[jorgemac]

Same as coach with a huge binder. Just us old folks being.. Old folks. I do bring up the lessons daily but just flip to that days lesson in the binder. I have another binder with most of the Skills lessons in it.

[jorgemac]

As Pete said Hotel California is a good one to practice chord progressions on.

I use this song all of the time for chord practice but also change it up. Both strumming and arpeggio style or just use the treble strings for the chords, then do it backwards. then 4 strings , then 5 strings. This exercise has really helped me with improvisations and simple blues style answer and response riff lines that I have incorporated into my every day playing. Doing it backwards really burns it into you memory.

[jorgemac]

Right corner of the video frame, Click settings and you can change the lesson speed.

[jorgemac]

This question comes up a lot. Here is my answer on the subject a week ago.

First a better guitar will not make you a better player if your aren’t going put in an honest effort to improve.

I play D’ardarrio XL string – 12/53 and 13/56 usually tuned down. i can afford them and they fit my needs. Every guitar player develops their own personal string choice. Cheap strings don’t hold their tone very long. If that is all you can afford then expect to change strings quite often to keep a good tone.

When 1st starting out 10’s were fine. As you start to develop your chops you will probably start playing a heaver gauge string as you will learn you can pick with more “character” to your tone with them.

OK Story time. When I bought my 1st grand daughter a guitar, in her junior high school year, I tried out all of the inexpensive guitars in the guitar Store. To my surprise I kept coming back to one of the cheapest guitars offered because it has, to my ears, the best tone for a starter guitar. The action was good and the tone was as good as guitars way more expensive. I finally bought it for her and she loved it for many years.

The point being buying a guitar is it has to fit you. Before you go to a music store to purchase another guitar learn to play one simple 3 chord song. Doesn’t matter what the song is just something you can kind of play for at least 1 verse. then you have something to compare different sounds coming from the instruments you are going to try out. Try to not be embarrassed by your lack of skill as people all around you are blowing your mind with their guitar picking. Just explain you are new to this and trying to find a first guitar that you feel comfortable with. Most real players will offer you all kinds of advise but take it with a grain of salt as you are your own individual and need to pleae you, not anyone else with this guitar choice.

Research online for different “best guitars” in your price range. If you can play 1 verse in a song or a lick such as Tuesday’s “Gone to long” lesson challenge you can repeat that over on all of the guitars you try out and you will find a guitar that grabs your ear and heart. Do not buy on your first day of checking. Salemen might try to pressure you but do not make any commitment until you have thought about it for awhile. This could be a lifetime commitment. It is important to you if you are really going to learn to play guitar.

I have huge expensive dreadnoughts, some simple parlor and medium folk style guitars. They all have a different sound and I will rotate between most of the smaller and folk size guitars on a weekly or sometimes a daily basis. I haven’t touched a large bodies guitar in a long time, except for my Gibson 200 that is just a magical guitar but isn’t as comfortable as the smaller bodies.

All guitar woods sound different also. Guitars made with all solid wood will age and over time and develop there unique sound.

Layered body wood guitars will sound the same 5 years from now as they do today. layered bodied guitar with a solid top will develop a little bit of character but not like a solid wood body guitar. I have a Taylor mini that is a solid top guitar/ply body guitar and does sound good but the sound has not evolved much from the day I bought it.

Again research online “best acoustic Guitars” online in your price range and see if you can find something that will help you learn to play and is also fun and easy to play.

I agree for playability You can’t beat a Taylor. I too have had and 70’s Takamine as my 1st guitar and wasn’t worthy of it’s great tone.

For the body size I prefer the Guild OM 140Ce and the Yamaha FS-TA stand out to me as a good starter investment.

A new guitar does have to grab hold of your ear and make your heart happy. There are great starter guitar under $1,000.00 that will age well and mature into good friends who won’t let you down.

[jorgemac]

1st take 3 deep breaths, aww now that’s better. Rule #1

THERE IS NO HURRY, all of the challenges will repeat through out the year. Each daily lesson is short and compact Monday thru Wednesday and you will repeat it again in a couple of months, so don’t expect to spend hours and hours on each lesson. Just get what you can, out of each lesson a then move onto the next day’s lesson No pressure just have fun and remember if it seems difficult you will see it again and will be surprised at how much you have improved since last seeing that lesson. Just remember that if a lesson seems challenging that means it is something that you will improve on and develop as a skill in your guitar journey.

Thursday and Friday will be actual chord progressions can take much longer to master, but you will see that lesson again and will seem much easier if you put in a good few minutes the 1st time through that lesson. You will be surprised at how much easier each time thorough that song will become. Good luck in your guitar journey.

[jorgemac]

James Taylor has a finger nail maintenance video for guitar players.

[jorgemac]

What is the address for the help desk? That doesn’t sound right at all when multiple members are having the same issue.

[jorgemac]

That is the lesson I worked on today. Great fun.

[jorgemac]

When I open the site it lists we are on lesson 23 when today’s lesson should be 17.

How do you contact who ever to fix this? Thanks

[jorgemac]

I can’t remember which 70’s, 80”s folk artist is was, but he did a video on nail maintenance. He layered his finger nails with , I think it was either fiber glass or silk cloth and acrylic finger nail polish. 1 of his songs said “if you need a friend you can count on me”. he was huge way back when.

I used to get my right hand layered, I think it was acrylic at salon and it would hold up for month or so. If you have never entered he world of a nail salon it can be quite an experience.

Now I mostly hybrid pick and most of the fingering is using the ball of my fingers more than the finger nail. Softer sound though.

[jorgemac]

That’s not good, Loraine. I’m month’s away from 80 now and really have to walk a lot to help keep my agility and balance going strong. i usually take my walks on the street surfaces as the sidewalks are trip zones for old folks. Soon I will need to resort to a cane if I don’t keep up with the walks. Hope you are back at practice soon.

[jorgemac]

Lot of great guitar builder’s in Canada. I have 3 larrive’e Guitars that i do enjoy picking. He is close to me here in California now. But he started in Quebec.

[jorgemac]

I played a couple of guitars yesterday that I thought were good and don’t break the bank.

Yamaha FS-TA

Guild OM- 140CE

If you can afford to but another guitar in a year or so the Taylor GS-mini has a shorter scale, therefor easier to finger chords. It would be a perfect learner for someone who knows they will probably buy a larger concert or Dreadnaught guitar in the future. Good Tone but has laminated sides. If you buy a new one they do sell used for a decent return price.

[jorgemac]

Personally I avoid Guitar Center. I was looking at some of the Guild all wood series guitars. they look interesting. An entry level all wood Taylor is always a safe bet. What is your budget? Most of the all wood models don’t start until $500.00 or up.

Used guitars are a great buy if… the neck is straight, It has a truss rod so u can adjust the action the frets are not too worn and you don’t need a “perfectly pretty” guitar.

I bought my used Yairi Folk FYM66HD guitar(LOOK IT UP, one of the best all mahogany guitars out there) it had a cracked body due to being dropped, that had been professionally repaired and it is a daily player and one of my go to instruments.

[jorgemac]

Pete which of the apps do yo use the most?