Thanks for the info! I think it’s some sort of overdrive I’m looking for. There seems quite a lot of reviews on youtube, so I’ll be going through all those. Boss seem like a safe bet though.
Update 2:
This week I took my guitar to a luthier — a word I hadn’t even heard until a few weeks ago. I’d been going back and forth on whether to get a setup done, mainly because of the cost and whether it was actually necessary. Part of me thought, “surely it comes set up properly from the factory — how bad can it be?”
In the end, I found a local place in London called LA Guitars, run by a guy named Haim. It’s a small operation, but he clearly knows his stuff. The first thing he noticed was that the strings were sitting too high, and he recommended a mini setup to sort it out. The price seemed reasonable, so I went ahead with it. I should be getting the guitar back this week, and I’m really curious to see how much of a difference it makes. In the meantime, I’ve borrowed a guitar from a friend.
Practice-wise, I’ve been focusing on switching between A, D, E, Am, Dm, and Em. I’m definitely improving, but it’s still far from automatic — Dm in particular is proving a bit tricky. I’ve probably managed a couple of hours of practice so far.
I also picked up a small stand for my phone to use alongside the app while practising, and it’s made things much easier. Also, this week the sun has come out - makes a big difference.
Have a great week everyone!
Simon
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Haim did the setup on my first guitar 4 years ago when I started. Small world. 
When I was collecting my guitar, I remember plugging into his huge tube amp, hitting the strings and that great moving air feeling from the tube amp. 
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Update 3:
This week I’ve been focusing on speeding up my chord changes between A, D, E, Am, Dm, and Em. I feel like I’ve finally got the hang of it I’ve been practising these changes with the guitar unplugged while watching TV, and after a while it starts to feel automatic.
I also picked up some 0.38 plectrums, which have made a big difference. They’re much easier for me to handle and don’t go flying off in random directions. I’m starting to think losing plectrums must be a universal problem—some guitar straps even come with little pockets for them! I’ve no idea what makes a “good” plectrum, so I’ve just been buying the cheapest ones I can find. I did treat myself to a small tin to keep them in though.
I’ve also been looking into guitar pedals. Eight weeks in, I’m thinking it might be time to get one. At the moment, I’m leaning towards a chorus or an overdrive, but there’s such a huge range out there at wildly different prices. Do I go cheap, buy something I could resell later, or save up for an all-in-one effects processor? Or maybe I should try building one… lots of questions!
Another idea I’ve had is picking up a cheap second-hand guitar to keep at work, so I can practise in a back room at lunchtime. Has anyone else done that?
Still motivated and determined to make it to 52 weeks. Next week I’m planning to move forward with the app and learn a few more chords.
Have a great week, everyone!
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Hi Simon,
Most people quit within the first few weeks, once the initial enthusiasm has faded. That’s why I think you’re on the right track. Have fun with the gear, and thanks for your updates in your LL. I’m crossing my fingers that you stick with it.
Cheers Withold
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Many thanks Withold
Update 4:
Howdy — one month in!
I’ve just got back from a short holiday, but managed to squeeze in a few hours of practice beforehand, adding the C chord to my list. While I was away, I actually found myself missing my guitar, so I ended up spending some time researching guitar pedals instead. Not sure I’m any wiser on that front just yet though.
Earlier in the week, I got my guitar back from the luthier, and it was definitely worth it. It’s so much easier to play now. Maybe I’ll have a go at setting it up myself in the future, but at this stage it was absolutely the right call.
My main goal this week is to learn the G chord and work on transitioning smoothly between all the chords I’ve learned so far. I’m also planning to focus on a few songs. I’ll probably stick at this level for a couple of weeks until everything starts to come together.
Have a great week, everyone!
Simon
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Update 5:
This week I’ve managed to learn all the chords for Grade 1 of Justin’s course: A, C, D, E, G, Am, Dm, and Em. At the moment I’m focusing on changing between chords as quickly and smoothly as possible. I think this is one of those things that just comes with time and repetition.
One thing that’s really helping is practicing chord changes on an unplugged guitar while watching TV. It’s a great way to get the extra practice in without even really thinking about it! Although I did fall asleep while practicing this week…
I should finish Grade 1 this week (yay!). After that, I’m planning to spend a week or two learning some songs before diving into Grade 2.
Have a great week everyone!
Simon
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With these open chords, you’ve laid a solid foundation you can be proud of. I know amateur guitarists who regularly perform their own songs with their bands in front of up to a thousand enthusiastic fans, and they don’t play any more chords than you do. So congratulations on reaching this milestone.
Don’t forget: Rhythm is King! Please don’t forget to practice rhythmically as well. That’s why it’s a good idea:
Take even more time to learn to accompany your favorite songs with open chords. A solid rhythm is the foundation for everything that comes later.
Cheers Withold
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Hi Withold,
Thanks for the words of encouragement! The chords seem to be coming along well, although I suspect there are some more challenging ones waiting for me further down the line 
A few songs are starting to come together nicely now, and some chord changes are definitely beginning to feel more natural. I completely understand what you mean about rhythm too. Getting there
Cheers,
Simon
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Update 6:
This week I managed to complete Grade One, so now the focus is on chord changes and learning songs. The chord that catches me out the most is the C chord. For some reason I keep missing the correct strings, but I guess that’s just something that will improve with time and practice.
Finding songs to learn has also been more challenging than I expected. There are so many to choose from! First, I actually need to like the song, and secondly I feel like it should include as many of the chords I’ve learnt so far as possible to make it worthwhile — probably a slightly odd way of looking at it, I know.
I’m still practising chord changes while watching TV, and I’ve noticed I now find myself subconsciously playing along to whatever is on in a kind of rhythmic way. It actually seems to help. I’m also using the app for songs, which is going well.
I do need to improve my setup though, as things don’t sound great through my cheap amp. I might look into headphone amps as well - I gather some of them let you play along with backing tracks, which sounds useful.
The plan for the next couple of weeks is to learn more songs. From what I understand, to “pass” Grade One you need to know five songs by heart, so that’s the target.
Have a great week everyone!
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