Hi there, so I’ve been at this for about 2 and a half months now and decided I probably need to start making a record of my progress. Hopefully when I look back in 6 months or a year, I’ll be astonished at how far I’ve come.
I’m 59 years old from Texas and this is my 3rd time trying to learn. I tried when I was a kid with a cheap acoustic guitar, with group lessons at the Y. I have a vague memory of trying to learn “It’s so Easy” and it wasn’t. Then about a decade ago, I got inspired from guitar hero. I bought a cheap electric guitar and I couldn’t even get it tuned. More discouragement.
The last few years, I’ve been focused on what I want to do with the rest of my life. I changed jobs from a Software Developer to an Animal Rehab Tech (mainly focused on dogs). Instead of stuck at a desk all day, I spend most of my day in the Underwater Treadmill with the dogs. Finally, a fulfilling job that I love. Then I started thinking about bucket list items. The two major items on my list are to compete in dog agility and to be able to play guitar so I can sing along.
About 3 years ago, I started training my dog, Kizzie, who was 7 yrs old at the time, in dog agility. It took about a year and a half of training, but we’ve been competing for over a year now. We’re currently at the intermediate level, but we’re just one qualifying run from being in Excellent.
A few months ago, my partner took up the harmonica. Lots of squeaks and squawks for the first few weeks, but then one day I noticed I could tell what song she was playing. This got me inspired to try guitar again. The internet can be a wonderful thing. I stumbled on Justin’s lessons and I was off and running.
I started with a Yamaha APX600 Acoustic/Electric guitar. Then a couple of weeks in, I decided to get a Cordoba Mini Classical guitar, so I could practice at work. A few weeks later, I decided I needed a Squier Starcaster Semi-Hollow guitar. My idol is Bonnie Raitt, so I wanted to learn slide guitar, so I then got a cheap Cigar Box guitar, thinking 3 strings would be easier. And to round out the list of guitars, my partner has a Teisco Tulip Electric guitar from the 60s.
I’ve been lurking here for a couple of months. I’ve been tempted to post for awhile, but I wanted to be a little further along in my journey. I’m definitely improving, but I’m still not very good, which I know is to be expected after just 2 and a half months. But ever the optimist, that I can speed up the process. Anyway, the “D” chord is my nemesis. I do practice A, E and D with chord changes and strumming with the beat everyday, but changing to the D chord is still a killer for me.
I’m probably not helping my progress, by branching off in too many different directions. I’m practicing on 5 different types of guitars and instead of just sticking with the basics, I’m off trying to learn things like how to use a slide and fingerpicking. And I’m working on several songs that are using more than just A, E and D chords. I even wrote a song. I think I may have a little ADHD going on. I’m sure it’s not the wisest way to approach learning, I would never train dogs this way, but it does keep me motivated to practice, so there’s at least that. Here’s the songs I’m working on, for each guitar, with a few edited videos:
Acoustic: For what it’s worth and Sweet Caroline
Playing at 50% speed is extremely hard for the strumming piece, but the slow speed was needed for chord changing. I was counting in my head trying not to speed up on the strum.
Solid Body Electric: I’m so Lonesome I could Cry, Sweet home Chicago and 12 bar Blues
This was just a little improvisation. My partner informs me that it’s too fast to sound very bluesy.
Singing is definitely hard when trying to play.
Semi Hollow Electric: Moon River
Cigar Box: Women be wise
Classical: Pink Panther theme
So that was a little sample of where I am. Suggestions appreciated.
Leslie…
…and how nice that you made all those short videos with the different ones…nice that you re-record the same parts every few months to to follow progress well, really do what you plan to do…I myself was / am planning to do that but I have too many things that I am doing…
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