Hi James, this is a very safe space for beginners to post a recording for feedback to help progress in your guitar learning journey.
We have all been through the exact same learning curve and are very supportive of each other. Never compare yourself with others, as each person learns things at a different pace.
There is nothing to be embarrassed about posting recordings of your progress learning (no matter how early you are in your guitar learning journey), but there is a lot that can be gained from it.
So go for it when you feel ready to share with the community.
James … this it it. You are there already. Or should that be you are here. Here is where it’s at. Record a video on your phone, upload to youtube, make sure the settings are not ‘private’ and copy / paste the url in this topic.
I’ve been stuck consolidating Grade 1 for about a month now. I don’t think I’m really nailing any songs yet, but thought it was time to at least upload a couple to see how I’m tracking. Look forward to any feedback.
One of the things I’d like to be able to do on guitar is play songs for my kids, so I went with Rock-A-Bye You Bear by The Wiggles
And something from my teenage years for the second song, What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes:
I wasn’t sure if having the track I’m playing along with in the recording was helpful or not. I’m doing a poor job of keeping in time. Hopefully you can pick my sound out over the top. But let me know if I shouldn’t include it in future vids.
For my other 3 songs for Grade 1, I plan to do One Of Us by Joan Osbourne, Heroes by David Bowie and Black by Pearl Jam.
You’re doing pretty well. For large parts of both songs your strumming is consistent and the chord changes are tidy. On ‘What’s Up’ there are a couple of sections where your rhythm goes: I’m not sure if there is a change to the strumming pattern or to the tempo of the song: your arm almost completely stops doing down/up; you should isolate those sections and practice them really slowly until you can play them confidently. You’re not stuck on grade 1 - you’re getting better at playing some fundamental chords, changes and patterns that will be a solid foundation on which your skill develops. You’re doing well.
Congratulations on your first upload, well done Kim. I think it was very good overall. For the “What’s up” song the original pattern is very recognizable. Usually we can change pattern a bit, but for me there are songs where that doesn’t work. This is one of those songs. I think you should slow down and make sure you get every down / up correctly. Once you get it at slower speed, it will be easier to speed it up.
OK here goes - sharing a recording! I’ve combined the lesson on recording, with the lesson on dice song writing, and put a pentatonic improvisation over the top. Ive been learning keyboard as well, so I played some strings with the same chords on the keyboard (Am-Em-Am-F-Am-C-G-F). I recorded it on Audacity.
Now started Level 3…
Listen to Ambient Guitar & Strings.mp3 by CMcG on #SoundCloud
@up2spec Congratulations on some solid grade 1 progress Kim.
Your chord changes are working fine and, crucially, you seem relaxed in both right and left hands. You recognise that sometimes your time keeping is a little wonky and yes, that is true at times, but all completely normal in the beginner stages. There are many things going on and they need a little time to keep working together, syncing up and coalescing. These recordings are great to track and monitor your progress and improvement. Something I always do is watch with the volume at zero - it is a great way to check whether someone’s strumming action is consistent or has stop-start issues. Yours is pretty good for most of the playing but there are moments when, visually, something clearly knocks you off your stride … check it out!
Bravo o your recordings and kudos for playing something for all the family!
@C_McG Hi COlin. Welcome to the Community and arriving with a flourish too, way to go.
The dice were good to you - for an ambient track that’s a cool chord progression. And you do it justice. If minor pentatonic playing is fairly new to you, then bravo. You are seeking melody ideas and allowing them to have space within which to make their statement and leave their mark. This track and vibe demands no rushing and you took your time developing it. Good stuff. Technically, there are aspects of lead guitar playing that you will develop in time and I’m not going to throw them all your way now as you’re still in the beginner course. Just be happy that you’re making original music and it sounds cool.
ps
Check out the Originals (not covers) section of this Community Recordings area. I think it is going to be somewhere we see more of you and your music.
Thanks so much @Richard_close2u. Getting such helpful positive feedback makes me want to record another few to get a pass on Grade 1.
While I ultimately want to become a rock god (or a sad cowboy if I can get my hands on another acoustic), if my kids have any say it won’t be the last wiggles song I do
Currently in module 11, I was always intimidated to sing. But when Justin says build a repertoire, I really wanted to do. Was stuck to singalong while strumming for the past few weeks and suddenly yesterday I could do it reasonably, I was super happy and wanted to share. Below is the link. I can’t sing well, so bear with me. I will be very glad to hear good points to improve from you guys
Also the fingerpicking was a challenge for the past 2 weeks, here is the clipping of HBD fingerstyle in module 11.
Well played on both pieces. You could perhaps practice the accompaniment to ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ a bit slower and eliminate the odd timing issue: then add the vocal.
Hi Pradeep,
congratulations on your videos … that is an important step in your learning process, and also great that you sing right away, that is a great art in the beginning … keep it up
thanks @beejay56 and @roger_holland , If nor for Justin Guitar, this community and encouragement from people like you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to try this
, that’s a big thing, I enjoyed it, keep it up 
… that is an important step in your learning process, and also great that you sing right away, that is a great art in the beginning … keep it up