Update 3
Just an update on my thoughts for now.
Inspired by @jkahn and @alexisduprey I’m going to try a ‘songbook’ approach for a while.
I’ve tried my best to talk myself into strictly practicing by following Justin’s modules - but it just won’t stick. Back to personality types again I guess, my mind likes to wander and that’s how I find I progress the most successfully with most things.
I did try the app for a while and think that it is the perfect tool for beginning your journey with Justin. However, my soul resists the structure.
Going forward I’m just dipping into the areas I’m interested in, back to the blues lead modules at the moment.
Blues Lead
So my thoughts on this are:
- Learn Position 1 and Position 4 of the minor pentatonic.
- Milk those two positions for everything they’ve got - including learning the (positional) associated major pentatonic shapes.
My rationale for this is linked to me participating in jam sessions that sometimes take place after the open mics I attend. Position 1 and 4 have root notes on the low E and A strings, I know the notes along these pretty well. So, some one shouts up “OK, we’re in the key of C for this one, I can either jump onto the minor A pentatonic and see if that works or, using the same shape and position, target the C root notes and play it as the C major pentatonic - eventually being able to switch between the two. It seems to be working at the moment so I’m sticking to it. I know Justin focuses more on the major scales first now but I like the simplicity of the pentatonics (for now).
I do have Justin’s blues licks app, so plenty of mileage in that along with the blues lead modules.
To that end, I’ll focus on completing a few of the ‘ guitar challenges’ over in AVOYP.
Learn Songs, Learn Songs, Learn Songs
So firstly linked to the above blues lead, I’m going to have a go at Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits. In the past I’ve almost exclusively focused on rhythm guitar ignoring solos along the way and would like to do a bit of work in this area, so it will be backing track and full focus on the lead.
Other than that I will be trying to consolidate the songs I’ve been learning for the last year or so. Similar to the ‘songbook’ format, I’ll either mark up as:
-
Planning - on my ‘to do’ list, including the dreamers. -
Practicing - usually played in the past during or supporting Justin’s course. -
Playing - can play and sing the song through, at home, no pressure on most attempts. -
Performing - have performed a version at an open mic and it not be a total disaster. -
Perfected? - not sure about this one, was thinking maybe an edited video with guitar and vocals performed separately, multiple takes to ensure a ‘best I can do’ presentation. Not sure if I really need this, probably happy with reaching the performance point to be honest. We’ll see.
So I’ll start a single thread over in AVOYP and link to each song as and when. I’m not planning to post every bit of everything but enough variety over the various learning stages maybe of interest to some?
I’ll also post some bits and bobs around gear and tone. You’ve asked for it but I’ve been a bit unsure how to present it. I was thinking a video tour but don’t want to have to subtitle it 
I’m going to go through the drum backing track process as well. It won’t be a tutorial as such, just my process of knocking up drum tracks which are customisable for those who like to skip solos or tricky bits of songs etc.
Other than that, just going to tone it back a notch. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends trying to learn song after song in order to keep the open mics fresh. There’s been a bit of a let up that way for now, the small venue regular open mic has been paused until the spring and the other is only on fortnightly and most folk there have only heard one or two of my renditions, so hence an opportunity to consolidate a bit.
…next stop, AVOYP…