Hi to all. I bought a LH classical acoustic guitar about 40 years ago before realising that classical guitar music is not for me. Love hearing it, but needed to play “modern” acoustic songs for my enjoyment. So I didn’t progress, until I retired and moved to a small country town in the SW of Western Australia.
Since retiring, I have been lucky to find new friends who encouraged my singing, learning and playing, by having weekly jam sessions at each other’s house where we strum and sing to our favourite (simple) tunes on a newer steel string electro-acoustic Western guitar.
The one local pub was recently bought by a banjo-playing music lover, and the weekly open mic sessions have been great in getting me out playing and singing in public. (Thanks SteveF)
I now want to spend more time on improving my technique, rather than spending all my practice time rehearsing songs for the open mic, and Justin’s lessons have been my goto for this. Thank you Justin.
Welcome to the community Dan.
Hi Dan,
A big welcome, there are a growing number of people on here now in Australia although mostly over East. However, I’m in Binningup 
If your keen we my actually get together for a bit of a jam one day.
Good to hear your journey is progressing well and good on ya for getting up in front of people 
scary stuff.
not sure if you have seen it but check this out too.
JGOM - Aussie Time
Hey Craig, very cool. we stayed in Binningup in August of 2022 when we were doing the big lap. It’s a great little spot, I remember playing guitar on the beach. So many great places to do that on the coast of West Australia.
No way!! thats crazy mate, what a shame, could have caught up and had some fun.
The beach would have been cold in Aug 
Welcome to the forum, Dan! You are very lucky to have found that kind of community - I’ve been searching high and low, but clearly need to emigrate to Australia. 
I don’t recall it being too bad. We’d been up north and Broome and Kununurra which were stinking hot in June, so August in Binningup wasn’t too bad. I recall not playing after dark.
you should try February
Thanks for the welcome. Boyup Brook is a small country town of about 500ppl which has a Country Music festival once a year, so there are quite a few amateur (and a few more semi-professional) musicians living in and around.
Hi Dan,
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun 
Greetings,Rogier
… Not as scary as my singing…
Thank for the welcome
Haha! I get you. I’ve been to Darwin in December and forgot how bad the build up is. We got there late May and really suffered. So glad we didn’t try camping in the caravan in anything other than “winter” up north.
Hi Dan, welcome to the community, enjoy your guitar journey!
Hello Dan & Welcome!
So cool for you that you’re around a bunch of musically inclined people who encourage you!!!
Have loads of fun!!!
Tod from New Mexico USA
Hi Dan, welcome to the community. It is great that you have found some friends to bring you back to the guitar. Have fun learning songs and exploring the guitar.
Welcome to our Community Dan, it’s great to have you aboard! What you describe about your friends and the local pub sounds really like a lot of fun! There’s nothing better than making music with other people and for other people! Refining techniques is a very good goal.
Hello Dan.
My mantra is learn songs, learn songs, learn songs and it seems you’ve been following it.
I never use it to mean a one dimensional perspective on learning though and I heartily commend your desire to focus on technique and songs … connecting the technique you learn with the songs you want to play is important.
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.
We also host regular (virtual) JustinGuitar Community Open Mic events for community members.
That is plenty to be going on with. It is a vast community space so if you need help as you find your way around just ask.
Cheers. Richard
| Approved Teacher & Official Guide / Moderator |
Thanks for all the info Richard. It is indeed a vast space, full of useful information from helpful people. I hope to be able to find the time to participate more fully. Cheers,