Paul's Guitar Journey

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21

Sounds like you found a good system. I have my own “man cave” space, but I keep it tidy. I usually have a keyboard set up on an X stand. The others are stored in a corner. I keep both my guitars in their gig bags near the keyboards, so the room stays relatively uncluttered.

As for an electric guitar and amp, the guitar would go with the others in the corner. I’m thinking that a mini-amp would be the way to go. If not, then a small amp. I’d probably store it in my adjoining garage. And that would be it for instruments. No more space for more–as if I’d need more. Until now, I had the same classical guitar for 10 years. It was a big deal for me to get the new Yamaha. I’m just a hobbyist, not a collector. I don’t need a ton of gear. Now books, that’s another story. :laughing:

Cheers,
Paul

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22

Nov. 24 - 30
Week 2

Continuing grade 1, but since I have some experience playing, I’m also working on selected topics in grade 2 (Blues) and grade 5 (Folk Fingerstyle).

Fingers were less sore this week. Usually start with steel strings then after about 15 minutes, I have to switch to the nylon string classical guitar. I play steel string a few times during the day in short sessions to toughen my fingers a bit faster. Don’t know if it’s working, but the extra practice is good. Letting my nails grow out a bit for fingerstyle, but the thumbnail is still too short to pick comfortably. Thumb hurts when picking steel strings. I’ll probably get a thumb pick soon. Got a set of various picks with my new Yamaha, so I’m trying those out for normal picking.

Getting comfortable with the 4 basic fingerstyle patterns. Strumming is fine. Still getting my feet wet with the Blues module, but it’s fun. Started learning all the notes on the entire neck with an outside tutorial on youtube. Not working on songs yet.

I’m really taking my time with the lessons. There’s no hurry. I want to get things right this time around. :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:

Practice:

  1. Blues progressions, 7th chord changes, First Beginner’s Solo
  2. 4 basic fingerstyle patterns
  3. Strumming
  4. Learning notes (5th fret and higher)

Progress :

  • Module 4: 2/8 completed
  • Module 8: 7/10 completed / Module 13: 5/8 completed
  • Grade 5 - Folk Fingerstyle: 2/10 completed

This Week:

  1. Finish module 4
  2. Start module 5
  3. Finish module 8
  4. Finish module 13
  5. Grade 5: Keep working on the 4 fingerstyle patterns.
  6. Songs: Born Under a Bad Sign (blues riff), Foule Sentimentale (strumming)
23

And,
ya don’t even need separate monitors if ya got a stereo close by. I go out of the AI, 1/4"plugs reduced to rca plugs, then off to the aux. in of my stereo. My AI is my dedicated sound card for my pc. Personally, I’m with you Ian. I prefer a real amp. Combos are my thing.

I agree, this is how I store my guitars too. I get the one I want to play out today and leave it on a guitar stand for the day to use as I want. Then back into a case for overnight. Rinse and repeat.

Many here do that. Yamaha’s and positive grid sparks come to mind. Myself, I grew up wanting a amp and a amp is what I got. Not a portable radio size amp. Regular combo amps. They ain’t that big. I have one stashed under my desk (wasted space anyways, one next to the desk. More wasted space. Then one up on a ledge on a archway the separates my living room from my dining room. That space would just be a catch all for junk, if I didn’t have a amp there. The amp looks better. The amps are all within reach of my desk where I sit. The amps are out of the way and usable in a moment. fwiw, everyone here will recommend a katana modeling amp. Everyone here has one. Except me (and maybe Ian :wink: ). I want to play guitar, not twiddle knobs and search menus. Plus I’m not chasing anyone’s particular guitar tone. I go for a tone I think works and nothing more. I near always achieve tones I am looking for with just plain vol and tone control. Will say that a master vol. amp may be desirable if your going for distortion at a reasonable vol. Much easier to achieve with a master volume control. The alternative is a single vol. control amp (like the princeton reverb amp I got). Them, ya just gotta turn them up to get to the overdrive. And I assure you, your wife will likely be unhappy about that. Least mine is. fwiw, a princeton reverb amp ain’t that big of a foot print. It just has big tones (I think) out of a smallish cabinet.

imho, this is good. I’m with you there. Granted I got three main guitars and 3 main amps in use. But that’s where I’ve stopped at. And fwiw, what stopped me was a '65 princeton reverb amp (and my casino w/p90 pickups which over time has come to be where I landed at for tone from my electric guitar). A horrible expensive amp, that if I mention it here I always get push back on. I’ve no idea why. But the tones it produces are what I’d been hunting for. I’d near guess if I’d a got that one first (it was my last amp purchase), I may have not needed the other two I got. This is food for thought. I know it would make no sense to get a great amp to start with. But If I had, perhaps I’d only need that one amp. So, perhaps it does make sense. Hard to know that when your experimenting w/gear though.

