I’ve made peace with my ability to learn, my drive and discipline to practice and so no longer experience any significant frustration. I do sometimes feel a moment of (unfavourable) comparison and envy coming on and squash that as quickly as possible.
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The same. Gave up a while ago worrying about others progression. Doesn’t do your head any good!
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It doesn’t 
No it didn’t, thanks. It just boils down to me spending more time to the lessons. It’ll stick at some point.
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April 2024.
Well, here we go again with another annual update to my LL or whatever you would call it. This time last year my dad had just died so that last 12months has been a bit odd without him although, as he believed, he has gone to a better place!
It’s about 4 years since I started this journey and would say that I am still (mostly) enjoying it, although there have been quite a few frustrations along the way again. According to someone (I can’t remember who) frustrations are a good thing! This is going to be a long journey!
I can happily say that I have completed Grade 2 and am OK with most of the topics covered in the course apart from:
- String muting – I can’t this to sound right. It’s either all dead strings or not, with no halfway house. I also end up scratching my hand on the bridge.
- Fingerstyle- Had a go at this, but that’s about it. Can just about do Happy Birthday, although harder than expected. Not sure if I will be progressing anymore of this. Time will tell. I noted on the discussion part of this that ‘other stuff to concentrate on with the limited practice time I have’. Still holds true.
- Re-active listening – I don’t (and still don’t) get this. I did the exercises but as I noted in the discussion most of the notes work for me! Had quite a long discussion with @BurnsRhythm mid-year about developing the musical ear which helped.
As I noted this time last year, I can do the full barre F chord (up & down the neck) but chord changes to and from the barre are still giving me some grief at this point and are not really OK for songs! I’m doing PFC’s at every practice session to help with this and am using songs with the F barre in them also as practice.
As an aside I can also use the ‘A’ shape barre chords but again changing to/from is an issue.
I have progressed the Music Theory Course and have now passed Grade 3. Not started Grade 4 yet as have other things to worry about.
Again, as I noted last year I did try to record myself but not managed to satisfactorily do this. I know that Justin says that we should record ourselves but not really seeing how this will benefit me. I know what my problems are! I have no intention of recording as have no desire to perform whether live, for friends/family, OM’s or AVOYP. It’s just not something that I am comfortable with. Not being able to sing probably doesn’t help.
The major change in the came in August in response to one of my posts about Livestream #3. This is in a thread called “I feel disheartened at my own progress having watched Livestream #3!
I’m not going to bore you with rehashing all this again, but the main outcome was that I gave myself a bit of a slap and worked out a plan for going forward!
There were a couple of comments that are worth noting:
@Richard_close2u – you made a comment about ‘what things do I need the most’? I’m guessing the answer is learn songs. The problem with this, as I have said before, is that I don’t know or like most of the songs listed, but as @TheMadman_tobyjenner says you have to play a lot of stuff that you don’t like to get the playing ability. I get that!
Bottom line I have been practicing a lot of songs (even ones I don’t like) and seen some major improvement in lots of things.
As part of this I have been using Songbook Pro to store the tabs for songs. This is a great program and use it a lot.
As part of the ‘plan’ I finally created a spreadsheet for my training** in September, which is split into columns for warm up/scales/strumming/chords/songs, etc., and am using this as the basis for all practice, although not all get done at each session. I am finding the songs bit more interesting and helpful.**
I have also consciously stopped watching OM’s or AVOYP videos because of this as comparing yourself to others doesn’t help.
Due to the ‘learning songs’ I have just about stopped the ‘blues’ bit but may come back to that at some point.
I have started Grade 3 this year (2024) but module 15 is doing nothing for me really. The ‘6 guitar areas you should practice’ makes sense but have found the ‘ear training‘ bit difficult (and probably won’t be progressing this) and improvisation is not really my bag at this time. To be honest I have never really got improv. as it just seems to be random notes.
The D shape explorer lesson was useful, and I am using the various options in songs.
Have had a go at ‘linking chords using scales’ but can’t do this quick enough at the moment to make any use of it in songs. Before you say it, slowly does it!
Also had a go at transcribing songs. Let’s just say that I don’t think that I will be pursuing this one much. The songs listed to have a go at are just not my taste & too distorted to make any sense of. I had a look at Molly’s Lips on YT and still couldn’t work out what they were playing. How does this make me a better player?
