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The Bicycling Guitarist mentions autism in interview

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TheBicyclingGuitarist
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21 Jan 2013, 4:51 pm

I was interviewed for an hour before my show on Wednesday January 9, and the article came out in the Roseburg News-Review newspaper on Monday January 14. Among other things (such as the source of inspiration for my original songs) I discussed my autism with the reporter Inka Bajandas. At first only part of the article was available online (to read more one needed to subscribe), but I just checked today and the whole article is online (for now).

Neighbors: The Bicycling Guitarist

From the article:

Inka Bajandas wrote:
Watson, who has autism, said the unusual habit also helped relieve some of the symptoms. In addition to having a hard time recognizing social cues, he said he has heightened senses, to the point where they can become overwhelming, Watson said.

“All my senses, it’s too much,” he said. “What I’ve found is that if I go on a bicycle, and I play at the same time it calms me. My mind is on the music.”


Last week I was also interviewed three times by a TV reporter for KPIC, the local CBS station. I was told afterwards that I had been on the local TV news at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. last Friday but I didn't see it because I don't have a TV and was in a jam session at that time. That same reporter filmed me riding and playing in a middle school gymnasium on Saturday, but I do not know if or when they will show that footage. I plan to go to a neighbor's house (who has TV) around 5 p.m. today to see. I talked even more with the TV reporter about autism and Aspergers than I did with the newspaper reporter, but I don't know how much if any will be in the TV story.


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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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21 Jan 2013, 6:18 pm

Hey, Congrats, Good Stuff! :cheers: :jester: :bball:



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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21 Jan 2013, 6:24 pm

If a person first learns the chords A, D, and E is that one good way to learn guitar?



TheBicyclingGuitarist
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21 Jan 2013, 6:57 pm

You can play a lot of songs and create new songs just using the chords A, D and E.

It's been years since my fingers hurt from playing guitar, but I do remember there was some pain in the past before my fingers toughened up. If it's worth it to you, go for it. It can be fun. Oh, and nowadays there are so many videos on YouTube on how to play guitar in general, or even how to play a particular song.

It helps if one learns to tune one's guitar. That will help train your ear. Also practice playing along to favorite songs over and over, or even along with the radio or TV. Move your fingers along the strings until the sound the guitar makes is close to what you're hearing on the radio. With practice, when you hear a note or a chord your fingers will automatically go to the right place to make those sounds. With even more practice, you can play along even with songs you are hearing for the first time. Most songs are predictable. If they are in a certain "key" then you can almost expect what the next chord will be even if you've never heard that song before.

Good luck, have fun, and thanks for the compliment!


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redrobin62
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21 Jan 2013, 7:05 pm

Here's a track that's basically A, D, E. They throw in a B for the "...all revved up and..." section.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbDekaqw3lQ[/youtube]

The Mighty Ramones!


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AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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21 Jan 2013, 7:54 pm

TheBicyclingGuitarist wrote:
You can play a lot of songs and create new songs just using the chords A, D and E.

It's been years since my fingers hurt from playing guitar, but I do remember there was some pain in the past before my fingers toughened up. If it's worth it to you, go for it. It can be fun. Oh, and nowadays there are so many videos on YouTube on how to play guitar in general, or even how to play a particular song.

It helps if one learns to tune one's guitar. That will help train your ear. Also practice playing along to favorite songs over and over, or even along with the radio or TV. Move your fingers along the strings until the sound the guitar makes is close to what you're hearing on the radio. With practice, when you hear a note or a chord your fingers will automatically go to the right place to make those sounds. With even more practice, you can play along even with songs you are hearing for the first time. Most songs are predictable. If they are in a certain "key" then you can almost expect what the next chord will be even if you've never heard that song before.

Good luck, have fun, and thanks for the compliment!

You're welcome, and thank you very much for the info! :D



TheBicyclingGuitarist
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21 Jan 2013, 9:17 pm

My advice applies if you want to learn to play by ear as I do. There are other ways, some more formal, to learn to play any instrument. I think knowing some music theory helps any musician, but I do not allow myself to be constrained by any rules. It helps too to "jam" with other musicians. Have fun.


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KenG
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22 Jan 2013, 9:08 am

TheBicyclingGuitarist wrote:
Neighbors: The Bicycling Guitarist
Oh, that's nice and amusing.
Keep on rocking with your guitar and keep on rocking as an autistic :-)


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Chloe33
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22 Jan 2013, 2:11 pm

That is so awesome that you can play guitar and ride a bike the same time!
I still ride a bmx and i can ride a lot with no hands, yet i can't imagine having a guitar on me at the same time.
Riding the bike is so relaxing for me too, so whenever it's nice outside i do it.
I used to feel the same way riding horses when i was young and in a theraputic riding program