Halloween: A Guitar Player's Nightmare - Or Dream?

byFrankB-1

6.6K followers

1 month ago

(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi WA Friends!

Happy Halloween to all who celebrate it! 👻

Halloween is that time of year when cobwebs are cool, spooky vibes are everywhere, and everyone gets to be someone or something else.

But what about us guitar players? Do we become shredding monsters or sell out to wearing the same iconic costumes as you see everywhere? Let me take you through the fun, weird, and sometimes crazy life of a guitarist on Halloween night.

First, A Brief History Of Halloween

(Courtesy of ChatGPT)

Halloween started thousands of years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They celebrated their new year on November 1st, marking the end of summer and the beginning of the cold, dark winter. The night before, October 31st, was believed to be when the boundary between the living and the dead became blurred, and ghosts could return to earth. People lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off these spirits.

Later on, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as All Saints’ Day to honor all saints and martyrs. The evening before was called All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually became known as Halloween.

Over time, Halloween evolved into a community-centered holiday, including activities like trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and wearing costumes. Today, Halloween is all about fun, spooks, and a great excuse to dress up and eat candy!

My Experience With Dating A Witch

I dated a "white witch" when I was a medical student, and it was an interesting and eye-opening experience. A white witch is someone who practices Wicca or a form of witchcraft that focuses on healing with things like herbs to help others. Unlike the "wicked witch" stereotype, white witches use their knowledge for good, working with nature and positive energy.

My girlfriend at the time was also a nurse in the cardiac care unit, which showed her commitment to helping others, whether through medicine or more naturally!

I really gained a deep respect for her beliefs, which were all about connecting with nature, living in harmony, and helping those in need. It fascinated me how she could blend her spiritual beliefs with her nursing knowledge. I hope this post, which is meant to be a fun look at the commercial side of Halloween, doesn’t offend any WA members who follow the religious side of the holiday.

The Costume Problem: Freddy Krueger Or Slash?

Every Halloween, guitarists face the same classic costume problem. Do you dress up as a famous horror character or as a legendary guitar hero? The choice isn’t easy.

Freddy Krueger? Cool, but those gloves make it almost impossible to play (unless you're shredding cheese). Slash? Awesome - until you realize that top hats and short doorways don’t mix well. Lol

I tried dressing as Eddie Van Halen one year, thinking it would be easy. A red-and-black-striped shirt and toy plastic electric guitar slung low. Simple, right? Wrong! Half the people thought I was trying to be a candy cane. What! Lesson learned: pick a costume that most people will actually recognize! Haha 😆

So, one Halloween, I dressed as a ghost. Just a white sheet with eye holes - simple. Turns out, playing guitar with a sheet over your head with your hands sticking out the sides is not just spooky - it’s a great way to miss practically every note. But hey, at least I looked cool while doing it. Lol 😂

When we go to costume parties, I usually rent a professional costume from a reputable store. I favor the kind that scares people, like a demon or headless man, but comfort and the ability to eat and drink without taking things off are also a consideration.

Haunted Gear: When Your Pedalboard Acts Possessed

Halloween night is when your gear decides to act up. You know, that haunted wah-wah pedal that screams even when you're not touching it? The amp that hums like it's calling spirits?

Yeah, Halloween seems to make my gear extra spooky. Suddenly, your overdrive pedal acts like it's possessed, turning everything into a wall of noise.

I swear, my pedalboard is haunted every Halloween. Last year, my chorus pedal decided to take the night off - or maybe it just got scared by my zombie makeup.

Either way, there’s something about Halloween that makes your rig feel like it’s working against you!

Guitars Can Play Tricks On You, Too!

I built two guitars that I always play on Halloween, one in the morning and the other in the evening. I call them my demon and vampire guitars. On Halloween, they play like they have a mind of their own, as if someone else is composing music from the great beyond! Lol

My Vampire Stratocaster and Demon Telecaster guitars - Sorry for the smudge marks on the bottom of the black one, I was playing it this morning.

Guitar Management

Let’s be honest - when you're a guitarist on Halloween, there’s only one kind of candy you really want: the perfect tone for a great solo! But while kids are ringing doorbells, guitar players are trying to play things like pinch harmonics.

The real question is: can you balance trick-or-treat duties with guitar practice? Here’s a tip - take a hybrid approach!

My wife usually gives out the candy while I sit close by in the living room, watching a scary movie and playing music to match it. When kids with great costumes come to the door, she calls me to have a look. If I'm taking too long, she snaps a picture or two on her phone.

Jamming With Ghosts: The Spooky Jam Sessions

Halloween is also the perfect time for a jam session. There’s something about the spooky atmosphere that makes you want to play harmonic minor scales and use creepy diminished chords. Dim the lights, add some fog, and play loud until the neighbors ask you to call it a night!

In high school, my band used to play while dressed as horror movie characters. I was Dracula, and that damn cape always got in the way! There’s something pretty funny about the Wolfman trying to keep time on the drums or the mummy playing the bass guitar solo from the Black Sabbath song "Behind the Wall of Sleep!" 🤣

You’d be surprised how much a costume can change your playing. Dress as Jimi Hendrix, and suddenly, you’re all about those bluesy bends and wild moves. Go as Frankenstein, and everything sounds heavy, slow, and a bit clunky.

Halloween Movies To Watch

(With the help of ChatGPT)

Here is a list of some of the movies we watch during the week of Halloween. Pick one or two to watch tonight with your favorite food and drinks! Be sure to invite friends and family.

• Hocus Pocus
• Jeepers Creepers
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Halloween
• Beetlejuice
• Coraline
• The Addams Family
• Ghostbusters
• Sleepy Hollow
• Scream
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Friday the 13th
• The Conjuring
• Poltergeist
• It
• The Exorcist
• The Ring
• The Shining
• Trick 'r Treat
• Monster House
• Practical Magic
• Witches of Eastwick
• The Rite

Tell Me What You Think!

So, if you celebrate it, what are you doing for Halloween?

Let me know in the comments, AND ...

Keep On Rockin' It! 🤘

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - Have Fun Tonight! (Pin by DALL-E 3)

Frank 🎸

~80% Human-written content.