I recently discovered Justin Guitar and have started the courses. I’m not a beginner, but I play like one. I’ve owned guitars and have messed around with them for several decades now (I’m 62). I’ve been a huge music fan my whole life and have always been interested in guitar. About 20-25 years ago, I decided I wanted to teach myself guitar. I bought a few books and tapes and tried to teach myself some basics (without much luck). About that time, my wife was active with a church. The musicians took pity on me and let me sit in with them during practice. Before long, I joined the church and began playing with the band regularly. When I say “playing,” I mean three chords, strictly rhythm. Basically just strumming. But I did it a lot and was playing nearly every day. Still, I never progressed much beyond a few chords at a time. Also, a big problem was that the only songs I learned were the church’s original music. I never learned any songs that anyone else would know or recognize. Time went on, the church fell apart and I lost my playing buddies. I set the guitar aside and hardly touched it at all for a number of years.
Throughout my playing time, I suffered from a chronic case of guitar acquisition syndrome. I was constantly buying and selling guitars. Consequently, I’ve owned some really nice guitars – I’m talking desirable American made stuff (Strats, Teles, a 335, a Rickenbacker 12, some great acoustics, and several really good amps). Mind you, my abilities never justified such nice instruments, but I enjoyed them. (I kick myself a bit when I think about what I’ve let go over the years.) I also enjoy tinkering with stuff, so I taught myself to work on guitars, doing basic set-up type of adjustments. At some point during my working life, I started and ran a pawnshop. That was during years I wasn’t playing. I had a number of really nice guitars come through my shop but I didn’t do much more than restring them, set them up and keep them in tune. When I finally closed my shop, I had sold off all of my personal guitars.
Not long after closing my pawnshop, I decided I should take up guitar again. That was about four years ago. I bought a couple of guitars (even purchasing back an acoustic I had previously sold) and started dabbling again. I tried some Youtube videos but never found anything that grabbed me or that I wanted to stick with. I sort of set the guitars aside for awhile again until recently when I thought I should give it another go. That’s when I discovered Justin Guitar.
I am really enjoying Justin’s lessons. I find his spirit to be really great. He’s encouraging and explains thing in clear, easy to understand steps. I love that he’s not putting attention on himself or showing off, despite clearly tremendous chops. I confess, I also love the whole British aspect. I’m a huge fan of the British Baking Show and really appreciate how that show is more encouraging and supportive than competitive. I get the same vibe from Justin. It’s obvious that he wants the viewer to learn and do well and he’s there to help make that happen.
Although I have some skills and abilities, I also know that I have a lot of bad habits (practice makes permanent), so I’m approaching the lessons as a new beginner, working each step from the beginning. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stick with it and actually build some fundamentals this time. Anyway, that’s a lot. I just wanted to say hello, and let you now that I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve seen so far, and that I am learning.
Oh, if anyone is interested, I’m primarily playing a Telecaster clone that was built by one of my customers at my old pawnshop. I also have a hardtail Stratocaster that I assembled (Robert Cray body with a Tele neck). I also have a Guild JF30 jumbo acoustic (though I’d like to find something smaller). I’m using one of those Yamaha THR amps to do the lesson with. I plug the sound from my computer into the AUX and my guitar into the amp. I listen on headphones so as to not bother my wife. I also own a Vox practice amp and one of those cheap Monoprice tube amps.
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. I’m sending you a warm Welcome to the community 
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