This is probably in the wrong forum. Can a moderator move it for me if so?? Thanks!
I first need to qualify this with my age. I am 65 years old. Other than an extremely brief 15 year old experience (really insignificant maybe 1 or 2 lessons) I have never picked up a guitar before early last December. I have a recording on here of Glenn Campbell’s Gentle on my Mind and Tom Jone’s Green Green Grass of Home. So that might give you an idea where I am at, at this point.
What I wonder at this point is where to focus my study/practice. I have a cheapy acoustic guitar and will likely stick with the acoustic guitar. I see no need for anything else. There is one realism one must face, my time is limited. Maybe I’ll be lucky and have another 10-15 years strumming away, but maybe something will end it tomorrow. I do not say this solemnly, frankly whatever will be will be. (Wow I just got a good idea for song to learn!!..lol). I’m super grateful I got to enjoy this guitar experience the last 5-6 months. No regrets, no expectations.
However I am at a crossroads as to where to focus my attention at this point. I have many open chords down where I can transition from one to another fairly well. I am growing better at barre chords with time. Funny, I hear most people dread the F-chord, yet I am okay with it. I find the F#m quite easy and love playing it. I struggle more with the B family of chords. E-shape I find easier than A-shape.
I struggle with the A-shape. In fact I have a one-finger open A- chord, but I can’t play a one finger (and barre) in a barrec-chord. My finger just doesn’t bend enough.
But anyway, I digress, I can continue on attempting to improve with playing chords and improve with my presentation using tougher and tougher chords (relatively speaking). And if that is where it all ends that is wonderful.
I hear about the need to study scales. I taught myself the minor pentatonic and have become reasonably good at playing the scale. However I fail to see what it buys me. Most youtube instructors (Justin included) attempts to explain why we should learn this but the explanation falls short IMO. I’d love to see some examples. In other words, somthing like a video showing a use case model of using Am pentatonic. I am a bit green on the entire concept of improvisation. I hear the term but it is often left not fully explained. It’s really just a lead thing right??
I’ll try to explain what I have in mind. What I like to accomplish is to be able to embellish better as I play along. By that I don’t mean being able to dazzle with any great riffs or solos. (again if I were 20 years younger I might target this as a goal). I mean more just make the rhythm, the breaks, or the pauses (not well established with my terms) more musical (melody) and a bit less just strumming along. Am I being clear??
I have tried finger-picking and frankly I SUCK! So I do not this that is an option.
Is there a term or a methodology that fits what I am doing a piss poor job of trying to explain here? There must be others who have the same goal.
Another way of putting it might be; If I keep my mouth shut during a song (supress the vocals, or take a pause) I’d like to be able to make the guitar sound more musical and less like a demolition derby,
Any advice greatly appreciated.