Hi!
My name is Andre, I’m 38. Currently living and working at Buffalo (NY, USA) but I’m from Brazil. I started my new effort on learning guitar only about 45 days ago when I got a electric guitar and heard about Justin Guitar in a Facebook Epiphone users group.
I’ve been using mostly the Lessons and Songs App so far but recently started digging into the website as well and found this great forum. Time to introduce myself and create a learning log I think.
This is my third attempt to learn guitar. First was when I was a teenager and got an acoustic guitar from my parents but at that time it just didn’t fit into my other interests, so I had almost no progress. Second try was about 14 years ago (time flies!) when I purchased an electric guitar and did some one-to-one classes in Brazil, but I unfortunately I ended up being frustrated after few months and left the hobby. At that time I just couldn’t see any progress and my teacher also used to give me songs to learn that I didn’t like. Ended up selling the guitar (deeply regret doing that looking in perspective).
Them we have now (2023): early this year I was thinking about trying to give another chance on learning to play guitar. My wife gifted me with an Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s which I loved! It’s just a beautiful guitar and I feel good by only playing around with it after a stressful day on my job. I barely know how to play a song but I’m sure you know what I mean!
Well, I guess it’s time to share my progress in the last 45 days or so, here it go. Using mainly the App:
- Completed Modules 1 and 2
- Currently working on Module 3
- Songs that I tried to play: Born in the USA, Give Peace a Chance, Love Me Do and Three Little Birds
What has been the biggest challenges to me during this short experience:
- Avoiding muting the D cord
- Changes from E to D are not fast enough, they are higher than 20/min but still not the best to follow the strumming without pauses as I get distracted
- Eventually muting a string on E cord
- I’m still improving my one minute changes from Am to Em. I started module 3 just few days ago. Guess I’m putting much pressure on myself and I should avoid that to avoid another frustration.
- This one is a biggest challenge: keeping a good posture with the guitar. I still don’t feel relaxed, I still have issues holding the guitar as Justin recommends. Still getting used with guitar weight, this model is pretty heavy but that’s my guitar and I love it. I may need to buy a specific guitar seat/stool or something to support my right leg. I’m currently practicing on a regular chair. I play only seated and always using a strap.
About the songs: Born in the USA had a fast progress but still not perfect of course. Three little birds has been improving but still not there, specially in the verse. Needs more practice to follow the strumming (sometimes I got lost when moving from E to D). All the other songs I do try once and a while but I’m trying to stick with few songs to keep the focus.
I’m looking forward to learn the G cord because I want to play “Songbird” from Oasis (by the way, Oasis has ever been my favorite band but unfortunately most of their songs use cords that I still didn’t learn).
I have been training every single day at night for about 1 hour. Wish I had more time but my job is quite stressful and time consuming. Playing guitar is helping me to disconnect and I feel good having a time for practicing.
Forgot to say, I’m having so much fun with Seven Nation Army from Module 3 as well!
Sorry for the long text, I think I covered most of my challenges and current learning status, looking forward to hear back from you. Please feel free to comment and wish me luck in this return.
Have a great weekend! 
Andre
