I am at the end of week 7 in the beginner course and yesterday started on module 7. A few days ago I added pattern 1 of the major scale to my daily practice sessions and have been working on major barre chords. I hope I am spending enough time in each module. I feel like I am and keep telling myself that I will know when to stay longer in a particular module and that will likely be module 7. I do need to work on memorizing songs. I have a couple down, but I need to memorize the words to a few others rather than just strumming the chords. The journey continues and hopefully will always be as enjoyable as it is now.
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Today I finally attempted recording in Garage Band. Not the best, but it is a start. Uploaded to Soundcloud and I will try to get it linked here. Just a short attempt at recording for the first time. I have much to learn about recording too.
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Well done Ben, that sounded great. CCR, one of my favourite bands. Keep up the great progress
Dave
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Finishing up week 8 on Beginner course 1. I have been practicing module 7 longer than the previous modules to consolidate what I have learned so far and to have all the OMCās above 100. The Dm changes were the ones that took a while to achieve that goal, but I got there yesterday and the changes finally feel naturalā¦ muscle memory kicking in at last. I have been working on some of module 8 at the same time as module 7 to keep challenging myself to new things. I think that keeping something new in daily practice helps keep me motivated. I have also added to the things I practice randomly during the day, E shaped barre chords, the āStuck Chordsā, major scale pattern 1 in G major and the open Em Pentatonic scale. Oh yes, the F alternative / cheats too. I am anxious to get F changes fast enough to be able to play songs with F in them.
I ordered the Beginners Song Book and am waiting for delivery. Two days in a row it was, according to tracking, to be delivered by the end of the day. Then along came the weekend and no delivery on those days. Patience, patience, patienceā¦
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Well done. I am at the same point as you, consolidating module 7 while dipping into module 8to keep up interest. I keep having to pinch myself to remind me how far I have come.
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Thanks Tony. I know what you mean. Sometimes I have to look back to 8 weeks ago when I was trying to get my fingers to form that first chord to appreciate that progress is being made.
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While still consolidating in module 7 and practicing some of module 8 at the same time, my motivation and enthusiasm level made a leap last night when I was able to play Riff part 1 of Wish You Were Here after a short time working on it. It is the consistent little accomplishments that keep me going.
I was also very weak this morning and gave in to a serious GAS attack and ordered a Fender American Performance Telecaster. Ouch! In all honesty, I have wanted one since I decided to learn to play guitar. I just didnāt want to spend a lot before I knew if I would stick with it or not. Now I know and now I didā¦spend that is.
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Hi Ben 
enjoying reading through your learning log and very impressed with how your progressing, CCR sounding great and looking forward to more updates 
Sadie is a Beauty 
please give her some love from me and hope you enjoy your new Tele
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Thank you Chazzo78. Sadie is my constant companion and best friend. Oh yes, she has me well trained too.
I received notification this morning that my new Tele has shipped, so I should have it in a few days. Canāt wait! I will post a pic when it arrives.
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I have watched all the module 8 practice videos and after watching the last one, āpractice routines for module 8ā, I realize that it is time for me to be in module 8 full time. I have been consolidating in module 7 and working through module 8 at the same time and I believe it is time to move ahead. I do still need to work on learning songs, but I can continue that in module 8. I have reduced my practice time for two days now as I have been a little concerned about some pain in the index finger of my left, fretting, hand. I havenāt kept track of exactly how much time I spend practicing, but it is right at an hour for the regular course outline (module 7) and a few more hours during the day and evening working on module 8 and playing songs, practicing scales, barre chords etc. I have the stuck 3&4 chords down pretty good except for memorizing the names of a couple of them when I play them and have been playing along with some of the module 8 songs. So, I will move into grade 2 and hope that I have a firm enough grip on grade 1 that I can continue to make good progress in my learning endeavor.
I am forcing myself to back off on the playing time for a few days. My new guitar is on the way and it is going to be difficult to put it down for a while after it arrives, so Iād better rest the fingers nowā¦
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Isnāt it a great feeling when you realise that youāre good enough to go up a grade rather than just up another lesson 
I know waiting for the new guitar is hard but itās worth the wait.
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Yes, it does feel great advancing a grade. It is hard to believe that a couple months ago I was awkwardly trying to form my first chords. Now I am trying to learn to slide barre chords on the fingerboard without the pinky ending up on the same string as the ring finger. The new guitar is supposed to arrive this coming Wednesday and I canāt wait.
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My new guitar has arrived. It is a Fender American Telecaster Performer. The body is sandblasted Ash. It has a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. The color is Daphne Blue. Iām very happy with the finish and setup and it sounds great.
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I am really enjoying the new Telecaster. It just fells good in my hands. Iām still hanging out in module 8 and will for a while yet. No rush and I am having fun working on the āWish You Were Hereā riff. I have been practicing Barre chords and the F variants along with the module 8 practice schedule and just added Bm to work on so I can play a song or two that I like and require that chord. Same with F which I can use now that I can change it with other chords barely fast enough to play songs.
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Today marks day 4 since moving up to beginner grade 2 module 9. I am glad that I added the F barre and F variants to my practice back in module 5. In module 9 the F variants were introduced and I had a good enough grasp of the chords already so I could play the songs in the practice schedule right off and that felt great. The C major open scale took me about 3 days to to come to terms with, but after practicing it several times a day until I memorized it, I can now move up and down the scale pretty well. I am enjoying this module a lot. The song practice selection is very good and learning the C major scale seems like a good thing to accomplish at this stage.
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It has been a while since I updated my learning log. Today I moved ahead to module 11. I have been spending time while on module 10 trying to get a grip on F barre to open chord changes and have made some progress. I pick up the guitar numerous times during the day and at night and each time I make a point to go through F changes for a few minutes. It has helped me get the changes up to 62 - 75 depending on the chordā¦ F - G is the slowest for some reason. I am anxious to make use of sus chords and learn finger style in module 11. One session today and I am excited to get after it again tomorrow. Happy birthday was easier than I thought it would be. I was able to play through it but it is going to take time for me to memorize the note sequence.
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Thatās a great journey @BHopson and fast progress 
you put me to shame, but I do get a bit sidetracked at times working on songs that I like but that are a little above my play grade 
Iām also doing JG Music Theory Course so have to share my time a bit.
We are dog people so love the photo, great looking companion there I take it you were/are into photography too judging by the great photos.
Weāll done Ben looking forward to seeing your first AVOYP.
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Thank you Craig. I am also doing the JG Music Theory Course, at a slower pace than the guitar course though. Sadie, my chocolate lab, is a great companion and she puts up with the noise I make with the guitar without complaining. Photography has been a passion of mine for many years.
Hi @BHopson we had a Black Lab until he was 16 or 17 
he was obviously well looked after 
I started photography way back at school (and thatās a long time ago) had our own home printing and developing lab many years ago before Digital really took off. Outdoors and landscape was my interest but only hobby stuff.
look forward to following your journey mate.
We have similar interests in photography. I still do large format, 4X5 and 8X10 film photography as well as digital. Labs are great dogs.