The practice for this module suggests and hour but can’t always find the full 60mins. Some days it’s only 20-30mins. so have to pick & choose for the time available.
I need to talk about ‘clubs’. Initially I thought that these were an excellent idea but my enthusiasm waned quickly when realised that being ‘live’ was an issue in that there were no sub-titles. My ongoing hearing issues make this difficult and I’m trying to keep what I have.
In October I attended the first Music Theory Live Class 1, but found it way too advanced for my level of knowledge and nothing like what I was expecting. Too many fancy chords which I never knew existed and overall very difficult to follow. A lot of the items where explained too quickly to make any sense of.
Didn’t help that I missed the first 10mins. as I couldn’t figure out the audio. Probably only the second time I have used zoom as generally use Teams.
Overall I have ended up watching about 2 and a bit ‘club’s’ and that was it. As Justin has done with some of his recordings videos of these would be useful to allow me to go back.
The other issue with the initial clubs was there were too many in a short period of time, with some at odd times for me.
Aspirations for 2024 –
- I will carry on with Grade 3, but, like the other grades, may be on it a while.
- I have decided that at some point in the year I’m going to go back to the ‘blues’ again. Not sure when yet.
- I will also we trying to progress Music Theory Grade 4.
- Learn more songs. Because I don’t sing I like to find songs with interesting chord progressions & multiple chords to provide a bit of interest, together with dynamics. Playing A, D & E (in whatever order) can get a bit boring!
If you are still reading, thanks.
Overall, the first half my year was treading water but has improved a lot since then and am mostly enjoying it with the usual frustrations!
As usual I don’ have enough practice time as the pressure of life (work and my poorly mum) will always impact on this, although I am trying to get as much as possible.
Thanks to Justin and the team for the excellent lessons and thanks to you lot on the forums. I know that I don’t post very often as I still feel that, at this point, I don’t have enough expertise to comment on people’s technique, etc.
I have been thinking a lot recently about this guitar playing thing and come to the conclusion that we are very privileged to have the opportunity to do this and should therefore make the most of it while we can. There must be millions of people in this world of ours that don’t have this opportunity.
Looking forward to another year of practice and playing.
See you in a year😊
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Stuart,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad and about your poorly Mum. Ageing parents are always a worry.
Excellent update!
Full and comprehensive, but above all, very honest.
You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into where you want to go with your guitar playing and what you can get out of it.
Like many of us reaching the end of Grade2 and starting Grade3, you realise that not everything in Grade3 will suit you. No harm in having a look at everything, but you can give more time to what interests you.
You’re right - trying to help others isn’t easy. We can all do our bit though.
It’s good to hear that our discussion helped in some way.
I totally get what you’re saying about recording. I don’t even record for myself. My take on it is that a recording is how I played it yesterday. I listen to how I’m playing it right now and try to improve it on the fly. Self assessment is a great tool.
Seems like you have a plan going forward. Good luck with the next 12 months! 
Stuart @Stuartw, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I’ve just passed the 6-month mark in my “guitar project,” and I want you to know that you inspire me. I don’t share all of your challenges, but I do face some that you’ve mentioned and others that you haven’t. What I find so uplifting about this community is that we all share the desire to “do this thing,” so we persevere through the frustrations - not just with learning how to coax the sounds we want from these instruments, but with doing that while making our way through the rest of our lives, too.
You “putting it out there” in this log is a bold act. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you are making a very substantive contribution to this community and supporting others who are “where you used to be.”
I thank you for your commitment to the process. I hope it brings joy to your life, because you’ve certainly added some to mine.
Thank you for an in-depth honest annual review Stuart! You have a way with words, so it was also an interesting read.
I was glad to read this. It’s a long journey and the goal is never reached to be honest. But I guess that’s what makes it interesting.
Thank you for sticking with it and being part of this community! See you around the forum and see you in this thread in 12 months!
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Hey Stuart lots of good stuff here and all of a positive nature. I know you have presented a lot of self negativity in the past and a focus on Can’t not Can but you seem to be turning that around. I am another xls man , so if a spreadsheet works for you go for it. But in my opinion, you are moving forward and as I always say, this is not a sprint. Take your own time. I think you now realise this. it is up to you how long things take. Some will be quick some will be slow but it doesn’t matter. You are making progress, that is all that matters.
Keep going Stu !!
