Starting to try to get back in the groove by starting back with the first lessons. What I came away with was that it felt - static. And forced.
So I just began to play chords I knew, easily, not force and attempted to make a melody out of them. Then I began nailing the chords without force and surprisingly, even with my stubby hands, I was muting the G-string for chords that required the G to be muted. Not forced, just easy playing. So this seems to be the way to ease back onto the music highway after this long hiatus. Fingers are a little sore in a good way. Think I’ll print out a circle of fifths tomorrow and build some progressions on the fly to get my fingers used to playing a range of open chords again although the bar-chords I was doing weren’t that bad. I need to get the 6-5-1 frets memorized again to hit bar-chords on the fly as well.
Well - at least I know what I’m gonna do this week. That’s a good start.
Chord finders (considering I’ve forgotten a lot) and for my own reference. Glad I made a lot of notes here as I’m referring back to them now after this 11 month sabbatical.
Chord finder web sites:
This one may be easier to navigate. It has a simple interface and provides different chord voicing 
I think that’s the correct term.
I used this one before. The interface is a little busier but still useful.
Theory has just leaked out of my brain and onto the floor and into the drain.
I really don’t want to go back and re-memorize what I previously had memorized…but?
There is no other way to do it. But still - I wish there was a way to simple find an overview or summary of theory as opposed to having to go and watch each video to figure out what I remember and what I’ve forgotten.
Linear learning ain’t gonna cut it. So I’m playing songs.
Current practice:
Tears in Heaven (creating a chord-only version) - Clapton
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears for Fears
Riders on the Storm - Doors
and
I may take on, Twist & Shout - Beatles, just because it’s rattling around in my head and it should be a lot easier than the other three.
Working on remembering bar chords by sight based on the root notes (still have the root notes on the 6th and 5th strings in memory) and creating alternate voicings, which gives me practice of both open and the chord bar-chord voicings for open chords.
Now - Theory.
Back to PMT Grade 1. But I’ve downloaded the PMT Grade 1 Workbook and I’ll scan it, note what I still remember and what I’ve forgotten, refer back to my notes on my computer (I’ve got a bunch of notes and spreadsheets which I just need to put back into context), and then check out the videos of forgotten stuff if I can’t suss it out from the PMT Workbook and computer notes.
So good! I’ve got a plan which in turn keeps me focused.
Well good. I blasted though PMT Grade 1 & 2 last night. I pretty much just scanned the PDF and took the quizes. I remember more than I remember forgetting (did that make sense) . Now on PMT 3 and after looking at the PDF I’ll need to slow down here. I was up to 75% though PMT Grade 4 when I took the sabbatical so I should be able to catch up to that point this week. S’all good man.
Hey Dan, you’ll find that any ear training you do tends to stick longer than any other kind of memorization work you’ll attemtpt. . .we are as a species, “wired for sound” . . .it’ll ALL come back quicker than you’d imagine. . .keep at it!! 
Ok - I just had an epiphany. About 40 years ago I was interested in playing bass. I was talked out of it by a bass player who said I’d have issues due to my small hand size. Me and Angus Young. So I’m always looking for ways to work around short fingers and limited reach.
Then I stumbled across Ellen Plays Bass on Youtube. Here’s this kid who at 8 years (and who had started playing bass in 2020 I believe) who was posting Youtube videos of her playing her “Favorite Bass Riffs.” I was like - “Hand size doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
I bought an inexpensive bass 7 weeks ago. Practicing bass is just so different than my experience with guitar. I have always felt like I’m pushing against a rather immovable wall with guitar - a lot of work and not many achievements.
Bass is just - Different. I get lost in playing. Time just rolls by. I look up and I’m like - “Whoa, where did the hour go,” or “My fingers hurt, how long have I been playing.”
When I bought the bass I didn’t really know anything about bass guitar. The one I bought was a regular 34+ inch scale length bass. I didn’t know they came in different lengths. I’ve been learning lots over the last 7 weeks. Here in Thailand you can just add 25% in tariffs to any guitar, and being on a fixed income I economized and purchased a Ibanez Talsman TMB30 bass with a 30 inch scale length.
I modified the 34 inch bass I’ve been playing by putting a capo on the second fret and down-tuning it to standard EADG tuning. Viola - a 30 inch scale bass! And I’ve been having fun with it. So my Ibanez short scale bass should be arriving today.
I believe I have found my muse. Am I giving up on guitar? Nope. It’s just going to play second fiddle…errr…second guitar to the bass. Much of what I’ve learned here can be applied to bass in the way of theory, scales, ear training, etc, just with two less strings. So I’ve kicked myself out of my rut. Different instrument, just more fun to play imho.
So, “Up Up and Away!”
Daniel
Nice looking guitar. Have many happy hours playing it.
Brian
Great idea, I sort of find my normal scale length bass a bit long so maybe I’ll try your idea. The Talman Bass is a great little bass, I had a look at one when I was in the market for mine, they didn’t have the color that I wanted in stock and the price of what I got was too good to miss out on! Have fun with it, you’re going to enjoy playing Bass, I know that I do!