Andrea,
Both recordings were enjoyable and I like the finger strumming. I didn’t realize that the finger strumming course was now available. I will have to purchase that soon. I was just reviewing the finger strumming lesson in grade 3 and found the Jolene song arrangement to be challenging, so well done.
Thanks for taking the time to reply, Steve and thanks also for the nice words.
The Finger Strumming Course is definitely recommendable. You’ll have fun with it!
You are right with Jolene - I’ve only scratched the surface so far - a lot can be done with this one. Still haven’t learnt the finger picking Intro…
End of July 2025
Another few weeks have passed since my last log entry and, due to a lot of commitments and other life struggles, my practice was a bit more “on the fly”, still mostly daily and structured but a lot more “random” than usually.
Although I haven’t been overly “straight forward”, I feel progress in lots of areas. Not that kind of “huge steps ahead”, more kind of an “overall progress”.
I’m still following Grade 4’s layout path and I’m thankful for the course’s guidance:
Barre Chords: I’m doing kind of a barre chord workout most of the days, moving them around and changing from/to open chords in selected songs to get smoother and faster (I only really started barre chords as tought at Grade 4)
Scalework: I’m increasing in speed and accuracy, I feel the dumb repetition and it’s a bit boring, but I see the benefits of getting faster with my fingers in other areas
Improvising: did the lesson on Reactive Listening, added that to my schedule, this lesson is a real game changer, I’ve been happy about the fact, that I’m obviously able to identify the “good notes”. Currently working with different one chord vamps, changing chords will give me some challenge for the future
I still have a huge preference on improvising using the Minor Pentatonic over the Major Scale, I just “feel” more for the Pentatonic.
I’m enjoying the fact, that Grade 4 gives some more guidance and techniques for improvising and I can see small steps ahead
Blues Lead: I’ve started the Blues Lead module and really love it!
Bending: my bends are getting technically better and more sensitive , I’m practicing them isolated with a tuner and by ear and additionally using jam tracks
Vibrato: I guess, vibrato is a thing to improve for a whole lifetime, but I’m satisfied with my so far progress
Five Blues Licks: I’ve learnt four of the five licks so far and I’m enjoying the process. Tried to use them over jamtracks and I can see progress step by step
Solo Blues:
Boom Bass with Licks: after hitting a road block a few weeks ago, I paused this one for some time and did well with the decision made, as it went a lot better, when I came back to it. I practice this piece on acoustic and electric and have to say, I really prefer the electric for this one. I prefer the lighter touch on electric. But my goal is to get it reasonably well on both.
Steady Thumb Primer: I started this one too, it works well until bar 10, but I’m still too slow for bar 11 (although I have to say, I didn’t put too much energy in it yet, because the piece wasn’t on my daily schedule)
Finger Strumming Course: I’ve started a new song project on finger strumming, but didn’t move on with the lessons for time reasons. I currently try to work out a suitable way of finger strumming for the song project, putting it into application
Other: due to the finger strumming, I use the metronome a lot more again, as I noticed a slightly increasing kind of sloppyness… that helped me back on track!
I feel, every second invested in rhythm pays off, so I can only say: I love you, my annoying little friend 
!
Repertoire: I feel a certain inability to keep up an immediate callable repertoire. I’ve learnt countless songs within the last years, but I simply don’t have the energy to keep them fresh whilst moving on with the course. This is a point that annoys me a bit. For a certain time, I’ve cut it down to only a handful of songs in constant rotation, but due to my health struggles, I’m at the limit of what I can take at the moment. I’ll keep an eye on it - but I just have to go with the flow .
Hello Andrea
I read your initial and moving post, so pleased your treatment for big C has worked out. It must have been very difficult through Covid, that was a horrible time for all and much worse if you were ill. I remember saying goodbye to my wife at the hospital door, in-between lockdowns, she was going in for a very important operation and I wondered whether I would see here again, it all went fine and I collected her a week later.
I too have experienced life changing health issues, over the last 9 years, it certainly does make you re-evaluate what is important in life and relationships. I have picked up guitar again last year after a 20 year break, and found JustinGuitar, and as you say the way he teaches and structure to the lessons certainly helps greatly. I am now on BLIM3 and enjoying it greatly, I would highly recommend it.
Wishing you well in the future for your health, life and guitar journey.
Adrian
Hi Adrian, thanks a lot for your kind words, it really means a lot!