Great update Stuart. I always enjoying reading what others, particularly regulars, are up to.
Detailed and honest, which is where you wanna be I reckon. Some real great progress over the last year.
Just one comment if I may, re recording yourself. I’d encourage you to think about revisiting this; for your ongoing development, not for performing etc.
As with many things in life, we can be blind to some of our actions and behaviours. ( Just ask my wife 
).
Recording your practice, particularly in areas that are problematic, can, and will, highlight actions, techniquesc etc that you are doing subconsciously that are hindering progress.
Also, hearing your song playing with focused ears, away from the act of playing the guitar, will be different. It puts you in the seat of the audience member.
I have found that recording my practice/ song playing to be both a very illuminating, and highly beneficial thing to do on a regular basis.
All the best.
Cheers, Shane
Thanks for responding to my post, which didn’t happen overnight and took 2-3 weeks work to review all that I have done over the year and give some thought as to where I want to go this coming year.
No point not being. Otherwise you are fooling yourself.
I’ve had a quick look through Grade 3. Not sure how I will get on with it but time will tell.
Thank you.
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Glad I can help but to be honest didn’t realise that I inspired anyone!
Indeed. If only I had more time.
You know what, it does bring joy and happy that it has helped you.
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Not sure about the way with words as only got a C in my English ‘O’ level all those years ago!
You certainly will, on both counts.
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Indeed I did and yes I’m a lot happy with things, subject to the usual frustrations of my hands not doing what they are supposed to!
I know. I borrowed the idea from you. It works well for me.
I’m glad you think so as I don’t always see it.
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Thank you.
I know that I said that I would never do this but I believe that I have also said in other threads that you never know. I’ll se how things go during the year.
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Stuart @Stuartw
Apologies for not responding sooner to your LL but I wanted to give it considered response and when I come to do that, I find you posted it 10 days ago!!!
Sorry to hear that you have had a difficult time recently and sympathise with you, I am sure there are many in the community who have been through that sort of period, as I have.
You mention frustration, I think that is just par for the course, they come in different forms as you progress, but I think they are always going to be there.
You seem to be at about the same stage as me, out of Grade 2 and into Grade 3. To me Grade 3 is when Justin stops spoon feeding you what to do and some of the things you just have to work out yourself. The less said about Ear Training and Reactive listening the better.
I like finger style don’t give up on it as it adds a bit of flavour to some songs, however I differentiate that from trying to play Happy Birthday, to me that is almost Classic guitar playing.
Yes, the ability to play the E shaped barre chord by itself is one thing but being able to change in and out of it in a song is something quite different. Interesting you mention A shaped barre chords, I think Justin misses a trick here, as Bm occurs in the Keys of G, D and A and therefore comes up in a lot of songs, I know you could get away with B7 in a lot of songs. It comes up in Grade 4 and like you I gave it a go in the early stages of Grade 2 as I needed it.
Music theory – definitely worth pursuing that, not sure it lets you play any better but if you are like me, I need to know what I am doing and why. I think chords in the key and the basic theory of transposing is an essential skill to have as a minimum for a guitar player.
If you don’t like recording yourself then don’t do it but there are some real benefits.
Comparing yourself to others as you note was an issue, there is a natural tendency to do that, but we all have different abilities and learn at different rates. I did this comparison initially when I joined the guitar club and there are some very accomplished players, some of retirement age and have been playing since they were teenagers, I had to get realistic I was never going to reach their standard starting very late in life.
Totally agree that playing songs is what it is all about I think you have to overcome the hurdle of just playing the songs you like and be prepared to have a go at any song, you never know you might get to like them.
Big tick for SongbookPro, all my songs are stored there.
There are things like you in Grade 3 are difficult if you don’t have a good musical ear, I have watched all the transcribing video but not really had a go as I know I would be wasting my time, far better off spending it on other aspects for now.
I have joined some of the JG clubs, but there is obvious difficulty in that you have people attending with different abilities and knowledge so you can’t cater for everybody, all of the time.
Yes, I created a spreadsheet to cover all of the things I wanted to do in a practice session but must make a mental note and use it.
I noted near the end about treading water, but you have made some progress recently, I think this stepped approach to learning is fairly common, but no expert on that.
Sorry a bit lengthy but at least you are still playing and looking forward to the next year, hope it goes OK.
