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Session 1 - Starting Off Right


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String Names, Technique, Tuning, Finger Exercises, C & G7 Chords

A Forum for Learn and Master Guitar Students to ask questions, make comments, receive advice and encouragement, and post their progress.

 

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Wow! The Group is making this an Absolutely Fantastic Site, Thanks to ALL who are Part of the Creation of this Site....What a Gift it is. Thank You Steve and Group.

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Hello, I think this is my first time posting on the forum.  I have gone up to session four of L&M Guitar, but had to stop for a few months because of shoulder surgery.  I decided to start at session 1 again to rebuild a solid foundation and also purchased The Song Hits.  Because I am starting over, I had a question about perfection.  I've been on session 1 for almost 2 weeks and no matter what I do I seem to always make a tiny mistake every time I practice and my fingers don't hurt but my hand cramps up still.  I feel like I meet the criteria to move on to session 2 in theory but I'm not entirely sure because of these little mistakes.  Any suggestions?

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@costancrMOVE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could probably find it if I looked hard enough.  But somewhere Steve specifically said to not spend more than two weeks in Session One.    No matter what session you work on you are going to have little things that could be improved.  Get the basics down and a lot of these little nagging things will improve as your playing does and you work other areas. 

I'm glad that you are back and that you made your first post here.  Please keep us up to date on your progress.

The Song Hits was a smart investment and gives your some fun material to work as you progress.  I bought it after I had been in L&MG for a while.  I wish I had started them simultaneously as you have.

 

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@costancr , Welcome back! Yes, move along. The first four sessions are an introductory unit. Here is Steve's overview of the course, and the links to his Roadside Assistance videos. A theme you hear Steve repeat often is: aim for competence, not perfection. And rest your hand as long as necessary if it cramps. Play on!

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Thank you both!!  I will move on to the next session ASAP.

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Keep up the good work. Mastering lessons takes a good amount of time. So I get myself well acquainted than move on. Going back to the previous lessons to improve them. It works for me. Glad your with guitar gathering community.

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I just started tonight. I’m pretty excited. I’ve been wanting to learn guitar for a very long time. Any tips for a beginner?  Is there anyone out there that has actually completed this course?  

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27 minutes ago, Jkindgren said:

I just started tonight. I’m pretty excited. I’ve been wanting to learn guitar for a very long time. Any tips for a beginner?  Is there anyone out there that has actually completed this course?  

Jeff, good luck to you.  One tip I would have for you is whenever you get stumped or frustrated or confused, post a message here.  There is a group brain trust here that is very helpful, encouraging and supportive.  Don't go it alone. 

Yes, there have been people complete the course.  Not nearly as many as start it!  ??  Wim just posted about finishing it.  There are some posting regularly on here that are getting close.

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7 hours ago, Jkindgren said:

I just started tonight. I’m pretty excited. I’ve been wanting to learn guitar for a very long time. Any tips for a beginner?  Is there anyone out there that has actually completed this course?  

don't get stuck on Session 1 for more than 2 weeks.. real learning starts in Session 2

Session 1 is just to get your hands coordinated.

 

p.s. in my signature line below.. Note the Words of Guitar Wisdom by Steve Krenz.. lots of great info for any guitarist esp working on the LMG guitar course

Edited by Eracer_Team-DougH
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I started session 1 yesterday. It is tough to get the fingers to stretch, especially up to the 6th string! I'm able to hold on the 1st string fairly well though. On the video, it looks like Steve is able to keep his fretting thumb near the 1st fret and in a pretty stable position. I notice mine moves around the neck quite a bit allowing me to stretch my fingers. Is this normal? 

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12 hours ago, Twalumba said:

I started session 1 yesterday. It is tough to get the fingers to stretch, especially up to the 6th string! I'm able to hold on the 1st string fairly well though. On the video, it looks like Steve is able to keep his fretting thumb near the 1st fret and in a pretty stable position. I notice mine moves around the neck quite a bit allowing me to stretch my fingers. Is this normal? 

Yes. Continue to do the finger stretching exercises several times a day and in a few weeks you will notice a difference. Stretching up to the 6th low E wont be a problem and your flexibility will improve.

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Whether we’re learning to hit a golf ball or learning to play a guitar or other musical instrument (or even play a video game—ugh!), several things are going on in the development of our mini-brains and coordination of eyes and muscles. They’re interdependent. First we have to learn to read music, to look at a note on a musical staff and instantly recognize it. Really, this is separate learning from fretting the right string and plucking it. To master this, we drill our eyes and mini-brains in exercises, the best of which can be found at this free website:

https://www.musictheory.net/exercises

 

Once we’ve accomplished this skill, we start the process of learning to play our guitars. This is when our neural system coordinates our sight, fingers, and hearing senses. It takes time and patience. It’s what we call the “Three P’s: Practice, Perseverance, and Patience.” If that’s not enough frustration, our fretting fingertips are getting calluses, which is painfully distracting. Use rubbing alcohol on them to ease the pain and hasten the formation of calluses. Eventually, they’ll disappear, leaving the fretting fingers inured to feeling. Again, the Three P’s.