I hope your wife is well again and all turned out to be just some bad memories.
It has been very hard during that time to leave a loved one behind the hospital doors, without an option to stay at their side.
Sorry to hear you are also suffering from some health discomfort, nine years is quite a lot of time!
Picking up the guitar was one of the best decisions I did in my life and I’m happy to read that you restarted your journey successfully!
I wish you lots of fun with BLIM, I’m hoping to get to a point in the future, where I probably could participate too, but at the moment, I’m happy, when I can just follow the course.
The one thing I ask myself every day is: Why didn’t I start earlier? But then I maybe wouldn’t be as motivated as I am today 
. In the end, I tell myself, that there’s a reason for everything .
All the best for your BLIM ambitions and thanks again!
Hi Andrea, I found your update a very interesting and, as it often happens with things I can relate too. First of all I’m happy to read you’re feeling your progress because it will motivate you even more to keep going.
I love the little annoying friend too, I call him His Majesty The Metronome 
I also can relate to struggling to make songs fresh and you know if it happened to be at a party and someone asked me to play I would be confident with Hallelujah…so I started wondering “what’s so special I’m doing with Hallelujah?” and try to apply that to those few songs that I’d like to commit to memory. I’m proceeding slowly, but in a way which is meaningful to me.
I wish you some more daily guitar fun today 
January 2026
I really don’t know how to start a recap on 2025, as my whole life broke into pieces shortly after my last entry at the end of July, and this has been kind of a final stroke to my guitar progress so far.
I’ve been really quiet on this forum for months and this was for a reason.
Those things, that happened, have been really traumatic and I’ve been fully occupied to start to rearrange my whole existance and to face the new situation.
Needless to say, that my practice sessions stopped completely, my guitars just were like strangers from one day to the other and I couldn’t get out one clear single note. I felt, that simply everything I’ve learnt so far, seemed to have disappeared.
It was an all over scary situation, I couldn’t even hear music at this time, it was like being “dead” inside.
I only picked up the guitars in October, very, very slowly, but I was just noodling around for a few minutes, with no aim and motivation, and therefore this has been a really frustrating experience.
Since the beginning of November, those five minute junks, where I picked up a guitar and played some of the old items randomly, with zero progress, got more and more and I found myself spending more and more time again with guitar.
But then, by the end of November, when I was still fighting to rearrange my involuntary “new” life with all the ups and downs, I got some more bad news during my cancer aftercare check- up. Cancer is back and I have been diagnosed as an recidivist with my cancer.
I guess, you can imagine, how hard that hit me again and for a very short time, I’ve been at a point in my life, where giving up would have been an real option.
After some further examinations, that gave me some weeks full of existential anxiety, I finally got two points on the plus side.
First of all, the new carcinoma is very, very small and, so far, it obviously didn’t develop metastases.
So I have to go through another surgery on Thursday, Jan15th, hopefully followed only by radiation therapy. The decision, if I have to go through another chemo, will be made after the surgery.
Needless to say, that my guitar, and also any practice, has been fully neglected again and I didn’t make any progress for the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, I got my mental and physical strenght back, up to a point, where I have a quite positive attitude for the upcoming months of therapy, I still haven’t lost my humour and positiveness. Life can steal me a lot, but not my humour, my laughter and my optimism!
2025 has been the worst year in my whole life and for sure the year with the least progress in my guitar journey. I even did some steps backwards, so to say.
But there was also a heartwarming experience during those difficult last months.
My friends in real life helped me so much and so did some very nice guitar friends here on the plattform. I’ve been overwhelmed by the warmth and affection of all the lovely people, who supported me “Behind the Scenes”.
(I never thought, that the subtitle of my log might get a real meaning!)
So I’m going into therapy the day after tomorrow, and I will still be lurking around and hopefully be back soon to guitar related stuff in this log!
Hopefully my next post will be more positive and filled with new motivation!
Dear Andrea,
of course I have to say something in this topic, but I don’t want to repeat myself to you (well, not more than usual 
…) and I’ll keep it short (not like usual 
…) … But I just want you to know here that I cherish and also gain strength (perhaps more than that I’ll let you know I was thinking lately …Thanks for that) from our conversations about the darkest moments, and how good it is that you keep finding those few bright spots that you manage to find… very important and not self-evident… …
Rogier … and Hermine
Sending you my very best wishes for a successful outcome to your treatment Andrea. You’re a very positive person and that will be an important factor along with the treatment you’ll be receiving.