Michael
No apology needed.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my update, which, as I have noted, took some time to put together.
Agreed!
As you have noted this, in my view, should be earlier in the course.
I am and not going away any time soon!
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APRIL 2025
Another year gone so here’s my round up of last years practice.
So I started Grade 3 in April ’24 and decided to spend a month of each module and then consolidate after that, with the intention to spend 12 months on Grade 3. I’m recording my thoughts/comments to each module as I go along. This is going to be a long read so if you get bored no worries.
APRIL 2024
Grade 3, Module 15 – comments written after the module.
• D chord explorer was fun & used in songs!
• Linking guitar chords using scales not so much. Fingers not quick enough to make this sound OK in any reasonable time.
• Finger Gym (aka hammer-ons) – Use this is warm up a lot.
• Mindful Listening – Don’t have the time to be able to do this. All a bit ‘knit your own yoghurt’ for me. Perhaps I’m just too cynical!!
• Guitar tone – good. Learnt more about settings on the guitar. Some I didn’t know!
• Transcribing - just not for me!
Barre chords practice, incl. changing between chords. E and A shape. I still can’t change between open and barre chords at any speed that really allows me to play songs. So frustrating!
More songs.
MAY 2024
Grade 3, Module 16 – comments written after the module.
• Timeboxing – good and mostly use it.
• Easy shapes up the neck – use this in songs (Hurt)
• Rolling chords – too fat fingers! Never really got this.
• How to play medley - A bit like transcribing I may just have to admit that I’m not going to get this! Tried ‘Let it Be’ but couldn’t figure out what the first note was!
• Amp & Settings – good. Learnt a far bit from the forum discussion.
More barre chords, incl. changing to/from open chords.
Back to the blues!! Back to this one First Steps in Blues Improvisation using Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 1 and this one https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginner-blues-solo-bg-1304
More songs, incl. those with the F chord.
JUNE 2024
Grade 3, Module 17 – comments written after the module.
• Goals & Destinations – Well my original goal (call it long term) was to learn to play guitar & you could say that I have achieved that in that, yes, I can play guitar. Granted not very well and not as good as a good few on the forums!
I have no ambition (as of 06/24) to perform a gig or for friends or at an OM. Just happy to keep learning.
My short term goal is to complete this module in a month, with each module in a month after that.
My mid term goal is to complete Grade 3 by April ’25.
No idea what my long term goal as never really had one. I’ve found that I like learning techniques but don’t always know what to do with them.
• C shape explorer – No real issues with this one and use a lot of these in songs.
• How to Pick Individual Strings while Strumming – No real issues with this one apart from being slow! I like the idea but not really sure where to use as it changes the songs!
• Thumb & Finger Strums – Kind of got this although could never work out what just was doing with the fleshy part of his thumb on the down strum as it seems to be sat on string 6. I could only do this with my hand off the strings.
• Easy triads – Confused me to start with as the lesson was using finger picking & not strumming. The discussion on the forum helped me out! This is such a large topic that I then investigated triads more with the help of @Richard_close2u Vintage Club #6 and #12 resources. Very helpful.
• Guide to Reverb – Excellent lesson. Just need to experiment more!
• Transcribing Easy Riffs – Wasn’t able to do this on any of the songs, even with the hints. Not having the answers doesn’t help. AS I noted in this thread Transcribing Easy Riffs - #31 by jBreck “Justin notes “In 30 years of teaching, I’ve only met one student who couldn’t hear the pitches and couldn’t transcribe.” Well, I think that I’m number two!”
JULY 2024
Grade 3, Module 18 – comments written after the module.
• Open Tuning Basics – Tuned down my second electric to drop D but didn’t manage to do much with this in the end. Will come back to his.
• Legato Pentatonic – Can just about do this slowly (70bpm) all the way through sounding Ok. Still needs lots of work and is still in my practice routine.
• Solo Blues 1 Lick-in Riff – Didn’t get very far with this in the end. Just about got the Intro and Chorus1 but not to any sort of rhythm. The notes/chords just didn’t really flow together. It doesn’t help having to figure out the new chords and changing between them. OMC’s helped but not much.
• Triad Chips – Have found this to be generally OK with shape 1 and have also been practicing with the other two triad shapes from other lessons. Been trying to play the songs from Vintage Club #12.
• Transcribing Open Chords – Following on from last month I didn’t even watch the video for this!
