McCartney page 7

 McCartney page 7 by ric gustafson

Jim McCartney let his son trade his trumpet for a guitar. Paul picked a Zenith acoustic guitar. Paul's friend Ian James taught Paul the basic one finger chords. This was G and G7. After his mother's death, the guitar became Paul's salvation. Using the right handed guitar, Paul learned how to play left handed. Paul tried to write a song for the first time. He wanted to write about his mother's death. The song was called ' I Lost My Little Girl'. 

One day, Paul was asked to come to a gig at Woolton's Parish Church. The band playing outside was called The Quarrymen'. The leader of the band was John Lennon. At the gig, Paul observed the leader. John Lennon wore a plaid shirt and jeans. He played a steel strung Spanish guitar. Compared to other skiffle groups, the Quarrymen had a washboard, a tea chest bass, a second guitarist, a banjo player and a drummer. Lennon loved playing ' Come Go With Me' by the Del Vikings. After the second set, the band had to leave to play at a dance that evening.

Ivy Vaughn brought Paul to Church Hall to show John what he could do. He had not brought his guitar. Paul borrowed John's or Eric Griffith's guitar. Right there on the spot, Paul began playing ' Twenty Flight Rock' by Eddie Cochran.

John was impressed.

research help: ' Paul McCartney the life' by Philip Norman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric