OOO, that was lovely. Just trying to catch up on different members’ learning logs. Congratulations on passing Grade 3! And that concert in the church sounded wonderful. Only concerts in churches I’ve been to, I was one of the members of the chorus.
I’m so sorry your Christmas sing with your dad got crushed! How disappointing! Maybe a little spring equinox party?
Hello Andrea!
I just saw the posts about your Christmas today - so sorry about lost moments with your father… I really understand how there are times that a ‘perfect moment’ for something passes by so quickly & is gone. I agree however with our fellow Justinites about carving out another time to get together & make the ‘lost moment’ a reality - maybe not at Christmastime, just a time to celebrate family!
I think that sometimes, when starting to learn a new piece, we underestimate how difficult it is going to be. We look at the chords - “I know all those chords”, the strumming - “I could strum THAT in my sleep!”, the time signature - “6/8… that’s easy” and we think - “This is going to be an EASY ONE!!!”.
Somehow though, several weeks later - after practicing it at least a little bit every time you play - it still doesn’t sound “right”. So when you finally get it to the point that it sounds good, you look back at the journey & feel really accomplished… “WOW, I FINALLY got Mary Had a Little Lamb” DOWN!!! 
Well, maybe it’s not QUITE that bad, but you get the idea!!!
Additionally, I think that playing for yourself is very important with a small caveat…
take requests! My wife asked me to learn a couple of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers songs & I’m currently working on them very part-time. When she hears the power chords for the riff in ‘Breakdown’ for example, she come into the room with a great big smile - “That’s getting better every time I hear it!” she says!!! So, I’m happy that she’s happy & my guitar playing is getting better at the same time - win/win, right?
BTW, your Silent Night was very good, I’d definitely play it for your parents - have a “Christmas in July” celebration with a good meal & gift exchange… music to follow. If you have to travel to their city, just make it happen!
Good Luck!
Tod
@LunaRocket Thank you for reading and the nice comment, Rebecca! We are going to celebrate my dad’s birthday soon, so this would probably be another reason to prepare a song for, but I’ll leave my guitar at home 
, I’m so tied up with non music related stuff right now, I can’t motivate myself enough for this 
.
@CATMAN62 Tod! Thank you so much for the nice lines! You are always spot on with your comments 
. What you wrote refers so much with my experiences. How often did I start a song or piece and thinking this one would be quite straight forward…and then I’m spending practice after practice, hours after hours to hit that point where I am happy with it.
Sounds disappointed? No!!! Actually I’m enjoying every minute of the process. The joke about that is, that normally I’m not very patient about learning new things… but with guitar, I discovered a whole new person in me. My “guitar me” has learnt, that everything takes (a lot of) time!
I’m so happy for you, that your wife values your efforts on guitar playing. Isn’t it great to get some positive feedback from your loved ones?
I’ve been really happy, when my son’s girlfriend, who lives with us, once said: “Sometimes, I’m secretely listening behind the closed door, I feel so much at home, when I can hear you playing.”
Silent night will now have to wait until next Christmas, but I’ve started with another classic .
Funny that you say this, Andrea, I’m the opposite! My ‘normal’ self is pretty patient yet my ‘guitar guy’ gets frustrated & impatient so quickly! I’m sure that’s why I was a start/stop/start/stop learner for so many years - I couldn’t play something to my satisfaction or I’d think it was sounding really good only to discover that I was the only person in the room who knew what song it was supposed to be!!! I’d be strumming Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” & our kids would be guessing other song names - 
- it was very discouraging!!! 
My solution was to not let anyone hear me - this is why performance anxiety set in… I have a really bad case of ‘red light fever’… can’t seem to get a decent recording & everything falls apart if I know someone is watching/listening!!! You seem to have moved on from that issue, though & bravo for you!
Good luck with your next project - any hints what it’s to be? 
I can keep a secret!!! 
Keep it fun!!! 
Tod
I totally understand this. I also have my inner fights, that everything takes me too long, but meanwhile I know this and I’m trying not to set myself under pressure. I guess, there is a big step between playing something in a recognizable way and playing something actually sounding good and we need to be patient about this .
I’m sure you made good progress since you restarted playing and I assume, you are much better as you think.
Don’t worry too much about the red light syndrome, lots of us experience that too.
As soon as I press the button, everything falls apart and I need hundreds of attempts to get out something worth keeping it.
Same, when I realize someone is listening…that’s why I have real struggles with testing out guitars in a store 
.
I don’t think, I have really moved from that issue - from time to time I get one of those “brave” moments … but it’s always a fight with myself 
.
