Yeah, I understand what youāre saying Tony.
When I compare the two positions, everything now feels a bit bunched up with the guitar on the right leg. The left leg position allows more freedom to move around the fretboard.
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Itās certainly a journey to conquer, Silvia. Or at least try to conquer!
Little by little, we get nearerā¦
Now donāt go getting all excited at my mention of Classical, I arenāt about to try to emulate you or Ana doodah!
Recordings? Nah, itās not my thing. Iām quite happy doing what Iām doing and providing my own feedback. Iām a lot more critical than most on this forum, but I can also hear the good things in my playingā¦.occasionally! 
Youāre welcome to come and see us when Iām in a band playing live music. 
Burning Ambitions
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David @BurnsRhythm
As always your LL are interesting and you seem to give an honest view of where you are.
Your direction of travelling with transcribing and blues is heading off in a different direction to me but I guess this is in a way is what Justin anticipates at this stage.
Slightly surprised about changing how you hold the guitar, but if it works for you then go for it. Just wondering if you have tried playing standing up
Those of us who are or were 9 to 5ers donāt always appreciate how much your workload as a farmer varies with the seasons.
Michael
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Hi Michael @MAT1953
JG courses cover a wide range of styles and interest and they allow us to follow our own individual path.
I donāt have the time now and the years left to learn everything so it makes sense to narrow it down to what interests me.
I was a bit surprised at moving the guitar onto my left leg too because I dismissed that position a while back.
I always use the strap now and the guitar isnāt really sitting on my leg, itās sitting on the strap. When I tried that on the right leg, the strap didnāt really do any good so I put it in a cupboard!
The old bones like a rest at the end of the day so I play mostly sitting - but now, if I stand, it plays just the same.
Seasons!!@?! The ground is very tender and sticky and yesterdayās contracting work didnāt go well, taking twice as long as it should have !!@?! - donāt ask!!
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Itās a strange time right now.
My Dad died in mid June and I havenāt touched the guitar since.
I know Iāll get back to it sometime but Iāve lost my mojo for it. It doesnāt seem important at the moment.
Dad was 91 and itās been hard watching him slowly fade into an old man. I donāt want to remember him like that. Iād rather remember the influential figure he was.
He and Mum were married for 67 years. Sheās 90 and not in the best of health, although sheās coping very well with it all.
There are very few of their generation left now but despite that, the farming community of all generations came to pay their respects and filled the church to overflowing. It was hard to stand up and address them at the funeral, but somehow I got through it.
R.I.P Dad
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Sorry to hear that David. Huge condolences.
When its time its time and the mojo will start flowing again. Somethings in life are more important than music or playing. Just take care.
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Sorry to hear that David. My condolences too.
The guitar will still be there when you want to pick it up again and we will all still be here to welcome you back when youāre ready. Taking care of yourself and your family is your number 1 priority right now.
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David @BurnsRhythm
Sorry to hear your sad news.
You are quite right to remember when he was in his prime and not in his last days.
Michael
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My deepest condolences, David, sorry for your loss.
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@TheMadman_tobyjenner
@ziggysden
@MAT1953
@Socio
Thank you all for your support.
āLife goes onā - and is doing.
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Sorry to hear about the death of your dad, David, my condolences. There are times, when guitar and music are less important and I guess itās pretty normal to put them aside for a while. Take your time to say good bye to your dad. Itās always hard to see those loved ones to fade away and loosing their former abilities. But he will stay your dad with his full personality forever, because you keep him in your heart. All the best for you and your family!
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@Helen0609
Thanks for your kind words, Andrea.
Nobody lasts forever and Dadās passing was becoming increasingly inevitable, so it was expected. Iām okay though, we have a large family, including the wider family, who all pull together and also a huge rural community.
āThe music of my lifeā - thatās always been a thing. The music is in me and my aim is to get some of it back outā¦.so I know Iāll get back to guitar.
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Hi David - my most sincere condolences for the loss of your father. Itās so difficult to lose those dear to us, even when theyāre passing is expected. I feel for you & your familyā¦ especially your Mum. 67 years together is such a long time to have someone & Iām sure she feels the loss in every moment of her days.
So sad.
My wife & I have both lost our parents & we find that although itās very hard (we still cry over certain memories regularly), we find ourselves laughing about the good times we had together with them or childhood memories. Treasure those moments when you & your Dad shared special thingsā¦ one of my wifeās favorite memories of her father was when he held our firstborn in his arms the first time. This gruff man who didnāt smile very often, almost NEVER cried, standing with his granddaughter in his arms with a huge smile & tears streaming down his face!
