[Alfred]

Mike covered your answer in great detail.

Here is a site with all the blue’s scales. You can see from that why fretboard wizzard, which will give you a reasonable understanding of the fretboard and basic music theory as it pertains to guitar specifically will help with understanding. This includes how to “build” a scale for a particular key on the guitar.

Anyway… the blues scales

http://www.jazclass.aust.com/scales/scablu.htm

[Alfred]

@TimK1 that is a great song! Both lyrics and music.

[Alfred]

The thirty days to play is the perfect place to start. I wouldn’t worry that the daily’s are beyond you at this point.

The purpose of the daily is to give everyone something fresh to practice every day. The focus shouldn’t be so much perfecting something. More 10 minutes of focused practice… 10 minutes of try.

If you feel you aren’t ready to take one on just work on your 30 day challenge if you are more comfortable with that right now.

As for me there are often daily challenges that are well outside my wheelhouse, and I do them to the best of my ability, trying to stretch for new skills, but I rarely have it mastered on the same day, if at all.

[Alfred]

I have been working on a rendition of 900 miles. I don’t think it is that well known anymore. It is an old folks song that smacks of early blues. The song has seen many versions including one from Bob Dylan that only vaguely resembles the “traditional” version.
I don’t know if you have already done this one, but my reading indicates that Woody Guthrie did a version. If you are still on that project, maybe this song would be an idea for you.

Now that I am done with all of that…. GREAT JOB!!! Your strumming is improving quite a bit right before my eyes. Fantastic work, and great results from your practice!

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by  Alfred. Reason: cause I can't grammar much... and you can't learn me to grammar neither!

[Alfred]

Welcome to TAC!!!

[Alfred]

You already have your answers but..

Welcome to TAC have a great time learning!

[Alfred]

The Em chord is E G B

The F# would be the 9th note (8th note is an E as well, one tone higher is F#)

This is how I understand it but I am Not a theory expert so take that with grain of salt but I believe it is correct

[Alfred]

I think Em add 9

[Alfred]

I don’t have particularly big hands but very thick fingers (not actually clubbed but almost, I was blessed with them genetically). Some chords, like A, I play with just 2 fingers covering three strings.

As far as posture. You can try the Spanish – or classical – hold and see if that helps you at all.

Make sure you have a good setup on your guitar so your fingers aren’t touching any string you don’t intend to. Make sure you are fretting with your fingertips.

Finally, most classical guitars have a 2″ nut width that may be helpful to you if you are OK with playing a nylon string guitar.

I will end with. Making sure you are using good posture and hand position are important so you don’t become too easily fatigued or even possibly injured while playing (I have first hand knowledge of this… as do several others around here).

Others will come by with other ideas for you.

[Alfred]

A couple of thought on nails or no nails.

If the nails aren’t effecting your overall health, then you can still fingerpick and strum without worrying about keeping them long. Brandon Aker, for instance, cut off his nails to show that even classical guitar could be played without them. There are also thumb and finger picks and all kinds of fake nails used. So even if this continues to vex you, there are alternatives.

I wonder if any of the folks here have ever used over the counter acrylics for guitar… That would be interesting to know.

[Alfred]

Ok that is cool, but I would want it next to my existing right thumb… Simultaneous melodies on base and treble strings!

If I have to give over my big toes to running it, I wouldn’t be able to count to 20 anymore 😛

[Alfred]

I haven’t done the level and re-crown yet, but my plan is to get a crowning file, and make a long sanding block with either a planed piece of wood or a chunk of square tubing. I have some jeweler files that I will redress the fret ends with

[Alfred]

I wouldn’t have had the courage to try the same on my Taylor or Orangewood guitars. But one I bought for $50 ish dollars… why not give it a go?

A couple of the youtube luthiers I watch have mentioned getting cheap harmony archtops to learn the repair craft on because they aren’t particularly valuable.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by  Alfred.

[Alfred]

There is a difference in sound with nylon strings. The tone you want is your preference. Willy Nelson plays on nylon. I would go to a guitar shop and try some out, try out some steel strings too. Guitar choice is pretty subjective and personal, and works best if you try them out personally

[Alfred]

Cool Site! that would have saved me from counting on my fingers and toes!
Isn’t music amazing, how contextual even a chord name can be?