Thank you for sharing your story - it really is an inspiration to read & so glad you’re doing well. I’m recovering from c, recently took up the guitar and learning that it is bringing me joy.
Play all the Christmas music to your hearts content with your father! Record it and treasure every moment. Nothing ever goes as planned during the hustle and bustle of the holidays - I think it would be a lovely idea to play and sing Christmas Carols just because… make this special memory.
Hi Angelique, nice to see you here in my log! I read your intro post and the first entry of your own log, but didn’t have the time to write yet.
Sorry to hear about your story, facing the big c too. It’s for sure a life changing experience. I wish you all the best for your recovery!
Picking up the guitar and starting to learn to play music was one of my best decisions. I feel a very positive influence for my own recovery and I’m sure it’ll be the same for you.
Playing and singing are a helpful “therapy”. Sure, we have to invest a lot of time into practice, but it is so rewarding.
I wish you a good start into your musical life. Enjoy every minute!
February 2025
I’ve not been very active recently in the community and my last log entry was in December, so it’s time for a quick update.
January and February have been pretty busy due to non guitar related life issues 
. I had a lot to organize and finally my chronical fatigue problem took over again, so unfortunately I had to reduce my guitar time massively and also my presence on the forum, I had to prioritize all the tasks life is giving me without having a chance for extras.
I definitely enjoyed playing, without having too much ambitions to move on, I mainly invested time to improve on things I already knew. I simply didn’t have much energy left, but I still enjoy playing a lot, even if it takes me to exhaustion. Lots of days where I finished my sessions in the evening close to a physical breakdown.
In this sense I used parts of January for some more Grade 3 consolidation. Among other things like polishing my Greensleeves fingerpicking and the Lickin’ Riff, I went back to power chords again. Power chords were an on and off practice item since I first learned them. I had some trouble with wrist and forearm pain and every time I made a step ahead, I had to pause them again. Grrrrrrr……… It was mainly still an issue to speed them up and fortunately, I made good progress and really enjoyed practicing.
I spent a good amount of time on Justin’s Fingerstrumming Course, which I enjoy very much. I’m half the way through and spent a lot of time to implement those techniques into appropriate songs I already knew. It’s so much fun, but also not as easy as I expected. Getting a consistent tone when fingers are involved, is harder than using a pick for me. But I’m well on my way and I’ll do the course alongside other items, when I’m back home.
What I really love about searching for practice songs is the fact, that I accidently stumble over songs I’ve already forgotten. In this case, I digged out Simple Minds “See the lights”, which is a fun song to add some finger strumming and dynamic variations (super easy chord progression allows to concentrate on those fingers and rhythm aspects).
To keep the basic finger picking patterns I’ve learnt fresh and fluent, I selected some songs with more demanding barré chords, just to practice clean transitions on finger picking.
I also moved on to Grade 4’s E-shaped barré Chords. This will keep me busy for a while, still having issues with wrist pain and hand fatigue, but it’s slowly getting better.
Due to my health conditions (and more than two years of partial insomnia) I have major problems to memorize longer sequences or to memorize whole pieces, it takes me ages to learn a whole new project, working out all the small bits from Justin’s videos, so I’m forced to cut it down into smaller chunks. I had to adjust my way of learning, but It’s already paying off.
For my own amusement and also for finger independence and speed I had a go on a few riffs (Jimmy, please forgive me 
, but your riffs are too tempting …), really fun so far.
And then, on February 20th, I had my first experience on travelling with a guitar!
I finally had the possibility to check in into a rehab center after a longer application period.
I left by train for a 4 weeks stay, a few hundred kilometers from home, and thought back and forth, if I should take a guitar with me, even, if it would be a benefit or not.
I had a really heavy phase of window shopping for electric travel guitars for weeks 
, but I finally came to the conclusion this probably would have been a lot of money on too much compromises.
And then, I decided to leave the guitar at home .
Until the very last day before my departure……
I simply couldn’t resist…… And the seat close to me was free anyway……
The program here is fully packed with daily treatments, so there is not much time for practice, but I can get out a few minutes every day and this keeps me motivated and satisfied.
To all of you I haven’t commented on their latest AVOYPs, I’ve heard a lot of them and really enjoyed everyone’s progress 
, I’m still reading on the forum on a daily basis, but I have to save my daily energy very carefully, so I can’t be as active as I would like to be (and I hate that…. ).
Great update Andrea and I hope you get back to full health soon. Your 4 week rehab should do you a power of good.
Just taking the guitar on trains and buses will make you feel like a rock star. No one knows if you’re famous or not! And if you tell people you’re going into rehab, they’ll definitely think you’re famous. 
Good on yer, Andrea for keeping going with guitar when you’re not really feeling like it. A lesson to be learned there!