Good luck with it all and I hope your guitar will offer you some diversion from it all.
Sorry to hear about your life shattering troubles and your ongoing health issues, Andrea.
Good luck with the treatment and I’m sure you’ll get back to guitar when you are ready to. 
I obviously knew you were having difficulties, Andrea, but took the easy way out of ‘not making enquiries…’ Sorry you had such a terrible time, and having to face a recurrence must plunge you straight back into the hole at times.
I love your positivity in this-
It’s where I might normally crack a joke in poor taste, but I shall save that for later, when you are further down the recovery path. Then the gloves can come off…
If Dutchy, or indeed anyone else, is bombarding you with too much rubbish, I believe the moderators can intervene behind the scenes too 
In the meantime, I wish you all the best on your difficult journey, and remember, actual playing is only one part of your guitar journey. Much comes from the relationships that grow out of it.
Gute Besserung! 
Andrea @Helen0609
Sorry to hear your news and hope things work out better for you in 2026.
Michael
I was wondering why you disappeared 
I hope your guitar will help you on your recovery journey
and dont forget that many of us here on the forum are always here if you want to talk ^^
Good luck for your treatment !
Stay strong
Dear Andrea,
I’m so sorry to read that a horrible year also ended with another twist of fate. 
Your positive attitude towards life is admirable and shows your strength. That’s incredible and invaluable. For now, I wish you all the best for your surgery and treatments to follow! May you recover soon and fully. Until then, your guitar will be patient. They don’t care about progress at all, but they are happy to help you feel better again. 
@roger_holland You (and Hermine) have been a constant source of support and friendship during the last months and I can never make up for that 
! Thanks again to both of you!
@sairfingers Thanks for the good wishes, very appreciated! I hope you’ll give us some more of your Wednesday (?) productions in 2026, I miss them a lot! Always loved your song choices
@BurnsRhythm Thank you, David! I followed your log and the posts about your BLIM experiences silently, seems as if you had lots of fun. Keep up the good work!
@brianlarsen Thank you, I missed your posts during the last weeks and have been quite happy to read, that you are still immersed into lots of musical activities. I always admired your way to “live” music in such a creative way!
Yes, please!
Ohhhh nooooo! Now or never!
Please don’t hold back!
This is very true!
@MAT1953 Thank you so much, Michael!
@GrumpyMac Many thanks, Deborah! and keep up the good work, I’m watching you 
!
@Lisa_S Thanks for the nice words, my dear friend and for your ongoing support!
I’ll send you a DM!
Oh my god … the pressure XD
Sorry to hear of your troubles, Andrea. I’m glad that through these dark times that your amazing positive spirit is still shining brightly with your friends there by your side giving you the support you deserve. Wish you all the best with your therapy and treatment.
Andrea. Sorry to hear about your troubles & hope that things get better in the future. Life can be crap at times.
Dear Andrea,
I can’t put it better than Lisa!
And when you’re saying that friends here helped you through hard times, they’re doing this because they got to know you as a very nice, warm and giving person!
You have all my sympathy! I will think of you and send you some positive rays through the ether!! 
Oh Andrea…
I’ve been wondering what caused your disappearance from the Community & am saddened to hear of your cancer’s reappearance. Your positive outlook & bravery will serve you well in the days & weeks ahead! Keep up your strength as best you can & remember that there are many, many people from all over (many in this Community alone) who have survived & gone on to lead full & fulfilling lives!!! I believe that you will too!!!
Now, the guitar…
Without going into any personal details, lets just say that at several times in my past, the guitar has been a truly wonderful help to me in making it through physical and/or emotional distress. At other times, I didn’t have the energy or inclination to pick it up, let alone play. In those low moments I would see my musical friend waiting patiently on her stand in the corner, gathering dust & silently reproaching me for my attitude. “Pick me up!” she seemed to say, “I can help you through this!”. She was right… eventually, I’d take her off her stand, dust her, tune her & let her help to heal my psyche. Music heals us in ways that isn’t necessarily measurable by science… helps us fix our “head space”. The mind can definitely help to heal the body & making our own medicine by playing joyfully is so importantly powerful!!!
I wish you health & happiness in your future, Andrea! Please reach out if you’re in need!
Your virtual friend, Tod
