Welcome. You have come to the right dog pound… Enjoy the journey
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Hi David
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun 
and you are already completely into it and Oooo there are still so many great things waiting for you in grade 3 because there the blues and fingerstyle are already wonderfully combined to a level that I could only dream of 3 years ago and can keep you company for years 
Greetings,Rogier
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David, welcome
I agree with the decision to look at other guitars
I traded my dreadnaught for a 000 sized guitar body. I think OM guitars are similar sized and the 00 guitars are even smaller but bigger than a parlor size
If you can, try out different sizes and see what feels and sounds right to you 
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Thanks for the replies all. It seems the dreadnought may be more suited for strumming chords than the smaller sized acoustics, which maybe suit finger style (?). The dreadnought seems to egg me on to play it quite hard - but maybe I need to learn to be a little less aggressive in the way I play it…Thanks for the advice on other sizes - I feel a trip to Andertons coming on.
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Hello David & Welcome to the Dog Pound!!!
62, avid motorcyclist, guitarist & hot-air balloon pilot here! This decade can be biker/guitarist for you… when the fingertips get too sore to play any more chords, hop on your bike & give 'em a rest!
What type of bike do you ride? I’m primarily a Harley guy but also have a 2015 Indian Chief Vintage in Indian Red & Cream coloring! Nothing like a little wind in the face to clear out the mental cobwebs… especially if you can put the bike away & noodle a bit on your guitar!
When it comes to guitars, you’ll not be getting a whole lot of advice around these parts to avoid GAS (Guitar/Gear Acquisition Syndrome)!!! 
I do advise, however, to take some time to evaluate why you’re wanting another instrument… what gap are you trying to fill? As far as acoustics go, there are many sizes & shapes. Each of them presents it’s own pros & cons… in your case, the dread feels too big & you’re thinking of something smaller…
my personal favorite size is the Grand Auditorium with a cutaway… an Orchestra is also nice but IMO doesn’t seem to “project” quite as well as a larger guitar. That being said, there’s always exceptions… one of my neighbors recently purchased a PRS Parlor… it’s pretty amazing how much volume comes out of that tiny little guitar!!! 
He’s a big guy & it looks like he’s holding a uke!
Anyhow, good luck along your guitar Journey… don’t forget that when you get stuck along the way this Community is here with helpful ideas & comments!
Tod from New Mexico USA
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I’m just getting started and learning about the JG Community. I just turned 70, I can play saxophone - and I know some music theory. So far, I’ve made it to JG Grade 2, Module 8. At that point, I took some time to mainly focusing on all my chord types and chord-switching speed …Open, Barre, Power - and am now ready to jump back into lessons. This is kinda how I approached learning saxophone (learn chords first) and it paid off for me there - so that is the approach I was using here. However, at this point I feel the need to get back into the real JG lessons. Playing guitar has always been on my bucket list …and soooooo, here we go….
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Hello Ralph & Welcome!!!
What part of “Joisy” do you call home? I’ve spent a bit of time in the Egg Harbor area near the Atlantic City airport for work… the FAA has a Technical Center in that area & my wife & I spent a couple of months there while I was on a detail… weekends in beautiful Cape May (which is where our son went to Basic Training for the Coast Guard), lots of lighthouse tours while there & just enjoying the seafood & the green countryside! We are so ready to go back the next time the FAA sends me!
Good to hear that you’ve found Justin when you decided to pick up the guitar… we’re a bit biased here, but Justin is the best teacher out there on the internet (the price is right, too!!!) with his laid-back methods. If you haven’t already, take a look at the Justin Guitar App… it’s a great tool for learning & the guitar karaoke is a fantastic way to help with chord changes & timing!
Best of luck to you in your guitar Journey… reach out here if you need help!
Tod from New Mexico
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Yes indeed …I’m about 40 minutes from Cape May, NJ - in Sewell. Looking forward to jumping back into JG Lessons - after a one-month ‘pause’ to focus on getting my chord-switching down a bit more. Ready to go now.
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Sewell…
We were staying at a Bed & Breakfast in Cape May the last weekend we were there & met a couple from Sewell, we talked to them at length about New Jersey but I don’t remember their names… wouldn’t that be funny if we met each other then!!! Have you ever stayed at the Queen Victoria? Beautiful old Victorian style home built in the mid 1800s that’s now a B&B.