Good luck with rehab and I’m sure you’ll come out of it feeling better…… and famous!!
Erm…….! Surely if you’re famous, everyone will……oh never mind!
Believe me, if I was a rock star, I would travel in a big, comfortable tour bus, maybe together with some JG buddies and an accompanying container full of excellent guitars .
I fear, I don’t pass as a rock star anymore 
. There were a few guys looking (at the guitar!!!) and I swear, they didn’t think about me as a famous person, they rather thought about what that old chicken has to do with an electric guitar 
.
@BurnsRhythm I do my best and giving up is no option at all , hope dies last… 
.
Thanks, David! Unfortunately they confirmed what I already knew in one of their first lectures, it isn’t curable, doctors are aware that they don’t know enough yet to create a real breakthrough. The rehab is just about learning to deal with the situation and a bit of relaxation. I’ve been a bit disheartened to be honest, not what I wanted to hear…
Hi Andrea,
great update apart from your health issues. Hopefully, rehab will help you improve soon. Wish you all the best! 
Glad you took the guitar with you. Four weeks can be very long without it. Having fun playing is way more important than progressing through the course (imho at least, especially as keeping it fun will help your progress anyhow), so you are just doing the right thing without burning yourself. 
No, not what you want to hear at all, you’re bound to be disheartened. Learning to live with it is your best bet, so I think you’re right to take your guitar with you, It’s part of your life and it will help with the relaxation.
Hi Andrea,
That was a special story, super good to read that you are still busy with the guitar and at the same time you cannot put everything you would like into it due to physical limitations… that is really KXT…
That must be very Intense 4 weeks in a rehabilitation center and at the same time nice and very important that serious work is being done to make you as good and strong as possible again… I had very nice months in the woods of Doorn (MRC), although I look back on it differently in retrospect because of the many mistakes they made that I did not want or could see at the time, your story now brings something to the surface, but still some nice things too… 
I hope the very best for you and that with the coming summer your misery will slowly but almost completely disappear with the help of sun’s rays ( ooo uh and medics of course) and that long heavy mountain walks with the dog and hours of playing the guitar will become part of your daily activities…
and not really learning new things but playing the old ones again is also progress which really helps you get better at the guitar 
Greetings and we wish you the world from here 
Hi Andrea, I’m sure things will turn out fine with time for you, I am convinced, no matter how big are the difficulties we have to face, we all have a right of a little bit of happiness share in this life and it’s a daily challenge to not give it up and find our own unique way to it. You’re an intelligent and strong woman, take your time, be strict to yourself only on the things that really matters and self-indulgent on anything else. I wish you that you first of all can find some solution to Insomnia, because the quality of sleep will determine the quality of your days…thanks god Spring is almost here and make things a bit sunnier, coloured and easier! 
Ps: you’ve been wise to take your guitar with you!
im not great at encouraging people so Ill just say take care of yourself and take your time
@roger_holland Thank you so much for the good wishes, Rogier 
.
Indeed, I’m pretty busy with lots of different appointments and treatments every day.
Some of them are really beneficial, some are less helpful, but simply part of the game.
Ohhhh, if it was only about the sun rays… we have plenty of them where I live 
.
I still enjoy being outside with my dog and I’m enjoying nature, nobody can steal that…
Although I’m not moving forward in an adequate tempo, I enjoy guitar every day, every minute I can play… and I’m more convinced than ever, it’s one of the most beneficial activities to stay in good mental health. And not to lose one’s sense of humor
@Silvia80 Nice to read your comment, Silvia and thank you!
I’m very thankful, that I’m pretty resilient and strong and have no intention yet to give up and guitar is one of my happy places in a day!
You are very right with sleep, I’m working on it.
A trip to Italy would be helpful too , whenever I cross the border, my heart gets light. Good to know we only have less than 90 minutes to drive, although it will be much more complicated due to the road constructions around Brennero.
But meanwhile, I can hear a little Adriano …
@GrumpyMac Thanks Deborah, we both will keep our heads up, don’t we?
I never gave up in 20 years
but its true that having a treatment helps , even if its only a little bit
I hope you will find one for you
March 2025
Personal stuff
I’m finally back from my rehab treatment since March 20th and it was great to be back home after living in a “health bubble” for four weeks .
I had a good time there with lots of physical therapy and I got loads of helpful support and information. I also met some nice fellow sufferers, and a problem shared is a problem halved, they say…. Ok, not really 
, but it does help to see how others deal with the same situation.
The bad news is, there is no quick solution, no cure to the CFS Symptom at the current level of science. Therefore, we were instructed how to deal better with our limited daily power.
