I’m a retiree just picking up the guitar again after a very brief go at it back in the 1970s. Back then it became obvious real quick that the effort and discipline required to do anything but play a couple of popular riffs outweighed my desire to be a real player. As a teenager I was all about the end result and had no interest in the journey.
Now decades later I finally know it’s all about the journey. I do have to remind myself not to dwell on lofty end results that I’ll never reach and instead enjoy learning little things as I go. If I’m better this week than I was last week, that’s a win.
I’m so glad I found JustinGuitar. What a wonderful, positive place. My wife and I like to attend concerts. The past few years we’ve seen Jon Batiste and Peter Frampton a couple of times. Both of these guys are all about optimism, joy, love, and kindness. I find that JustinGuitar has a similar vibe and I have to hand it to Justin and the team for creating such a place in the midst of so much division and hateful rhetoric. As Justin says, it’s much better for mental well-being to practice guitar than it is to doom-scroll. So true!
Happy to be here and looking forward to continuing the journey.
Welcome Phil. You have come to the right place. This is a truly supportive community where you can get great advice from regular guitar students and some real experts and teachers. Yes, no division here, it’s all about helping each other to learn to play the guitar.
Don’t hesitate to post any questions you might have. You have got it right, it’s all about enjoying learning, and there’s no end point, you can only improve and improve some more !
Welcome to the forum. Now that I’m retired I’m playing guitar more than ever. I started playing 15 years ago and progressed well thanks to Justin. The first couple of months can be frustrating, heck, frustration seems to go wherever my guitar goes. Ha.
But, you’ll soon be able to play a simple song all the way through and viola you are a musician. The reward is really amazing and within everyone’s grasp. Just a bit of perseverance.
Welcome to the Justin guitar family. Very happy to hear you gave guitar another try after all these years. When I first played 20 years ago I was so bad my landlord threatened to evict me. So I quit for many years. Now thanks to a few years at Justin guitar I play local open mics here and on my way to booking my own gigs. When starting you will see highs lows and plateaus, but enjoy the journey taking it one day at a time. The secret is to start with basics and really get down rhythm and timing before anything fancy. Austin is a great music city so I’m sure you will be inspired.
Hi Phil
Welcome to the community sounds like you have the right attitude not to rush into stuff you can’t play. One of my guitar favorites came from Austin Buddy Holly am learning some of his songs. Enjoy your journey. (my mistake it was lubbock)
Hi Phil! I too live in Austin, TX and want to improve my skills. My plan is to start hitting open mics (which I think will actually motivate better practice). I have a friend that organizes open mics on Mondays at New World Deli so I’m planning go there (but not until late September since I’m out of state until then). Hope to see you sometime!
Neil
It really is a remarkably tidy spot amidst the chaos that the internet all too often is—or turns into in no time, from what I hear around me…You can and should thank the moderators for that—for their patience and more I can tell you
Hello Phil.
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.
Hi Neil. Nice to meet another Austinite on here. New World Deli! I used to get my hair cut right there at Crestview Barber Shop. I applaud your courage on the open mic plan. I think you’re right that it would be a great motivator. I’ll keep it in mind down the road when my skillset is a little more filled out.
Indeed it is all about the journey! I started thinking maybe there must be a reason why I couldn’t be able to learn to play the guitar back then in my teens…as it’s bringing soo much joy now in my adulthood!
A warm welcome to our Community Phil! Enjoy every single little win as if it were the biggest of victories!
