On the eve of my 51st birthday, in two days' time, my mind goes back to the day of my 49th birthday, and a present off my children, Owen and Molly. A voucher for two lessons with a guitar teacher in Leamington Spa. Had always loved guitar music - The Smiths, U2, Simple Minds as a Bridgnorth teenager. Then on to Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics. I even had an old guitar sat gathering dust on a stand in my front room, but I'd never played it. The vouchers gave me the kick I needed. Pretty much every week since the end of August 2018, I've been having lessons with Paul. I always looked forward to my mug of tea on a Monday night in Paul's teaching room - until Covid-19 intervened. Albeit with cheat chords, I started to play Wonderwall. I could just about find my way through Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. My personal nightmare was the D chord. But we got there, eventually. Big issues for me have always been finding time to practice, and getting to grips with a metronome. But the biggest challenge (ongoing) is to improve the speed between chord changes. I know the chords, can see the chords, but struggle sometimes to land the chords. But at least I've cracked the basic strum... I've always got time for my lesson, and always enjoy it. Then life gets in the way. I need to have a better plan. I also have a camp fire dream (not that I ever sit around a camp fire!). Someone passes me a guitar and says 'play us a song John'. One day I'll get there. Maybe this blog entry is a start...
Been working hard on Dirty Old Town. Paul challenged me to attempt it without a backing track. Still think I could add a touch more swing to the strumming, but I'm pretty pleased with this first solo attempt. Almost getting to the point where I could post it publicly and not feel embarrassed, rather than unlisted! As I reach the fifth anniversary of playing guitar, with Paul leading the way, still can't believe I've ended up being able to do this (whatever "this" is). Thanks Paul.
Went to the Black Country Folk Festival on Sunday at Himley Hall to combine my love of photography and guitar music. Organiser James Stevens, from The Empty Can, played Dirty Old Town and I felt inspired to work on it with Paul at this week's lesson. I've sorted the first verse but still work to do. Great fun though 😀
When it's written down, there's no hiding... but also some things are pleasantly surprising!
Never been a huge fan of playing chords to themselves, but I do see the merit in driving up the speeds. In August I will have been playing guitar with Paul for five years. I'm not for a second suggesting these numbers are amazing, but when I think back to those early days, the thought of playing D to itself at 140bpm would have blown my mind. Yes, I've been playing tonight on my own with no-one watching or listening, but I haven't cheated. When the Drummer's Pulse has felt too quick for me, or I'm hanging on to make consistent sounds, I stopped and put that as my latest benchmark. Of the nine challenges set by Paul, I've managed to get five over the 100 mark. I'm disappointed with my A-D still, but now I have the evidence to work from, rather than assuming it was ok, better than ok, good, or bang average!
Trying to build the number of songs that I can play. Always loved Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. It's been my focus so far in 2023. I can play the intro in the proper style (A-E-D), but still working on when the singing starts. If I start immediately strumming, I find it easier to start singing in the right place. I've tried to use midi files (although can't find a Snow Patrol one) and also been playing around with Garage Band. But that's not proving much use. It's so complex, and it will import the midi files but doesn't show what the chords are. So I'm back to Chordify where I found a karaoke version of Chasing Cars. Duffed the intro on this but overall kept up I think!
Inspired by Noel, even if it’s a slightly different financial level! Bought an Epiphone ES-335. I know it’s all about the guitar player rather than the guitar. But it still feels like Christmas Day
Still trying to nail the D chord
It's now exactly four years since I started playing guitar with Paul. It's one of the best things I've ever done. It was slow going at first, and I'm still by no means perfect, but I love playing and look forward to my lessons with Paul every week. My ambition now is to build the repertoire of songs that I can play without needing to rely on a chord sheet. I've got a few under my belt (Wonderwall, Chasing Cars, Hotel California, Shivers by Ed Sheeran. I can probably do a few more but still feel like I need the comfort blanket of a sheet or computer screen (I use the website and app Chordify). So at last night's lesson we looked at another of my favourite songs to play. I was lucky enough to see the Eagles in concert at Anfield in June. I was blown away by their music even though I was only a young boy when they were in their pomp, honest.
So my challenge is to learn how to play this without any help. I made some progress last night. So tonight is stage one. Record something that I'm happy with to kick me off. I kept looking at the screen, but hopefully by next week's lesson I'll be able to post a video that doesn't show me "cheating". :-)
To add to the drama and excitement, I played with a pedal bought as a father's day gift from my guitar-playing son. It's pretty much taken me until now to work it out!
Here are those suggested breakdowns, replete with measuring boxes!
Could use finger 4 for the only note we need to play for the G chord but if you can time the lift and aim of finger 3 as written in red that works fine too for a seamless change! How do you measure up?
Pattern sticking. Will aim for another video before Tuesday 👍. watching it played properly on YouTube is a a bit daunting though. Lots of movement along the fretboard
Trying to develop my finger picking from pretty much level zero 😀
Love the guitar playing in Shape of My Heart by Sting. Guitarist is Dominic Miller and I’ve found him on YouTube
Paul drew me out a grid last week to start me off. Tried capo at fret 9, but quite a tight squeeze for my fingers. Elsewhere on internet, found several examples at fret 2. Speed is clearly an issue for me so far, but Paul has always preached the importance of getting the foundations right first. So I reckon I’ve worked out the pattern. so an opening video as I start my Sting journey.
More forceful with the strumming 👍
Pushing it up to 100
Monday night practice. Straight in at 90.
E to itself. Tried at 80bpm and 100bpm
Been working on Lucky Man by The Verve. Tried it out with my acoustic. Last week's lesson with Paul was with my electric. Feeling ok with the chords and now trying to add the lyrics.
Hehe ... happens all the time! 😉
That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight....
Quite enjoy playing along to songs on Chordify with my headphones on, so I'm only recording my voice and guitar. Obviously there is room for improvement with both, but don't think this is hideous. And have enjoyed working on a chord progression of Dm for two beats, G for two beats and on to Am. Recording my "performances" also give my practice a sense of purpose.
So into year four! My 49th birthday present was a voucher for two lessons with Paul. Now after my 52nd birthday celebrations are over, I'm sat here on a Bank Holiday evening with Chord Pulse lite fired up on an aged laptop, trying to add lead guitar skills to my "repertoire". Have always been intimidated by the intricacy of playing individual strings, sometime at amazing speed. But it's a skill I would love to develop.
The opening to Atomic by Blondie is my first challenge. Worked on it at last week's lesson. Feeling quite confident at 90bpm. Not quite as sharp at 100bpm but was ok I think.
I’m on the big screen…
No backing track, no chord sheet, just me and the lyrics. I’m sure there are areas for improvement. Actually I’m certain there are. But I‘m still pretty pleased with this. Actually I’m thrilled and amazed. If the Bellamy Brothers ever need another sibling…