Hi, everyone. I wanted to start us off with a comment to get the ball rolling. I would LOVE it if you could leave a short comment introducing yourself to the other members. I’m Dan Thorpe, from Birmingham, UK (not Alabama!). I love fingerpicking – Paul Simon, James Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel and about a gazillion others! My favourite thing about playing guitar is having some quiet time to play for myself (music is a great outlet for everything in life) and to jam with my 4 year old boy, Archie! I used to be terrible at guitar but after years… Read more »
Hey everyone, I would love to know what lessons you would like to learn. More on fingerpicking, Travis picking, chord changes, theory, jamming???… you name it, leave your ideas below!! This is the place to do so.
Hi Dan, I am an intermediate player, but am fascinated about finger style, and very anxious to get started. But i must admit i do struggle a bit with the dreaded Barr Chords, but am improving a bit. I am a Viet Nam vet, who suffers from PTSD, I am very private, so if you don’t hear much from me please understand. Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for getting in touch. It`s great to have you here. Barre chords are tough but do make sure you take your time and use good technique with them.
No problem at all regarding being private and I hope you are doing well regarding the PTSD. Just know that the comments section and the mini-forum is there for you when needed. All the best.
Cool, for sure, let us know some more details. What sort of slaps and slides? The crazy stuff or solid on beats 2 and 4 type thing? What sort of guitarists have inspired this? (I ask, so I know I’m on the right path). 🙂
No particular artist comes to mind but I would say on beats 2 and 4 nothing crazy (yet). Slapping all the strings I find okay, it’s the thumb slap I have trouble with on the low E A strings.
I have come across slaps in the odd piece of music, done right sounds amazing. Just something I would like to add to my repertoire.
Ah, okay cool, thanks for letting me know. The slaps on beats 2 and 4 are very cool. The grooves these can add are great. Will get something ready on this. 🙂
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I like how you emphasise having fun 😀. And this course is certainly a lot of fun. Who would have thought that the E major scale could be fun, but you make it so. It was fun switching between the E and Em scales – an interesting comparison. I particularly liked the level 3 exercise… something else to keep going back to as it is so enjoyable to play.
Hi Dan and members, My name is Pete, 54 yrs old and live in Suffolk in the UK Aim – To play to a reasonable enough standard, rhythm with interesting licks not looking to be a lead guitarist, but that I am confident to get the guitar out at a BBQ, jam with friends and maybe sing a few songs with my friends band. History – A long relationship of fiddling until I finally knuckled down during Covid and got some hours in and started to make some progress both in playing and understanding some level of theory Currently – Just picked up the guitar again after… Read more »
Hi Pete, welcome aboard. Some great goals you have there. I love the variety of things you mention. Do let us know if there are any things you get stuck on at any point – I ask as there are a variety of courses you have, and will be useful to point you in the right direction (happy to help). The Breakthrough Beginner course will be great for making sure the foundations are solid and bad habits get fixed ASAP so you can flourish. Do let us know how you get on. 🙂
I recently started working on the five star program and I see how this will take my playing to the next level. I kind of breezed through Star 2 but Star 3 is definitely more challenging! I don’t think I’ll be “breezing through” any more levels!!! But this is a great program and I look forward to working on each level!
That’s great to know, Denise. Yeah, as you have a good base for your playing, I imagine the first few stars would be easier, but as you say, important to take your time when things get a bit more challenging. Thanks for the kind words and keep enjoying the process. 🙂
I loved the harmonies in this lesson. I’ve never fingerpicked power chords before, so it was a new experience. I’m glad we worked some on dyads, because they are still a bit of a mystery to me, and it’s good to get the practice. Thanks.
That’s good. I love the harmonies in dyads too – stripping back chords to their core is a useful exercise (both for the dyads and power chords). One thing it does, I find, is remind me, that some notes are more powerful/important than others in a chord. 🙂
I loved turning the Ultimate Strum Pattern into a fingerpicking pattern. I enjoyed both Level 1 and 2, although I decided to come back to Level 2 since I’ve fallen behind on a lesson due to not practicing on Sunday. I found this pattern fits nicely with the Caribbean song “Marianne” and enjoyed playing and singing it.
