Hello everyone!

My name is Steve, I'm 55 years old, and I live in the North East USA.

I took my very first guitar lesson in 1975, at the age of 10.

Didn't last more than a year.

In the 40+ years since then, I would take a guitar out every few years, and mess around with it, trying to teach myself. I used lots of books, sometimes some friends (more in the school age years), video tapes (yes, tapes), computer CD's, and eventually some free online resources (including YouTube.). I did try once about 15 years ago with an in-person instructor, but he moved away unexpectedly after just three lessons, and I couldn't find another teacher who interested me, so that came to pass (I'll cry "busy life", and admit that I didn't try all that hard to find another teacher.).

With all that, I may have picked up some working knowledge about the guitar, but I'm here to tell you, that I don't consider myself able to "play" the guitar.

I can read music (learned from school band through high school, from the lessons I've taken over the years, and from providing my beautiful child with the gift of music as part of her upbringing). So, if I have the sheet music (or tab) in front of me, I can pick out an easy song, or strum along with basic chords, but to be real; I suck.

I believe I need four things to become a "player".

1- Structured lessons

2- Very specific instructions on what, and how, to practice.

3- To follow through and actually practice. A lot. And then some more.

4- Not pack the guitar away again.

Today, I own three guitars, and a bunch of peripherals to go along with them;

1- a 1996 Ovation standard Balladeer

2- a 2001 Fender American Stratocaster

3- a 2003 Gibson SG Special.

I'm hoping Guitar Tricks can be my breakthrough, and help me become a guitar player in my own eyes.

I look forward to the lessons, and hopefully chatting with other students on these forums.

PS - (Oh, fair warning: I can get kind of "wordy" once I get going, in case you didn't take notice...)