[Holding the guitar classical way]

I play that way too. Much more comfortable and hard to change to right leg, but that doesn’t appear to be necessary. I play classical mostly anyway but even using a different guitar or music style, it’s still easier on left leg.

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

This is from Session 10 (the finger style session) of L&M that Steve wrote.  What a lovely melody and such a joy to hear these chords and lines!  It took me a while and many tries of stopping and working on something else, then circling back to it - because the piece is so beautiful -  to get it to this point and I'm so grateful!

 

 

Session 10 Intro audio - 5_24_20, 3.54 PM.m4a

[Session 5 - Classical Guitar]

Hi Colder, 

I’m also finding the Fingerstyle Course fun, challenging, excellent for practicing  patience and persistence, and learning some very beautiful music.  

I used two classical beginners methods during five years of lessons as a kid - so have a nice classical background, though very elementary. 

The nylon strings and wider neck certainly make some chords and bars easier to play.  I switch off between my steel string and classical while practice L&M Fingerstyle.  (The steel string is new, and the classical is from the 1970s.)

I spend maybe two months on each lesson. Maybe 50 half hour practice sessions before I move on.  There have been plateaus and times where I’ve had to switch to easier pieces to play for a while, and then return again.  The methods used as kid were Christopher Parkening’s and Aaron Shearer’s. Now I’m working with Frederick Noad’s.  

I really love the practice structure Steve gave us in the general L&M course of 30 minutes - 5 min warm up, 10 technique, 10 pieces, 5 free play, and tend to stick to that all the time, no matter what I’m practicing.  Logical, and useful.  

When I feel frustrated with the difficulty level of Fingerstyle, or my own limitations, I move back to earlier lessons, and easier pieces,  and come back later.  

These lessons are not easy, but they offer so much.  This music is truly beautiful.  Have you noticed that many of the later pieces are composed by Steve? And how he teaches us to understand how to arrange songs we all know, like Happy Birthday? Great stuff!!

 

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

1 hour ago, NeilES335 said:

@Amy Greenblatt  Beautifully done Amy!  I enjoyed that! Timing is spot on and totally error free. (I'm envious;-)...  Thank you for sharing with us and we hope to see you post your songs and comments here often.

As for video, I dont believe this affects the website storage here, so you can continue to go that route if you wish, (as long as the video is of YOU) .  The audio file via SoundCloud is suggested as it creates an account and a place to store all your recorded music in one place, and is easily accessed by those using a variety of devices.  (and for those who are video shy or dont have that technology) 

All the Best

NeilES335 - Moderator.

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the compliment.  It took more takes than I care to admit, and a couple of hours trying to get it good enough.  Had the free time on days off from work so perfect opportunity to reach for something I could share. Looking forward to listening to your recordings too.  

 

PS I found a place, in the profile maybe? That showed I’ve used up 28% of my allotted space, for both the video and the audio version.  That’s okay.  Still 72% left.  At some point may need to delete or just leave alone and move to Sound Cloud when it nears 100%.

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

Ron,

It looks like you have a lot of electric guitar playing skills! At a young age I worked through Aaron Shearer’s Classic Guitar Vol 1 and also Christopher Parkening’s Vol 1, with teachers, so fingerstyle was in my muscle memory.  It’s like riding a bicycle because you remember.  I wouldn’t call lesson 10 easy at all.  I’m looking forward to listening to some of your recordings as well as others’. 

[Monthly Recording Challenge 63 - "Holiday Festive Time"]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - ALG.mp3
 

Arrangement by Steve Krenz in Fingerstyle course 

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

4 hours ago, matonanjin said:

Hi Amy,

I converted your video file to an audio file and sent that to you as an attachment to a pm.

I use WinX HD Video Converter Plus to convert files.  Simple and Cheap.   But I don't know if it is available on Mac.  I use Windows.

Ron

 

ps.  I went back and looked and it is cross platform (Windows and Mac)

Thank you so much, Ron

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

2 minutes ago, UncleHammy said:

I wish I could take credit for thinking of the Monthly Recording Challenge but it was started by a member with ID BenBob.  I haven't seen him on the forum for about 3 or 4 years so I took it over about 3 years ago.

The idea was to share member recordings in a central thread.  Each month the previous month's "winner" picks the theme for the next moth.  By winner I mean random participant picked by dice roll. 

In my experience I have learned a lot from participating in the challenge.  I have not played much lately because of lack of time and hand pain but when I do participate I try to find a song that matches the theme and also has elements of what I am working on for skill development.  I have enjoyed it over the years.

Some months we will have lots of entries 7 to 10 other months we have only 1 or 2.   Everyone is welcome to post no matter the level of their play.  Some of the members are pros others are beginners.  

The main thing I like is it gives me a chance to learn new songs that I like.

As for posting format, there are no rules.  Videos are welcome.  I think most people use Soundcloud because a post from there does not take up space on there forum login.

Hope to hear from you soon.

That's really great and interesting, thank you.  I believe you DO get a lot of credit, even though BenBob started it.   

I'm also glad to hear that "winners" are from dice rolls and not a talent contest.  Sure, I'm happy to let you cross reference to there, though I don't see an easy way to convert it to audio only without downloading extensions and new programs and I want to keep things very simple and easy.  

I have more free time in November and December than any other time of year.  I'm not sure what taking up space on forum login means, or how to use sound cloud.  I do think the mac lets me easily make a sound file and I'll get to learn how large the different file types are and how much space is available.  

Happy New Year!

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

1 hour ago, UncleHammy said:

Great job @Amy Greenblatt would you mind if I cross post it into the Monthly Recording challenge thread?  This month is winter holiday songs and this would fit in perfectly. 

 

Hi @UncleHammy it looks like the monthly recording challenge is a thread you enjoy very much.  Other people do too.  What made you think of starting that?  Do you think it helps people with their playing?  Can you tell us more about it?  I noticed people are using Sound Cloud rather than videos.  It just occurred to me that the video must be taking up a lot of space on the website.  Is there a way to convert it to an audio only?  Maybe on the weekend I could learn how do do that on my Mac.  PhotoBooth is how I made the video. 

[Members Recordings - Songs, Lessons, Open Mic!]

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.  

[New issue of "Mediocre Guitar Player" just hit the newsstands!]

This is perfect for me! :-)