This months practice also picks up some of the items from modules from previous months.
Not much song practice this month although I have started to use a metronome more. Didn’t really use it before.
Managed to connect up my new amp (which was a very generous gift from a senior member as my old one stopped working) to my pc so now am able to listen to backing tracks/videos through my headphones as well as the guitar. As part of this I have been doing a lot more C major scale improvisation on the thinnest three strings. At times it still feels like playing random notes. I guess that at some point this will make some sort of sense!
AUGUST 2024
Grade 3, Module 19 – comments written after the module.
• 3 Types of Songs you should Practice – Because I don’t really play songs, well I mean I do, but I’ve never really thought of them as different categories. To be honest I would have Wish You Were Here as a ‘dreamer’ song even through Justin seems to think that it is easy.
• G Shape Explorer – Good lesson with a lot of different variations of G.
• Learning to Sing – Err no thanks. Only watched half of the video. I have never really thought of singing because, bottom line, I think that I am tone deaf. I also don’t have anywhere to practice this if I wanted to!
• 4:4 Fingerstyle Pattens – This was a good lesson and managed to learn the 5 patterns OK. On the back of this I then investigated @ Richard_close2u vintage club lessons 7, 10 and 15 and had a go at Dusty Wind which is not a song I have heard of, or heard for that matter! Investigating fingerstyle more now.
• Guitar Pro – Watched the video but as I don’t have GP then didn’t do anything else.
• Transcribing Power Chords - Following on from last month I didn’t even watch the video for this! Very little point.
I finally bought an Audio Interface (Behringer UMC204HD) connected to my amp/guitar and pc. Still need to work out how it all works as it’s not quite set up right yet! The intention was that I could hear a backing track and then improvise over. Not sure how this is going to work yet.
Have been improving more using the A Minor pentatonic scale and BT’s!
Overall this month I have been practicing a lot of the other Grade 3 modules including triads, linking chords with scales, legato, etc but still struggling to see how they all fits with songs. At the moment it just seems to be learning new skills but not knowing how to apply them. I’m guessing that at the end of the grade it will all become clear!
SEPTEMBER 2024
Grade 3, Module 20 – comments written after the module.
• The Spacing Effect – I try to keep to the 5min block for practice but doesn’t always succeed! To be honest I’ve not really tried this with songs as have found that I haven’t been playing songs that much recently, although have been trying to learn licks.
• Lifted Barre Trick – Initially I found this really hard as the angle of my wrist was really bent so was getting pain. I have found that I can’t keep my wrist straight for a full barre chord (even raising the next doesn’t help) so that doing these chords was an issue. I have maintained practice and can play chord progressions for a short period. I do like the sound of these chords though!
• Singing and Playing – I watched the video and that was about it. Not had the courage to start singing!
• Chords In Keys – I understand the “Major - Minor - Minor - Major - Major – Minor” pattern and can play the corresponding chords on the 5th and 6th strings from G but still don’t understand how this fits with improvisation! Looking at the video Justin created a BT using the chords from the key of G and then improvised over that using the G major scale. Is that right? What’s motive development?
If I have got this right you can start anywhere on the 6th string and play the associated M-m-m-M-M-m chords and not really need to know the note names. You can then improv. over that using the root (first note) scale. Again, is that right?
• How to co-write a song - I watched the video and that was about it.
• Record Yourself – Although I have bought an AI I’ve not used it much as it’s not set up right as I have a background hum which I’ve not managed to get rid of. The use of ‘hum destroyer’ didn’t work! I’m using Audacity to record which works OK for me at this time. Thanks to @Majik for his help and assistance with this. Really appreciated.
• Transcribing (Not So Easy) Riffs - Following on from last month I didn’t even watch the video for this!
I only had three of the for weeks for practice as away on holiday for the last one but overall this has been a strange module and, as last month, I have been practicing a lot of the other Grade 3 modules. The Lick -in’ Riff has been hard to get under my fingers. Have just about got the notes for the first chorus but no idea about the rhythm!! I’m keeping this in my practice routine.
OCTOBER 2024
Grade 3, Module 21 – comments written after the module.
• The Objective Observer – Never really got this. Now we are being told to make mistakes (to make them go away!) when previous grades lessons say that if you make a mistake you stop and start again. Of course the mistake is going to go away if you do it slow enough as you are concentrating on not making the mistake.