Super stuff, that’s great you enjoyed it and you have used the pattern in a song too. Keep seeing ways where you can apply it – either to your own jams or songs of others. It’s a fun lesson! 🙂
This was challenging even though I know you have been working us up to this exercise. I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to remember patterns and piecing things together. I ended up choosing a D chord and tried different patterns and hammer-ons. That worked. Baby steps….
Good stuff, there will always be challenges, even in a course with levels like this, but it’s really cool how you made it work for you using baby steps. The next attempts at this will no doubt be easier and easier. Keep enjoying the process. 🙂
Good stuff, not the easiest chord change but glad it’s coming along – a little while of focusing on one chord change back and forth, especially a really useful one like this, will go a long way. 🙂
It’s on my list to memorize the words of Danny Boy. I used to know them, but I can now apply two great strum patterns to them while I sing. Can’t wait to get to Level 3.
I had so much fun with this lesson. I was pretty spot-on with the ear training. However, I was enjoying the patterns so much that I started making up my own melodies. Lo and behold, the Bonus was a melody based on these patterns. I can play your melody AND mine. Thanks for the lesson.
Ha, that is so cool. Sounds like you had a lot of fun with this lesson. I’m guessing you’ve already done some ear training in the past? Either way, really well done and pleased this was fun for you. 🙂
hi Dan
i suppose i am the one you have been describing, going around in circles for the last ten years or so. i have now bought a new guitar and now fully focused on your course.
Hi Kevin, rest assured you are not the only one, but that sort of focus will definitely help you break that cycle. Onwards and upwards and I hope you enjoy the course. 🙂
This I found fascinating, convert a strumm pattern into a fingerpattern… blew my mind. A whole way to look at it. Thanks!
Now I’m not sure… I was planning to cycle back into finger101 after i complete this, now I dunno, may a strumming course? Ack! Decisions decisions lol.
Pleased you like it. A lot of strumming is about the core rhythm so it’s powerful to take those rhythms and do other stuff with it – gets us the best of both worlds, the melody of fingerpicking and the rhythm of strumming. Yeah, it’s exciting when you see how many cool things there are to do on the guitar. 🙂
The exersize makes a nice little melody. Ear training is coming along slowly, along with fretboard familiarity. I haven’t been forcing it, rather, I’ll sit with a string for maybe 5 minutes or so and run thru circle of Fifths, or maybe ccw around the other way to do 4ths. Sort of like the Em and E string studys, just different intervals. Slowly starting to ‘get a feel’ where intervals/notes fall, w/o pressing. (Also ended up memorizing the circle 5th/4ths-oops, lol). I dunno, just what i’ve been doing.
That’s good stuff, Allan. Love how you are exploring the fretboard and finding ways to make it all work for you at your own pace. That’s great and well done! 🙂
Mmmmm 🤔. The difference between 3/4 and 4/4 time is clear to me. But I’m struggling to see the difference between 3/4 and 6/8. I think I’ll have to put a bit of extra research into this one.
It can take a little getting your head around (it did for me). Think of 6/8 as two full beats split into two – 1 2 3 4 5 6 with an accent on beats 1 and 4. If there was a drummer playing, the beat would be very focused on 1 and 4 and that’s where you would tap your foot to. In 3/4 the beat is very like 4/4 and more obvious. I hope this helps but let me know if not as happy to create more examples to help. 🙂
Oh,oh…a new finger picking pattern for me, and did I muck it up! I kept on reverting to more familiar patterns. So, back to basics…slow it down, use the newly discovered metronome….but it’s still tricky. But stick at it and it will become easier. I love the chord progressions and being able to move up and down the neck. I really am learning so much in these lessons. So I’m reviewing this lesson now after a couple of days and…..the pattern is starting to fall into place, with less mistakes. I have found that if I struggle with something that… Read more »
That’s great to know. Sounds like you have a good process for learning these lessons, correcting the mistakes, and keeping yourself patient. All great skills that will pay off the more you play. 🙂
And another first time for me – I have never used a metronome before, honestly! But I did really enjoy the discipline and am pleased to say did not find it too tricky 😀.
