Probable Elf

A possible kind of person. TMBG fandom sideblog. Ongoing TMBG cover song project. Also random music stuff, tagged off topic. Sticker by @narrow-shades-of-love

[tmbgareok]

More art from @cerealbowl. This study is really lovely.

[powerburial]

New macklemore “thrift store 2”

In the thrift shop at the hospital Found some clothes they dont need anymore Put the coat on and gain their memories

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

req'd by @keendaanmaa

aaand part three of this flat conversation

text: How out of tune *is* this piano? Yes.

[sleepingintheflowerss]

creds to: computerseraph on pinterest

[ryebreadgf]

why is the hill silent. it's supposed to be alive with the sound of music

[ryebreadgf]

this is meant to be read in the tone of an exasperated gay theater director

[lenjaminmacbuttons]

[theshitpostcalligrapher]

req'd by @keendaanmaa

part one of three in a conversation

text: Today I will be playing Maple Leaf Rag in flat

[tmbgareok]

.

[teaboot]

Names that are normal for old people but weird when you're a baby:

Bartholomew

Dolores

Norman

Harold

Magnolia

Names that are normal for babies but weird when you're old:

Maddison

Tanner

Skylar

Mckenzie

Logan

Names that are normal for old people and normal for babies:

Elizabeth

Mary

Michael

Finnegan

Peter

Names that are weird when you're a baby and weird when you're old:

Radish

Kerosene

Australopithecus

Anthill

Hedgemony

Names that are weird when you're normal:

Balthazar

Romulus

Clandestia

Persephone

Kremulon

Names that are normal when you're weird:

Al

[tmbgareok]

Hey Flans!

You’ve mentioned that when you started out, you couldn’t sing and play guitar at the same time. I really appreciate someone saying this out loud, as I have played piano since I was a kid but almost never been able to accompany anyone, let alone sing and play. I have always had so much respect and admiration for anyone who can play an instrument and sing at the same time so that statement gives me hope that it is possible to become a better musician and that current limitations are not insurmountable.

Do you have any tips or advice? How did you overcome this issue? Photo of Sophie for interest.

Hope you and the rest of the band are enjoying your summer and can’t wait to see you again in the Midwest!

P.S. My boyfriend created a new word for your Tumblr, if you will, so we are eagerly anticipating your *Flanswer*!

JF: man it's hot.

well, practice is the key, and practicing every day even for a half hour is not a mistake. I don't really remember the transition from just singing to singing and playing that well, but once you get the hang of it, you are off to the races. I think cherry picking some simple songs with slow changes might be a way in? For some reason On the Road Again seems very friendly!

Committing to a show, even if it's just a showcase or something where you are playing incidentally is also a timelapse gamechanger--guaranteed to tighten up your playing (I have no idea if your facility on the keyboard) But to start maybe invite a friend over and you both just do a singalong evening with a songbook? Like karaoke but with a keyboard.

Sophie looks like a nice cat.

[emilyhopebunny]

Have a listen to my choral setting of text post memes that originated right here on tumblr!

My piece, Copypasta (performed here by the First Readings Project) is in three movements and uses these texts:

Spiders Georg by @reallyreallyreallytrying

Hot Plum by @utopians

I Think That's Beutiful by @nerdgul

Sheet music is available here.

(If your choir performs this piece, please let me know!)

[thestuffedalligator]

I’m going to level with you. I have listened to The Devil Went Down to Georgia for most of my life. We were a country music household, this was a staple of my childhood along with Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and that one Chipmunks country album.

I have no idea what “Fire on the mountain run boys run/The Devil's in the house of the rising sun/Chicken in the bread pan picking out dough/Granny does your dog bite no child no” means and at this point I’m too scared to ask.

[dementian]

For once I can be of assistance.

Each of the lyrics comes from an old-time hickory song for fiddles, and is a lyric from that corresponding song.

"Fire on the Mountain" --> "Fire on the Mountain, run boys run"

Fire On The Mountain - Fiddle Player POV

"The House of the Rising Sun" --> "The Devil's in the house of the rising sun"

House of the Rising Sun

"Ida Red" --> "Chicken in the bread pan peckin' out dough"

Ida Red - Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

"Granny Will Your Dog Bite" --> "Granny does your dog bite? 'No child, no'."

FTC #149 Granny Will Your Dog Bite

And for your furthered education, The Mountain Whipporwill.

Mountain Whippoorwill (aka How Hillbilly Jim Won the Great Fiddler's Prize)

[impossiblepackage]

this is the key part of the song, that a lot of people miss. people have this misconception that the contest between Johnny and The Devil is about who is the better fiddle player. but it isn't. its about who is the better fiddler.

in a time before things like radios and record players, every time you heard music was because there was somebody in the room with you playing an instrument. and many, many, many social events involved dancing, which requires music. so, if you're planning any kind of gathering in the american south or appalachia, you need to find a fiddler. and the fiddler's job is to play music that everybody knows and likes and can dance to.

the mistake The Devil makes in his bet with Johnny is that he misinterprets the contest as being about technical ability, so he has this big flashy song. he plays fast and impressively with a band of demons playing unfamiliar instruments in unfamiliar rhythms. he's definitely more skilled at playing than Johnny, and thinks he has it in the bag.

but Johnny wins because the contest is about being the best fiddler. the song uses these lines mentioned above as a shorthand for saying that Johnny is playing these songs. Johnny launches into a set of the most popular songs, played well, and that's what gives him his big win. A good fiddler knows all the hits, and can read the room to know what to play next. The Devil loses because he completely fails to read the room, and doesn't know the right songs.

[kushblazer666]

[junecast-moonfast]

Album/playlist Kinsey scale

0 Exclusively listens to albums

1 Predominantly listens to albums, rarely listens to playlists

2 Predominantly listens to albums, often listens to playlists

3 Equally listens to albums and playlists

4 Predominantly listens to playlists, often listens to albums

5 Predominantly listens to playlists, rarely listens to albums

6 Exclusively listens to playlists

x Doesn't listen to music

x Listens to music, but not in either of these ways (eg: radio)

idk/i'm bald/results/nuance

Voting ended onJul 1

Reblogs for sample size are appreciated, as I feel like my circle of mutuals would probably fall on the lower end of the scale! :p

[tmbgareok]

[funkyclunk]

YIPPEE YAHOO TWITD ON STREAMING THIS MEANS WE HAVE SLEEPS OLDER SISTER THE BELOVED <3 My procreate did NOT want to render this but I’m glad I got it done :)

(Alts+progress pics under the cut)

[goatsgomoo]

Man this store has a weird playlist, it's all Weird Al songs but with the lyrics switched out for ones that aren't funny.

[54dkbb85]

Sally Boy Candy Bar // Unctuous Robot

TMBG has a lot of songs that resonate with me as a trans person-- these are two of the most obvious ones in my mind. Maybe one day I'll make a really long text post breaking the lyrics down, but for now I leave you with this!!