I decided to pull out the guitar today and get started with some practice. I started out by getting a guitar tuning app and decided to start simple and look on youtube for a video to follow along to get going. I found a series of 10 videos by Andy Crowley on guitar for beginners that I think I will try. Today I watched and played along for the first video and learned how to play an E Cord and an A cord. Also working on the transition between the two and just getting familiar with strumming again. My fingers are definitely not used to the strings yet, but at least it’s a start. I think today I will forgo any recordings of my efforts, but for future practice sessions I will try to record some of it to keep track of my progress. This first lesson gets you to try playing a song by Buffalo Springfield that just uses E and A cords, transitioning between them each after strumming each 4 times. I can tell already that my fingers will need time to adjust, but I think this is a good start.
Right now my goal for practice will be:
Wednesday – 30 minutes (watching video and following along) practice on guitar
Friday – 30 minutes practice on saxophone
Sunday/Monday – 30 minutes of guitar and or saxophone (depending how much extra time I have)
Sunday/Monday will be a review day where I can practice anything I learned on the previous weeks sessions.
February 13, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Hi Blake,
Beautiful axe buddy! I didn’t know you were learning on an electric! What kind of amp are you working with?
February 19, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Thanks Jason! I got it when I was about 14, just didn’t play enough! I do have a small little amp but not using it right now, makes me feel better about not disturbing neighbours. Maybe when I can play a full song well I might try it.
February 13, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Blake, I really resonate with you when you talk about your fingers adjusting to the strings. Especially in the beginning when they are callusing over, it can be challenging to push through the tenderness and keep practicing.
I am excited to see some recordings of your practice sessions and I LOVE that you are switching between guitar and saxophone.
I would be interesting to record yourself on Garageband playing both instruments and putting them together for a song.
Looking forward to seeing more.
-Tesla
February 19, 2021 at 1:39 pm
Thanks Tesla, I appreciate the comment. That is a great idea! I would love if I could combine the two of them somehow. Better keep practicing. I just recorded a small clip today on the guitar picking along to ‘Born in the USA’ because I learned some cords linked to that song in the youtube channel I’m following. It’s a start anyways!