Due to some crazy scheduling issues, we decided to put 2 lessons into one week. The first was a playing lesson where I learned the basics of power chords. Little did I know those chords were the basis for all the great songs I listened to growing up. Even more interesting was my 20 something teacher enjoys music from that era.
The calluses on my fingertips, however, are beginning to get in the way of my playing. It seems the edges of them are lifting up and catching on the strings which really makes changing chords difficult. Then I realized it was all part of the process and was reassured that the calluses would remain but the scaly tips would wear away. Whew...glad to hear that as I don't want to go through rebuilding those babies again.
Lesson # 2 this week was a non-playing lesson. I learned how to restring a guitar as well as learning some basic guitar care and maintenance. This was also a chance, with the strings off the body, to get a closer look and the hollow box that is the acoustic.
Gregg
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Week 3 and 4
I would like to say my blogging has fallen behind due to the overwhelming amount of time I've spent practicing. The real truth of the matter is I'm not accustomed to journaling or blogging on a regular basis and just flat out keep forgetting. I'll try to do better in the future - promise.
In my last post, I had to discontinue my lessons w/ Josh due to my own scheduling difficulties. While there are tons of on-line resources available to the budding guitar player, there are also cesspools of information that are either out right incorrect or, at best, inaccurate. A gullible mind like mine needs pretty clear cut direction. Show me how and explain why and I'm a happy camper.
Armed with that knowledge of how I learn best, I knew I was going to somehow need to find a personal instructor that would be able to work around my crazy schedules. Enter neighbor and friend, Britton. When I approached him about helping me out he readily agreed, but was painfully honest in admitting he had never given a guitar lesson in his life. The fact that he brings this honesty to the table impressed me. What impressed me even more was a) he spent time understanding why (and what style of music) I want to play and b) he took his role serious and mapped out a plan of action.
Over the past 2 weeks, I've been introduced to other I IV V progressions along with some riff exercises to help my short (but calloused) fingers find individual notes on the strings. Besides, playing a few melodic lines helps take the boredom out of simply strumming chords. Most recently, I've been working on the 12 bar blues progression. Although I have no Basin Street roots, it's going pretty well.
Next, I'm looking forward to introducing some strumming rhythms into the mix soon.
Gregg
In my last post, I had to discontinue my lessons w/ Josh due to my own scheduling difficulties. While there are tons of on-line resources available to the budding guitar player, there are also cesspools of information that are either out right incorrect or, at best, inaccurate. A gullible mind like mine needs pretty clear cut direction. Show me how and explain why and I'm a happy camper.
Armed with that knowledge of how I learn best, I knew I was going to somehow need to find a personal instructor that would be able to work around my crazy schedules. Enter neighbor and friend, Britton. When I approached him about helping me out he readily agreed, but was painfully honest in admitting he had never given a guitar lesson in his life. The fact that he brings this honesty to the table impressed me. What impressed me even more was a) he spent time understanding why (and what style of music) I want to play and b) he took his role serious and mapped out a plan of action.
Over the past 2 weeks, I've been introduced to other I IV V progressions along with some riff exercises to help my short (but calloused) fingers find individual notes on the strings. Besides, playing a few melodic lines helps take the boredom out of simply strumming chords. Most recently, I've been working on the 12 bar blues progression. Although I have no Basin Street roots, it's going pretty well.
Next, I'm looking forward to introducing some strumming rhythms into the mix soon.
Gregg
Monday, September 8, 2008
Week two
OK, so I'm a bit behind on my updates. My second lesson with Josh also turned out to be my last due my own scheduling conflicts. Having said that, however, it was none the less a productive week as I learned a few more new chords and some new chord progressions to practice. Maybe one day I'll understand what the whole I-IV-V thing really means. For now I'm just happy to be able to strum a handful.
The only thing worse than a beginning guitar student is one playing on an out of tune instrument. Although still banging away on a rental, I went ahead and purchased a tuner and metronome. I figured the second worse thing about a beginning rhythm player is someone who has no sense of timing....hence the metronome.
Armed with a couple of new gadgets, I went back home and immediately tuned the strings. All was well until I got to the high E (that's the skinny sting on the bottom which for some odd reason is called the number 1 string in case you were wondering). According to my new digital high tech tuner, the arrow indicated it was playing a bit flat. Unfortunately, I was not aware that a little turning of the tuning peg goes a long way. I'm also not sure what happened next except to say that my dogs were not amused when the tension on that little steel cable caused it to snap. My wife, however, found it somewhat amusing. Bless her heart, she really did try not to laugh out loud.
After cleaning up the mess the dogs made, as well as changing my own shorts, it dawned on me I should've probably taken up the salesman on his offer when he asked if I "needed any strings". I'm betting he knew what was going to happen.
Gregg
The only thing worse than a beginning guitar student is one playing on an out of tune instrument. Although still banging away on a rental, I went ahead and purchased a tuner and metronome. I figured the second worse thing about a beginning rhythm player is someone who has no sense of timing....hence the metronome.
Armed with a couple of new gadgets, I went back home and immediately tuned the strings. All was well until I got to the high E (that's the skinny sting on the bottom which for some odd reason is called the number 1 string in case you were wondering). According to my new digital high tech tuner, the arrow indicated it was playing a bit flat. Unfortunately, I was not aware that a little turning of the tuning peg goes a long way. I'm also not sure what happened next except to say that my dogs were not amused when the tension on that little steel cable caused it to snap. My wife, however, found it somewhat amusing. Bless her heart, she really did try not to laugh out loud.
After cleaning up the mess the dogs made, as well as changing my own shorts, it dawned on me I should've probably taken up the salesman on his offer when he asked if I "needed any strings". I'm betting he knew what was going to happen.
Gregg
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