Switch

I'm now doing a shuffle and am learning through both, master Dave and master Chris. Why? Because this way of learning to play the guitar will, I feel, ensure that my basics are in place (especially since that is what master Chris specializes in).

So over the last couple of days I've practiced the 12 bar blues pattern along with the 8 elementary chords, and I must say that they sound like they should.

What I've also started doing is accompanying any music that is playing in the background when I'm not working (however badly that might be). The doggies haven't complained yet, and neither have the neighbors.

I'm bad like Jesse James

That's the track that's playing in the back ground as of now. And I can see what master Dave is talking about when he says the Blues tend to follow a pattern.

Continuing with practicing the 12 bar blues pattern. Have also managed to get the lower three strings (G,B,E) into play. This surely isn't easy for someone who's not a natural (or so it seems). And yes, since I'm not able to give this more than 30 minutes a day, I guess the going will be slow.

But dither, I shall not.

Blue Bird, Blue Bird tell her....

Back

Okay, I agree that was a rather long period of absence. I guess that is one of the drawback of learning to play the guitar in this fashion. Although, I still get to start from exactly where I left off.

So, with guitar in hand I access the videos again, and what I went through the last time around, I go through again. The caper being, I have an acoustic guitar, and the only master teaching the acoustic guitar is Master Chris (who, for what I've seen, is highly proficient); but he is an expert in classical playing, not a form I fancy very much.

So even though Master Dave has an electric guitar in hand, I've now switched over to his form to learning/teaching. Why? he's the Blues Man.

I've started practicing the 12 bar blues pattern, and I must say that even though it sounds far from perfect, I'm liking it.

Here, I must add that I managed to lose my mobile phone/incorporated camera whilst on my extended break, and therefore the inability to post a video of my learning.

I do intend to acquire a new one soon, so videos are surely to follow.

One of the many benefits of an online tutorial

I haven't been able to dedicate enough time toward learning how to strum. Luckily, I do not have my master breathing down my neck about the progress (or lack of it).

I do intend to get back to my lessons full time starting the first week in Jan; and my apologies to everyone who was looking forward to my Rome.

Rome was not Built in a Day

That's pretty much what I'm telling myself when I think about how long it might be before I play my first song.


This here in me trying to better the way the computer's camera picks up the guitar's sound. A little headphone here.
Not perfect, but will eventually get there.




Here is me strumming the eight notes, and then following my master's instructions to play around. Not a good job I'm afraid, but hell, Rome really wasn't built in a jiffy.

A start, finally

12 Dec. 09

Just got my access to ‘guitarsuperstars’; my first guitar guide.

Not knowing what to expect, finding different masters to choose from comes as quite a pleasant surprise. So these guitar gurus are masters of their respective genres, and I definitely will be referring to all of them at some point or the other.

I’m starting with Chris Nicholson, a master in the classical and acoustic forms of guitar playing. Having gone through the first two video tutorials, I know what the different strings are called (E,A,D,G,B, and E again), how to 'pluck' on the strings, and the basic 'good' guitar playing posture.

I now need to master playing the eight different notes that I’ve seen played using the first three strings, and once I’m done doing that, we’re on to the next level. Until then, it’s G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G.