Remember what you just saidā¦ the music is in youā¦ music surrounds us! Go into your fields at dusk, listen to the music of the Earthā¦ birds singing, insects buzzing, your heart beating & if you āhearā it all comes together as a beautiful songā¦ then your wife calls you to come eat & you have the āmusicā of family & love about you!
You say you love Blues - write a song about your Dad - it doesnāt have to be good enough for anyone else to hear, but youāll share it in your heart with your father. Itāll bring you back to the guitar & help you find some closure & to deal with the loss. I know. I have a song about my Mom that I wrote & I sing it when I feel deep sorrow that sheās gone.
Tod
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@CATMAN62
Thanks Tod.
Yes, a lifetime of memories, all etched in my mind. Thereās bound to be sadness right now but the memories will all be happy ones.
Neil Diamondās Beautiful Noise is about finding music in the sounds of everyday life. Itās a song Iāve always liked.
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So sorry to hear of your loss David. With 67 years of marriage there must be some wonderful memories. As others have already said, the music will come back into your life but family and friendships will always come first.
Take care.
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@mathsjunky
Thanks Paul.
Iām sat here having a coffee and thinking that, actually, music hasnāt left me. Itās still there and I still listen to it. Itās the playing of it thatās left me. Iām sure that if I were a good player, Iād be playing music that suited the mood. Itās the inability to just pick up the guitar and play without thinking that stops me from having a go.
Hmmā¦. I wonder if Iāll ever get thereā¦
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David,
I remember you posting this in the āWhere does your username come fromā thread. Read your own words & think about being the guitar player you dream of becoming.
Often, when life kicks us in the gut, some of the things we want or need to do are put on hold for a while - we need time to recover. Thatās ok. Itās important to remember our Dreams & our Goals though. They may not seem so important while the pain is fresh, but theyāre actually a very important part of recovering and healing from the crummy hand that has been dealt to you.
As I said above, itās good to look back and remember the times youāve had with your Dad, but at the same time, think about what your Dad would have said to you if he were still here. Not knowing him of course Iāll just give you the advice Iād give my son in similar circumstancesā¦ āSon, stop crying in your beer, get up off of your bum & go do something you love! While your doing it, just give a little thought to how much I love you & how proud I am that youāre having yourself some fun & not just moping around!ā (Iād probably use some āsaltierā words, though)
My 2 centsā¦ given in the spirit of someone who has experienced similar painā¦
Tod
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@CATMAN62
Thanks Tod. You have wise words.
Iām slowly moving out of the āon holdā phase and starting to plan. That applies to guitar too. I am indeed redefining my goals, although Iāve never particularly liked the term āgoalsā. I prefer aims or ambitions. It isnāt a change of direction, more a honing in to what I want to do.
I have a little nest egg from a pension due before long and I intend to spend it on new gear.
Top of my list is a Katana Gen3 and then a guitar! Probably wonāt be a Dream though because Burns seem to have gone out of production.
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Hey David,
Your last spurred me to look up the Burns Dream for sale onlineā¦ there a quite a few out there on EBAY & REVERBā¦ not cheap mind youā¦ but available if youāre interested. The Katana amps are very nice - I have the Katana 50 MKII - the only thing it doesnāt do that I wish I had is bluetooth for streaming a backing track while I playā¦ I donāt hook it up to a computer as it seems most of the demos show & am pretty happy with the sounds I get from just ātwiddling the knobsā!!!
This is good! Whatever you want to call it - a good understanding of what direction to take is important - taking time to reflect & plan after something momentous happens (either good or bad) is a good thing! I am glad to hear this!
Good luck with everything David!!!
Tod
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Thanks Tod.
Yeah, Iāve seen one or two on eBay. The problem with that though is you canāt try them out. Very much trusting to luck, and at that price I donāt fancy trusting to luck!
Iāve never played anything but what I have so itāll be off to the shop for me to sample a few guitars.
Looking forward to it!
Twiddling the knobs is just fine for me too. I watched Justinās recent review and the Katana looks just right for someone like me who is just getting into the tone stuff but who wouldnāt know anything much about all the different effects pedals that are out there.
The new Gen3 Katana has Bluetooth so it maybe worth looking to trade yours in. Or just buy an extra oneā¦ā¦