September 2022: One Year Anniversary
So at the start of September 2021 I ordered a Yamaha APX600, downloaded the JustinGuitar Song and Lesson Application and began my journey of learning to play the guitar. It took me a couple of months of an hour a day practice to be able to play anything recognisable at a good tempo. What kept me going through those first few months were the small improvements being achieved each practice session.
I recognised early in the learning process that I needed to adapt my practice routine from the standard module routines prescribed by Justin to work more on my feel for rhythm and strumming. Therefore, I purchased Justin’s Strumming Techniques course in October 2021 and slowly worked my way through Part 1 of the course building a good friendship with my metronome.
By the end of February 2022 I had completed Beginners Grade 1 and felt reasonably comfortable playing songs with 8 essential beginner chords with the strumming patterns taught in Part 1 of the strumming techniques course. My feel for rhythm had improved and I could change chords smoothly and on time whilst ensuring the notes were ringing out clearly and strings not played were muted.
As I commenced Beginners Grade 2 I transitioned from using the JustinGuitar Song and Lesson Application as my main learning tool to using the content on the website including the Practical Music Theory Course. This was a big game changer for me as it resulted in improved learning and increased my capability in learning and memorising songs.
After following the AVOYPs being posted by the community members I took the plunge and posted a few myself; Bad Moon Rising, Sweet Home Alabama and Three Little Birds. It was a very eye opening experience, something that I would never have envisaged doing when I started in September 2021. I learned a great deal from that experience.
I continued to make steady progress with Grade 2 with a few bumps along the way. That mini F Chord and one finger A chord were real thorns on my side but having overcome other obstacles such as the Dm Chord I knew that with perseverance they would eventually fall into place even if it took until the consolidation period to do so.
By June 2022 I had completed the Beginner’s Grade 2 lessons and commenced the consolidation period. I’ve spent the last three months consolidating what I have learned but at the same time I have continued the learning process dipping into the classic course for additional material as well as commencing some additional supplementary courses.
I now find myself entering the last phase of my consolidation plan and that is focusing on rock techniques which I couldn’t have been timed more perfectly with the addition of the Boss Katana 100 MkII to my list of gear owned.
Little did I think when I first decided to learn the guitar that I would develop a case of GAS. Over the course of a year I’ve collected an Epiphone Hummingbird, Epiphone ES-335, Cort Gold A6, Digitech Trio Plus, Boss RC-500, Boss DB-90, Boss WL-20, Boss Katana Mini , Boss Katana 100 MkII and a Scarlett 2i2 Studio Recording Package.
I’ve also installed a fair amount of guitar related software this year including Guitar Pro 8, Neck Diagrams 2, Reaper, OBS and RipX DeepRemix which I have found myself using quite often especially now that I prepare my chord book, scale diagrams, tabs, and lyric and song sheets as I have moved away from the JustinGuitar Song and Lesson Application.
Key points:
- I’ve learned that there is a difference between practicing and playing.
- I’ve learned to practice slowly and correctly as practice makes permanent.
- I’ve learned rhythm is king.
- I’ve learned with practice and perseverence you can overcome the trickiest of chords etc.
- I’ve started to listen to music differently. Now when I watch music videos I pay closer attention to the player’s techniques and the equipment they are using.
- I’ve found a great community to share experiences with and learn from one another. The support of the community really motivated me through this year.
Goals for Year 2:
- Complete Beginners Grade 3 and Intermediate Grade 4.
- Complete Part 2 of the Strumming Techniques Course.
- Complete Grades 3 and 4 of the Practical Music Theory Course.
- Complete the Ear Training Course.
- Complete the Discover Your Voice Course.
- Complete the Supplementary Beginner and Intermediate Courses for Fingerstyle.
- Explore and develop blues rhythm and lead further including acoustic blues.
- Record and share a few more AVOYPs.