WIBU to play the guitar and sing in my back garden?

[sadpapercourtesan]

Reading the multitude of threads over recent weeks about people enraging each other with their garden behaviours - barbecues, bonfires, even bagpipes

I was thinking about getting my guitar outside this afternoon and playing a bit of music in my garden. It's a large garden but we do have neighbours on both sides who would certainly hear it if they were outside. I am not dreadful (I used to get paid to do it) but of course that doesn't mean it's to everyone's taste! It's folk music, mostly. My neighbours do have parties (when not in lockdown), have noisy children, play their own pop music in the garden and one of them is a welder so it's not always quiet.

WIBU?

Someone was singing in my town last night. It was awful. Why people think they need to inflict their music choice on others is beyond me. It got so loud and so awful there were multiple posts on the local FB pages about it.
Some critical, others supportive of the singer etc. When someone is singing Spandau Ballet badly at 9.30pm when kids are trying to sleep, they should expect criticism really.

Please don’t. My nextdoor neighbours do this sort of thing and seem to have been holding zoom gigs for their families. Neither of them are professional musicians. They think they’re not awful. I can tell you that after hearing him playing his guitar and her screeching along to Zombie several times, what they think and what I think is not the same thing.

I don’t mind kids playing and even screeching in their gardens but I really hate other people’s choices of music. Even if it’s something I would usually listen to, I hate anything being forced on me. Probably very irrational of me but I’m the same when I hear people whistling.

I think if you’re playing quietly and singing just to yourself it’s fine, but if you’re belting it out like you’re holding a concert for the neighbours it’s not.

None of us know if you’re any good but I won’t lie I’ve been to some regional festivals and heard local folk singers who have been paid and well they really shouldn’t have been. I’m sure you’re not one of them, but folk is a particular taste and if you are a bit shit then best to do it quietly and entertain only you.

I wouldn't appreciate my neighbour doing this.

I am sure it would be ok, just strumming along gently and singing fairly quietly, as long as you don't have one of those dogs, who like to howl along to some music.

I believe there is a person in my village, who takes all his drum kit in the garden here, but I can't hear the noise from my house.

I would love this if I were your neighbour!

Our neighbour does this and he can neither play or sing and tbh it's driving us crackers. He's not quiet about it either.

Sorry OP but I'd rather listen to bagpipes.

I think I would chuckle to myself if one of my neighbours started singing in their garden {immature} but I say go for it, yes, it's a little self indulgent but as long as it's not too loud and not for too long, folk music is an acquired taste after all.

Oh, OP, you absolutely must!
I am a happy amateur musician as is DP, and our family have had some great campfire nights in the garden, doing 'family band'. So lovely. As it happens, our neighbours are also musical, and play and sing in their gardens, so no problems. Enjoy!

Sorry OP, I wouldn't, its not about whether you can sing, it's about taking your neighbours choice of peace in THEIR garden away.

I love my loud music, have a big garden but because I have neighbours I keep my music low.

It's being considerate.

I don’t mind the sound of other people’s music but I don’t like it one someone is signing it just seems a bit attention seeking and annoying.

Are you singing to yourself? Not that it matters but if others in your garden potential for if to get louder, joining in & soforth.

If you must do it for a reasonable period & keep it low & unobtrusive. Be prepared to hair radios & doors/windowd closing...if you become aware you are an annoyance then up to you if you continue unabashed or not...

I'd love that! Can't wait to have friends round to do it. We have a music room which we often open up the doors, no one has complained yet...

I think as long as it's reasonable times of the day, you are happy to drop if asked for good reasons, and you don't sound like you're strangling a cat, then it's fine!

Just to add, I had my sax or the other day and no one complained 😂

If you're near me then please, god no. 😂
To me it's on the same level as 'that person' who thinks getting their guitar out at someone's party so everyone has to stand around in admiration at them is entertaining.

If my neighbour does this I will suggest to my whole family that this outdoor musical practice is clearly acceptable now so we must all go outside and practice at the same time.

We have two recorders, a ukelele, an electric guitar and two acoustics. I think we are "not awful". I am sure my neighbour will find it acceptable for use to rehearse simultaneously.

TorkTorkBam

There is a huge difference between doing it nicely, and tunefully – and deliberately making a cacophony of noise like you suggest.

If it was mid afternoon on a weekend and you were any good personally I probably wouldn’t mind.
However, if you are not very good, have poor song choice, are loud and or if it goes on too long and I was trying to WFH with the window open to cool me down I would mind and you would be being unreasonable.

I think we all sound fine. My point is that if everyone does it then it is v bad. Hence don't do it.

A short dose is fine.

I was relieved when the Barry Manilow fan moved on a couple of summers after we moved in

I did laugh the day DS's class got recorders and over-the-road sent their child to the conservatory and could still be heard from our drive.

I don't mind a bit of folk. But I wouldn't appreciate it. I am trying to WFH. I'd be closing my door on you I'm afraid

I like folk music. But I really wouldn’t appreciate someone playing in their garden because it’s quite intrusive.

As long as it’s not late at night or for hours on end I’d actually enjoy this. All my neighbours made loud building noise all day; I’d much prefer guitar...

I've given up trying to be a considerate neighbour, no one else round here gives a fuck whether they're disturbing anyone so I'm trying really hard not to either, even though it goes against the grain I think you should do it, especially if no one else in your area thinks music outside etc is an issue when they do it! Enjoy