Well, I finally decided to make my own log after lurking and reading tips for several weeks. I do have questions but so many have been answered previously in the Community. So I often find my answers with a quick search.
Still, here’s where I’m at:
I’m on the final module of beginner grade 1 and working on consolidation and song learning as Justin recommends before moving on.
I’m proud of my chord changes and honestly feel I’m ahead of the game on some of them.
Best Chords: G C D Em
2nd best: E A Am
Worst chord is Dm
I feel I’m behind on song learning. After reading some post about this on the community and also watching several YouTube videos about it. I have made a short list and working on the simplified versions of several.
Currently my biggest struggle is strumming and staying in time. So that’s a larger focus of my practice routine (which I use the websites practice routine and tracker etc. extremely handy!) I also use the Justin guitar app to practice.
Current practice routine:
5min spiderwalk
6min of OMC of problem pairs
15 min strumming and rhythm practice
5 min of practice making an F chord shape up and down the neck
(Total of 31min)
Also I made a simple practice routine for each song I’m learning. Totalling between 20-30min (would love to hear what others do)
If I have lots of time I will do my regular practice routine and then the song practice afterwards. I realized I was getting way too much time on techniques over learning actual songs so I modified things. If I have less time I alternate between the practice routine one day and practice the song the next. So don’t miss out on song practice now.
So generally I will get in at least a 30min practice. If I have more time it’s 60min per day.
Sadly I can’t practice EVERY day but I try to and if I have to miss it, I don’t beat myself up, I just keep in mind that daily practice is a habit I’m building. When my schedule allows I really enjoy it!
(Any input on refining this or any of the above would be greatly appreciated!)
Yes! I have been gradually working through this with my strumming practice! It is helping.
I mostly find that when I strum along with the metronome or the strumming practice in the app I stay in time for almost a minute and then find I’m slightly ahead or behind especially with the old faithful. I end up off time with the upstrums somehow
Hi James, thats a great start creating a routine, since joining JG in Sep 2034 I have found this aspect of Justin’s advice and approach very valuable. I have had over 50 years of trying to learn guitar with several large gaps of not playing for various reasons. Something I did not do in the past was to note down each element I was working on and for how long, the result was my practice was at times unfocused, inconsistent and at worst random,
I am currently on BLIM 3(Blues Immersion) which is great, and have set up a diary to record what I am currently working on and note where I am struggling, as we have moved through each unit of BLIM, I have added to, modified each element from previous Units(one a month), some I keep like licks/riffs so I constantly replay and keep those fresh and hopefully improve my playing of them as we progress learning new aspects of the blues, effectively it allows me to set personal goals and adjust accordingly,
I am lucky as am retired and can devote several hours a day to practice. But some things like spider exercises, playing a scale rigidly to a metronome, trying to play arpeggios I have just done each for 5 minutes or so a day, initially badly but after a few weeks dexterity and clarity has improved.
I think even if you can only practice 2 or 3 times a week for 40-60 minutes say, much as you have started doing you will see gradual improvements and as time passes you can move to new challenges on guitar and amend the routine to suit you.
Remember that if you get stuck or are struggling understanding something there are lots of friendly people on JG who are more than happy to try and help.
One other thing I have found very valuable is to video myself and review my playing of whatever it is I am working on. It’s very hard to critic your playing when you are actually playing and mistakes get forgotten, but by watching yourself playing you can then focus on aspects that are wrong or don’t sound great. When you get brave enough posting videos on JG of songs Is a great way to get feedback and encouragement from others and will help build confidence. It’s a step too far for some but well worth considering.
I think that’s great, I’ll be a regular follower and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you continue to make good progress and report back here.
As a beginner myself, I can’t give you much advice. With Grade 1, you have a good level of knowledge that will allow you to play many songs. Take your time and enjoy it; there’s no need to rush things. Playing songs that you really like is the most important thing, both as practice and as a reward. I wish you lots of fun and success.
Cheers Withold
5min spiderwalk
6min of OMC of problem pairs
15 min strumming and rhythm practice
5 min of practice making an F chord shape up and down the neck
Then I did 10 minutes of the song “Last Kiss”
This might be my most best song currently. I’m learning the song using just the old faithful strumming pattern for now until I can play it all the way through from memory.
So total practice yesterday was 41min
Today I did my same regular routine and within the strumming portion watched a video from Justins strumming sos course.
After my regular routine I practiced the song “for what it’s worth” possibly my second best song.
I had two great hour long practice sessions both yesterday and today!
Really starting to enjoy my song practice! I made a song list that I’m learning with G, Em C D and I practice those songs in the same session for about 10 min each.
So todays practice was:
Regular routine:
5min spiderwalk
6min of OMC of problem pairs
15 min strumming and rhythm practice
5 min of practice making an F chord shape up and down the neck
Then my song practice list: with G Em C D
Wagon wheel
Perfect
Last Kiss
Zombie
Total time today was about 1hr 20min.
Yesterday was similar but practiced different songs,
5min spiderwalk
6min of OMC of problem pairs
15 min strumming and rhythm practice
5 min of practice making an F chord shape up and down the neck
10 min for what its worth
10 min knocking on heavens door
10 min a girl like you
Approximately 1hr
I’m getting slowly more comfortable with strumming. Working my way through Strumming sos course. Keeping in mind that simple on beat muted strumming with a metronome is productive. And I will take the approach of looking at it like a relaxation exercise. Justin really is the best guitar teacher on the internet!
