Hi Everyone. I'm Linda from Australia

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Hi Everyone. I’m Linda from Queensland, Australia. I’ve been a member of this site and the old forum for a few years. I’ve never had the guts to introduce myself though, despite reading most of the threads and seeing how kind and supportive this community is. But with the forum migration underway I thought I’d take the opportunity to jump-in and say Hi, rather than over think it.

As for the guitar playing, I need to jump-in to that too! I’ve wanted to learn the guitar for as long as I remember, and now I’m nearing 40 it’s feeling well beyond time that I give it a real go. I’d love to be able to strum some songs in a recognisable fashion, and one day play some finger style. Nothing crazy, I just want to be able to pick up the guitar and enjoy the music.

I did try to learn once before, but only for a couple of weeks. I have a habit of getting down on myself, so that attempt didn’t get far, and the guitar got given away pretty quick. But this nagging feeling inside me that I still wanted to learn to play has never gone away.

Earlier this year I bought a guitar again, and I love it. Not that I play it :roll_eyes: !! Every time I walk past the guitar I want to pick it up… I am totally inspired to pick it up, and sometimes I even do pick it up… but I don’t dare play it… it’s like I fear ruining it… both the very gorgeous guitar… and my dream of learning to play it. It’s kinda crazy how twisted up I’ve made learning to play the guitar seem in my mind!

But anyway, I’m determined to actually pick up the guitar and start learning to play it by sticking with Justin’s Course. I don’t want to over-think it anymore, I just want to relax and enjoy the process. Relax and enjoy the “music.” If anyone’s got any advice, or thoughts going forward, I’d love to hear them. Or if anyone’s managed to overcome their own perplexing fear of learning the guitar I’d love to hear about that too.

I’m going to try to stick around this place if thats alright. I might try and post about my progress and pitfalls and hopefully you all can help me stay accountable and keep perspective… Or maybe my struggles can help someone else… that’d be neat.

Anyway, a big thanks because I think this little (or not so little) community you’ve all created is pretty special… and that everyone from Justin and the ethos behind his guitar lessons, all the way through to the community moderators, regulars, and members should be proud of this little corner of the internet!

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Hi Linda, nice to meet you. I’ve been learning for a year aged 49 and like you I spent ages reading the old forum but never got involved. I can be overly critical of myself, overthink things etc, but over the last year of learning guitar i’ve gradually learnt to relax more, absorb the bad days and appreciate how much i’ve learnt and how much more there is still to learn. Stick with it and you’ll get there. Hope to see/hear more of you on here :slightly_smiling_face:

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Hi, Linda, so good of you to join us!

If anyone’s got any advice, or thoughts going forward, I’d love to hear them.

You seem really motivated and in love with your instrument so there’s really not much more to it. Set aside a few days per week to start with where you can just sit down with your guitar, open up Justin’s beginners course and enjoy the ride. It will probably be frustrating at first but that’s okay, guitar is hard! Once you get a few chords under your fingers that’s when the fun begins.

Warm welcome to the Community, looking forward to seeing your progress for years to come! :slight_smile:

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Welcome Linda,

You are certainly in the right place. Pick up that guitar and have a go. You’ve got nothing to lose and plenty of support here.

And Justin’s lessons are awesome.

Rod.

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Hi Linda and welcome. That’s exactly what you need to do. I’m sure you’ve learned to do and succeeded at other things in your life. Why should learning guitar be any different?
Pick up that guitar and go for it!

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Hi Linda and welcome to the new Community.

Now you have come out of the old dusty shadows of the forum, well what have you got lose ?
For starters its never too late. You have a wonderful teacher in Justin and a structured path to follow. And as you know from the old gaff, a shed load of folks only too willing to hold your hand and give advise and support when you need it.

All I would add to what’s been said is, take your time and get going again taking baby steps. Keep your goals small and achievable to start with and you’ll prove to yourself that you’ve got this. As Gordon says if you have learnt to do other things in life

Just enjoy the ride.

Cheers

Toby :sunglasses:

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Wow, thank you all for the encouragement and thoughtful advice. Means a lot!

:guitar: and if I could pick up the guitar and get started tonight on the back of the encouragement I totally would (alas I live in an apartment so the neighbours would prefer I started in the morning lol).

@Tim_Wilson sounds like we have some of the same challenges, congrats for sticking with it for a year and being able to see the progress you’re making.

Thanks @SS7 @RodC @sairfingers & @TheMadman_tobyjenner I agree with all your advice. Just pick up the guitar and trust Justin’s course. Totally agree on the baby steps too, I want this to be a long term thing I can stick with, not something I get overwhelmed with and run away from!