Module 8 has a unit/lesson - I think it’s the 2nd one in the module - about practicing your OMCs but “perfecting” them also… to quote Justin “Practice makes Permanent, so Practice Perfectly”! That Module had one of the most lasting impacts on my learning… don’t rush through it, and/or go back to it periodically to keep what you learn there fresh! My 2 cents!
Tod
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The calluses are building up and I’m averaging about 20-30 minutes per day, and having a blast. Actually seeing a bit of progress and can play 3 chords. I will say the D chord has been the most difficult for me so far - finger flexbility can only get better from here!
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Thanks - I’m really hoping my background in (basic) music theory and playing saxophone will give me a head start. I have my OPEN chords down now, and can play thru all Major and minor scales, using finger-style. So, now pushing hard (literally) on BARRE chords. It’s good to be retired with lots of time available too 
.
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I’m 65. I took up guitar 10 years ago, and discovered Justin’s site, got really into it for about five years, buying Justin’s Beginning Guitar workbook, and then just dropped it in 2020. I was super frustrated and felt like I just hit a plateau of mediocrity. Then last September I joined a 12-week Artist’s Way group, and in the process rekindled my interest in the guitar. I took it up again last November-December. I think what discouraged me was (1) a tendency to try to play songs that were beyond my level; and (2) lacking any community support, i.e., groups, open mics, etc. The whole Covid insanity with the lockdowns and everything was not a help, either. I still am a slow learner and plagued by doubt but persisting in the process. This time I’m working through Justin’s app, which is really helpful, and still using the guitar workbook, and YouTube videos. I’m hoping gather the courage to play a cover in an open mic soon. Played Whats Up for my Artist’s Way group and it was a hit.
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Welcome (back) Heather! Those plateaus frustrate me, too, and I hit them frequently. I’ve learned to accept them as part of the journey - indeed, I think my learning has increased since doing that. I think you’ll find many here who share your struggles, so don’t be a stranger!
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Hi Heather, welcome back. I started back with Justin again two years ago at the age of 67. I only practice about 30 min./day, but decided that it doesn’t matter how slow I learn as long as I make some progress and have fun. I have gotten some feedback from the community by recording songs occasionally in the Community recordings (AVOYP) and setting up a learning log and putting shorter recordings in the learning log to record my progress. I like learning songs from Justin’s graded song lessons in the website as well as in the app. I hope you have a lot of fun this time around.
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Hello Heather! @BigSkyMind
What part of the world is home? Maybe Montana… the Big Sky state in the US?
Learning plateaus are tough… I’ve been in “Endless Beginner Syndrome” for many years because I hit plateaus & stopped playing for months/years at a time. Justin has got me pushing myself though, I hope that you’ll experience the same!
Good luck with your Journey!!!
Tod from New Mexico
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Hello Heather.
Welcome back to JG and I hope you feel at home in our warm and cosy kennel. Yours is a familiar tale. We have many folk who started, stopped, started, hit a brick wall, stated again etc.
We have online open mics organised through the Community. Why not check it out, sit in the audience and pick up on the vibe. JGC Open Mic XXVIII / 28 Call For Interest (event date Sat 22nd February 2025
Richard 
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Hi Ralph @northspoon1
Welcome here and i wish you a lot of fun
And with some background in music you will go nice and fast in the beginning…enjoy it 
Hi Heather @BigSkyMind
For once I wish you perseverance and fun , find a way to stay connected to your guitar, and this now very active community can certainly be of help…
Greetings,Rogier
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Its a shame you did not find the old version of the forum back then, its been going nearly 2 decades, I’ve been here and on the old infrastructure for over a decade and it was already going strong back then. And I would not have stayed the course without the support I received in the early days. There was always a link from Justin’s original website.
Hopefully now you are here, you will hang on in there this time.
Welcome to the pound.
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Hi All, First attempt at an introduction. I’m passed 65 and retired 18 months ago. Bought an acoustic guitar in the pandemic but never did much due to work etc. Going to give it a good try this time. I live in South Wales (UK) and started about 3 weeks ago - Still wondering when the fingers will be less sore, is it even possible to stretch my fingers into the different chord positions and when will my wrist stop aching - not even broached strumming yet!!! - ah well onward and upward!!
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