Lesson Four Tuesday 29th January 2013

My fourth lesson and I was feeling more comfortable with the lessons, I was actually looking forward to it. I know the sounds I will make will sound like some cartoon robot breaking down but that’s fine as I know I just need to practice more and it will come.

I start going through the cords that I have been practicing. The E cord does not sound too bad and A is nearly there, though I am having real problems with F major 7 which I could not get any of the strings to sound clear. I was surprised though when I managed to get G crisp first time. I always thought my first crisp note would be an easy one like E, The G cord with all the fingers being used and stretched I am surprised to get this right first time. It was probably pure luck.

I then went through the rhythm exercises I had got. I had been practicing these a bit so I was please with my progress. I got another rhythm exercise to try. This one went down, down, up, up, down, up then repeat that pattern. Sounds easy. I could not get it at all I was all over the place. This was going to take some practicing.

As that went so well I was given an even more challenging exercise. I was to play The E cord with two down strokes then one up stroke with no fingers on strings then two down strokes in A cord, then one up stroke with no strings and again two down strokes in E. This was to be done to the rhythm of Michal Jackson’s earth song which is quiet a slow rhythm. After having a few attempts I can see this will take a lot of practice. The rhythm is wrong as I am sure earth song does not have a pause that seems to go on forever between each change of key, and I could not get my fingers in the right place in any time at all. I felt like I got my fingers tied up in the strings whenever I changed from one cord to the next.

The last part of my lesson I was introduced to TAB. This is used mainly to show what strings to play and what fret to use. The tune I was going to attempt was the most remembered part of “Sunshine of your love” by Cream which is the part at the start.

This was fun I am sure if you filmed my attempt and speeded it up and edited out the pauses it would have sounded just like it.

A great lesson with plenty now to practice.

Lesson Three Tuesday 22nd January 2013

My third lesson seemed to come round so quick. I had been practising a lot and I could feel some of my finger tips hardening a bit now as well as upsetting the hearing of most of the dogs in my street.

We went through the cords that I have been practising but I still can’t get them to sound right. One or more of my fingers would be touching something or other so as we go through all the strings you would hear at least one thud instead of the crisp note it is supposed to be.

This lesson I added a couple more cords for me to learn and constantly play flat. These are F major 7 and G. These two are there so I can exercise my fourth little finger and G is used in a lot of songs so needs to be looked at early.

I then went over the rhythm exercise again which was getting better due to my constant practising that the local dogs are not happy about, but my timing was slow and sometimes I would pause as I had to remember if it was an up or down stroke. But at least I was not mistakenly hitting the strings when I was not wanting to.

I am starting to remember where my fingers need to go for some of the cords (A, D and E) but they still sound nowhere like a note. Better make sure the Mrs does not get rid of her ear plugs just yet.

Lesson Two Tuesday 15th January 2013

I went to my second lesson wondering if my new guitar would be of any use. To me it looked ok but let’s face it I have used a bit of card as a plectrum before so I really have no idea.

The moment of truth came and to my relief it passed the test. I know nobody who you are paying to do something is going to directly slag off what you have but he seemed to look more than happy with this instrument.

I started off going through the cords I had been practicing. Even though I have been practicing my fat fingers are not there yet. The cord will clang out then I have to go through each string to find out which one is the problem. I then move say finger 3 and this then causes another string to be a problem. Even though I have been practicing it did not take too long before my fingers where very sore.

The next part of my lesson I was introduced to rhythm. It started off with two down strokes then one up stroke to time. Sounds easy. For me though the real thing was far from easy. I would stroke down and when my hand was coming back up but not supposing to hit the strings I seamed to catch them with a loud twang. This would put me off no end and I could not get the timing correct. We also did a rhythm where you would stroke down twice and then the up stroke would be timed later than the last rhythm. So instead of down pause down up down pause down. It would sound down pause down pause up down pause down. This proved to be very difficult to me and the last rhythm of four downs and then one up sounded like some mad person playing air guitar.

I got a new sheet with all the cords I have to practice. These are E, E minor, A, A minor , B7, C, D and D minor.