• A Chord Shape Explorer – Good lesson with a lot of different variations of A. Not sure where I am going to use them though!
• Vibrato Techniques – Good lesson. Not sure why option 1 is limited to classical guitar as it works well for me on my electric! Not 100% sure about to practice. Do I just practice the types of vibrato on their own or within a piece of music or lick?
• Framing: Double Strumming – Have managed to get this OK although, again not sure how to practice. On its own or in a song?
• Top 10 Rutbusters – Thought about 1 and 2 but haven’t jumped yet! Have been practicing a lot of fingerstyle recently. Does that count as no. 4?
• Transcribing: Guitar Capo – Well you know the score by now. Following on from last month I didn’t even watch the video for this!
There seems to be a recuring thread of ‘not sure’ where to use a lot of these techniques in Grade 3.
NOVEMBER 2024
Grade 3, Module 22 – comments written after the module.
• Bridging Beginner to Immediate Lessons –
• E Chord Shape Explorer – Another good lesson for the E chord options.
• Easy Barre Chords – Well this has set me off on barre chords now. See forum post titled “The joy of barres”.
• Transcribing Difficult Riffs – Well you know the score by now. Following on from last month I didn’t even watch the video for this!
So that’s it for grade 3. The next 4 months or so are going to be consolidation of the grade 3 lessons and others with concentration on songs with barres and more fingerstyle which I’m liking a lot!
Bring on grade 4!!
As a follow up to grade 3 I’ve come to realise (I may have said this before) that I will never be any good at this guitar playing thing (mediocre at best) which is mightily frustrating. I thought I would be better than I am after the time spent in practicing, and I do practice nearly every day.
Overall, I like the practising bit and not particularly bothered about playing songs. I could if I wanted to I guess but I like practicing techniques. Sounds a bit odd I know.
The Joy of Barres!
I have recently discovered that I can play barre chords relatively well, both E and A shape, (major and minor) which, I have to say, has come a bit of a surprise to me! No way perfect but a lot better than 3 months ago. This may be because I have been doing these for quite sometime now and have built up hand strength. My hand position also seems to have improved.
I started on the F barre back in April 2022 (according to my log) and it took a full year to get this OK, although changing to other (open) chords was still a problem.
My April ’24 log noted:
“As I noted this time last year, I can do the full barre F chord (up & down the neck) but chord changes to and from the barre are still giving me some grief at this point and are not really OK for songs! I’m doing PFC’s at every practice session to help with this and am using songs with the F barre in them also as practice.”
I have also learnt all the notes to strings 5 and 6, which I think is really important, and also string 1!!
Combining all this together means that I have a range of chords available now that weren’t available with just open chords. I have now started re-learning songs using barres which has made me think which version of the barre (E or A shape) to use as chords are available with both shapes, although some are more obvious, and some closer together on the neck. The vintage & motivation clubs by @Richard_close2u and @LievenDV have really helped with this.
I also have started investigating what other types of chords are available with these barre shapes and how they can be used.
On the basis that these chords open up a lot more possibilities I am really surprised that Justin doesn’t really get to these until the last module of Grade 3, with more in the intermediate grades. My view, for what it’s worth, is that these should be taught a lot sooner, although I appreciate that hand strength is required for this.
So overall I’m a lot happier now with my progress for this part of my guitar journey.
At the moment (early Dec. ’24) I’ve been concentrating on Silent Night (fingerstyle) and more barres, including changing between chords that use the root on strings 5 and 6. Not really done much consolidation of grade 3. Probably leave that until the New Year.
For a laugh (!) I re-watched https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/4-easy-steps-to-transcribing-songs-for-beginners-bg-1508#learn-more as I had a bit of spare time one Sunday morning. What I don’t understand from the lesson is why Justin is concentrating of songs from bands that make such a racket, using power chords. Surely there must be easier songs to use as examples and where are the extra one he says in the video that he is going to add? Anyway I watched Polly’s Lips on YT and yes I could work out what was being ‘played’ but only by watching. No way could I have got this from listening to the record, even with the hint.
So I’ve completed Grade 3 but it’s a strange grade isn’t it. My overall impression is that it shows you lots of technique, which I like, but kind of leaves it up to you to work out where to use them, which I don’t particularly like! The other grades suggested songs to use to practice.
