Hi Christopher!

[br]Thanks for the welcome and answering all the questions - honestly, I didn't think someone would answer them all! So I really appreciate the time and help you have[br]given!

[br]{I'm going to reply to all you questions. But I'm going to start with some advice.

[br]1. You need to work through the Guitar Fundamentals courses 1 & 2.

[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/beginner.php

[br]The core learning system is a step-by-step course that will guide you through the beginner stages of learning to play guitar. You'll get answers to your questions, and all the right material in the right order. :)

[br]2. The only way to get better at playing guitar is a lot repetitious practice. There is no substitute.

[br]You say you've been playing for 4 months & don't have a lot of time. From your post, it seems like you've learned quite a bit of beginner content! Congrats! But the only way to get better is to be patient with yourself & make time to practice.}

[br]Ok, awesome - I have started the 1st Fundamental course and am surprised at how much I actually know here. But am still gonna go through to make sure I can learn all that I can. Thanks for the complement - I guess I knew more then I though, lol!

Practice is really what I need to work on…so making time for it now!

[br]{We have a wonderful & knowledgeable guitar tech that answers these kind of questions. Here's a thread from his forum on that topic.

[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/thread.php?f=30&t=41933}

[br]Checking this out![br] [br]{There are 12 major chords & 12 minor chords for all 12 possible musical alphabet letters. And you can play them in a million different ways. Also, there are a whole lot more chords once you get into extended harmony chords & ornamentation (7th, 9ths, sus4th, etc.)

[br]You only need to learn as many of them as you will actually use when you play music. The point is: learn them one at a time & use them. When you need to know another one, that's the time to learn it.}

[br]Wow!

[br]{That's caused by the strings pressing down into the fret wire. Happens after a guitar has been played a whole lot. Sometimes there's a little more life left in them. Sometimes it means the frets need to be filed down & recrowned. Sometimes it means the frets need to be replaced! Take it to a reputable lical music store & have them assess it.

[br]I'm guessing this is your older guitar?}

[br]I think they must need recrowned ‘cause the more I play the worse the buzzing/twanging gets! So I will be taking it in soon.

[br]No, it is my only guitar. I bought a well used one to learn on!

[br]{Originally Posted by: poshgirl[br]What is that thing that’s called a ‘circle of fifths’?

[br]A system to conceptually organize all 12 possible major & minor keys.}

[br]Ok, learning this later :)

[br]{Use the tips of your fingernails to graze the strings. Caren does that here.

[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1408}

[br]Cool! Thanks![br] [br]{Probably a classical guitar with nylon strings and your fingers (no picking or strumming).}

[br]Ok.

[br]{Compared to beginner or medicore playing, good playing is more refined. It has a better sense of rhythm, more precise physical technique, and often has ornamentation that fleshes out an otherwise simple playing arrangment.}

[br]That means ‘keep practicing’ :)

[br]{That you need to practice a lot in order to get better. There's no magic bullet. There's no way around it. You can practice smarter & harder. But you have to put the time in. Try to enjoy the process. Work through GF 1 & 2!

[br]Hope this helps! Please ask more if necessary. Best of success!}

[br]Right! No way around it, I want to learn all that I can and can all I do.

[br]I am enjoying the process, not that hard as I was anticipating so this course has been clear and fun. I am so glad I found this site!

[br]Thanks again for answering all these questions.