I’m a young 50yo male from the cold and damp northern jewel, Finland. I have some little experience with guitar (I know basic chords etc.) and I thought I’d get back to it after maybe 5 years of letting it just gather dust.
My technique is very sloppy, so I started from the beginning to learn better playing habits and I just love this site. It has a great feeling of progression, great tutorial videos and, yes, great set of songs to learn. Not to mention, the most friendly and inspiring guy to lead us.
So yeah, this site got me excited with playing again. Goal is to learn some campfire playing and possibly to be able to make a song or two of my own. Who knows, maybe form a geriatric band with some of my mates later. Nothing precise planned yet, though. Just enjoying the ride, atm.
Anyway, big thanks to all responsible for this site and happy learning to all of us.
Oh cool. Värttinä is great and I just happened to have this album on the chair next to me, so maybe if a tip won’t be too bold after such a short acquintence I’ll share this one with you.
It’s time for bed now, but I’ll be listening to them tomorrow! Also I really like “the Do” with a finnish member, Olivia_Merilahti.
See you around, Dominique
Welcome to the forum Wallu, you’ll pleased to know we have another resident Finn who frequently walks these pages (Dontcha @JokuMuu aka Nicole). All are welcome here!
Welcome to the community, Jussi.
Coming here (to JustinGuitar in geheral) is the best decision one can make when picking up a guitar on their own. Have fun and successful learning.
Hi Jussi. You have quickly found the tremendous value in Justin, his team and this community forum. Have many happy hours polishing your skills.
Looking at your avatar, I think you must be one of the South Park characters and you’re hiding out in Finland.
[quote=“Wallu, post:1, topic:359520”]
Who knows, maybe form a geriatric band with some of my mates later
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When you do form that band, you could call it “South Park Grown Up.”
Oh, thanks. And good to know there is someone else playing somewhere in this darkness. The sun will be up in April again, so plenty of time to learn guitar in the meanwhile.
There are so many great bands from Finland, especially if you’re into heavier stuff.
My favourite Finnish band (and one of my favourites overall) are Poets of the Fall, they’re amazing.
And also Viikate is a really cool band that instructor from Finland recommended me once.
Welcome to the community. Your goal is similar to mine when I started playing at the age of 53. Now, some 13+ years later, I can so attest to how great it is when you stick to it, the rewards are super. Such fun around a campfire and playing in bands I’ve formed with friends we’ve picked up along the way. Enjoy!
Thanks. I used to play with my friend some 15 years ago and we made a couple of silly songs, but that was mostly just strumming to the same beat all over. Now I thought that I just might actually practise something. For example, my finger picking is awful. This seems like a wonderful site for a bit more structured approach while keeping it fun at the same time.
Yeah, you have to keep the fun in it as that will motivate you to keep at it. Each one finds there own fun, for me it’s all about songs. Once I learned my first one all the way through, instead of just riffs and such, I was off and running.
I’m mostly a fingerstyle player, as I’ve played more with others, especially in larger jams, the fingerstyle gets lost in the overall noise so strumming becomes a necessity
I had succumbed to the dark and rain here in Porvoo yesterday and was fast asleep already, when you posted your introduction, Jussi. I’m sure, there are more people from Finland lurking in the shadows, which would be a very Finnish thing to do…
You are right, this is a great place to learn guitar with many kind, knowledgeable and supportive people. Are you starting in Grade 1 then? I really like your “geriatric band” idea btw. - playing together with other people sounds like so much fun. I would love to do that at some point.
“Good bands from Finland” almost deserves an own thread. Let’s not forget that Finland is the country with most metal bands per capita. I’m slightly surprised that noone mentioned “Turmion Kätilöt” yet. They do have a reputation after all…
Any advice for live music locations in Helsinki? Kultturitalo is a rather obvious choice… but are there any other places with as good accustics?
I can relate to that old habit of just playing couple of riffs and putting together some chords instead of whole songs. I’m sure focusing on achieving a goal will do good for my motivation learning this. You’re surely right about that.
Kiitos, kiitos @JokuMuu ! I already feel very welcomed.
Yeah, I’m half way through Grade 1 and taking it slowly trying to improve my sloppy fingering to make the strings actually sound out. The site has been very useful so far.
I’m not that big of a metal fan despite being finnish. But I do consider this a very, very good country musicwise anyway. I tend to see bands at least once a week and there is always something good playing. As for venues with good acoustics there is Tavastia of course and Korjaamo and G-Livelab (those latter two don’t have much metal in their repertoire though). Smaller places like Bar Loose and Lepakkomies have lots of metal, but if sounds are important to you… well.
Itching to pick up that guitar once again, but maybe I let the neighbourgs sleep for an hour more. This is a good start and such nice and supportive people here. Thanks again for the welcome. Back at you later.
Wow… Now, I’m a bit jealous. There is not much happening here usually. Sure, Helsinki is close but it’s not the same with the thought in the back of my head “gotta catch the last bus”.
I have heard stories of Lepakkomies It’s one of the places to visit during my next Helsinki weekend. Never been for some reason… Tavastia and G-Lab, yes of course… I know that Jarkko Martikainen e.g. plays there relatively often. Gotta check
Musicwise I draw the line only at most traditional country, schlager, tango, EDM. Everything else is fine.
Sloppy fingers sounds as familiar as concerns about neighbours. I still remember that one day at the beginning of the year when some neighbours apparently laconically started singing along with me
They look like a too heavy band for me. But look can be deceiving, of course. I avoided Ghost for a long time because of that, thought they were some black metal band.
But I do consider this a very, very good country musicwise anyway. I tend to see bands at least once a week and there is always something good playing. As for venues with good acoustics there is Tavastia of course and Korjaamo and G-Livelab (those latter two don’t have much metal in their repertoire though). Smaller places like Bar Loose and Lepakkomies have lots of metal, but if sounds are important to you… well.
Back at you later.
It’s one of the places to visit during my next Helsinki weekend. Never been for some reason… Tavastia and G-Lab, yes of course… I know that Jarkko Martikainen e.g. plays there relatively often. Gotta check 