2025-04-29
It’s assessment time again, this time for the third learning log anniversary! Rather than focusing on my advance during the past six months, I want mostly to compare whatever achievements I’ve had in the past three years with what I had dreamed of having achieved by now. As the window to the past opens in front of me, two options are made available, one is feeling a bit frustrated over what has not been achieved and call it quits and the other is having a good laugh and keep going on. I do prefer the later so I can keep having fun playing guitar (and singing).
Where 3 years ago I wanted to be now?
- I wanted to have my repertoire of rhythm guitar (and singing) songs increased to 30.
- I increased my repertoire of rhythm guitar (and singing) from 0 to 14.
+ That includes only songs that...
That includes only songs that I can play now up to what I can call an enhanced minimum expected level that reflects what I’ve learnt during the Beginner Guitar Course [Classic] and that also have either an AVOYP posted or have been played at a JGC OM. It does not include songs that I played before from my songbooks that may still need some improvement to match that enhanced minimum expected level.
I would define my enhanced minimum expected level as being able to play a song with a steady rhythm, good sounding chords, and smooth chord changes happening on the right time. That enhanced minimum expected level doesn’t mean perfect or jaw dropping; it means just much better than I could had been able to play it before.
Some of the songs I have now in my repertoire and other ones I’m learning have taken more time than I had expected to get acceptably fluent with them. Being them harder to learn than I expected has been a good opportunity to grow my guitar playing and have provided lot of entertainment.
In the next six months I would like to have my repertoire of rhythm guitar (and singing) songs increased to 16 (two more).
- I wanted to have my repertoire of finger style songs increased to 6.
- I increased my repertoire of finger picked songs from 0 to 1.
+ That’s a hard one to swallow...
That’s a hard one to swallow, but first a clarification. What I was meaning then was learning to play finger picked songs. Several of the songs I play rhythm guitar are actually played with a finger style pattern. Not enough time spent on learning finger picked songs so only one finger picked song or piece has been learnt during these three years.
Although not a full version of it, The Pink Panther theme was a nice achievement as now I can play it from memory with a decent feeling. I’m learning a second song or piece, but is a technically demanding one and it has taken me way longer than I was hoping for. My next steps are to continue practicing it along the Guitar Pro file, complete the memorization of section three and learn section four. After that, sections one and two repeat again.
I don’t include as finger picking repertoire the riff lessons by Justin Guitar or others, or the Hal Leonard short melody exercises, partly because they’re short, partly because they’re more like exercises than full melodies.
Although there could be lower hanging fruit around, I guess I’ll be tempted to continue my learning with some other challenging piece I should be leaving for later and then I’ll be entertained with it for a year or two.
In the next six months I would like to have my repertoire of finger picked or flat picked songs increased to 2 (one more).
- I wanted to be able to play 3 basic versions of classical pieces.
- I’ve learnt two basic versions of classical pieces.
+ I feel much better about this one...
I feel much better about this one. I’m not sure why I was more realistic about this goal. Maybe I was more conscious about the technical challenges some classical pieces can pose on the player.
I understand why Justin doesn’t include much of this genre in his lessons. First, for many it wouldn’t be the main reason for learning to play guitar and second it can take a lot of practice to play some relatively simple pieces. On other hand it’s so rewarding to be able to play such beautiful melodies that I wouldn’t discourage anyone that has learnt how to play Happy Birthday Justin Guitar style to explore finger picking a classical piece.
So far I’ve been learning classical pieces from a YouTube guitar channel, but as with other genres, a specific classic guitar method could be a good complement to Justin Guitar lessons. Not seeing it right now as something that I should throw in the mix, but something for later, maybe for Grade 3. Right now I need to get fluent with that Happy Birthday.
During these three years I’ve learnt the first twenty-four bars of a basic version of Asturias and the main motif of Habanera without the bass notes. I’ve started learning Minuet in G
In the next six months I would like to post an AVOYP of Habanera with the bass notes and continue learning Minuet in G
- I wanted to have completed a couple of original songs ideas I had in mind.
- I completed an original song idea I hadn’t in mind.
+ Having completed one original song...