January 2025 and Happy new Year!
My goal for this year is to carry on consolidation of Grade 3 and then start Grade 4 in 2-3months. Saying that my practice now also includes finger stye and blues licks, incl. bending & vibrato and a lot of both E & A shape barres.
I have just bought my self (early 01/25) a TC Polytune 3 tuner and a TC Ditto looper. So that makes three things on my pedal board. Use the tuner every time I practice but not had chance to use the looper yet!
February 2025
More consolidation of Grade 3 and a dabble into Grade 4. I’m going to carry on consolidation of grade 3 up until April. I’ll then move to Grade 4!
Still not got round to using the looper.
Had a watch of “Vintage Club #21 with Richard” on strumming & rhythm. Although I was OK with the majority of the video the 6min strumming session was strangely good!! Didn’t dance though.
Been trying to use the 5 licks from pattern 1 of the A minor pentatonic scale over a 60bpm backing track. It just sounds like noise over noise at the moment. Very frustrating! I can’t work out where beat 1 is supposed to be most of the time so that licks just seems to be in random places.
Also been trying the riffs/solos for Wish You Were Here and Wonderful Tonight, as well as WT fingerstyle.
Have watched the BLIM2 “Blues with Justin invites Matt Scofield” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C3FRmagARU&t=3563s which is available to non Blimmers! He is obviously a very accomplished guitarist and has probably forgotten more that I will very know. He also knows his way around the fretboard and lots of scales and how to use them. One thing that confused me is that he doesn’t use licks but just groups of notes that sound good over a chord, which is his blues vocabulary. This is at odds with what Justin (and others on the forums) teach in that he uses lick for words to form sentences!
Have also been speaking to one of the forums regulars about the ‘blues’, who provided “An Introduction to Acoustic Blues Soloing with David Hamburger” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hATEbd9Ego0&t=583s Have been working my way through this. The riffs/notes are OK but can’t get the rhythm! Have to keep going back to the video to hear how it is supposed to sound!
I had an online session with @LievenDV this month to have a chat about stage fright and as it turned quite a few other topics incl. finger mobility, or not as the case may be! The session gave me a lot to think about, although hasn’t solved my issue of standing up in front of people, which will always be a problem.
March 2025
Well started the month of with more practice of the 12 bar shuffle riff and the Vari shuffle Climb, as well as “An Introduction to Acoustic Blues Soloing with David Hamburger”.
So at the end of the month I have been doing more of the above plus more E and A shape barre practice. Playing the various chords using barres is OK but changing from E to A shape is still slow! Been using songs for the practice! Also been going back through the modules and finding that a number of the exercises, etc are now easier.
Have also been sorting out my Grade 4 practice schedule, which hasn’t been that easy! Taken some time to put together.
So overall the last year has been a strange one with lots of new techniques, which as noted, I’ve not really found use for…yet!
As last year thanks to Justin and the team for the excellent lessons and thanks to you lot on the forums. I know that I don’t post very often as I still feel that, at this point, I don’t have enough expertise to comment on people’s technique, etc.
Aspirations for 2025 –
• Start Grade 4 and work my way through the various lessons. Looking forward to the blues part of this!
• I will also we trying to progress Music Theory Grade 4. Said that last year.
• Learn more songs, with and without barres.
Looking forward to another year of practice and playing with Grade 4, which means that I am an intermediate player!! Not sure that is accurate.
See you in a year😊
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Good steady progress Stuart. A sprint it ain’t !
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Well Stuart, it’s a long read alright!
It’s a good read though. 
Above all it’s a very honest self appraisal of what you’ve been doing and where you’re at.
You seem unsure how to apply what you are learning.
Maybe you need a direction for your learning and playing.
I can’t give you that direction but I think if you didn’t discuss it with @LievenDV then maybe you should.
I’m sure a teacher will be able to help you find your direction and then everything will start to fall into place.
Obviously, I’m not going to share what we discussed here in public but we explored some paths where you can improve. I’ve noticed from other sessions with other people working on stage fright, that some actionable points and follow-up are required to make a plan and to set it in motion (and to feel accountible for ones own action points). I still think the gradual stepping via recording yourself is a valid one; the “red recording light” stress has a lot of overlap with stage fright. The acceptance to get over the akwardness of hearing yourself is also a good foundation in the confidence departement.
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