So now I must buy a metronome as I cannot record myself and use metronome app on phone at same time 🤣.
This needed a bit of time. Initially I found it hard to see, or hear, much difference and it certainly required a bit of work. Now, having returned a few days later to review the lesson, it is a lot clearer to me. Another excellent lesson, and something I have never come across before.
Yeah, it is a subtle difference and one thing I should say – when watching the video, the speakers you use may make the difference a little more or less obvious (headphones can help), but what is cool is how you started to hear it more – That’s a good sign of deeper listening which is key. 🙂
Monday morning – a day of review and consolidation. I work Weds – Sun, so this is my first day off 😀. I’m really enjoying this course very much and look forward to each lesson. It is great to be able to print out the tab, and I have mine organised in a folder. This embellishment lesson is awesome and I really enjoyed it and then trying out different variations. Oh, I have received the Finger style 101 book which also looks brilliant 👍
Super stuff, cheers, Dave. Happy you are enjoying it and yeah, loved the embellishments lesson myself – so much fun playing around with those and it’s a really nice intermediate-esq skill. Hope you keep enjoying the course! 🙂
Level Two was my favorite. This lesson along with the Terrific Time Signatures on Day 8 have made me pause. I don’t think I even register time signatures when starting a new song or finishing for that matter—too many other things to focus on in the beginning I suppose. But now I will be more mindful.
Good stuff. A lot of folk don’t think too much about them but that bit of deeper understanding will help for sure – especially when learning songs in other time signatures or even songs that switch between different time signatures. 🙂
My first guitar was a classical along with a handful of lessons, still play it, keeping that neck up in posture always helps, especially now I am older.
Good stuff, warmups are super important for helping this and the good news is that simple warm ups can help improve dexterity in a low pressure kind of way too. 🙂
So far this has been the most effective set of Lessons I have come across, several new ideas l haven’t considered before, and I’m about the half way point. Great stuff
I love the creativity of this lesson. I will have to take it slow, but I was able to play all three levels. I’ve never been able to do interesting intros. I just play the chords a few times and then jump in. This will give me something to work on.
Great stuff. Pleased to hear it. Yeah, keep taking it slowly and enjoying the process. Having fun ideas to apply and use are so cool. Hope this inspires you to create your own too and feel free to adapt any of these ideas. 🙂
I enjoyed applying what we learned to something “new.” I decided to leave the bonus for another time in my quest to keep up with the 21-Day Bootcamp. I am looking forward to going back through this case. My biggest win is that the Travis picking is getting better.
That’s great. Yeah, no need to go and do the bonuses this time round (plenty of time to enjoy them later). Super pleased to hear it regarding the Travis picking too. Keep it up. 🙂
Great lesson, so far have watched it without a guitar in hand,looking forward to practicing away all those bad habits from my self taught days 60s band days, never too late
Good stuff and pleased to hear it, Malcolm. I’m glad you are feeling positive and inspired. Keep it up and I hope you see a noticeable difference in your playing when the guitar is in hand. 🙂
This was really fun! I struggled a bit hearing the finger picking rhythm in my head and matching to the strumming. But with a bit of practice, it was a lot of fun. It was cool then to do the secret bonus. We went from strumming, to picking, and then back to a version of strumming and picking. Each one different yet the same chords. I think my brain is starting to relax some and also has learned, so I am able to begin to “see” how I could change things up in the future and have a bit of… Read more »
Really pleasing to read this comment. Lots of fun to be had using just one rhythm and varying it in a lot of ways. Love that. What I really like is how you’re opening up and starting to be creative and believe in yourself – this is all key on the journey to being a musician and not just a guitarist. Keep it up. 🙂
Well…..I was not elegant or proficient in this exercise. Ear training seems impossible for me–I know lots of people can do it–but not me. I need to stretch my mind a bit and not be so stubborn or absolute in what I can or cannot do. I should delve more into DTAA and work on it.
