Recently retired. Picked up guitar for the first time since junior high.
I’ve been practicing 2 years. I practiced various things based on what I could find online. You know, one teacher says learn this, another teacher says learn that.
The end result is I know a little about a lot of things, but can’t play anything the way it should be played. For example, I know all of Come As You Are and can play it pretty well. I tried to follow the official video and completely failed. My changes weren’t fast enough from verse to chorus, etc. I can play Paranoid without the solo at speed. Yet, my open chord changes for other things were bad. I read that my experience with self-taught people is not uncommon. The old joke about giving a rocker an acoustic guitar and he starts playing power chords. That’s where I was headed.
So, I decided to start over! I went through every video of Grade 1 and wrote down the things I needed to work on to fill up my “holes” in my technique. Then, I went down the list, watching the videos as needed, and following the instructions. After one month, my chord changes are at 60 cpm, and I mostly can do all strumming patterns at will. So, my old practice did help some.
I’m now trying to memorize 5 songs so I can graduate.
The main thing this course has taught me is “how to learn”, this is the number one greatest lesson in the course I think, and Justin is fixing my timing and rhythm.
This is great. Its really true. I personally love the practice assistant i use the justin suggested port over and then modify some things and add extra things I like to keep practicing from before or things that I make up my self.
I always try and do Justin’s excersizes the way he suggests. There is so much avalible on the site and then add in the Clubs lessons you really have enough to keep busy for years.
Super stoked you found the community, I know you will get betrer following Justin’s course and staying on his path.
Welcome Frank. You’ve captured why all of us keep coming back here. Justin and his team make no grant promises about us all becoming stars. They teach us how to learn, that rhythm is king and to have fun at it. Be sure you check out this thread and climb into the kennel with us other old dogs!
Hi Frank, welcome to the community. It sounds like you are on the right path and well on your way to filling in the gaps in your learning and building a strong foundation.
As I’ve typed, I’m restarting. My little PJR wants to join in, don’t think she wants to play guitar, bit difficult for a lickle dog, seems to be telling me to do it… So here goes.
Welcome aboard, Frank
Once you have your basic open chords comfortably under your fingers, it’s well worth spending the time and effort learning your A- & E-shaped barre chords.
You can then more or less play any song you like (in a simple way)
There’s no ‘graduation’ in learning guitar
Don’t put boundaries on yourself.
Jump ahead. Experiment. Have fun. Just don’t get disheartened if you hit a wall you need to work on to get through, and don’t forget to keep working through the basics in the course.
I think I might be able to play two songs from memory after seven years. (Mind you, you don’t want to end up like me… )
You’re definitely in the right place to add some structure to your learning path! Justin’s method will for sure fill in the gaps in your guitar knowledge! I’m an “Endless Beginner” who’s been playing around with learning to play guitar for decades. The only “real” , meaningful advancement I’ve had was after I started at the very beginning of Justin’s Grade 1. I’ve allowed myself a lot of Consolidation Time between lessons & Grades… it’s paying off!!!
Good luck to you - I’m envious of you retirees who have more time… I will join you soon!
Keep it Fun!!!
Hi Frank, I wanted to add that if you look at Justin’s description of what you need to do to PASS grade 1, he says to pick 5 songs with simple repetitive chord progressions to memorize so that you could play for a singalong. You don’t have to memorize the lyrics. If you pick songs with 2 or 3 chords that repeat then it shouldn’t take too long to memorize. I didn’t memorize the lyrics for five grade 1 songs and posted in the AVOYP until I was in grade 3 just to prove that I could, since it wasn’t required.
Welcome to the community!
Great to hear you’re getting back into guitar after retiring, and awesome progress with Grade 1 already. Glad you’re here—enjoy the journey and have fun playing!
Hello Frank.
Welcome to JustinGuitar and this fantastic community. There a whole host of golden oldies over in the dog house.
Please take your time to look around and get to know the wider space. View by Categories.
We are a supportive and encouraging group of students and guitarists from across the world. Essentially, we are all here for music and to improve as players. We truly are a ‘community’. Members help and support one another and a friendly, positive attitude underpins this. We hope that all - young or old, experienced or new players - adopt and foster the pay-it-forward ethos that Justin personifies and embedded all those years ago when he started the website and forum.
Also, please make sure to read the Community Etiquette announcement for some important information and guidance.
If you want to record yourself to show your progress and / or seek feedback there is our ever popular Community Recordings section.
Behind the scenes there is a small and dedicated team who work to make the JustinGuitar experience as good as it can be. Check out the Onboarding sessions provided by Fanny.
Justin also has a small group of Approved Teachers he recommends for people wanting 1-to-1 lessons to supplement his courses - of which I am privileged to be one.
Absolutely true! And the most valuable skill you keep on developing along the way. Justin is great at this and even greater at encouraging students to explore the instrument and Music!
Me too
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