Hi Todd,
Congrets 
…Keep having fun
Greetings
1 Like
Hi Todd, that’s terrific to read, you’ve done grade 1 in a really good and methodical way which sets you up perfectly for grade 2.
There’s some awesome stuff coming your way, keep on doing what you’re doing!
2 Likes
Hi Todd, I don’t think you should have any regrets about how much time you’ve spent in Grade 1. As you probably know from your teaching experience (I don’t have too much of that except some MS Office classes I gave many years ago) previous well acquired knowledge facilitates acquiring more knowledge based on that previous knowledge. Thank for sharing the progress with the themes. I think you are doing right in practicing slowly and putting attention to every note you’re playing. With practice you’ll be able to do it faster. In addition to playing the whole piece I’ve found useful playing a few a times in a row segments of it specially the ones that are not easily coming along. Keep the good work.
3 Likes
Pretty good, I’ve not really done a single song at 19 weeks, even though I’m doing G2 Module like you but I’m very close lol. So, 24 week, thats pretty good. 
2 Likes
I figured I’d do a quick check-in here:
I’ve spent four weeks on Module 8. I probably could have moved on to Module 9 by now, but, it’s been a busy time with the end of the semester approaching (I’m a non-traditional student, working and in university full-time right now). So, I’ve been content just practicing my repertoire and doing the Module 8 practice. I figure it’s a marathon, not a sprint; at least I’m practicing something. I’ll probably move on to Module 9 soon.
4 Likes
Well, it’s been two months, to the day, since my last post in the JG Community, and even longer since updating the old learning log! I’m sure some of you feared my demise. Well, fear not, for I have returned to you.
As stated in my last post, I stopped progressing through the lessons due to the end-of-semester crunch at school. That lull has continued to this present day. I’m still doing the Module 8 practice a few days a week, just not progressing to anything new. I think I’m finally bored, so time to move on to Module 9. I’m excited to get into the F-Chord.
Is it okay to post bass guitar videos? Bass guitars are guitars, after all… I posted, many months ago about buying a bass. I haven’t done anything with it until, about a week ago! Well, I’ve practiced it a couple times, and I’ve almost got a catchy bass line down from one of my favorite bands (“Chick Magnet” by MxPx). So, that’s been fun.
Further, inspired by @jkahn’s JK’s rock songbook thread (Self Esteem added 19th May), I think I’m going to start working my way through JG’s Beginner Songbook and posting performances. I think that will be a fun challenge to keep me going.
9 Likes
Glad you’re back Todd. Plenty of people start, and then don’t stick.
I can’t take credit for the rock songbook thing - I’m a copycat, I saw @alexisduprey doing it, and it looked like a great idea. Doing the beginner songbook sounds like it would give you something to work towards.
4 Likes
Todd
Like JK good to see you back. Take your time do what is right for you and in your own time.
3 Likes
That’s an awesome goal and really fun to do. Great songs in those books too. Good luck!
3 Likes
Nope, but you did cross my mind , glad to hear your keeping up the practice , even with the busy crunch.
, keep going.
R.
2 Likes
Actually, I did wonder, at one point, where you’d gone off to! Keep that boredom at bay, do tell us how you find the F chord, I just can’t wait (not) till I get there! 
2 Likes
Hi Todd, 
I have clicked your avatar with some regularity over the past 10(?) days to see if I had missed something and fervently hoped that you hadn’t entered another somewhat dark period… nice to read that it has to do with other things and that you still occasionally hang your guitar around your neck … and if that is sometimes a bass guitar …well you will be forgiven by the guitar gods 
Greetings… 
1 Like
Hi Todd, nice to see you again! I already asked myself, if you are still playing and joining the community. Life gets in the way from time to time for all of us and as long as you play…
Cool, you’ve added a bass. Hopefully you’ll post a video playing the bass soon!
1 Like
Same here. It seems, quite a lot of us have already missed you . Good to see you back 
.
If you’re feeling bored with module 8, I don’t think it makes much sense to stay there longer. When I was at this stage (not long ago, actually), I moved on to module 9 but alternated my practice routine (one day mod. 8, the next mod. 9, then mod. 8 again, and so on).
Don’t forget - the most important thing is to have fun 
.
1 Like
Well, thanks, you all, for your kind responses! 
There were two big reasons for my ‘lull’ in progressing. One was the end of the semester, which I mentioned in my last update. The end of the semester is often a busy time. So, I really felt the ‘crunch’ at school, and put my personal hobbies on hold.
Second, honestly, the riff from “Wish You Were Here” did not interest me much, and looked a bit difficult. In my mind, I had to practice that riff before I could move to Module 9. So, not being very motivated to attempt the riff, I put it off.
So, I repeated the Module 8 practice for… three months? A week or two ago, something changed. (It’s Summer, with a small break, and now new college classes.) So, I tried the “Wish You Were Here” riff a few times, as well as learning MxPx’s “Chick Magnet” riff on the bass. The “Chick Magnet” riff includes some hammer-ons, which I haven’t gotten to yet in the JG program, but I figured it out.
Last night, before bed, I watched the Module 9 lessons and played along. It’s all pretty straightforward, except the F-Chord. That one wears out my hand very quickly, and will take plenty of practice to play efficiently. The “Californication” riff isn’t too hard, and I was able to play through it a bit already last night.
Frankly, I think just watching the lessons got me more excited to start progressing again. Justin’s so friendly, it adds an emotional pull.
Edit: A fun note on Module 9. In the lesson on F-Chord “Cheats,” he teaches us the FMaj7 chord. Strumming it, I noticed how the three fretted notes didn’t sound all that “weird,” but it was the open high-E string that gave it the… Major7 sound. So, I tried raising that high-E by a semi-tone, fretting it at fret one. So, I just accidentally discovered the “Mini-F” chord, which Justin teaches right after that. 
That made me feel like such a music theory big brain.
4 Likes
Today, I have completed Practical Music Theory - Grade 2. I actually completed the lessons quite a while ago. I decided to take the test today, to continue on to Grade 3. I passed.
I did have to re-take it the exam, as a 100% is required, and I missed one question. The question asked for a “group of notes that works well together.” I did not choose “Scale” as the answer. Scales are notes that work well together, but I didn’t think of that as definitional of a scale. It seems that could also describe a key or a chord, for example. Anyway, on to Grade 3!
2 Likes
Well done Todd, good to see you moving forward.
My advice when you come across a song that does not gel with you, walk right past it !
Back in the old Beginner’s Course there were no riff lessons at all and it never held anyone back. If something just does not float your boat, don’t put the brakes on, if you’ve ticked off all the other boxes in the module. You can always come back to something later on if you have a change of heart/mind !
1 Like
Todd, good to see you are able to move forward again and making progress. I know that Module 8 was put in by Justin (as he admits) to give your fretting hand a workout before learning the F chord, so if you are getting bored just move on. When you finish grade 2 you will be reviewing and filling in the gaps in your learning during the consolidation phase.
1 Like
Good to see you back Todd! And congrats on passing your Grade 2 theory test. I really need to get back into the theory course. I started it and stopped at grade three. I just find it so hard to focus on theory, even though I know it will further my skills in the long run. It’s inspiring to me to see you go back to it and dig right in! I think I need to set myself a schedule or something 
1 Like
Good to see you back amongst it Todd.
Ain’t nothin’ like a bit of practical music theory to get the blood pumpin!
Onward and upward 
Cheers, Shane
1 Like