No one is at first so please do not worry. Definitely have the mindset of you can do it – many people believe they can’t but ear training is another skill that has to be developed, and it takes regular practice. I do hope you enjoy the musical piece in this and keep coming back to it. You’ll nail it. 🙂
The tricky bit for me was meting the bass strings while letting the treble strings ring out. Enjoyed just hanging out trying to establish the rhythm consistently. Another fun lesson. 😀
That’s great you enjoyed it. Never easy doing stuff like that at first but you will get there I am confident. Keep working through it and keep having fun. 🙂
I’m still struggling with the Travis fingerpicking, so I decided to stick with Level 1 on this and come back to 2, 3, and the Bonus at a later time. I’m getting better with the muting, but I sometimes mute the G string as well, so I’m trying to get that worked out.
Good to stick with level 1 and immerse yourself with that. Lots of time to come back and enjoy the other levels and bonuses. Also, good you are aware of the muting – it’s likely a subtle movement of the hand placement needed and you will get there. 🙂
Hi Dan, taking extra days with each lesson now to try and get it as good as possible at this stage. Also trying very hard not to look at my hands. It’s a great course, thank you
Hi Lynette, good stuff. Pleased you are taking extra days to ensure it all sinks in nicely. Thanks for the kind words and super happy you’re enjoying it. 🙂
I definitely prefer the minor scale when noodling around. I’m still catching up on lessons and need to return back to last week’s, but scales caught my attention. I love scales!! 🙂 I’ll be all over that CAGED lesson soon. I don’t know why I’m so obsessed with that.
Good stuff. The slightly darker and more brooding sound of the minor scale is always a joy to play. Ha, glad you enjoy scales – for sure a lot of fun to be had with them and great for learning the fretboard. Enjoy! 🙂
I love the second level. I couldn’t get the harmonic on the third, so this was the first day that I wasn’t able to do all three levels. Which is good! It gives me something to come back to…although I should probably keep a notebook to remind me of places to come back and try again.
Well, you have been doing superbly with the course so far and of course, no worries not being able to nail level 3 this time. Yeah, a notebook will be super handy (or you could make a note on the inside back page of Fingerstyle 101 if you’ve had it arrive. :))
level 3, on the G chord, that hi E string pluck with the ring finger, after the B string D hammer-on, that ring finger pluck pattern embellishment got me.
worked on it and is starting to work now.
Am pattern level3, same thing no issue. go figure.
bonus d scales, also no issue.
going to need more attention for the level 3 Gpattern, like the rest strokes a couple lessons back. coming along, just more focus
I’ve enjoyed each day’s lesson so far, but the last two days’ lessons have been SO worth the price of admission. 🙂 Excited to work on this stuff more! Thanks, Dan.
That’s great to know you are enjoying it and really pleasing that these two days are so much fun for you! Cheers, Sharon, and keep up the great practice. 🙂
Another excellent lesson. I enjoyed the exercise at the end moving up and down the neck. Not easy at first but started to fall into place with some practice, sort of 🤔.
The initial exercise is great for stretching the fingers as well as learning the notes on the strings, as they also apply to the low E string.
Great stuff and pleased to hear it. Really good how it’s all started to fall into place. Remember, for tricky stuff, you can always come back and use the course from the beginning in the near future. No doubt you’ll make more breakthroughs each time you use it. Pleased you’re enjoying it so far. 🙂
Good stuff, glad you are seeing how the various elements all work together and you’re applying the lessons like this. Really pleasing to know. Keep it up. 🙂
I loved the 6/8 pattern. I picked it up right away. However, the Travis picking is still hard for me. I need to put it on my list to do a little every day. I can get the hammer-on with the G chord, but haven’t mastered the Am chord yet. Will keep trying.
Glad you like it – such a useful pattern. Sounds like good progress with the Travis picking one too. Some movements will be harder than others but keep at it – good you have added it to your to-do list. Keep enjoying the process too. 🙂
This is such a brilliant lesson. I have just watched it for a second time before going onto Day 3. And I’m sure I’ll return to it as there is so much useful information. I find it more comfortable to stand when playing guitar and discovered the usefulness of a mirror by accident – it really is useful and allows you to see the positioning of your fingers easily and certainly saves any strain on the neck. My immediate takeaway from this lesson is the classical position. I am struggling with finger separation at the moment, especially between my ring… Read more »
I wish all hammer-ons could be like the Am–index finger is so much easier than trying to do the G. But the cool thing is that at this stage in my guitar playing, I can look for the “easier” embellishments to add while I keep working on harder ones.
