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Learn and Master Guitar by Steve Krenz was my jumpstart for returning to playing guitar after 38 years away from the instrument. I was a self taught novice with a mastery of basic barre and open chords which, in my younger years, allowed me to compose many original songs, as I was more a writer than musician. That said, I was content with my limited skill level and knowledge of the instrument and of music. Then work and life intervened and the guitar went into the closet. In 2008, after 3 thumb surgeries for arthritic maladies, I decided I might be able to once again play. While recovering with a cast on after my 3rd surgery, I purchased the LMG course after researching the internet for options, bought my first nice acoustic guitar and began studying the course before I could even play. I made the commitment to not just play, but to learn some music theory which was so lacking in my past. I was persistent and committed to the course and made it through all the lessons. Did I master them all? No, but the coursebook and the CD's remain on my desktop for frequent reference to refresh the aging grey matter that keeps misplacing some of the teachings. I have completed the Blues course, but will concede that I never be more than a novice soloist. The knowledge gained from these courses though, gave me the courage to participate in local blues jam classes offered at a couple of local community colleges , where I met other musicians like me who just wanted to get out of the music room and meet other like minded musicians. None that I met were brilliant musicians but all were eager to share time together having the joy of learning the genre and making music together. I have played now in several bands built out of these associations and perform on occasion to live audiences. All of this as a result of a calculated decision to buy a course created by Steve Krenz 12 years ago. I keep thinking that I will someday get past lesson two in the fingerstyle book but I still have the rest of my life for learning. I know I should be a better player by now than I am, but I am just grateful to have made the wise decisions in 2008 to give the course a ride.... Greg

These lessons are by the Rev. Robert Jones, a great player in his own right They come from his new course on Truefire, You can watch a sampling of the course with several lessons free here; https://truefire.com/blues-guitar-lessons/reverend-robert-jones-traditions/the-blues-tradition-introduction/v49256 Current price for steaming and instant download is $29.25 I liked Jone's commentary on the history of the Blues, putting each song in context. Here's a sample of his solo performance in 2017 in Munro Michigan. Rev Robert B. Jones and Davy Knowles performing at the 30th Annual Black History Month Blues Series at the Ellis Library in Monroe, Michigan http://www.davyknowles.com http://www.revrobertjones.com/ SHOW MORE

@Mustafa, If you are not familiar with it, you might also listen to the song "This Old Guitar" by John Denver. I think it expresses some of the sentiments others have expressed here. I expect most everyone that has ever touched an instrument has felt periods of contentment along with extreme frustration. But I guess that is what makes it so rewarding. I "played with" a guitar during my school years, but never really learned to play it. I grew tired of it and lost interest. Now, many (many) years later, I have decided to truly learn how to play. Sometimes I feel I've waited too long to start. But I've been encouraged by many on this forum and I hope you will be as well.

I started the L&M guitar program yesterday. I'm on session 1, practicing the finger exercises. I'm 34 and have wanted to play an instrument for a long time. I regret not starting earlier. I never took band or lessons in my life. I picked up an acoustic guitar about 10 years ago and managed to only play for a week. I love music and I want to understand it on a deeper level. I'm grateful for the L&M guitar program because it seems like a way to build a strong foundation. I bought a Yamaha Pacifica electric guitar and am excited about the journey ahead!

The intro jam to my next YouTube video!

This is the 5th solo from the BGU blues course. It's again in G, and combining major and minor pentatonics. One more solo to learn, and then up to a Classic Rock course. Wim.

This is the opening jam for my next YouTube video. I called it Rick's Blues because I learning the chord progression from a good friend on YouTube, Rick Romanelli. A good story too was that I recorded the rhythm backing track, which I will release separately on my YouTube Channel, with my amp, and thought I had recorded the lead as well, but found out I hadn't. Well, I had already sold the amp and didn't have my new one yet! So the lead was done on Garageband with the Jazz amp in there. I think it sounds quite good. Anyhow, silly me. Enjoy!!

Thanks for your nice words and useful comments, @Old Guy and @NeilES335. I did some post processing and added delay and reverb. Below is the new version. I think it sounds better indeed. Robben Ford on our Live Lessons! That's something to look forward to. I like his mix of blues and jazz. Take care. Wim.