 

You’re doing fine, and we all encourage you. We’ve been there, done that, and cheer you on as one of our Forum buddies. Let’s hear from you often. Lotsa luck. Best, John Wells

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The finger exercises are getting easier and I'm making less mistakes. I have more control, It feels good! Im trying the C and G7 chords but my fingertips are getting bumped by the other strings. It's frustrating. I've cut my nails as short as possible. Any tips for how to address this? Today is my first day of trying the chords and so maybe it will get better in a week. Anyone go through this?

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@Twalumba the idea of Session 1 is not to confidently play the C and G7 chords.. its' only there to get your hands in coordination with each other opening and closing.

that's why Session 1 is a 1 to 2 week work period. 

there will be lots of time to play those chords in the coming Sessions; the 'real' learning starts in Session 2

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@Twalumba,  ^^^ Exactly what Doug said.  Memorize the shapes, but do not try and play them perfectly at this point.  Don't spend more than two weeks in session 1.   Again, as Doug said, " there will be lots of time to play those chords in the coming Sessions ".

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Here are the exercises for Session 1 in a Guitar Pro 6 format to play along with.  Total time to play along with these files is 15 minutes. Bonus Workshop for Session 1 is 22 minutes.

Session 1 - 1 - Finger Exercises.gpx Session 1 - 2 - G7 C.gpx

Session 1 - 1B - Finger Exercises.gpx

Edited by josev
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Hi Everyone,

Just got the course today and finished session 1.  I have played some in the past and know most of my open chords, so most of the lesson wasn’t new information, but I want to make sure I have a strong foundation so I can truly progress.  I technically have already hit the “you can move on when...” requirements, but do you think I should spend a week or so just to really drill in the finger exercises or just move on the session 2?  I don’t want to do a disservice to myself even though I’ve technically met the requirements.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

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@Adam429 session 1 is just to get your hands coordinated. 

Session 2 starts the "real" learning. 

 

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5 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

@Adam429 session 1 is just to get your hands coordinated. 

Session 2 starts the "real" learning. 

 

Awesome, thanks for the advice.  I’ll move on the session 2, but maybe throw a few of the finger exercises in as warm-ups to be on the safe side.

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@Adam429 note there are a few mistakes with the TAB in the lower sessions. 

But Steve is a big Let's read music guy, so try to ignore TAB until you get to finger style session 10

 

Ps in my signature is Words Of Guitar Wisdom check it out from mouth of Steve

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I just started playing the guitar and I am very green. I have been on Session 1 for a couple of days and I find it very difficult in the finger exercises to get my fourth finger on the six string. Is this common for beginners? 

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@Sandman 136 Welcome to the course and the forum! Learning guitar means asking your fingers to do many unfamiliar things. The third and fourth fingers are generally the weakest, least independent, and the least practiced at precise positioning. It takes time and lots of repetition.

I would not linger in Session 1 for more than a couple of weeks, assuming you spend some time with it every day. Those moves will be reinforced, as others have noted above. The idea here is to simply get acquainted with what's to come. Check out Steve's Roadside Assistance videos for the course which are now on YouTube.

I can also recommend some sources of encouragement and sound advice here. Best wishes for your new guitar journey!

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@Sandman 136 Yes it is absolutely normal. You need to put those worries behind you now. Every new skill you learn will be awkward at first. You are learning numerous skills at the same time. 

Thanks to Steve's course I can play all the first position chords with my eyes closed. It seems natural, and I really understand why they work. I also can add variations by changing the fingering a little. But this came over a long period of time and daily practice.  

As Diane stated do not spend a lot of time on Session 1 because it is just an introduction. You have much to do. Keep a positive attitude. Playing guitar isn't easy. Practice slow to play fast. Don't stare at your hands all the time. Don't worry about mistakes. Don't strive for perfection. 

Watch the lesson.

Practice with the book.

Practice with the workout.

Practice some more. 

Move on when you understand the material and can play maybe 80% accurate. 

Don't give up if you hit a plateau, or are struggling with a skill. Try something else for a while.

   Perseverance.jpg.bac0004c2e7fa167320ca005d92f05c1.jpg

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Hello everyone. I just received my Gibson’s Learn & Master Guitar " expanded edition". I going to start session 1 tonight. I've already skimmed through a couple of sessions. I'm kind of intimidated. Especially the part that stated estimated time to learn these concepts on each session.

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