Good stuff. Yeah, that is one of the unique things about playing guitar – the different chord shapes lend themselves to different embellishments and different ideas. Keep enjoying the process and keep at it. Sounds like you’re having fun. 🙂
Great stuff. Yeah, I wanted to keep all the lessons short so as not to be overwhelming but couldn’t help but pack this one with all the key details. These tips will help you throughout the rest of the course and super pleased the classical position is making such a good difference already. Well done applying it. 🙂
I’ve gotten a little hung up on this lesson because I love the sounds and want to get the chords and progressions right. But that’s okay. I love the way that you have set it up so I can fall behind a day and still be able to keep progressing.
Glad to hear it. Yeah, try not to get hung up on too much but feel free to take a small handful of lessons and practice them each day. Mostly though, remember that once you complete the 21 days, you can come back and re-start the course, or simply spend a week or so going through the lessons that need more attention, before restarting it in the future. 🙂
Great tips Dan super duper 😀
Cheers, Angie. Glad to hear you like the lesson. Keep coming back to it too. 🙂
Hi, everyone. I wanted to start us off with a comment to get the ball rolling. I would LOVE it if you could leave a short comment introducing yourself to the other members. I’m Dan Thorpe, from Birmingham, UK (not Alabama!). I love fingerpicking – Paul Simon, James Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel and about a gazillion others! My favourite thing about playing guitar is having some quiet time to play for myself (music is a great outlet for everything in life) and to jam with my 4 year old boy, Archie! I used to be terrible at guitar but after years… Read more »
Hey everyone, I would love to know what lessons you would like to learn. More on fingerpicking, Travis picking, chord changes, theory, jamming???… you name it, leave your ideas below!! This is the place to do so.
Hi Dan, I am an intermediate player, but am fascinated about finger style, and very anxious to get started. But i must admit i do struggle a bit with the dreaded Barr Chords, but am improving a bit. I am a Viet Nam vet, who suffers from PTSD, I am very private, so if you don’t hear much from me please understand. Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for getting in touch. It`s great to have you here. Barre chords are tough but do make sure you take your time and use good technique with them.
No problem at all regarding being private and I hope you are doing well regarding the PTSD. Just know that the comments section and the mini-forum is there for you when needed. All the best.
I would love to see some lessons on guitar slaps and slides please. That is if you possibly find time in your busy schedule.
Cool, for sure, let us know some more details. What sort of slaps and slides? The crazy stuff or solid on beats 2 and 4 type thing? What sort of guitarists have inspired this? (I ask, so I know I’m on the right path). 🙂
No particular artist comes to mind but I would say on beats 2 and 4 nothing crazy (yet). Slapping all the strings I find okay, it’s the thumb slap I have trouble with on the low E A strings.
I have come across slaps in the odd piece of music, done right sounds amazing. Just something I would like to add to my repertoire.
Ah, okay cool, thanks for letting me know. The slaps on beats 2 and 4 are very cool. The grooves these can add are great. Will get something ready on this. 🙂
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This was fun! I especially enjoyed the bonus level. It was challenging and good to work with notes in between the main counts.
I like how you emphasise having fun 😀. And this course is certainly a lot of fun. Who would have thought that the E major scale could be fun, but you make it so. It was fun switching between the E and Em scales – an interesting comparison. I particularly liked the level 3 exercise… something else to keep going back to as it is so enjoyable to play.