Having completed one original song has been a huge achievement for me. I don’t remember exactly which two original song ideas I was referring to. I have three pending original songs that are at least on hold. For one I can sing the lyrics borrowed from a poem, but I have not translated that to guitar music, or any instrumental music by the way. A second one needs more lyrics and I also would need to translate my singing to guitar music. A third and last one got recently some work on it and I managed to complete the lyrics after more than 40 years and have a rough idea of how I could play it.
In the next six months I want to start trying some strumming and chord progressions for “A sea of arks”, but without any pressure. If I get in the mood I’ll do it. I want also to digitally paint some images for a future video of it.
- I wanted to be able to sight read eighth notes from 1st to 6th string (frets 1 to 12).
- I would say that I’m able to sight read quarter note from frets 1 to 5 in C major scale.
+ Same than with finger picking...
Same than with finger picking if not enough time has been put on it not enough progress have been made on it.
Although the benefits of training hands and brain to play music while reading standard music notation are for me clear, training on reading music it’s something that had to be put on hold due to time constraints.
Sadly that have also included ear training. By now I should have completed the old Justin Guitar exercises and looking for new ones.
In the next six months I don’t expect to be doing any sight reading training. After that, it could be something for reassessing and maybe get those two Justin Guitar sight reading books out of the bookcase. I may do an ear training exercise here or there, but unfortunately it won’t be as high priority as it should be.
- I wanted to be doing the Justinguitar advanced guitar courses.
- I finished Justin Guitar Beginner Course [Classic] and I’m exploring select material of Beginner Guitar Course Grades 1 and 2.
+ Definitely because my previous guitar experience...
Definitely because my previous guitar experience I was hoping for a faster advance between modules and therefore between grades. My current thinking is that as far as I feel that I’m improving and developing my guitar playing then it doesn’t matter where I am at the courses.
Whenever I think that I’ve got to the point where I can’t get more of a practice item I can move to the next and slowly but surely I’ll be advancing through the courses. No cry about the lack of time, just doing the most of it and enjoying the available time.
In the next six months I want to continue advancing in my combined consolidation of Beginner Guitar Course [Classic] and exploration of Beginner Guitar Course Grades 1 & 2.
- I wanted to be able to make music tracks and videos of decent quality.
- I’ve been able to add titles, captions with translated lyrics, and some effects to my videos. Not too much done on the audio editing side.
+ Although not at all required...
Although not at all required to post an AVOYP in the community, for me it adds to the fun. I’m happy with my video editing skills so far as I’ve been able to put my video ideas in use.
I would like to say than some free editing tools may have everything is needed to enhance a home video and even some fancier stuff.
The only audio editing I’ve done so far was improving the sound levels of an old cassette recording for posting a song for my community presentation. It showed me how a rabbit hole it can be finding the perfect sound, so I’ve managed to avoid it after that.
In the next six months working on one of my original songs most probably will involve at least some track mixing. I hope to be efficient and find my way out expeditiously to continue just playing guitar. The only video skill I’ll probably add is combining videos.
- I wanted to be conversant in computer generated music.
- I’ve been able to create a drum track using GuitarBand to accompany me while playing Yellow Submarine and created practice tracks using Guitar Pro.
+ This goal was loosely defined...
This goal was loosely defined in the sense that the computer generated music term needs to be defined first. I would currently define it as being able to play virtual instruments to accompany my guitar playing. The backing track to accompany me playing Yellow Submarine also helped me with practicing the rhythm of the song.
A different effort in another direction has been creating practice tracks with Guitar Pro in which the virtual guitar plays the same notes that the physical guitar is intended to play, to play along practicing usually at a reduced speed.
Working deeper on using virtual instruments will likely involve also developing some musical theory, harmonization, and orchestration skills.
In the next six months working on one of my original songs will be a nice opportunity to explore this side of things.
My assessment
It’s has been a wonderful three years of guitar playing. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve improved a lot. And more than anything else I have a path to continue learning and improving.
I could have learnt more should more practice time had been put in, but as I indicated above no cry about that, I’ve enjoyed whatever practice and playing time I’ve had.
In the next six months I would like to concentrate in progressing through my consolidation plan one step at the time although not necessarily working on one item at the time.
I would like to thank everyone that purposely or inadvertently have given me ideas, inspiration or advice during these three years of being an active member of the community.