I don’t know if it will.
I’ve never had a nylon string guitar, always steel string so I know no other. What I will say is. Yep, I can play for hours w/steel strings. But will also say my fretting fingers know I’ve been playing after such a session. My fretting finger tips always feel different to me than my non fretting fingers. They don’t hurt, they just feel… like I play guitar.

Sounds like yer really doing well Paul. In the correct order too. Your on your way it seems to me.
You’ve got a ton of info just from this thread. This is great!
Seems like your having a blast too.
Your doing very well imho…
Take your time on the electric purchase. Time is your friend I think. This gives you plenty of time to research and make a good decision as to where your wanting to go with your playing.

Keep on rockin man!

1 Like
24

Hey HappyCat,
Thanks for sharing your experience and advice. I’m simmering down about a prospective electric guitar. Actually, I don’t really like the electric guitar sound, except jazz and 50s rock and roll. Growing up, Jimi Hendrix was my hero as well as many others I heard on the radio when their stuff was new: Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Iron Butterfly, Jethro Tull, etc. During my teens I loved metal bands. I still listen to metal sometimes on Spotify, but I much prefer acoustic blues, some electric jazz, folk tunes and classical music. I have no desire to blow my eardrums out with overdrive. So, I’m going to see how far I can go with an acoustic before getting an electric. However, I would be interested in BLIM at some future point, but I heard it was mostly for electric guitar. If that’s the case, I may have to look elsewhere once I use up all the free and paid blues resources here–which is going to take me quite a while.

I really like the course curriculum here. After a few years of lessons as a kid, I had no structure at all. It’s been 10 years since I picked the guitar up again, but I’ve made zero progress, due to just random strumming and noodling around. The main reason I’m here is to have a path to follow and finally learn something.

Rock on, bro! :musical_notes:

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25

Dec. 1 - 7, 2025
Week 3

Finished modules 5, 8 and 13. Since I’m new to the blues, I’ll keep working on module 13 from now on. Blues riffs memorized, practicing them with backing tracks.

Memorized the 4 fingerstyle patterns. They’re getting easier, but still not up to speed yet. Starting to use them in some chord progressions.

All in all, I’m happy with my progress and regular practice sessions. Calluses are starting to return, so my fingers are a bit less sore. Can’t practice more than 40 minutes, though. Which is fine for now. Also, thanks to JG, I’ve rediscovered Spotify. Fantastic resource.

Practice:
Working on these main areas:

  • Fingerstyle - 4 basic patterns
  • Blues - riffs, scales, 12-bar blues forms, songs
  • Strumming - 4 basic patterns
  • Technique - fingerstyle, chord changes, picking, scales, strumming

Progress :

  • Modules 4, 5, 8 and 13 completed
  • Module 6 : 1/8 completed
  • Grade 5 - Folk Fingerstyle: 2/10 completed. Still working on the basic patterns.
  • Blues - Comfortable with basic 12-bar, also working on other 12-bar forms.

This Week:

  1. Continue module 6
  2. Grade 5: Keep working on the 4 fingerstyle patterns.
  3. Blues: practice strumming w/backing tracks in key of A, G, D and C
  4. Songs: Continue Beginner’s Blues Solo, Born Under a Bad Sign (blues riff), Foule Sentimentale (strumming), and. . .Christmas Songs!
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26

Dec. 8 - 14, 2025
Week 4

Chugging right along.

Finished grade 1. Practicing basic 12-blues in a couple of keys. Started strumming/soloing with blues backing tracks. Learned some basic fingerstyle patterns and am picking up others. Starting to memorize a few songs as part of my first 20-song repetoire, as Justin suggests. I have my hands full, as they say–but enjoying the process.

