So far my progress has been going well. I have completed the Beginners Course - Classic, Beginner’s Course Grade 1 and Beginner’s Course Grade 2. I am currently consolidating the final aspects of the Beginner Grade 2 Course whilst undertaking the supplementary Beginners Fingerstyle and Discover Your Voice courses that I have enrolled in. I have also recently commenced the Blues Solo Course.
Very edgy at the bottom the first guitar, interesting didn’t see this type ever before! good summary there Socio hopefully you’ll achieve what you hope to in 2022
What is the first guitar? I really like that green color, and it looks like a really nice guitar, not a cheapo first guitar. That cutaway shape is really eye catching, too.
The first guitar was a Westfield VSS907E-BLS. I got it in the mid 90s. It was the colour that stood out to me in the music store. It was about £250 which was a lot of money at the time. Its a relic these days. Westfield were a Scottish Guitar Brand that produced copies of Fenders and Gibsons. They went out of business back in 2013. I’ve been debating whether to take it to a Luthier as action is far to high, its still in good condition but probably not worth much these days.
I’ve had my eye on adding a non-cutaway acoustic guitar to the collection along with an electric guitar. The electric I’ve had my eye on is not available at the moment. However, I ended up yesterday placing an order for the non-cutaway acoustic. Delivery tomorrow
Thanks @adi_mrok it was a choice between the J200 and Hummingbird. For me the Hummingbird sounded closer to the Gibson. I have thought about a Les Paul but I have had my eye on a ES-335 Figured Raspberry Tea for a while but with the pandemic it’s been a bit more difficult to get.
Now I’ve got the new acoustic that put me into a bit of a predicament. I told myself when I get a new guitar I’d post a video. Well the clock is now ticking. I was originally planning on doing an instrumental but having watched @sairfingers and @ChasetheDream posts recently I’ve been challenging myself to do the impossible and learn how to sing
A trio of acoustics - and some AVOYP to come. All good stuff James. re: the Westfield - they were built to a price point and you are right to question whether it is worth spending on a luthier to have work done. Apart from sentimental reasons, I would say no, the guitar isn’t. Concentrate more on the other two.
Well, it’s been 26 days since my last learning log, so I thought I’d give the log a bit of an update. I’ve spent the past few weeks consolidating Modules 1 to 8 whilst learning songs. For the songs I’ve been trying to take myself out of my comfort zone and doing a variety of genre.
I’ve been learning:
Why Does It Always Rain On Me by Travis. Although it’s not a grade 1 song, it’s one of those songs I’ve always wanted to play. I’ve pretty much nailed it, but I’m still finding the transitions to the Bm hit and miss. No issues with PFC, just when I’m playing. So wash-rinse-repeat. On the plus side, I’ve found out that I can sing rather badly to it.
Bad Moon Rising and applying the boom-chicka strumming pattern. I’ve more or less got that down. I’m just trying to learn the lyrics now to be able to sing along whilst I play.
Sweet Home Alabama which is coming along nicely and I’m enjoying playing. Though where I’m going to find the vocals to accompany that song I do not know.
I’ve also been getting used to playing the Hummingbird. The Yamaha APX600 feels like a toy in comparison but the tones that come out of the Hummingbird are fantastic. Looking forward to getting my first electric. The one I want it still not available though the GC said they will do me a deal for what I want and will let me know as soon as they receive stock.
In terms of Module 9 which I’m working on the F Chord is coming along well. Much easier on the Hummingbird but that was set up by the GC. Still work to be done on that pesky mini F Chord.
I’ve been watching with interest the discussions regarding the Scarlett 2i2. That’s something that I will look at in the future. I’d also like to get a looper as I would like to be able to play some of Gerry Cinnamon’s songs.
Amongst all the learning I’ve actually developed the music to my own song which I quite like, I just don’t know the lyrics yet It might just end up as an instrumental.
Thanks for the update, James, sounds like excellent progress.
Looking forward to hear you play and sing those songs.
Hope GC come through with the electric soon.
As for lyrics, I know just how you feel. I find writing originals challenging but writing the lyrics is always the biggest hurdle for me (without minimising all the rest that goes into an original song).
Thanks @DavidP that means a lot. Yes, progress is coming along. I wouldn’t say excellent but slow and reasonably well. I would be very grateful if you could give me some pointers to getting that Bm transitions down. I’m doing the PFC every day and not really having any difficulties. It seems to be only when I want to apply it to the song. As for the original that just came about by accident, I thought I’d just apply everything Justin has taught me through the beginners course and RUST course and experiment just making music as an exercise to drill what I have learned.
Hahaha no worries @sairfingers … I was going to reply to you calling you trigger but not sure every one would have got the reference to only fools and horses
Thanks, the Hummingbird was a very good purchase, it’s taking a wee bit of time getting used to it as the Yamaha is a toy in comparison. The funny thing was I could play the F Chord reasonably well on the Hummingbird and when I went back to the Yamaha I could suddenly play it reasonably well on that too.
Once I get this Bm transitions sorted I will be taking the plunge and posting my first AVoYP. I read that you just use your phone to record, any recommendations on set up to get best vocal/guitar recording?
good summary there Socio hopefully you’ll achieve what you hope to in 2022 
It might just end up as an instrumental.