[jorgemac]

If you compare the 2 different ways to do a pull off I think the slight bend and then a aggressive release of that finger has more mojo that just a straight release of the string. Just did both versions and the slight bend version just seems to have a little more “flavor” to it.

[jorgemac]

I was a much more advanced player so took the 30 day course on A sunday and started Brown eyed Girl on a Monday. I think the 30 day course is a great idea but take it at a speed you feel comfortable with. If it takes you 2 months to get comfortable, so be it. If you are full of impatience like me take at an more accelerated speed. just be sure to understand what you are learning.

[jorgemac]

On a pull off I do bend the string slightly and then Throw the string away from me. It is a Suttle throw but it does help generate energy so the releases string has new energy to vibrate and make a joyful tone.

[jorgemac]

Thanks for your post.

Lorraine, Your perseverance is remarkable. I’ve followed your posts and do not have half of the courage you display every day. I know what the guitar means to me, especially how it fortifies my mental well being. I would hope that I could continue to pick and play if something unfortunate would happen to either of my hands. I do play the harmonica, mostly on a neck rack so I, at least, have that to fall back on. I will look into the chinese balls as I’m always looking for ways to add strength and suppleness to both my hands. I do use CBD cream for pain in my hands, when needed. Being retired does allow me to practice much more that I could when working full time. Just went thru the A minor7 shape and the 3 string E7 shape up and down the neck. Then threw in the 3 and four note C7 and D7 shape centered on the 3rd and 5th frets. then added in the 4 string G barre chord as the 1 chord and messed around with those chords. never know when you’ll want to use some of those different positions.

[jorgemac]

Thanks Albert. I do change it up every day regarding the chords. I might do more minor chords or maybe 7th chords in a few progressions and like all of us I hate the barre chords so I force myself to do that at lease once a week in different shapes. the A shape up to the 10th fret, the f shape up to the 10th fret and both minor shapes – E and A minor up to the 10 the fret. That has probably helped me more than anything else especially because you are forced to us the pinky . The E shape is done with a thumb over the top bass string and I usually only do the E,A,D and G string or the index finger over the E and B strings from the treble e string position. That would usually be the 5 strings minus the the top Bass strings. Sometime only 4 strings on that one. Some times only the actual 3 note major or minor chord shape just to get used to the positions of each chord as I walk it up the neck.

[jorgemac]

A barre chord can start as simple as the top 3 strings. if you play a c barre chord on the 5th fret and use the top 3 (E,B,G) strings it is E 3rd fret, B and G strings held down on the 5th fret. move up 2 frets and you have D chord playing the same finger positions. The dreaded F barre chord can just be the E and B strings fretted with the index finger. The G string fretted at the 3rd fret and the D string fretted at the 4th fret . I still play it this way a lot but for a long time I fingered this chord this way but only played the B, G, and D strings as the pesky E string barre always made noise, yukkkkkk . it does play clean and clear now and the barred G and A also play clean, plus the pinky holds down the a string cleanly. I guess my index finger finally strengthened enough to hold that bottom barre position. I use my thumb on the bottom E string for a full barre chord now.

[jorgemac]

BTW I turn 79 on the 15th of this month. You are never to old to become a picker.

[jorgemac]

I’ve always wanted to be able to play guitar, always. I’ve gone through phases where I learned rapidly and and years, yes, years where I’ve pretty much not improved and have quit many times. But for whatever reason I always have come back to give it one last try. After retirement I became serious about trying to improve my junkie guitar habit. This course has helped me take all of that old accumulated guitar muscle memory, unrealized guitar and music knowledge and finally begin to realize my dream of actually playing like I have always dreamed of. I’m currently rapidly in an explosive learning faze and loving every moment of it. My advise is learn the basic fundamentals, strumming patterns, basic chord 4 major chord patterns for a couple of music keys- C, G and D. Key of C chords C,F, G and A minor and practice a couple of strumming patterns so that you feel comfortable using the 4 major chords. Practice the C scale also and be sure to think each note name and you pick it. You can learn enough guitar music theory by reading up on guitar music theory on many online articles. will you be dazed and confused, at first you bet you will. But all of that knowledge will be available to transfer to your guitar playing hands and anyone who picks up a guitar and participates in learning to play a GUITAR PLAYER. Do not give up.

[jorgemac]

Almost pulled the string on a Takamine 132 but the guy wanted $150 to ship it 300 miles, so shut the deal down. Nice 10 year old guitar with a 2″ nut. i’ll keep looking.

[jorgemac]

Today I dropped down from 1.5 Primetone to 1.3 Primetone. It seems to give me more control for softer voicing while still able to bang out firmer notes as needed. Just part of the never ending guitar journey.

[jorgemac]

I am a Dunlop Primetone fan and just switched from the 1.5 down to the 1.3. I’m doing more Hybris picking and finger picking with a Black mountain thumb pick. The Dunlop primetone 1.3 seems to give me better control and a little more flexibility. Like most of you who have been picking for awhile I do favor a thicker pick. Dunlops don’t seem to wear out, I’ve been using the same 1.5 for 4 years, just thought I’d give the 1.3 a try for awhile.Better tone, more pick control for softer tones yet sturdy enough to bang on the strings as needed. Keep chugglin.

[jorgemac]

The guitar Strumming book “The First 100 Strumming patterns for Guitar can be downloaded from Amazon and you can also download backup tracks once you download it. I bought this and put it on kindle, which I think you can also download from Amazon. I liked it enough that I ended up ordering the book version which made it much easier to follow in the book while using the audio download. Just easier to follow along. Good Luck

[jorgemac]

The purpose with the down up stroke involves timing. For the longest time I did not learn how important this was. I just picked what I thought sounded cool. For me it made it hard to play guitar with other people who had learned how to stay in time. Now I try to practice any new music piece using a metronome. This helped me understand the importance of the down up strokes. If you are trying to learn a new song and you can’t stay in time it very hard to learn with any consistence. If you work to develop this it will make it much more enjoyable and you can improve your playing more quickly. If this is all new it will be frustrating but will pay off if you develop good fundamentals. Just start slowly and it will come to you.

[jorgemac]

Welcome, I’m just almost over 2 months new. One of my guitars is a Taylor nylon string guitar and I do play it here. I don’t want that guitar to feel lonely or left out so i have it in my guitar rotation, especially on finger style lessons.

[jorgemac]

Who knew… Thanks