Hi Dan and members, My name is Pete, 54 yrs old and live in Suffolk in the UK Aim – To play to a reasonable enough standard, rhythm with interesting licks not looking to be a lead guitarist, but that I am confident to get the guitar out at a BBQ, jam with friends and maybe sing a few songs with my friends band. History – A long relationship of fiddling until I finally knuckled down during Covid and got some hours in and started to make some progress both in playing and understanding some level of theory Currently – Just picked up the guitar again after… Read more »
Hi Pete, welcome aboard. Some great goals you have there. I love the variety of things you mention. Do let us know if there are any things you get stuck on at any point – I ask as there are a variety of courses you have, and will be useful to point you in the right direction (happy to help). The Breakthrough Beginner course will be great for making sure the foundations are solid and bad habits get fixed ASAP so you can flourish. Do let us know how you get on. 🙂
I recently started working on the five star program and I see how this will take my playing to the next level. I kind of breezed through Star 2 but Star 3 is definitely more challenging! I don’t think I’ll be “breezing through” any more levels!!! But this is a great program and I look forward to working on each level!
That’s great to know, Denise. Yeah, as you have a good base for your playing, I imagine the first few stars would be easier, but as you say, important to take your time when things get a bit more challenging. Thanks for the kind words and keep enjoying the process. 🙂
I loved the harmonies in this lesson. I’ve never fingerpicked power chords before, so it was a new experience. I’m glad we worked some on dyads, because they are still a bit of a mystery to me, and it’s good to get the practice. Thanks.
That’s good. I love the harmonies in dyads too – stripping back chords to their core is a useful exercise (both for the dyads and power chords). One thing it does, I find, is remind me, that some notes are more powerful/important than others in a chord. 🙂
I loved turning the Ultimate Strum Pattern into a fingerpicking pattern. I enjoyed both Level 1 and 2, although I decided to come back to Level 2 since I’ve fallen behind on a lesson due to not practicing on Sunday. I found this pattern fits nicely with the Caribbean song “Marianne” and enjoyed playing and singing it.
Super stuff, that’s great you enjoyed it and you have used the pattern in a song too. Keep seeing ways where you can apply it – either to your own jams or songs of others. It’s a fun lesson! 🙂
This was challenging even though I know you have been working us up to this exercise. I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to remember patterns and piecing things together. I ended up choosing a D chord and tried different patterns and hammer-ons. That worked. Baby steps….
Good stuff, there will always be challenges, even in a course with levels like this, but it’s really cool how you made it work for you using baby steps. The next attempts at this will no doubt be easier and easier. Keep enjoying the process. 🙂
I loved this nice comfortable strum. It was a little hard at first to get from the D back to the G, but it’s coming along. This is such a great song.
Good stuff, not the easiest chord change but glad it’s coming along – a little while of focusing on one chord change back and forth, especially a really useful one like this, will go a long way. 🙂
It’s on my list to memorize the words of Danny Boy. I used to know them, but I can now apply two great strum patterns to them while I sing. Can’t wait to get to Level 3.
Great stuff, beautiful lyrics and a wonderful song. Glad you are enjoying this and the strum patterns. Keep having fun. 🙂
I had so much fun with this lesson. I was pretty spot-on with the ear training. However, I was enjoying the patterns so much that I started making up my own melodies. Lo and behold, the Bonus was a melody based on these patterns. I can play your melody AND mine. Thanks for the lesson.
Ha, that is so cool. Sounds like you had a lot of fun with this lesson. I’m guessing you’ve already done some ear training in the past? Either way, really well done and pleased this was fun for you. 🙂
hi Dan
i suppose i am the one you have been describing, going around in circles for the last ten years or so. i have now bought a new guitar and now fully focused on your course.
Hi Kevin, rest assured you are not the only one, but that sort of focus will definitely help you break that cycle. Onwards and upwards and I hope you enjoy the course. 🙂
This I found fascinating, convert a strumm pattern into a fingerpattern… blew my mind. A whole way to look at it. Thanks!
Now I’m not sure… I was planning to cycle back into finger101 after i complete this, now I dunno, may a strumming course? Ack! Decisions decisions lol.
Pleased you like it. A lot of strumming is about the core rhythm so it’s powerful to take those rhythms and do other stuff with it – gets us the best of both worlds, the melody of fingerpicking and the rhythm of strumming. Yeah, it’s exciting when you see how many cool things there are to do on the guitar. 🙂
The exersize makes a nice little melody. Ear training is coming along slowly, along with fretboard familiarity. I haven’t been forcing it, rather, I’ll sit with a string for maybe 5 minutes or so and run thru circle of Fifths, or maybe ccw around the other way to do 4ths. Sort of like the Em and E string studys, just different intervals. Slowly starting to ‘get a feel’ where intervals/notes fall, w/o pressing. (Also ended up memorizing the circle 5th/4ths-oops, lol). I dunno, just what i’ve been doing.
