Glad I’m here!

Hey GT folks!

I'm in my second year of full access and making measurable progress on the goals I had when joining the site.  I had to swallow my pride a bit:  10 years of formal classical music theory on piano, a number of years of playing piano/guitar/vocals in numerous bands of widely varying quality and styles, and decades of dipping in and out of music.

I had someone tell me that the top pro golfers (I suck at golf) still have swing coaches and still actively seek instruction.  It struck me that musicians might benefit from the same.

I'm here.  It's absolutely benefited me.  I'm planning on being with you guys for a while.

Rumble

Glad you are part of community as well Rumble!

👍🤟

Congrats on your progress Rumble.

Moe

Rumble, I can most HEARTILY agree.  I've been "piddlin'" around (my grandfathers old statement) with guitars since the late 60's and never really took the time to learn to actually play the darn thing.  I found GT in 2021 and grabbed the full access membership.  I am also in my (now) second year and I can readily state that I have learned more in the last year or two than all the previous years combined.

I don't have any of the formal training as what you described, but at 66 years young I am thrilled beyond measure how much enjoyment I get out of this hobby.  I'm glad to hear that someone with formal training will say that it benefits them as well.  I know too many people who hit that stage of "Oh, I am great on this thing" and then never continue learning.  I've always found that learning is a journey, not a destination, and that applies to all areas of our lives.

Thanks for sharing your journey.  Glad to have another on the path...

This brings up an interesting discussion that I've wanted to bring up a number of times, but didn't really know how to phrase it.  The topic of progress and how it differs for everyone. I'm just about three years in here, though I did take lessons in my twenties and then regrettably stopped completely for a number of decades. Some things just seem to come easy for some and not for others. It isn't just learning the guitar, but learning what type of guitar player you want to be. 

For me, learning to play lead has always been a struggle. The bends, the slides, the doublestops, all that tonal technique that it caused me to sell my Tele as I just didn't feel like I was connecting with it. It was an inexpensive Squire so no big loss. I've got a few licks under my belt, but it just doesn't resonate with me that I seldom practice them. Yet fingerpicking on the acoustic came easy. I also have a lot of internal rythym so strumming and even arpeggiating I don't struggle with much. I've never used a metronome yet my timing is pretty good as well when I play along with song tracks.

Perhaps, I was born to be a rythym player which is fine cause that's what I enjoy, and lets face it at our age this really is more of a fun hobby instead of a career change, but it took me a while to figure this out. I was 'noodling' around in so many areas thinking I had to know it all instead of focusing in the areas I am strong at to be better at it so as to take on more challenges. That's not to say we shouldn't dive out of our comfort zones once in a while. Like Jim said learning is the journey, but just fiddling or "piddlin" around with various things probably doesn't amount to much either. IMHO. No matter Guitartricks has been a godsend to me in where I've come in those three years.  I know there is so much more to learn and I look forward to seeing where my journey will continue.

Well sorry for the longwinded  chime. I hope everyones journey is rewarding and successfull in wherever you decide to take this endeavor.

Moe

P.S. I suck at golf also. lol

Hey Rumble, thanks for stickin' with us! 

It is great to hear that you are making measurable progress, and we are happy to have been able to help. We hope that you continue to share your journey with us in the future.

Awesome Moe!