Just watched a fascinating little documentary Sounding Out: BB King on BBC iPlayer. Itās filmed at a recording session in London in 1972 and he talks about his influences, how they influenced his guitar technique and that (at this point) he was still searching for his sound.
The biggest takeaway was sometimes his timing got away from him and instead of the 12-bar blues, he ended up playing 15
I wish I was able to do the Blues Immersion but alas, Iām still very much a baby beginner. But hopefully one day!
Hi RD83. I am also a lady learner. I call myself the āperpetual beginnerā. Fortunately someone else in this community lives close by and we have had a few practice sessions together. I feel myself gradually improving. Hopefully I will advance to Intermediate soon and be able to join The Blues Immersion course. See you there!
Lady learner here! This January will be year 2 of my learning journey and Iām enjoying it a lot. I have learned so much but have so much more to learn. Wishing you well
So great to know there are more of us on here than I initially thought! Iām also learning loads, Justin is a great teacher. Good luck on your journey too
Hello! Another female student here. I have been learning for 5 years tomorrow although I switched from acoustic to Classical guitar after I finished Justinās beginnerās course due to giving myself a wrist injury when I tried to move on to playing barre chords and quite frankly feeling a bit lost as the structure of the course disappeared as the end of the beginners course drew near.
Hey!
Iām still mostly improvising using the minor pentatonic scale over backing tracks. Iād like to learn all the notes across the fretboard and start incorporating arpeggios into my solos.
Feels like a lifelong project.
Howās your guitar journey going?
Hello! Iām also trying to learn all the notes along the fretboard - I feel they could be the key to unlocking a lot of stuff. Iāve started on Grade 3, but I donāt feel like Iām making as much quick progress as the first two grades.
Hello! Glad to hear from you! Iāve been doing JG for about ten months. Iāve just started Grade 3, and I agree, Iām feeling a little lost as the lessons become more vague. Iām wondering if Iāve reached the point where I should get a Real Live Teacher
I think so too. I feel like all the theory concepts can be learned much faster once you know all the notes on the fretboard.
Iām currently writing songs, and thatās how Iām learning and practicing at the same time. Today I may have gone a little overboard with the power chords , so Iām giving my wrist a bit of a rest.
Maybe you could try writing a song too ā it might be a fun way to keep making progress.
Justin has a video at the end of the beginnerās course where he basically says get out there and experiment and find your style, which is what I have ended up doing and thatās where I found my focus. Guitar is way too wide a subject for most people to be able to do more than scratch the surface of whatās possible. Deciding to follow a particular style and developing the skills required is really the next step after the beginnerās course - Justin really focuses on Blues a lot during the intermediate more than most other styles and that may or may not be for you. I would suggest that you decide what style you want to learn before considering a teacher and then finding a teacher or online course that teaches that style specifically.
Yeah, I did watch that, and itās true, I might just have to keep exploring to figure out what my style really is. Though, blues is basically the foundation of all modern music, so I can understand why he focuses on that I definitely need to do more experimenting, itās easy to get caught up in the theory and rules. Right now, I would just like to be able to play some barre chords
Barre chords and power chords are my current nemesis! Iāve been avoiding songwriting because I know it will be utter rubbish that makes me cringe, but maybe thatās the whole point and part of the process
Yeah, theyāre tough, especially on acoustic guitar. But even on electric, my wrist is still pretty bent, even though Iām trying to keep it in a better position.
As for songwriting, of course your first songs probably wonāt be hits (although who knows, maybe they will! ). But just imagine how much you can learn by writing 20 songs. Playing, recording, microphones, tone, theory, lyricsā¦ Even if not a single one of them is āgoodā, all of those things are incredibly valuable skills to learn.
If we know two chords, we can write a song!
And you can write 100 songs and keep them all to yourself
you donāt have to share them with anyone.
Iām trying with barre chords again myself after a break, and Iām almost hugging the neck to try to stop the wrist-bending
Youāre right, we donāt need to be mavericks to write songs - when I look up famous songs to see what chords they are using, Iām always struck by how simple they often are. I will write a song this week
Good luck to everyone in the week ahead with your practice!
lady learner here 
Welcome to our Community Reena!
Yay, more of us than I realised!
I definitely need to do more experimenting, itās easy to get caught up in the theory and rules. Right now, I would just like to be able to play some barre chords 
