Fundamental 2 to rock 1.

Anyone other beginners struggle with the jump between Guitar Fundamentals 2 and Rock Style 1? Just when you're feeling confident in your abilities it really picks up the pace AND you need to relearn the chords in a 'rock style'! I think I might have peaked at the fundamental levels.

Originally Posted by: whim73

Anyone other beginners struggle with the jump between Guitar Fundamentals 2 and Rock Style 1? Just when you're feeling confident in your abilities it really picks up the pace AND you need to relearn the chords in a 'rock style'! I think I might have peaked at the fundamental levels.

I'm guessing you haven't peaked but you are on to a new challenge. Fundementals is really setting a rock solid foundation. It is that but going in to the details of genre's, you start learning that those foundational things are very useful but also that you have much more to learn (which is awesome for guitar, it always makes it interesting).

When you're new to the instrument, you always feel that sense of 'why can't I get this?'. As you go on in your playing life, you realize that that is both the nature of the beast and desirable. Even though I've been playing for decades and had 'shredder' skills at some point, there's a ton of things I've never tried and now I stretch myself out in to things I never woud have bothered with in the 80's.

But, there are always growing pains. That's where you're at. Also, each genre has a different approach to the instrument. Everything in Fundementals underlies other genres but you will learn that what appliess in rock, doesn't exactly apply in jazz or country. You'll also learn there is much that does tie these together too.

Have no worries. If anything, embrace the fact that you are stretching your skill. Though not as painful as a runner; no pain, no gain. Unlike the runner, guitar is much more fun.

Originally Posted by: whim73

Anyone other beginners struggle with the jump between Guitar Fundamentals 2 and Rock Style 1? Just when you're feeling confident in your abilities it really picks up the pace AND you need to relearn the chords in a 'rock style'! I think I might have peaked at the fundamental levels.

Hey whim73! You're definitely hitting a new challenge there. Is it just those new chord shapes for Rock, the A, D, G that are throwing you? Those new chord shapes are really important when playing with distortion to make sure extra strings aren't ringing. It also helps to strip some of the chords down to more powerful voicings that will sound better with all that gain. What Anders is showing at the start of Rock 1 is totally common in ACDC type rock. You'll find those chords for sure in the ACDC songs on the site if you want to check those out and get some practice with them.

Let us know how far you're getting into the course and if you need any additional questions answered on getting the hang of those new chords. Don't feel like you need to rush, either! If you've made it through Guitar Fundamentals, that's awesome progress and you're on your way.

-Carl.