This Slow Blues in G - solo was a long one to learn to play by heart and I had to go back to daily practice on pull-offs to get some tricky legato parts under my fingers. In this solo, the G major pentatonic is played over the 1 Chord and the G minor pentatonic over the 4 and the 5 Chord. Thanks for listening. Wim.

Lest you may think that I only like jazz... I offer you, for my 2nd recording, something completely different; "Crazy", written by Willie Nelson, A "country" classic, most closely associated with the great Patsy Cline, (who incidentally hated the song at first), recorded in 1961. Continuing with the "Song Hits" theme, I decided to go for a "old time" feel on this song, as it might have been played in a smokey dance hall/ jukebox joint, somewhere, in the 1960's . While basically following Steve K's chart, in Key of Cmaj, I recorded the rhythm using a mic (a first for me) in one magical take, played twice through with only a slight bobble here or there for " authenticity ? " The melody track was another matter, requiring countless takes. The chart shows the lead in the first position, but I chose to play the lead in C at the 8th position, (which required me to transpose the chart and fingering) to more closely mimic a vocalists register, with a few "jazzy" touches of course! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening. All the Best! Neil

iPhone recording practicing the solo for Paranoid with a backing track. No guitar in the backing track so you'll hear when I come in and go out. Fell off at the end but pulled out a reasonable landing.

It's been quiet a ride... but here's my first "real " recording. I originally started learning this song from Steve Krenz's "Learn and Master Guitar - The Song Hits" some time ago. That version is in the key of Fmaj. I located a transcription in Dmaj, which I found much better (for me) to play. I'll be glad to share the chart (sheet music ) with you on request. Recorded with my Godin 5th Av Kingpin archtop, Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 interface into Reaper DAW. (yes I like this MUCH better..) 2 tracks in Stereo, panned left and right, with a touch of reverb and compression. Moon River, by Henry Mancini, from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. I hope you like it.... Thanks for listening.

I posted this in a Ukulele post else where but probably deserves to be here. I've signed up for beginner group ukulele lessons at the local store Jan 27-2019.. and I've rented a Uke for the grand sum of $12 for 3 months. but the lessons haven't started just yet. plinking on it, took a song book out of the library while waiting for the class to start. but I've be volunteered by my wife for a retirement community Hawaiian Party on March 2, to play a couple of songs.. Wife thought a 'standard' is Tiny Bubbles. so without further ado with out lessons (shows) and 30min practice time.. here is my very first take of Tiny Bubbles on Ukulele. (Post edit, I was the only one to sign up for group lessons, ukulele class canceled)

In LMG session 18, Steve teaches us how to jazz up chord progressions. That background, together with the Jazz Chords Fretboard Workout, helped me a lot when learning this slow blues. Thanks for listening, Wim.

Hi All, I wanted to say how much I appreciate Steve Krenz's teachings and the community he has helped to create with all of us here. This arrangement is from his Learn and Master Fingerstyle Guitar course (amazing course) and I recorded it yesterday. I hope you enjoy it. 41789178_263420141019589_2064040570489548358_n.mp4

Harry, coincidentally that song was just 'Highly Commended' by the judges in the UK Songwriting Contest. I have to admit that I'm a little cynical about these things (do they stroke your ego so that you enter again next year?), but from googling it does seem to be one of the most well-respected international songwriting competitions out there.

Hello everyone! this is my first post here My name is Mustafa (28 years old ) and I am a new member here. i will tell you my story and i hope i can find a solution to my problem I started learning guitar 10 years ago in private lessons with my teacher. I love guitar so much and i used to practice many hours a day. the bad situation in Iraq forced me to leave my friends and my country and coming to Turkey.In Turkey it is not legal for me to leave the tiny town that i live in , it is not a kind of punishment , it is just the rules and i have been living like that for almost 5 years.I always feel deep loneliness here but i know that i am strong and i can overcome it. The big problem is that after these years i began to lose motivation and interest in playing guitar. . I always practiced and had the idea that my teacher will be proud of me someday.I lost the contact with my teacher almost 3 years ago and this made my loneliness deeper.Two months ago i received news that the wife and the daughter of my teacher passed away in an accident . Now i can not even pick the guitar and i feel it is a waste of time, i feel that instead of spending hours practicing i should do something useful to other people.i am out of motivation and sometimes i feel that it is immoral to waste time practicing guitar for hours.I think that many people here are old and wise and i am sure that some people had obstacles in their life , i am looking forward to hear how did you manage it ..... Thank you in advance