Roland, 64 years old from Ventura CA. (805 in da house)
I've always had an interest in learning to play guitar. I've tried several times over the years to learn but always gave up with in a year, usually even with in a few months.
During that time I usually had a cheap acoustic guitar.
I really wanted to learn to play the blues on electric but some how was always taken back to an acoustic by an instructor or the environment im in. On one of my big birthdays a finally got a new Telecaster. I now have 2 electric guitars, Guild Acoustic, a travel guild acoustic and a CBG 3 strings no fretts. I'm now eyeing a resonator.
I moved to where i am currently living 3 years ago. I made friends with a musician here that plays the sax, guitar, and bass. My wife plays the piano and my friend
plays the ukulele. We meet every Tuesday and practice together and they have me now trying to play with them once a month at our club house gatherings. I don't know many songs so I concentrate to learn 2-6 songs to try and get by with them, then they play over 10 more without me.
So I have been working on learning guitar for serious this time for over 4 years. Been all over the internet looking for sites to help and did take Zoom lessons from a guy in Arizona for over a year. I'm determined to not quit this time.
I have 2 big issues, We'll three if you count I can't play well. 1st is I can't keep locked into one thing. I want to play the blues on electric but I need to play acoustic with my group which I have learned to embrace. Going along with the blues path slide guitar interests me. I feel I'm all over the place jumping around to much. 2nd I don't have a meaningful productive practice routine, again jumping around to much. Okay I have more than 2 or 3 big issues. I recently learned I need ear training and my strumming needs a lot of help.
This site looks fantastic compared to other sites I've joined or researched. It has so much that I really don't know where to start and focus in on. Should I learn songs, theory, techniques, courses.
I got a hip replacement this week and am having shoulder surgery in 5 weeks. This will give me plenty of time to really Crack down and dig into this site to hopefully push me over the hump to the next level.
Roland
Determined to learn this time
Roland-
I am so thrilled to hear your story and that you think you have found the right place. We do not track much of what else is available out there but have been committed to how I love to teach here at TG for over 16 years. I know the site can be overwhelming but try to take it in bite-size chunks.
1. Pick an easy song you are familiar with and see how close it is to mastered (meaning you can strum along with the original recording - Lucky Man, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Nights In White Satin).
2. Look at another one that is a bit of a stretch and shoot to get comfortable with it (this is a couple notches below mastered).
3. Start the Fundamentals Series.
4. Also look at Strumming Simplified and Fingerpicking 101.
5. For more song suggestions check out our Neil's Top Packs. These are many of my favorite songs for students of all levels to consider working on, without the goal being to master them. Treat them as exercises.
I hope that helps a bit, and I have been meaning to spell out this type of direction for years. Thanks for nudging me into it.
Neil
I am so thrilled to hear your story and that you think you have found the right place. We do not track much of what else is available out there but have been committed to how I love to teach here at TG for over 16 years. I know the site can be overwhelming but try to take it in bite-size chunks.
1. Pick an easy song you are familiar with and see how close it is to mastered (meaning you can strum along with the original recording - Lucky Man, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, Nights In White Satin).
2. Look at another one that is a bit of a stretch and shoot to get comfortable with it (this is a couple notches below mastered).
3. Start the Fundamentals Series.
4. Also look at Strumming Simplified and Fingerpicking 101.
5. For more song suggestions check out our Neil's Top Packs. These are many of my favorite songs for students of all levels to consider working on, without the goal being to master them. Treat them as exercises.
I hope that helps a bit, and I have been meaning to spell out this type of direction for years. Thanks for nudging me into it.
Neil
-
KeithAllaun
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2023 1:32 pm
- Status: Offline
Roland- Welcome aboard. Truly one of the best guitar communities in the world- no exaggeration!
It sound's to me like you've got so many things going right for your guitar playing. For SURE, continuing to play with your amigos will help you get where you want to be.
As a 66 year old guitar player, with a Guild Acoustic, and a couple of Fenders, I gotta say that TotallyGuitars has literally everything you need to keep pushing yourself forward.
I really think having an "eclectic' approach to your playing will help you over time. You don't have to get bored with one style, or one instrument, or one approach. Dipping in, and popping out, isn't the end of your progress. And, in my experience, moving from acoustic to electric let's me "relax" my fingers and hands a bit when grabbing "difficult" chords...and the confidence that I get having grabbed that chord translates back to the acoustic a LOT easier.
I've also found that giving yourself a damn break (in terms of what you're expecting to accomplish in a given period of time.) You've been playing long enough to know that it seems to come when it comes. Neil's prescriptive series below are really spot-on for giving you an overview of what's all available. The MOST important thing, I think (and I am NOT a professional guitar instructor, and I don't even play one on TV!...) is getting a few EASY songs under your belt. So that you can play them almost unconsciously and realize that YOU CAN PLAY GUITAR.
Once you can do that comfortably then move on to some stretch things. And don't beat yourself up if you're not playing like Neil (acoustically) or Max (on the electric. These guys have dedicated their LIVES to the guitar. You and I are NEVER gonna be that good.
Finally, the most important thing is to just have fun and know that you're playing to bring yourself joy. So enjoy it! And feel free to reach out to us at any point. Neil's the best, Max is the best, Nesh is the best, it's an incredible crew here to support you.
Have fun! And stop beating yourself up.
Keith
It sound's to me like you've got so many things going right for your guitar playing. For SURE, continuing to play with your amigos will help you get where you want to be.
As a 66 year old guitar player, with a Guild Acoustic, and a couple of Fenders, I gotta say that TotallyGuitars has literally everything you need to keep pushing yourself forward.
I really think having an "eclectic' approach to your playing will help you over time. You don't have to get bored with one style, or one instrument, or one approach. Dipping in, and popping out, isn't the end of your progress. And, in my experience, moving from acoustic to electric let's me "relax" my fingers and hands a bit when grabbing "difficult" chords...and the confidence that I get having grabbed that chord translates back to the acoustic a LOT easier.
I've also found that giving yourself a damn break (in terms of what you're expecting to accomplish in a given period of time.) You've been playing long enough to know that it seems to come when it comes. Neil's prescriptive series below are really spot-on for giving you an overview of what's all available. The MOST important thing, I think (and I am NOT a professional guitar instructor, and I don't even play one on TV!...) is getting a few EASY songs under your belt. So that you can play them almost unconsciously and realize that YOU CAN PLAY GUITAR.
Once you can do that comfortably then move on to some stretch things. And don't beat yourself up if you're not playing like Neil (acoustically) or Max (on the electric. These guys have dedicated their LIVES to the guitar. You and I are NEVER gonna be that good.
Finally, the most important thing is to just have fun and know that you're playing to bring yourself joy. So enjoy it! And feel free to reach out to us at any point. Neil's the best, Max is the best, Nesh is the best, it's an incredible crew here to support you.
Have fun! And stop beating yourself up.
Keith