound weird! I have learned how to play a few famous songs such as "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple and some songs by Green Day. Although, if you heard me play them, you would not know what in the world I was playing.

One of the problems I have with my new guitar is that I cannot get it away from my dad, who is obsessed with it. Now, this would not be so bad except all he plays are songs by the Kinks. And for you younger people (under 50) who don't know the Kinks, they are an old British band.

Also it would be better if he knew how to sing. Maybe that is not a problem, because half of the people in my home are deaf and only my dog can understand the high-pitch screeches that come out of my dad's mouth.

Before I got my guitar I played Hawaiian folks songs on a Hawaiian ukulele. But since I got my guitar, I am bored with the uke. It sits alone in my room. (My mom predicted this would happen.) My first public appearance with the uke was at my mom's friend's 50th birthday party, and now I am famous. (Well, sort of.)

Sting and I are on a first-name basis and he is calling my name. So I must go. We have to tour in London. Oh, and about those lyrics I promised earlier ... I think I'll polish them up a bit before I share them with you. They sound better when sung, anyway.

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