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rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
12/09/2014 4:39 pm
Hi-
My Name is Rick and I am an IT executive at a large Fortune 10 firm, father of 3 under 4 and live in the Metro Detroit area. I have played drums since I was 7, and took up violin at 26...now, at 39, I am trying to figure out the guitar. Youtube would make me believe that it is the easiest instrument in the world to learn and that I am just a terrible beginner.
I've been noodling around on my acoustic for about 8 weeks and just picked up my electric on black friday (asking Santa for an Amplifi 75 for XMAS).

I've been working through the justinguitar.com site and have an accomplished blues guitarist buddy on call for questions and help. I think I know 10 chords or so, some faster than others, and still can't switch very quickly.

I'm really hoping that Guitartricks will accelerate my learning.
--Rick
Acoustic - 2014 Seagull Entourage Rustic CW QI
Electric - 2013 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Quilt Top Pro - Heritage Cherry Sunburst
# 1
ThorfinnFrisken
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Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
ThorfinnFrisken
Full Access
Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
12/09/2014 7:36 pm
From someone who started at 38, GT is a great way to learn.
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Learning guitar, one chord at a time...
# 2
rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
12/09/2014 8:02 pm
Thor-
How long have you been playing? About a year? I'm curious as to what your skill level is - what kind of things can you do at this point? And what is your practice time like - 30 mins a day, etc...
--Rick
Acoustic - 2014 Seagull Entourage Rustic CW QI
Electric - 2013 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Quilt Top Pro - Heritage Cherry Sunburst
# 3
ThorfinnFrisken
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Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
ThorfinnFrisken
Full Access
Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
12/10/2014 4:51 pm
I have been at it since March of last year. I bought a guitar setup and then signed up for GT same day. I feel my progression is going well. Lately I have been doing allot of improve solo work in blues and jazz. That and allot of Pink Floyd songs. But that being said, I still like some good metal. I like to play all styles.

The biggest thing I can say is GF1 and GF2. Go thru them. They helped me sooo much. It was odd, but it seemed like I was not progressing and then all of a sudden it clicked.

I practice anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours each day. When I practice, I have a pretty standard setup.

* Finger warmups (alot of times just going thru scales).
* Chord progressions (Working on switching from chord to cord smoothly)
* Scales. Major/Minor and Pentatonic scales
* Improve over some backing tracks. (love minor scale 12 bar blues)
* Work on a few songs
* Some days I jam with others and we do improve work mainly. Helps me hear others and learn.

I used to have timers for them but now I just do each till I want to move on.
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Learning guitar, one chord at a time...
# 4
rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
rickgrubb
Registered User
Joined: 12/09/14
Posts: 5
12/12/2014 5:24 pm
Thor -
The fact that you are doing all that in a little less than a year is inspiring. I am just "noodling" and need more structure to my practice, so thanks for your insights.
--Rick
Acoustic - 2014 Seagull Entourage Rustic CW QI
Electric - 2013 Epiphone Les Paul Standard Quilt Top Pro - Heritage Cherry Sunburst
# 5
ThorfinnFrisken
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Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
ThorfinnFrisken
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Joined: 03/20/13
Posts: 140
12/16/2014 2:39 pm
Was march of 2013. So little over a year and a half. But I think it just comes down to practice...and tons of it.

This site will be a valuable tool for you also.
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Learning guitar, one chord at a time...
# 6

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