Something about Module 5 (unlocking C) and perhaps sneakily jumping a little to 6 (G) totally ramped up my enjoyment of things. I suspect my Dm quagmire was skewing my perception of things but now not only is Dm “just another chord”, that combined with C and G in the range opens up so many songs.
Fortunately C and G are not problematic chords for me at all so I’m getting to focus on some chord progressions from the Beginner’s Course book and then I am playing loads of tunes I’ve never heard of before via the App, but ones which make me understand what chord combinations sound good together and therefore which changes I need to focus on.
So indirectly I’m getting to practice loads of things at once like chord changes, rhythm and strumming patterns all because I’m less tied up with the fundamental mechanics and exercises of these first eight chords and now I’m stringing them together to make music. It’s such a good feeling. Guitars are great
Hi Charlie, I’m not qualified to comment on your progress as I’m at a similar stage to you. We seem to be thinking along the same lines, having more fun now getting the chords into songs and playing rhythm.
Perfecting chords from years ago was a bit tedious but learning songs and rhythm is new learning and that makes it more fun and interesting.
Enjoy your journey.
Yeah it sounds like we’re at a similar stage and on a similar journey. I’m sure there will be plenty of bumps in the road ahead but for now the fun times are rolling!
Have been a bit busy with work annoyingly getting in the way but I’ve managed to do a good spell of just taking time on Beginner Grade 1, Module 5 to nail down everything learned so far.
I’ve decided to move onto Grade 6 today because everything so far is sticking and my fingers seem to be flowing around the fretboard fairly well.
All my prior issues with Dm are long gone now so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into a new Module. It’s another where I already know and can play the “new” chord (G) so hopefully it’ll be relatively easy to maintain my momentum.
OK, adding the G Chord into the Song App has opened up so, so many great tunes from “my era”. I’ve been shuttling between The Cranberries, U2, Coldplay, Travis. All sorts. Actually have sore fingers for the first time in weeks and it’s good tired soreness, not sore fingertips.
I’m going to be very happy noodling about with Song Practice for a good week or so to further reinforce learnings to date.
It sounds like you are making good progress and having lots of fun. Don’t forget to check out Justin’s song lessons; you can filter by grade and chords.
Wrapped up Beginner Grade 1 this week. It probably looks like I’m progressing too fast but I’m my own harshest critic and I’m comfortable that I’m not cutting corners here.
The very first module of Grade 2 slams you with a whole bunch of the “Stuck 3&4” chords so that’ll slow me down again because if nothing else, my little fingertip will need to toughen up.
This may sound bad but whilst I can clearly hear the difference between these 8 chords when plucking each string individually, when strummed as a chord I’m not really getting much of a sense of variation.
Those third and fourth fingers are ensuring there’s that consistent brightness to all the chords and that dominates for me. I guess (hopefully) you don’t get many songs with chains of these chords together so they stand out more in songs with that sort of chord structure?
Just started Grade 2 myself yesterday. You definitely get that droning noise Justin mentions in songs that use these consistently. I’ve been practicing Every Rose has its Thorns and you shook me all night long and you can hear it once you get the hang of the rhythms. Especially every rose has its thorns. I’d recommend it as it’s a fun song with a really cool pattern and mostly sticks to stuck 3&4. Plus those Dsus chords really give the song some umph, in my opinion
You shook me all night long is awesome as well but the real song uses C instead of Cadd9 so I’ve been using that. It sounds better but means it’s less helpful than every rose for using those stuck 3&4. I love the song though so I’m learning it anyway .
So far grade 2 feels like Justin is saying “oh your serious about this guitar thing? Let’s get to it then.” Teaching 9 new chords in video 1 versus the 8 total chords in grade 1. Really fun stuff!
Grade 2 is enjoyable so far. I like that it is “upping the game” by throwing so many extra chords at you immediately. I’ve generally got the grips nailed down now but need to actually recall which chord is which - at the moment I can just sequentially cycle through them but I don’t know which is a C, A, E etc., which isn’t ideal
I’ve also found learning that first scale curiously satisfying. I think patterns and practice appeal to me so when you have a pattern you can practice and it makes a nice chain of notes it’s a big ticked box for me. It feels good to be pushed a bit so I’m enjoying this.
I haven’t even made it through all of the lessons yet so haven’t started the formal practice sessions. I’m currently just working on that scale and the new chords, while also going back over the old chords just to make sure they stay fresh in the memory and finger bank. I may have to consider creating myself a bunch of “learned chord” diagrams so I have an easy reference guide.
It’s almost what I need but for completeness it would be really handy if all of the chords from the course could be shown and in the order that they are introduced to us. There are nine “3&4” chords at the start of the Grade 2 Beginner Course and I can’t find them there.
Hi Charlie, I would recommend that you start building your own chord book. Something in the old school approach of drawing the chords out helps with memorising them. Plus, you’ve also got a handy little reference book you’ve created of all the chords you have learned. On the website for each lesson, Justin has the chords shown on the lesson notes.
Yeah I’ve realised this. I started trying to screengrab images and compile them digitally but it’s far from great.
I’ve been relatively extravagant by ordering a 100 page book with 16 ready to fill guitar chord boxes per page. I’ll get my marker in action tomorrow and will sketch everything out in the order I’ve learned them to satisfy my OCD
If you really wanted to go down the path of making your own electronic library, I think Justin uses the software NeckDiagrams. For now, I’m content with the good old-fashioned paper approach.
I’m still grafting away on Grade 2, Module 8. I’m very comfortable with executing the “Stuck 3&4” chords now, the Em Pentatonic Scale and the notes in the Open Position. What I’m struggling with is knowing the “names” of these new chords. They don’t exactly have catchy monikers which are instinctively logical so I just don’t know my F 6/9 from my E MIN 7 from my A7 SUS4.
I’ve mostly been practising the scale, the open notes and clean execution of these new chords. I sit with my chord diagrams in front of me and try to absorb the names of each one but it’s just not sinking in!
EDIT: I’ve done the sensible thing and chosen not to fixate on memorising chord games and instead doing something with more practical value. I’m now playing Brown Eyed Girl and Wonderwall. Shifting to and from Em7 needs a bit of muscle memory and finger stretching work.
Keep at it Charlie and keep learning and improving, all things in time.
Have you worked through the first few modules of the music theory programme. The first two are free and from the third there is a subscription. Like all of Justin’s subscription/purchase content, I think the cost is ever so reasonable.
That may help provide a little more theoretical foundation to aid understanding the basics of chord formation and naming.
I’m happy to share some explanation that may be helpful but knowing where you stand theory wise would help to do that appropriately.
But as you say, learning the shapes and playing the songs is the primary.
Hi Charlie, rather than sitting with the chord diagrams in front of you trying to absorb the names have you tried when practicing songs using those chords saying the chord names out loud when you change to that chord, starting off with one chord name and once that chord name sinks in introducing another chord name into the mix. So your learning the fingering and the songs but inadvertently learning the chord names that go with the fingerings.
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