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.