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Hi Linda, a very warm welcome to the community, I hope you are already feeling the support and friendly spirit that runs through its very fabric. I hope too you are feeling energised from simply having stepped from the shadows and introduced yourself and your hopes.
:slight_smile:

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HI, Linda. Just do it! But don’t overdo it. Start at the beginning. Set aside 20 min a day, perhaps while the coffee is brewing, and follow the modules. Take your time. Your fingers will get sore at first so keep to the 20 minute time frame. As your finger tips toughen up you will be able to spend more time actually playing and less time watching videos. Get your mindset to the point you look forward to the time you spend on this adventure. Have fun and you will be playing songs in no time.

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Hi Linda,

When I get hung up on something, I try to remember the phrase “this is supposed to be fun!” I’ve noticed this turns a lot of the pressure I put on myself to be good or perfect off. So just start at the beginning of Justin’s lessons, and have fun! Spend a few minutes practicing the lessons every day. You’ll see what feels impossible at first becomes possible, usually pretty quicky. I’d also break your goal down to smaller ones. Instead of the goal to play songs, try setting the goal of learning the first three lessons. One foot in front of the other, and you’ll get there!

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Hi Linda, great to have you here. Don’t rush, do things slowly until you feel comfortable moving on, be patient and understanding towards yourself - it’s definitely not an easy ride especially at the start. With those in your sleeve we will see you rocking your axe in no time :slight_smile: all the best.

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Hi Linda and welcome! As has been suggested to others who are just starting this journey, you should look into using Justin’s Practice Assistant. Justin has set up some very effective practice routines - especially the ones for beginners - that track progress as you learn the basics. I’ve used it quite a bit, and find it useful to identify areas that I need to focus on. Others have different opinions of it, but at least take a look and see if it might help you get started and stay motivated through the beginning stages.

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Welcome to the Community, Linda, grand to meet you here.

I suggest you have a read of the Learning Logs. You’ll find you are in good company. All but those one in a billion savants find it challenging at the outset, but with patient perseverance you will prevail.

Create your own, if not already, has it is encouraging to track progress and look back in time how far you have come.

Enjoy the adventure, it is wonderful.

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Hi Welcome Linda,

This is my advice that has worked for me (I’m in the course for a year now) :

Keep the guitar visible

Get Justin’s beginner songbook (I like this better than app - there are a wide variety of songs)

Play the actual song and play along with the book. So much fun!

This will keep you coming back.

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Hey Linda, my wife and I lived in Queensland for 35+ years before moving to northern NSW just over 4 years ago, been quite active in the Coast Acoustics club on the Gold Coast and various musos gatherings in SE Queensland. Good to see another Aussie active here.

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I have a habit of getting down on myself, so that attempt didn’t get far, and the guitar got given away pretty quick. But this nagging feeling inside me that I still wanted to learn to play has never gone away.

Welcome to the site Linda. We tend to be our own worst critics. Don’t let fear overtake your. Just sit back and try to enjoy the journey and the accomplishments, small as they may seem at the time. As others have mentioned, post up some of your playing and you will receive good words of encouragement.

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Linda a very warm welcome in. I’m a fellow lady in my 30s learning to play. Here’s my two cents for what it’s worth

  1. Nobody expects you to be Eddie Van Halen or Tommy Emmanuel. Please don’t try to compare yourself to the professionals or other people that you think are learning faster than you. This is about you and your journey, not them.
  2. Don’t be afraid to take it slow. Spend as much time as you need on chord change practice and rhythm practice, they pay dividends even if they seem boring or basic.
  3. Get a metronome, cappo, and one of Justin’s beginner song books so you’ll always have your practice tools easily available.

You absolutely can do this ! Even with only 20 minutes a day of practice I think you’ll be amazed at how far you come in just a month or two.

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Hello Linda and welcome to the community.
My advice is set yourself some small goals and have some fun playing the guitar.
The good thing about Justins method is that you start to play songs straight away and I recommend giving his song app a try. Its guitar karaoke, but it helps with the motivation.

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Hi Linda an welcome aboard!

Setting some smart goals is important but keeping the fun aspect alive is crucial to keep playing of course

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Hi, Linda, and welcome. I’ve only been learning guitar for less than two months so any advice I can give you is strictly limited. I guess realising that it’s going to be a long journey is a good start, as is celebrating each new thing learned.

Something that has kept me inspired is watching Justin’s series on him learning to play guitar left-handed, using his own beginners course. You know Justin is a really good guitar player, and expect him to master left-handed playing instantly. But no, he struggles just like every other new player, and seeing that he struggled with the same things I’m currently struggling with just made me feel better about it all. There will be struggles, but they definitely can be overcome.

Best of luck with your learning journey :slight_smile:

Steve.

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