Hey all, I’m Ben. I’m 37 from the US. My parents bought me a Washburn acoustic guitar for Christmas when I was about 11, and weekly lessons. I have a 1999 MIM Stratocaster that was gifted to me the next Christmas. I played daily for a few years, and got to a point as a teenager where I thought I was “really good” when I was transcribing some of my favorite songs, playing songs that I thought were very difficult. At that point I stopped taking lessons, and really just played for my friends. My practice got less and less, and my playing got kind of sloppy.
For most of my adult life I have just picked it back up time to time and played some of the old songs that I had memorized. I decided around 4 months ago that I wanted to buy a new guitar, and then I made the decision that rather than do that, I should go get the Stratocaster and Washburn looked over and a good setup, and then start practicing, and see if I find the same enjoyment that I did in my youth, and then decide if I really want a new guitar. I found Justin Guitar through searching a good place to start, and I started at Grade 1 to go back to fundamentals, and also to try to figure out where I fit in these courses. I worked through that somewhat quickly, worked through Grade 2 a little slower, and am now a few modules in to Grade 3, and I think that is about where I should be. I am good at some techniques that are beyond grade 3 (I can play barre chords all over the neck easily), and okay at some others (bending in tune is hit or miss), but I am finding techniques in grade 3 that I struggle with and was never good at (fingerstyle rolling chords, vibrato). I am spending more time with these modules than the previous now, and also doing the ear training, and theory modules.
I am happy to be playing daily again, and really enjoying learning and having a familiar hobby outside of work. My main goal currently is to get to where my girlfriend stops telling me to go upstairs, and the cat stops leaving the room every time I play, but I hope that my goals grow with my playing time.
Welcome Ben! How great you chose to rekindle those old friendships (with your guitars). Like all good friends, they will introduce you to new people (more guitars!) and thereby enrich your (guitar) life. On the other hand, you may find yourself afflicted with GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), which not everyone considers a gift. Hope to see you around the community!
Hi Ben, welcome to the community forum. If you did some transcribing when you are younger then you should find the transcribing exercises in grade 3 to be fun if not too easy for you. Glad you found your way back to guitar and having fun.
Good story! It’s really cool that you still have your guitars from years ago… so many of the Community members rue the day that they let go of their old gear! Wondering if you still have the same amp to play the Strat with or if you had to get something new?
Pics of guitars & their related accessories are always appreciated here!
Tod from New Mexico USA
BTW - as far as leaving the room… remember, audiences are overrated - just ask any Jazz musician!!!
Hi, thanks Tod. I will have to get some pictures together of my stuff. I do have my original amp which is a Fender Frontman 25R, I think from 1999 as well. I remember receiving it on Christmas and plugging in and hearing all sorts of little flaws in my playing that I had never heard before. It was like hearing your voice on recording for the first time. It is okay, but has a tendency to make lots of weird noise when it’s loud.
However, I went to get a used fuzz pedal at the guitar store last month, and left with a Gen 3 Katana as well as the pedal. I have really liked it so far, whether I am using the Tone Studio or using it with my pedals.
I was going to sell my old amp to the same store for $25, but I couldn’t part with it as it brings back really good memories of my parents.
Thank you. I wouldn’t say they are “too easy” for me, but I have been enjoying the ones so far. In the last module, Justin suggested doing melodies. I was transcribing the voice from some songs to play over myself playing the chords and I found that very useful not only from the transcribing aspect, but also on attempting to mimic the singers voice with playing, and seeing the notes or the scales the songs are using.
This next module that I just started yesterday is suggested to transcribe licks, so that should be a fun one too!
@judi Thank you, I did in fact end up getting a couple used guitars a couple months after I started back playing that I got good deals on, because I wanted one with a bridge humbucker, and I wanted a nylon string classical. That almost turned into a slippery slope, and I do find myself perusing used stock a lot, but I have calmed down now and am happy with what I have .
Hope to see you around the community!
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