Thank you @math07 @SteveL_G99 @CD02
To think this time last year we were working our way through BLIM U3. It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago.
Likewise, Steve. You must he ready for the next BLIM intake?
Time flies past when you’re having fun and in good company.
James, I started to sign up for the next BLIM, but I just started subscribing to Justin’s TAB and having fun learning grade 4 and 5 songs and fingerstyle. Also, wanted to finish up the grade 4 blues studies. I have already made up my mind to start BLIM a year from this January, so I will be in the first class of 2027.
James, having read your LL from the beginning, I must say you’ve made impressive progress. I’ve really enjoyed your original compositions, which I find catchy. I’ve ended up with a few going through my head. Your rendition of Perfect Day is excellent. Lou Reed is one of my favorite song writers, and I’ve been playing lots of Velvet Underground songs for a while.
Keep up the good work.
Another year of slow and steady progress. I continued down the blues path building upon everything that I learned from BLIM alongside developing my knowledge in the Major CAGED system (chord shape, arpeggio, major pentatonic & major scale) and triads. I feel that I have built some solid foundations in the Major CAGED system and becoming more confident by the day using the system to improvise in various keys. The foundations that I’m building on triads is slowly forming as I continue to work on them including connecting them with scales. My barre chords (A Shape and E shape) have also improved over the course of the year. With regards to the blues studies I feel that my knowledge has improved and foundations getting stronger.
The plan is to continue along the path that I set off on in 2025 and keep moving forward.
The main priorities will be:
Complete Seth Rosenbloom’s Blues Guitar Course (and make the most out of the video exchanges with him) and recap on BLIM. I was thinking of creating a Blues Learning Log to share any recordings etc that I continue on this blues journey if that is of interest to anyone.
Continue working my way through Justin Guitar Intermediate Grades supplemented by Paul Davids Next Level Playing course.
Continue consolidating Major CAGED System though improvisation and begin working on the minor CAGED system through Molly Miller’s course.
Continue working on triads through Jack Ruch’s courses.
In addition to the above I would like to finish off and record the following originals:
This song is finished. It’s a bit of an upbeat song. I shared an early demo version a few months ago with the BBP when I finished writing it to get some initial feedback. It’s now a case of practicing it until I don’t make a mistake on guitar when playing it and working on the dynamics.
This song came from exploring chords in a key and different time signatures on the acoustic guitar. The lyrics and vocal melody pretty much wrote themselves as I laid down the rhythm guitar. I’ve still got a couple of lines to write to finish off the bridge. Then it’s practicing it until I don’t make a mistake on guitar and working on the dynamics.
This is my first attempt at writing a blues song. It’s based on meeting Robert Johnson at the crossroads and is kind of my tribute to him. I included a number of subtle reference to some of his songs like “I’m a steady rollin’ man” with “hell hounds on my trail”. The lyrics and vocal melody are down as is the rhythm guitar part (although I need to still work on getting it up to speed). I’ve still got the second rhythm guitar and lead guitar to finish composing.
Another bluesy song. The lyrics and vocal melody are down. I’ve started working slowly on developing the guitar parts that I hear in my head. This is my favourite song that I’ve written since starting out, so will take my time composing the music.
Well done, James, you’ve made such wonderful progress!
Look forward to those songs when you release them.
Great stuff James. You’ve got a very focused approach and l also look forward to your originals when you get them finished and up to speed.
I envy your progress as 2025 was a ‘no progress’ year for me. I must do better in 2026! 
Interesting too that you’re using a lot of varied tuition resourses.
That is awesome to read James. I look foward to your originals…the Steady Rolling Blues makes me especially curious!
Yes, yes, yes! 
I’d really like to read that, James. It’s always a pleasure following your progress.
Your goals/plans for 2026 sound rock solid and the different areas compliment each other nicely. Sounds like loads to achieve in the next 12 months, but also like lots of fun.
Regards the Originals (more or less) in the making: Really looking forward to all of them. Everything you wrote until now was enjoyable already. Given all the things you’ve learned and your overall growth as a musician, these will be treats as well.
As Justin always says learn from those that you want to sound like. So the external courses that I follow tend to be thosd that cover subjects that Justin either doesn’t deep dive into or they play the guitar how I want to sound.
You’re gonna have to wait as so much to compose and so little time in the day 
I caved in and released first demo before the studio version. I’m almost happy with the lyrics and music for times we’re living.
Thanks for tagging me, James! I saw the post yesterday evening before going to bed. It will be the very first thing I will check out, once the little one has his after-lunch-nap and am fondly looking forward to it.
It will be interesting to see why it’s “only” almost, but being our own hardest judges, we often see room for improvement. But actually, I’m reading it with a more positive tone to it like you were actually almost satisfied with your piece, which is a good thing.