I picked up a guitar again in 2019 after a long break, but it was never very serious then. I discovered Justins videos and then started working my way through the old beginners course. I managed to be reasonably dedicated and “finished” the course not a huge amount of time before the new system started became available. This was a bit of bad timing and I ended up deciding to re-start the new Grade 1 which I am in the middle of module 6 at the moment.
I’ve not been as dedicated as I would like and have taken huge gaps between visits, and practice , so progress is not amazing. I’ve decided I want to progress more so am starting to figure out what needs to change to accomplish this.
One big issue is learning songs, I struggle to learn them and often “wander off” mentally when trying.
The other is I need to have a better pre set setup so I can grab and go. Whilst I always have a guitar to hand, I don’t have an amp or my other gear out due to space limits. I have a Vox Amplug but then I end up with wires everywhere so I can listen to the video as well.
I really need to play plugged in more, I hear a lot of bad habbits I’ve developed with things like extra strings ringing or sloppy movements.
I started too old to be able to afford to take any gaps and still learn the basics, but the community is full of them
Tbh I wouldn’t worry about how long it takes you to work through courses and modules, nor how often you go back to revise. Go at your own pace but remember to have fun.
The ‘learning songs’ on the other hand is an issue, as that is the point of learning to play for most of us. Is it that you have trouble memorising them or unable to concentrate from start to finish?
You can use chord and lyric sheets for the former, but probably need to simplify what you’re playing if it’s the latter.
Why not record a sample of your playing and share it? You might get some helpful suggestions.
Good luck on your journey
Hi Chris, a very warm welcome to the community.
You have already done several things correct / admirable … gone back to the beginning to build from scratch again, laid out your struggles and recognised your weak areas to develop and, of course, joining in here where you will find support, encouragement and friendly folk. Cheers RIchard
First new mistake: I work from home still so was going to start trying to clear some room to leave an amp set up, or at least more setup, during lunch. It’s half term as of 12 so my lunch breaks won’t be my own for 2 weeks Oh well I’ll try my best.
I already probably have more gear than I should*, so I’d like try at least try and solve this with out more gear but see how that goes. The trick will be to have a bit more room, and a spare plug socket!
Not sure about recording just yet. I’m incredibly self conscious so I’ll need to build my self up to that. I’ll go have a look in that section and see how others do it as a bit of guidance though.
* 2 guitars, 2 amps and a slowly growing pile of pedals that doesn’t include a tuner. I’ve spent lock down learning to build my own pedals so it’s grown a bit recently.
I’m in the “start over” camp with you, after a long long long lay off and never being a good learner in the first place.
Regarding wires and “ready to go” - have a look at the fender Mustang micro. It’s like a vox amplug that you have, but can also Bluetooth to your phone so lessons, YouTubes etc come through into your headphones. I leave my micro in my guitar all the time with headphones dangling off the “horn” on my strat. Locked and loaded at all times!
The short answer is both. I tend to either hyper-focus or “squirrel”, for medical reasons that aren’t hard to work out.
Once I know a song, say Mr Jones, it’s pretty much for ever, bar maybe the bridge which I’ll remember pretty fast if I play along a couple of times again.
But learning it, and staying on it enough to get it down is that hard part. I often can play along but then don’t stick with it long enough to program it, Hey Jude is a great example. I can play around 50-75% but the bridge section after the D descending to Asus2 (I think anyway, chords names are another example) bit I am always thinking, this isn’t right.
Other songs I can’t remember at all.
Some of this may be finding a good way to play along that isn’t a barrier, but mostly it is just focus or a lack of.
Which part of Hertfordshire? I grew up in Knebworth.
That’s probably the same as most of the people in this community, including me.
I know that feeling well I really struggle with this aspect. The weird thing is I do some acting and I don’t have much problem standing on a stage in front of a few hundred people and delivering a performance, as long as I’m pretending to be someone else and not performing with an instrument.
If you do decide to post something, this is the best, most supportive, place to do it on the Internet.
Hi Chris. Nice to meet you. I’m a totally new starter and looking forward to this journey later in my life. Looking forward to hearing more about yours.
Herts is my old stomping ground, born in Stevenage old town later moving to Watford but that was many moons ago !
Take your own sweet time and learn some songs. That’s it really.
No timeline, deadline or expectations and therefore no pressure. Its about having fun so why make it hard.
, so progress is not amazing. I’ve decided I want to progress more so am starting to figure out what needs to change to accomplish this.
Oh well I’ll try my best.