I did not think this was going to be easy so I was not disheartened by my efforts. I think it is better to be amused by the attempts but also to keep plucking away cause I am sure I may well hit that cord with a bit of luck.

Investing in an instrument

After my first lesson it was very clear that I needed to get a proper acoustic guitar for learning on. I would love to have an electric but I am far from ready to go down that road. 

Looking around I found a few different ones online. The prices are very varied and went up to a very high price. I however settled on two which where about £40 each.

After reading many different buyers reviews and still having no idea I made a decision on which looked the best. I also decided to get another bag as the one that I had only opened at the bottom which made it difficult to get the guitar out.

It seamed to take forever for the goodies to come but a day before my next lesson they arrived.

The guitar looked great and was full size with the correct bridge and neck.

With it I also got some spare strings and a strap that I have no idea how it fixes onto the guitar.

I was also pleased with the bag too. I wanted one that I could put on my back as sometimes I may have to cycle to my lesson. The bag has a straps for putting on my back and also for just holding. 

 I also liked the pockets which I could put my Plectrum I had been given and also the paper with my cords on that I need to practice.

My first plectrum

 So the guitar looks great lets hope it will not be too long before I can actually make it sound great.

My first Lesson Tuesday 8th January 2013

I went for my first lesson with an edge of excitement and trepidation. The only real lesson on how to play an instrument would have been the recorder when I was at infants school which would have been over thirty years ago. I remember just blowing on this tube of brown plastic which just squeaked in a very painful way. Music it was not. I was hoping that it was not going to be a trend and that my lack of coordination and rhythm would not cause me too many problems.

I went in for my first lesson and was greeted by my teacher. He was very warm and welcoming and he probably was feeling just as nervous as I was because he has no idea what I am like. I could be some right nutty. He started off asking me about me and why I was there. He then showed me all the different guitar styles and types there are to find out what I would like and if there was a particular song I would like to play. I have to say I had not really thought of a song as at this point of time I was still very sceptical if it was possible for me to even get a good note out of the instrument.

He had a look at the guitar I had brought along. I pulled the guitar out of the sleeve that it was in. 

The guitar was one that my wife had got hold of awhile ago for our eldest son who was doing some lessons at his school which was much cooler that the recorder I had to play.

Upon looking at it he informed me that it was a classical guitar that should have nylon strings which had metal strings on. 

The problem with this type of guitar is that the strings would be further away from the bridge and harder to push down. He tuned it and made it sound ok.

The moment came for me to do my first cord which was E minor. This only involved the use of two fingers. But even though it was just two fingers it did not sound like any note. My fat fingers seam to cover plenty of strings all at once and it just sounded like a muffled thud. The teacher gave encouragement and we went through a few more cords which where E, E7, A, A minor and D. They all sounded pretty bad. He wrote the cords down on some paper and what fingers to use. I found out that the fingers from left to right are numbered 1 to 4 and I was given a proper real plectrum to use which is probably a good thing really. I must say I never realised how much it would hurt my finger tips especially the very thing strings which were like cheese wire.

My first Lesson finished with me feeling very comfortable with the teacher but realising it may take a very long time before I can get a note out of my guitar. I think I will have to practice a lot and maybe put some sort of very thin thimbles on my fat and now very sore finger tips.

Time To Learn To Play The Guitar

When I was young, about 15 or so I had a big wish to play the Guitar. I managed to get hold of a small acoustic guitar and with more enthusiasm than talent I decided to have a go. Not coming from a music family I had no idea what I was doing. I did not even know where to get a plectrum as there was no music shops local and the nearest city being 25 miles away. I managed to find a book from the library on how to play and I had a go. Unfortunately being dyslexic and no idea what I was doing like using a piece of cardboard as a plectrum the book learning was a disaster. I then had a string broke and with no money to replace or any idea how to tune the thing I like many teenagers gave up.

It has always been an ambition to learn and I would always watch in wonder when people play it, like they where using some mystical magic. I would always say "I would love to play the guitar" but that's about all I would do.

Then this Christmas my wife got me some guitar lessons as a Christmas present. So now at 41 years of age I am going for a second go. But this time unlike the last I intend to do better and at least bang out some correct notes from it eventually. I just hope my teacher has great Patience and my family have ear defenders.