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.