So, the real work starts after rehab with trying to implement strategies like pacing into one’s life. Which I’m working on right now. I’ve always been very bad at keeping my feet still…., but there’s no other option, so I try to accept that I shouldn’t tempt fate……
This means a lot of adjustments and reorganizations of my daily life and a different prioritizing of tasks, including my daily guitar practice.
As I wrote in my last entry, I took one of my electrics with me, which served me well and was a good friend during 4 lonely weekends 
.
My thoughts about travelling by train with a full-sized guitar? I was lucky on the outbound journey but had to change trains for five times on my way back home with all the luggage and a guitar and was forced to stand on the last train for 1:45 h, as it was crowded as hell.
My personal conclusion? You must be very much in love with your guitar to do all that schlepping !
Guitar practice in general
Due to the circumstances given, I’m forced to rethink my practice approach. I practice/play almost daily, thereof 5 times a week with a planned schedule of practice items, listed on a spreadsheet.
My practice time is split into two sessions daily. In the first session of 0:45h to 1:00h, I’m working on several practice items which I pick out of my list, the second part, up to 1:00h, depending on time available, is mostly used for song work. During the last year, I had to reduce those hours from time to time. But I can say I have an organized way to practice and will keep that up, otherwise I’ll use structure and direction.
What I should change is my tendency to over-practice half-unconsciously. I have to admit that I don’t feel very comfortable with being tied to those 5-minute chunks, which are recommended by the time boxing approach. Honestly said, I hate to use a timer or watch the clock all the time (freedom!). But I tend to spend way more time on certain things in a session than intended or even needed. Sometimes, I even get lost in time whilst trying to achieve something. And I know very well, it’s not useful, as very often, there is no progress within that added time, as concentration decreases 
.
I will have to stop this to save time and energy!!! Already working on this, timer is used now in my practice sessions.
Review: Practice in March 2025
Due to my rehab, I didn’t have a fixed schedule in February and March. I didn’t have a lot of time for scheduled practice during my stay.
Before I left, I already dipped into Grade 4 lessons and started to work more on my E-shaped barre chords (major and minor). I’m still limited by a certain hand fatigue to 5-minute chunks, which slows the whole process down. Slowly getting more efficient.
I worked on Major Scale Pattern 1, including the minimal movement approach. I made some attempts on improvising with backing tracks. Lots of work to do here. I can find some nice sounding sequences, but I’m still much too random, must get a better feel for this.
I had fun with starting on Boom Bass with Licks, I’ve fully memorized the piece and have been quite satisfied with it, but I only had my electric with me and now I’m currently working on getting more fluent on acoustic, which is way harder than on electric. But I’m on good track. I’ll keep that on my list. It’s fun to play, really enjoy this.
Same with the Yesterday Chord Melody Arrangement. This was the second piece I worked on in March on electric, now transferring it to acoustic. It’s so lovely to play and like everything I’m learning on guitar with my fingers, it’s teaching me a LOT! Absolutely worth the effort!
I’m still fighting there with that damned B7 chord (did I ever complain about an F??) and I still must work on fluidity with the fast changes in the second half.
Although I had to slow down again due to my health issues, I’m pretty satisfied with my progress in March. Slow but steady……
Preview for April 2025
Barre Chords will be a long-term project anyway, I added major 7th chords during the last days. Phew……! Stretchy issue, concerning the 4-finger version. Another point, where I painfully feel my curved pinky limitations. I just can’t reach out very far, hope that comes with time….
I’m able to play the chords with some effort, but switching to them will be a challenge, as my body is working against me ……
I’ve added the Steady Thumb Primer out of match my sound to my practice list.
I restarted with the Finger Strum Course, those techniques will take much more practice time than I thought in the beginning. I reached the Muted Hit finger strum lesson. Oh my! Until here, it went really well, but this lesson will be challenging. Let’s see how it goes in the end! (Maybe @Silvia80 has a few tricks, as she already passed the lession, I guess? Help! I need somebody! Help !)
Reminder : I should move on with Grade 4 theory……!!!
I already wrote a novel 
, so I’ll stop for now!
Ah, I forgot a little “joke”:
I changed strings on my acoustic and somehow managed to kill the high e string whilst tuning up. I had a spare one, but not the right size. I put it on but forgot to cut it of, because I’ve been disturbed. So it wobbled around for a few days.
Shortly before I watched Richard’s latest club session, I decided to do a quick fix and cut it off with my pliers. I was in a hurry, because Richard was already on the screen. I didn’t look - snap - and cutted off the adjacent b string by accident. Call me an idiot 
… Now I have to restring the whole guitar again 
(Sorry!).
F7 is worse than B7 
