Lesson Nine Tuesday 5th March

I started off my ninth lesson by practicing the Green Day song I have been trying to play.

 I used my capo and tried to get the right rhythm as was discussed last week. I am still having trouble changing from E minor to G and then to D. I was getting the rhythm right but the cords where nowhere near what they are suppose to be. I was told to try and slow it down to get the right notes. It sort of worked but I kept on speeding up. I need to keep my tempo. I then had a practice of just going from G to D. This was to get used to changing to these cords so it will feel more comfortable. I did this many times and did improve in some areas with the fingers three and four being straighter so not touching another string and making that horrible thud noise. But I need to make finger four hover above the strings when not in use on a D as I have a habit of moving it away too far.

The next part of my lesson was going through the song Half the World Away by Oasis.

So far I had been practicing the start which I am having difficulties on the F Major Seven. This is just the intro and it would be nice to get that right first. 

I then do the start of the song till I get to leave this island which is not very far into the song. I am nowhere near getting this bit right in my mind but the teacher seemed pleased and after several tortured tries he thought it was time to show me how another part of the song would go. I watched and I still feel that I may have to practice a year to get this. This does not dishearten me I have always thought that good things come with a bit of hard work and practice.

I was shown a preview of what is to come in the song and it involves something called a bar cord. 

Now I am sure I did not get it right in this picture but it sure was hard to do. You have to sort of stretch all your fingers and wrist and arm in a strange way. It felt like torture and I am sure the thud sound is not what it is suppose to sound like. Something else to treat the poor dogs with around my street. I bet they are hoping that I can get it right quickly for the sake of their ears.