I was taught how to play when I was about 9y/o, just cowboy chords and basic strums, by my neighbor. We ended up moving away a I never was able to continue. fast forward 40 years and I decided to relearn.
I’ve been sub’d to Justin’s app since June and I’ve just finished Grade 3 Beginner. F-chord is still giving me a bit of a fit trying to get into at anything over 140bpm, but it’s part of my daily practice routine.
I didn’t really work on fingerpicking until now. Wasn’t interested in learning happy birthday to be honest and the app doesn’t have much for suggestions, however I heard “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues” by O’Keefe over the weekend and have dived into fingerpicking. Now, it’s travis picking so Im not sure if people would call that harder or not, but while Im not getting a smooth chord transition yet, Its really starting to move forward.
Long introduction, and ramble, but hey… Good to meet ya’ll
I think it’s rather nice for us all to get to (slightly) know you. Most of us had written some intro text where you get to see where everyone’s coming from.
Yes, you did read and understand it correctly. Yes, it’s also extremely fast and i wouldn’t expect 99.9% of beginners to do it. I am just fortunate with a few items that has sped up the progress.
The largest is that I work from home. I spend my lunch hour doing a set practice routine and I sit on my work conference calls practicing blind and distracted playing. I then spend 2-4 more hours every day practicing after dinner (in what use to be my commute time). I have spent my entire life typing and playing piano, so I came in with decent finger independence. I have formal vocal training so I have music theory and ear training already under my belt. Most people do not come into learning a new instrument with those advantages, and they all have greatly helped me.
Do not get me wrong I struggle with a lot of things that will take me years to get where I would like then, such as dynamics, pick attack, pick manipulation, strum patterns, and chords shapes like B7 and F.
I’m in the same area. Are you going to perform? Let me know how it goes! rooting you on from afar. Wish I could join you, but life has me in the house tonight.
also I didn’t know the Trailyard had open mic, i’ve never been there but thought it was always a more “upscale” type place, guess I was wrong about that. lol
The trailyard is far from upscale. It’s right on the Loveland bike trail and has a great outside venue for music, kids and dogs. We will stop there for a bite and beer while doing a bike ride and every now and again. They do open mics every Thursday for 5-8. Tonight they said they are hoping the weather cooperates to do it for another month or so. I take it they don’t do them in winter when everything must move inside and space more limited. Oh, and the last time I played there, the guy running it that week mentioned they have a jam session at the Miamiville Tavern a couple blocks up the road every Sunday. I think he said 4-6.
I wish I could say the open mic went well. This was my third open mic and I don’t know what the heck happened. I forgot the words to both of the songs I did from the get go on each. It was so bad I had to start over on both. I have been trying to learn Midnight Rider this week and somehow managed to start Foo Fighters Time Like These with “I, I’m a Midnight Rider” and then got all discombobulated. I think that song well after I started over.
I had up to five more songs planned but decided to bail after two. I guess everyone has that one forgettable open mic. I hope this one gets it out of the way. On the bright side, my daughter and son in law did really well with their three songs, all original works.
PS. PM if you ever want to meet up for a jam session. Sounds like you are farther along than me in the guitar journey but, if you’re up for it, I would be happy to meet up.
Sorry for the extremely delayed response. Good to know about the trailhouse I’ve driven / biked past it but i guess the outside looks fancier than it is. lol
I’m so sorry you had that happen. I can promise you it’s not an open mic thing, professionals have it have to them as well. It’s why many pros use a monitor with the lyrics; a few examples, Eddie Vedder, Metallica, U2, David Gilmour, Elton John, Steven Tyler, and David Grohl. If the Foo Fighters front man can’t remember his own lyrics, you shouldn’t fret that you forgot them. Also just a thought, you don’t see the CSO without their music at the ready for when they need it.
During the school year (have a Jr. in HS) things around here get hectic, so it might be a while before we can hook up for a jam. You are doing open mics, you are further along than you think. By the time things slow down for me you’ll probably have passed me up as Im going to sit with everything so far till at least Jan. I want to get everything sharp and tight (im still pretty fluffy) before moving to Grade 4.
Hello Emerson.
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and then got all discombobulated. I think that song well after I started over.