OK, so let’s see how this goes! The plan for this log is to reflect on what I’ve learned at the end of each week.
I’ll add stuff as it occurs to me or if questions/suggestions arise.
Backstory
I’ve been getting back into playing over the last couple of months now that I’ve semi-retired and have a little more time and the frequent travel that came with my job is no longer an issue. I started playing when I was a kid, about 13 I suppose, and was in a couple of bands doing school discos, youth clubs and the like. I stopped in my late teens as education and work intervened, then along came family, and I never seemed to get back to it (despite a couple of abortive attempts over the years). I’m starting this Learning Log as a way to record my goals and progress - at least that’s the idea. They say making some sort of public commitment helps you to stick to your plan.
I’m currently in Grade 2 Module 10 of the beginner course (I went back and completed all previous modules too). I have recently subscribed to the Practical Music Theory course and am working through naming the notes etc. I’ve retained some knowledge from 40 years ago but it is frustrating sometimes knowing I could do stuff then that I can’t do now. Use it or lose it I guess.
Gear
I still have some of my old gear from way back in the early 80’s. 1981 Japanese Squire Strat, Boss OD-1 Overdrive, Ibanez SD9 Super Distortion. The old chorus pedal seems to be busted though.
I’ve also got a 40th anniversary Fender Strat that I bought in Kiev, Ukraine in 1995. And an American Pro Telecaster that I got in Sydney in 2019. These are played through a 50W Boss Katana and Ditto Looper. I also have a Keeley D&M Drive, Keeley Caverns delay/reverb, and MXR Phase 90 to go in front of the looper. Having the effects in the amp doesn’t help when looping!
My Goals
Short Term Goals (Monthly Targets)
- Practice on average for 7 hours/week
- Complete at least 1 Grade 2 module per month
Medium Term Goals (by Dec-24)
- Play through a set of 10 Campfire songs
- Complete all Grade 2 modules and complete Grade 2 Consolidation
- Be able to name the notes on the neck without hesitation
- Complete the Griff Hamlin Beginning Blues Guitar course
- Recorded the Campfire set songs in Garageband
- Improve singing ability
Long Term Goals (2025)
- Focus towards playing blues guitar
- Learn blues licks and be able to play solos
- Learn the Griff Hamlin Acoustic Blues songs
Songs
The aim is to have 10 songs that I can play through as a set by Christmas 2024. These will be the “Campfire” set. I have also identified 10 “Developer” songs that I will work on as a second set for Grade 2 consolidation. The songs are
“Easy” Campfire 10 (Mostly Grade 1 songs)
- Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton
- Hey Joe - Jimi Dendrix
- Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
- You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry
- Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
- Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
- Working Class Hero - John Lennon
- The First Cut Is The Deepest - Cat Stevens / Sheryl Crow
- This Year’s Love - David Gray
- Chocolate Jesus - Tom Waits
Developer 10 (Grade 2 level)
- If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay - Otis Redding
- I’m A Believer - The Monkees
- Dakota - Stereophonics
- No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
- House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
- Closing Time - Semisonic
- New Shoes - Paolo Nuttini
- Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
- Free Fallin’ - Tom Petty
For each day work on only 1 song from Campfire plus 1 from Developer lists. Get these down so that I can play through in time with chord changes and strumming before moving on (vocals may take more time!). I also intend to record my versions, as practice for recording technique as much as anything else. Whether I post here is yet to be decided.
At the point of writing this (early June 2024) I have about 25 weeks to go before Christmas, which means I have a little over 2 weeks per song to at least get to some sort of playthrough ability, and be able to remember the song!