Hiya - Howdoo!!
This is my first real foray into what I intend to be a regular engagement with this community - and to keep myself on track and connected to all you lovely guitar people!!!
Like a few other people it seems, I have been trying to find an in-person guitar teacher over several years (after my first AMAZING teacher left London to go back to Italy in Covid). I have now given up on that, because JG is THE BUSINESS - I’ve progressed more in 2 months with regular prac, lessons and so forth than I had in the 2 years before that, so I am so glad that I’m here!!
Technical stuff:
I have made a few attempts at song writing - and aim to post vids/ recordings but I’m going increasingly nuts about how to do this - phone video file too large, mac recording too quiet. I did shell out on a Scarlett 2i2 - and I’ll spend the weekend (apart from going to 2 gigs) learning how to use the thing!
I taught myself to use a looper pedal (and feel ridiculously proud). It is, as J suggests, an excellent way to learn keeping to time by playing along with a metronome, plus playing with other music.
Songs:
The reason I have done mostly original stuff in the past, is because I didn’t feel ‘good enough’ skills-wise to play known songs. I have since realised that learning songs vastly increases skills in all sorts of ways, so I’m practicing:
- Tide is High (attempting the cool mute thing that makes the song sexier and pretending to be Debbie Harry who I saw perform a couple of years ago and still has it!!)
- A girl like you
- Wish you were here riff
- Love Goes on by the Go-betweens, as this has some challenging barre chords. Although I’m only on level 3, I have recently found out that I can actually play (some) barre chords, so am practicing changing into and out of them.
In the next month, I aim to:
- Record 3 songs and post them here, asking for specific feedback (please and thank you in advance.
- Do an open mic and play those 3 songs with banter/ patter etc
I had a challenging experience with an open mic and lost a lot of confidence - I recently had a really great coaching session with @Lieven (shout out) if anyone is interested, it was hugely, hugely helpful.
I aim to keep up the practice as I have a nice (just about) daily habit.
I do have a lot to say about my guitar journey being a lot like life - but i shall save that for another post.
In the next year I aim to:
Form a band - no idea how to go about it, but I’m putting it out there!!
Low-fi Indie sort of post punky, tuneful and lovely (and fun) - originals - run on co-operative principles (i.e. no band leader - all members take and make equal responsibility and commitment).