Practice:
Working on these main areas:

  • Fingerstyle - 8 basic patterns
  • Blues - riffs, pentatonic scales in A (starting on the 5th fret) and E, 12-bar blues forms, songs
  • Strumming - Exploring more patterns
  • Technique - fingerstyle, chord changes, picking, scales, strumming

Progress :

  • Started module 9
  • Grade 5 - Folk Fingerstyle: 3/10 completed. Added 4 more basic patterns, which makes 8 that I can practice.
  • Blues - Basic 12-bar in Am, E, G and C. Working on soloing with backing tracks.

This Week:

  1. Continue module 9
  2. Grade 5: Keep working on the 8 fingerstyle patterns.
  3. Blues: practice strumming and soloing w/backing tracks in key of A, G, D and C
  4. Songs: Born Under a Bad Sign, a couple of blues riffs, 3 or 4 popular French songs. Really have to start playing around with some Christmas songs. I don’t think I’ll be ready this year, but I may surprise myself. :grin:
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27

Dec. 15 - 21
Week 5

This week was the first time I could complete a practice session without finger discomfort. I can see and feel the calluses forming. . .at last!

Started grade 2. Pretty comfortable with fingerstyle patterns 1-8 (grade 5), and so will continue with that module. The Strumming Machine is great, so strumming’s no problem.
Getting 3 songs under my fingers, playing along with tracks from Spotify and Songsterr.

Satisfied with progress so far, especially no more finger pain! :heart_eyes:
Main goal is to learn fingerstyle and strumming. We’ll see about getting back into blues at some point. For now, I’m looking for relatively quick wins, i.e. strumming songs everyone knows. Blues is an acquired taste for most people, so I’ll probably end up playing to my usual audience (my wife), just like piano :crying_cat:

Practice:

  1. Chord changes: Am, B7 / D7, B7 / Em, Bm / A, F#m
  2. Grade 5 - Fingerstyle - 8 basic patterns
  3. Strumming
  4. Songs: at least 3

Progress :

  • Module 10: 2 lessons completed
  • Grade 5 - Folk Fingerstyle - 4 lessons completed

Nex week:

  1. Continue module 10
  2. Continue grade 5 Fingerstyle
  3. Songs: (strumming) Foule Sentimentale, Santiano, Les Copains d’Abord, Country Roads Christmas: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Coming Soon: Silent Night, Jingle Bells, First Noel
2 Likes
28

Dec. 22 - 28
Week 6

Not too demanding this week, due to the Christmas holiday. Missed a few sessions, reviewed what I’ve been practicing recently. Didn’t start any new lessons, but picked up a few new fingerstyle patterns. Fingers feel great, too. I can play as long as I want with a few short breaks now and then.

Practice:

  1. Chord changes: Am, B7 / D7, B7 / Em, Bm / A, F#m
  2. Grade 5 - Fingerstyle - added a few new simple patterns
  3. Strumming
  4. Songs: the usual, plus strumming We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Silent Night, among others.

Next week :
Practice new fingerstyle patterns, fingerstyle Silent Night

1 Like
29

Dec. 29, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026
Week 7

The holiday effect continues. . .practiced 5 days, but didn’t start anything new. However, I’m going all-in on fingerstyle in 2026. In addition to Justin’s lessons, I’ve also ordered some books:

  1. Alfred’s Complete Fingerstyle Method (books 1, 2 & 3), Manzi
  2. More Gigging Guitarist, (Celtic tunes in fingerstyle), Wood
  3. The Complete Guitar Player (books 1, 2 & 3), Shipman

That’s a whole lotta stuff! So there’s no way I’ll be trying to do everything at once. But I will be doing all the lessons in order in the Manzi books and dip into the other books as needed.

Practice:

Chord changes: Am, B7 / D7, B7 / Em, Bm / A, F#m, F barre chord, fingerstyle patterns, basic strumming, some songs. Finally getting the hang of B7 chord changes! But I’m still chewing on the F barre chord (or it’s chewing me!)

Next week :
Continue grade 2 lessons et al. Start on the Manzi books when they arrive.

30

Posting every week is getting inconvenient, so it will be just once a month from now on. I think it will be more interesting just to give a monthly overview, anyway, instead of all the little boring details. I do that in my physical practice notebook. :grinning_face:

Next post : Jan. 31, 2026.