That’s good stuff, Allan. Love how you are exploring the fretboard and finding ways to make it all work for you at your own pace. That’s great and well done! 🙂
Hi Dan, just completed lesson 7, love the tune, doesn’t quite sound like yours at the mo but will keep practicing.
Glad to hear it, Lynette. Keep at it and it will get there for sure. Keep enjoying the process of learning it too! 🙂
Mmmmm 🤔. The difference between 3/4 and 4/4 time is clear to me. But I’m struggling to see the difference between 3/4 and 6/8. I think I’ll have to put a bit of extra research into this one.
It can take a little getting your head around (it did for me). Think of 6/8 as two full beats split into two – 1 2 3 4 5 6 with an accent on beats 1 and 4. If there was a drummer playing, the beat would be very focused on 1 and 4 and that’s where you would tap your foot to. In 3/4 the beat is very like 4/4 and more obvious. I hope this helps but let me know if not as happy to create more examples to help. 🙂
Oh,oh…a new finger picking pattern for me, and did I muck it up! I kept on reverting to more familiar patterns. So, back to basics…slow it down, use the newly discovered metronome….but it’s still tricky. But stick at it and it will become easier. I love the chord progressions and being able to move up and down the neck. I really am learning so much in these lessons. So I’m reviewing this lesson now after a couple of days and…..the pattern is starting to fall into place, with less mistakes. I have found that if I struggle with something that… Read more »
That’s great to know. Sounds like you have a good process for learning these lessons, correcting the mistakes, and keeping yourself patient. All great skills that will pay off the more you play. 🙂
And another first time for me – I have never used a metronome before, honestly! But I did really enjoy the discipline and am pleased to say did not find it too tricky 😀.
So now I must buy a metronome as I cannot record myself and use metronome app on phone at same time 🤣.
That’s great to know. Keep it up with the metronome! Really well done and yeah, while apps are great, having a real metronome is so much better! 🤣
This needed a bit of time. Initially I found it hard to see, or hear, much difference and it certainly required a bit of work. Now, having returned a few days later to review the lesson, it is a lot clearer to me. Another excellent lesson, and something I have never come across before.
Yeah, it is a subtle difference and one thing I should say – when watching the video, the speakers you use may make the difference a little more or less obvious (headphones can help), but what is cool is how you started to hear it more – That’s a good sign of deeper listening which is key. 🙂
Monday morning – a day of review and consolidation. I work Weds – Sun, so this is my first day off 😀. I’m really enjoying this course very much and look forward to each lesson. It is great to be able to print out the tab, and I have mine organised in a folder. This embellishment lesson is awesome and I really enjoyed it and then trying out different variations. Oh, I have received the Finger style 101 book which also looks brilliant 👍
Super stuff, cheers, Dave. Happy you are enjoying it and yeah, loved the embellishments lesson myself – so much fun playing around with those and it’s a really nice intermediate-esq skill. Hope you keep enjoying the course! 🙂
Very nice melodic Intros, but the thought process you shared in developing them was gold. Thanks!
That’s great to know. Cheers, Allan – it was fun creating the intros but as you say, sharing the process, is extra useful. 🙂
Level Two was my favorite. This lesson along with the Terrific Time Signatures on Day 8 have made me pause. I don’t think I even register time signatures when starting a new song or finishing for that matter—too many other things to focus on in the beginning I suppose. But now I will be more mindful.
Good stuff. A lot of folk don’t think too much about them but that bit of deeper understanding will help for sure – especially when learning songs in other time signatures or even songs that switch between different time signatures. 🙂
My first guitar was a classical along with a handful of lessons, still play it, keeping that neck up in posture always helps, especially now I am older.
