Exactly. Strumming seems to be instrumental to creating that “Funk” sound.
My first computer program in college, I had to type onto punch cards. You ain’t the only old dude/dudette out here! 
1 Like
I remember when “key-punch operator” was considered to be a career with a bright future.
2 Likes
Me too. The first Quarter of my computer class in high school, I don’t think I ever got a program to run due to mispunched card, cards out of order, missing cards (ever drop a deck?), and typos. And the lag time between punching the cards, submitting them to be run on the school system’s main-frame, and getting back the reams of computer paper was at least 1 week. I did get good at understanding error codes 
It’s probably the only time I got a participation grade so to speak. I did alright because my programs on paper were solid. But boy howdy, I couldn’t punch cards worth a hill of beans.
1 Like
Which is exactly what I plan to do.
Here’s the method to my madness. I watched some young kid’s learning compilation of songs he was learning ranging from songs with simple 1-4-5 construction to a complex Hendrix song. He charted his journey on Youtube.
The first videos totally sucked. But over time each song he played got better and better. A year later and the kid as doing fantastic. His cover of that Hendrix song was impressive. It was a fantastic video to watch as his playing evolved over time.
So yep. I’m going to crank out a video of a new song every week or so, or so I plan. Then come back to them, say, six months later. And then a year later, and republish a new video of the songs I choose. Well, If I’m still sucking air that is. At 71 you never know if you’ll still be around a year from now 
Btw - I’m not doing this to showcase my playing to anyone else but myself. I’m doing this to watch my own progress over time. But this is an open forum and anything we post is open to the community as these are personal “Learning Logs,” right? I have no plans on putting my playing ‘public’ on Youtube. I consider the Justin Guitar forum to be a Safe Place to publish as I follow Justin’s courses.
Constructive critique is always welcome.
1 Like
… I don’t find your sense of humor “quirky” at all 
… good luck on your Sex Machine travels!
1 Like
I just started Ear Training yesterday and I’m now on the first lesson of Grade 1 - The prefect 5th.
I sorta had an epiphany in that not only can I now pretty much put my finger anywhere on the fretboard (if my fretboard memorization kicks in I may even know the root note) and can now find the perfect 5th. But as an added surprise, I can see the relationship to the entire scale.
That’s sort of a cool, light-bulb goes off in my head moment. 
Up to this point I’ve used notes to learn scales, but this is The First Time that I have seen the scale as an interval. That’s why, for me personally, this is sort of an epic “Ah-Hah!” moment.
This is neat. Scales have been an exercise in ‘rote learning.’
But!
Now I can imagine where Ear Training and understanding intervals can take guitar playing. I can see playing where rote memorization isn’t needed - sometime in the future.
ACK!
First video submission. ACK! Ok. Gotta start somewhere. Baseline video. Check back in few weeks or so.
Interesting - I got a “copyright notification” from Youtube but not a strike. I have no idea why as I don’t understand this stuff. Listed as between seconds 40 to 50???
THBBFT!
The Android phone I have ain’t the best thing in the West to be shooting videos. Primarily the microphone is the weakest part of the phone’s video system.
Soooo, I’ve ordered a video camera for taking video. And I will shoot videos of me playing regardless of how bad the playing is at the moment. In fact, capturing flawed playing at this point in time will eventually provide a great indicator of progress over time. (Well, unless I don’t get better - then “ACK!”) <---- How many of us at this stage of our playing have that fear, 'eh?
Also, creating and posting videos addresses many of our tendencies to be a little shy about playing. One of the hats I wore in the past was teaching - digital electronics and computer technology, and then English here in Thailand. Standing up in front of people and letting it all hang out doesn’t come naturally. You have to overcome the fear of public speaking. I have no problem teaching subjects that I know well, but playing guitar poorly and then publishing it? That takes cajones.
One the the greatest fears of most people is the fear of public speaking and public ridicule. So posting videos of literally a beginner’s level of playing really forces you to address that fear.
So for those people already posting videos? Good for you! 
I’m right behind ya’ll. “ACK!”