1 Like
31

Hey Paul!
Good to read about all the progress you’ve made! Well done!!!
As far as guitars go, you can’t go wrong with an acoustic… especially since you have both a Classical & a steel string. If you decide to pursue electric in the future, I can recommend a couple of good brands that’ll be good solid choices & reasonably priced. Let me know! Lots of amp choices in the “smallish” range, some people swear by headphone amps (never tried one, myself) so that’s a very compact option!
Sounds like you’re locked in to learning with a good plan that’s paying off nicely!
Way to go! Keep it Fun!!!

Tod

32

Hi Tod,
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I really like my acoustics. My nylon string was very inexpensive, but I’ve been playing it for over 10 years with no issues, and I love the feel and sound. The new Yamaha is completely different, but equally satisfying. It’s a completely different sound. Much louder and clearer, like a bell, really. The only thing I’m not crazy about with steel strings are the calluses. I hadn’t played steel string for decades. I’d forgotten how downright painful it was to get used to the strings. This time around took about a month. I’m fine now, but still. And steel strings seem to be ripping my already short RH nails to pieces. Well, not all of them just mainly the ‘a’ finger. So I’m learning how to use less nail and more flesh.

Apparently, electric guitar is easier on the hands and easier to play. Looking at all the cool guitars here got me excited, but now that I’ve calmed down, I don’t think I’ll be getting an electric any time soon. I think it’s mostly because it’s. . . electric. You need electricity, amps and whatever other gadgets seem important.

On the other hand, an acoustic is just wood and strings, with a big, vibrating body. The sound is real, not processed through an amplifier. It’s like digital vs. acoustic pianos. I had an acoustic piano for 20 years (yeah, the same one!), then had to switch to digital due to space restrictions (tbh, I was getting tired of having to tune the thing, too). I like my digital piano and keyboards, but it’s a completely different animal. I don’t feel a connection like I did with the acoustic. A keyboard is just something I make music on, not with, if that makes any sense.

So I don’t want to fall into that trap with an electric guitar. Besides, I’m really a “campfire” guitarist at heart, so I don’t need an electric (nobody “needs” 5 guitars, either, but we know how that goes, LOL.)

Thanks again for the encouragement.

Paul

1 Like
33

January 2026 Progress

General
Took a break from Justin’s videos for most of the month. Concentrated mostly on fingerstyle as taught in the Alfred FS book I got this month. Went for the beginner/intermediate/advanced combo book. Good course. Will get back on track with the JG course in Feb. (I’m only on grade 2!).

Fretboard
Learning all the notes on the fretboard with a nifty system I learned from one of the many youtubers I watch regularly. Also got some good tips for changing strings and cleaning. Since the Yamaha is new, I won’t need to change strings for a while.

Chords
The F barre chord is no longer a beast, but still far from natural. I hate that chord, but I’ll beat the thing down, yet. :sweat_smile:

Fingers
LH fingers have good calluses now, but I can only play for about 20 minutes before my fingers scream for mercy. After a 5 minute rest, I’m good to go again. However, I still alternate between my steel and nylon string guitars.

Wish list
I know I said I didn’t want an electric guitar, but. . .

I’ve been spending (wasting?) a LOT of time watching review videos. Mostly for. . .Harley Benton! Yup, the brand everyone loves to hate. :smiling_face_with_horns:

They are certainly the prettiest guitars in their price range, IMHO. Opinions seem to be mixed, but those that like HB, really like them. I’ve saved several guitars and gear on my Thomann account, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Mostly because I just got a new acoustic, but also because I can’t play the blues yet–which is the reason why I want an electric. If all goes well (and I get permission from you-know-who), I’ll probably get an HB for my birthday near the end of this year.

Wrap-up
Although I consider myself to be a “campfire” strumming guitarist, I REALLY like fingerstyle. Learing how to strum well can’t hurt, but FS seems to be where my heart is. Guess I’ll be a fingerstyle campfire guitarist. On the other hand, there’s the lure of the electric guitar. . .and the blues! But I don’t have to choose, I’ll do both. And I can always play fingerstyle on an electric.

February Goals

  1. Continue JG, grade 2
  2. Learn new songs and create song book
  3. Continue Alfred FS
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