GuitarGeni
Forum Replies Created
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I’m kind of new here so this may or may not be 100% correct, but my understanding is that you cannot go back unless you’ve favorited ❤ a lesson. Then the video is accessible through the dropdown next to your user name. Even then you will need to save the tab to your computer separately. Learned that one the hard way. Not a big deal though.
You can go back all throughout the month during the current month. I typically do that on Saturdays and Sundays when there aren’t any new lessons to refresh what I’ve learned throughout the month. Usually I find I’ve been playing it anyway, I just didn’t recall the lesson title. 😀
Hope that helps.
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Nicely done!
I’m still working on the first section. Just started yesterday, but it is the song I wanted to be able to play within the first 90 days. I think I’ll get there, but the coordination is tough and the fingers get tired waiting for me to figure it out. 😆
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Everything that JohnV said plus, the patterns are movable, just like barre chords. So once you know a pattern in one key, you can move it up or down the fretboard to change keys.
There are seven different modes (moods) which correspond to the 7 (A B C D E F G) possible starting notes of a pattern within the scale. These are also moveable.
You will need to know where those 7 notes are located on the low E and A for the majority of chords. It will also be helpful to learn the note locations on the D string too, but it can wait a while.
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Congratulations to you DeannaS! It’s a great feeling to know that you can do it yourself. It’s really not as daunting as it seems if you take your time and go slow. I learned from a copy of Dan Erlewine’s book on doing setups, sorry can’t remember the name of it just now. Highly recommended. I also watch YouTube videos to learn how to do things, especially the ones from Stew-Mac where Dan works. I don’t trust everyone, but there are a few that are pretty good. I like to see the different approaches that people sometimes have.
Anyway, you go girl! Enjoy your weekend and new found confidence!
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Strange as it may seem, it sounds to me like you need a goal. Something to shoot for. All of this practice, and what’s it all for? It is rather pointless if you don’t have a destination in mind. You obviously aren’t playing for the sheer joy of it because you aren’t having any joy. Pick something that you want to be able to play, figure out what steps you need to get there and set a time frame.
For instance, within 90 days of starting this program (end of May) I want to be able to play one of the songs that Tony plays when he tests guitars. Keep in mind I’ve been playing for over 40 years so the basics are no problem. I haven’t played fingerstyle very much and I am recovering from several injuries involving my hands, wrists and brain which is my primary challenge. So, I identified the 4 songs Tony plays when he reviews guitars. I managed to locate tabs for those 4 songs. I found out that he has a video for how to play one of them, which is the one I thought I could complete within 90 days. I also learned that he teaches it as part of the lesson in his Fingerstyle course, so that was a plus. I started doing the fingerstyle course. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be able to do it because I have a specific goal tied to a specific time table with proper instruction on how to do it.
We (guitarists) all go through periods of just going through the motions. It doesn’t FEEL like we’re making progress (we are). At one point, early on, my goal was just to suck a little bit less than I did the day before. It was enough to keep me going because I wanted to be more consistent day to day.
Find something you want to accomplish on guitar, figure out how to do it and go for it!
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The ring finger is problematic for all of us when starting out. Follow the stretching recommendations and give it some time. Your fingers will cooperate eventually. It’s not something you can rush.
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Congrats! May you have many, many more!
My experience is that it is simultaneously thrilling and scary. Ultimately, just a lot of fun.
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Congrats on making it through the challenge! 🎆
I was only able to get up to 125 bpm @the 5th fret, but I still feel pretty good about it. I usually max out at around 105, so that’s good for me. The back of my fretting hand still cramps too bad when I try to go fast @the 1st fret. I’ll keep at it though, just at a slower pace. One day it won’t hurt anymore.
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Yes, the key is to keep trying no matter what! It doesn’t feel like we’re learning in the moment, but the truth is we are. Otherwise you couldn’t suddenly be able to play something one day that you couldn’t play all of the preceding days.
Congratulations! May this be the first of many can do moments in your guitar journey!
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Same here James, congratulations!
I start mid-week with the banjo lessons and it was a bear. This week went much better. It feels good to get the whole week under your fingers.
Here’s to many, many more! 🍻
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I use an app on my phone called Soundcorset. It’s like a Swiss Army Knife for musicians. It’s a tuner, it’s a metronome, it’s a recorder, it’s a practice time keeper. It’s available for both Apple and Android. It costs me like $4/year to remove ads. Well worth it. You can select a click sound or one of a bunch of drum tracks, which is what I usually do. I run a line out from my phone into my practice amp so I can use it at pretty much any volume. Works well for me since I’m a little hard of hearing.
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Hi Andy,
I don’t know how long you’ve been playing, but I bet it hasn’t been that long. I found that in the beginning it helps to skip a day and play every other day. This way your finger muscles and calluses have a chance to rest and recover. After a month or so you can start trying to play a little longer or every day for no more than 20 minutes. If you can’t, then go back to playing every other day for awhile.
It doesn’t sound like much but it really makes a big difference in my experience. Please give it a try and let me know how you make out.
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Thanks for the info Bill, that help a lot.
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Go to the skills section and locate the Fingerstyle/Fingerpicking course. It’s located within that. Also, don’t skip the introductory lessons like I did. Fortunately it only took me one day to realize I needed to mend my ways and go back to it. Patience grasshopper…patience.
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Couldn’t agree more. Sometimes the answer is to leave it alone. It’s amazing how it comes to you when you try later. Your brain needs time to work things out too, it’s not just a physical pursuit.
I also agree with the other suggestions about slowing down.
Another thing to do is to break it down. Just go over the part where you’re struggling, starting a measure or two ahead of the trouble spot. Work on that for a few (3-5) minutes and leave it be until your next practice session. Amazing how that works too!
Let us know how it works out.