Odie

Hang in There !!

Yep, I have one of each size.

Neat. Wish I was out on a lake right now. Sorry for the job loss, been there/done that years ago. Also, I"m a GS Mini "convert," back in 2016. Best Wishes.

I had already revamped practices about a month or so ago. Actually, without being quantitative, I am practicing more efficiently, and accomplishing more than before to include learning the Mandolin via another website and trying to relearn the Piano which is going very slowly, but who's in a hurry? What's the point! I'm also retired, over 60 (62--high virus risk), wife had minor meniscus surgery below the knee. But this doesn't mean that I practice twelve hours a day, but focus on quality practice. Occasionally, we drive to a nearby Reservoir, sit in the vehicle and enjoy being outdoors, read, movie at home, etc. Thanks for the post Colder as I've been thinking for several weeks now to post a blog about practice.

Hang in there.

Yep, been "redoing" the scales lessons for about two months now and interested in this lesson about scale boredom. Ha!

Donated my course to a young lady that plays bass and wanted to learn guitar but have LMG lesson book on desktop. I'm only using Steve's scales lessons, primarily a strummer/vocalist, "some" guitar flat picking, learning the mandolin on another site, and slowly relearning piano. Yes, there are other guitar sites with "lessons," which is usually, "learn these tunes or licks," …..but …….the LMG should be the "go to" for anyone desiring to learn the "core," of guitar playing to especially include the scales lesson.

GREAT THREAD !! May get a photo of my group and post.

Looked through the books listed in your original post (January 2018, edited). Anyway, I just ordered "The Practicing Mind." The author's journey and mine are similar; guitar player returning to piano as an adult, etc. It's easy to forget the journey and want immediate results especially when technology provides so much available at our fingertips. He even discusses this very thing in the book.

Needed this one today. Practice was a bit disjointed, uncoordinated feeling or something.

Yep, you're on the right channel. Seems like most progress, especially the more difficult/new, is rather slow at times then . . . boom, you got it. Hang in there.

Neat….

Refreshing...

Oh yea, it's a great escape even for those of us no longer employed.

Started with goal to play/sing (strum) gospel. First "gig" was rest home then church. Fast forward about twelve years, and like Randy120: Play everyday or almost everyday, love it, and have gone further than ever imagined. Recently started a small band. We play gospel hymns, gospel bluegrass, contemporary, folk, and 50's. Now I'm looking at trying some very basic finger style blues and Chet Style but at a very elementary level. I only do what is FUN. Music Is Life.

Been through this same thing so MANY times at Rest Homes. You made a connection, and that connection may have lingered longer than you know. But as you said, there's no way to know. I played/sung once for a bedridden lady as I know her grown children. Pulled chair up close to her bed, she was a tiny lady curled up in the bed, she stared deeply into my eyes for the thirty minutes. When I was done, she rolled over and faced the wall and never said one single word nor made any facial expressions, just that deep look into my eyes. So what do you do? Keep on keeping on.

Awesome! Yep, right on. I started late at 48 years old (currently 61), but still playing,enjoying and achieving more than ever dreamed: playing/singing in rest homes for over ten years now, have played/sung in church (inactive right now), for family, neighbor's, and grandchildren and recently started a band (gospel/folk/50's). Although I'll never be at the professional level, I can still "be" . . . .

I'm primarily a strummer & singer but also do some flat picking instrumentals and currently working on some Carter Style tunes (Music With Ryan website). +On the instrumentals, I look back & forth, music/tabs to fret hand (left) a good bit until slowly memorize. Once memorized, I don't have to look at the music and look at fret hand. If having difficulty with a certain part then go back and work on that part looking at both music/fret hand. The basic chords in first position are easy, but there are lots of slides, double stops, pull offs & hammers ons. Just learned a tune up the neck to 12th fret and have to look! +On strumming and singing though, I've never tried to memorize the lyrics, so look at the music and seldom ever look at fret hands; however, these are over 100 gospel, country, folk tunes that's just the basic chords (Rest Home Gig). Recently, I started a small band. We've done two gigs and working on a third which is 50's music (Lead Guitarist & Banjo, Bass, Strummer/Vocals (me), and Female Vocalist). The Lead Guitarist memorizes the entire gig, usually doesn't sing, doesn't look at the music. But yes, he looks at his hands especially on the guitar solo parts. Since we're going into uncharted chords for me, it's been a learning (self taught) experience on some progressions. For example, Hello Mary Lou by Rick Nelson: Verses: D/A/E/E7/A/C#7/F#m/B7/E/A. It's at a fast clip, and I'm strumming/singing but when got to the A to C#7 to F#m to B7, and it was a train wreck at first. Had played A & B7 many times (and C7) but never the other two. With no one to show me, had to learn on A to leave middle finger planted then slide down then re-fret other fingers then to F#m to B7, and do I look/sing at same time? Well, I'm looking at fret hand during that progression for sure! Well, like Steve said above, it's more of a quick glance. I've not been on here for a year or more. Can't say enough about the importance of playing with others, can really be both inspiring/motivational and has gotten me out of a rut. In addition, I'm slowly relearning the piano/keyboard from my teenage years (currently 61 years old) with Learn & Master. Best Wishes

And I don't think she played Freight Train in Standard Tuning either ….. ?

Thanks for the background info. Yea, I've done ''some'' of it fingerstyle but not much a fingers guy, like the flatpack so just learned another tune ''Carter Style'' and fixing to do Freight Train ''Carter Style'' soon. Only do limited fingers stuff. Just me. Correct me if I'm wrong, without looking on You Tube, Didn't Eliz Cotten play left handed but turned guitar upside down for a right handed player ? ? I think.

It's probably best known in the bluegrass flat picking world where a lot is played in the first position. Many times the bass notes are not played within a chord such as the basic G chord; whereas, only the "G" on the E string, open B, and G are played for speed (to move on quickly) cross picking between this example of three notes (a triple). That being the first string - third fret, then 2nd & 3rd strings. Cross picking takes a lot of patience/dexterity, I can do a limited amount of it; therefore, I find my older fingers learning the bluegrass "runs" and also gravitating towards the "Carter Style," playing. Get on You Tube and search, "The Art Of Guitar Crosspicking," by Steve Kaufman. There's something for EVERYONE on a guitar, just gotta find your niche. HA!

Tried most every choice except these. Looking at a video on Tiptonic. Could you elaborate? Do the fingernails have to be very strong and/or how long? Beyond the tips of fingers?

Good choice. My wife's name.

Been sort of a "hit and miss" on guitar the past two months; however, did a "kick start" in the seat of the pants last week. Been spending too much time on computer tracking the news but not discussing that on here, and it can get addictive. Have broken that addiction. Aside from some other interests: grandchildren out of school, competitive shooting, swimming/biking/walking, spending much more time in music room. So, , , back on regular practice routine again: Stretch first, Scale workouts, starting back on a TrueFire Course, working on a few new songs to play/sing.

Click on link below then click on the cover page or click on download pdf in one of five (5) languages. I get a hard copy in the mail, they're all good, this one is great with: The Ebony Project, New V-Class Guitars plus Reviews & Test Driving Tips, Emerging Artists, Etc. https://www.taylorguitars.com/wood-and-steel