Glad to hear it. Nice that you still play it and glad you appreciate how useful the classical position is too. 🙂
I have a touch of arthritis in a couple fingers, warmup help keep it at bay
Good stuff, warmups are super important for helping this and the good news is that simple warm ups can help improve dexterity in a low pressure kind of way too. 🙂
So far this has been the most effective set of Lessons I have come across, several new ideas l haven’t considered before, and I’m about the half way point. Great stuff
Thanks, that’s really pleasing to know. Great stuff, Allan. Happy its helping and keep up the great practice. 🙂
I’m always happy when I open up a lesson and dyad is in the title–always a fancy/more complex pretty sound that only requires two fingers.
That’s great to know. Yeah, I love simple and pretty music and dyads are so cool – it’s like stripping back a chord to its core beauty. 🙂
I love the creativity of this lesson. I will have to take it slow, but I was able to play all three levels. I’ve never been able to do interesting intros. I just play the chords a few times and then jump in. This will give me something to work on.
Great stuff. Pleased to hear it. Yeah, keep taking it slowly and enjoying the process. Having fun ideas to apply and use are so cool. Hope this inspires you to create your own too and feel free to adapt any of these ideas. 🙂
I enjoyed applying what we learned to something “new.” I decided to leave the bonus for another time in my quest to keep up with the 21-Day Bootcamp. I am looking forward to going back through this case. My biggest win is that the Travis picking is getting better.
That’s great. Yeah, no need to go and do the bonuses this time round (plenty of time to enjoy them later). Super pleased to hear it regarding the Travis picking too. Keep it up. 🙂
Great lesson, so far have watched it without a guitar in hand,looking forward to practicing away all those bad habits from my self taught days 60s band days, never too late
Good stuff and pleased to hear it, Malcolm. I’m glad you are feeling positive and inspired. Keep it up and I hope you see a noticeable difference in your playing when the guitar is in hand. 🙂
Dan, what strings do you use?
For most guitars I play, including this one, it’s the D’addarrio “Silk and Steel” strings. 🙂
This was really fun! I struggled a bit hearing the finger picking rhythm in my head and matching to the strumming. But with a bit of practice, it was a lot of fun. It was cool then to do the secret bonus. We went from strumming, to picking, and then back to a version of strumming and picking. Each one different yet the same chords. I think my brain is starting to relax some and also has learned, so I am able to begin to “see” how I could change things up in the future and have a bit of… Read more »
Really pleasing to read this comment. Lots of fun to be had using just one rhythm and varying it in a lot of ways. Love that. What I really like is how you’re opening up and starting to be creative and believe in yourself – this is all key on the journey to being a musician and not just a guitarist. Keep it up. 🙂
Thanks Dan course was very very good will practice as per your directions looking forwards always, never back
Mark Sedunary
Adelaide
Australia
Awesome stuff, pleased to hear it, Eric. Keep enjoying the sunshine in Adelaide and keep having fun on the guitar! 🙂
Well…..I was not elegant or proficient in this exercise. Ear training seems impossible for me–I know lots of people can do it–but not me. I need to stretch my mind a bit and not be so stubborn or absolute in what I can or cannot do. I should delve more into DTAA and work on it.
No one is at first so please do not worry. Definitely have the mindset of you can do it – many people believe they can’t but ear training is another skill that has to be developed, and it takes regular practice. I do hope you enjoy the musical piece in this and keep coming back to it. You’ll nail it. 🙂
Really sounding nice, fun.
Cool, thanks, pleased to hear it. 🙂
The tricky bit for me was meting the bass strings while letting the treble strings ring out. Enjoyed just hanging out trying to establish the rhythm consistently. Another fun lesson. 😀
That’s great you enjoyed it. Never easy doing stuff like that at first but you will get there I am confident. Keep working through it and keep having fun. 🙂
I’m still struggling with the Travis fingerpicking, so I decided to stick with Level 1 on this and come back to 2, 3, and the Bonus at a later time. I’m getting better with the muting, but I sometimes mute the G string as well, so I’m trying to get that worked out.
Good to stick with level 1 and immerse yourself with that. Lots of time to come back and enjoy the other levels and bonuses. Also, good you are aware of the muting – it’s likely a subtle movement of the hand placement needed and you will get there. 🙂
Hi Dan, taking extra days with each lesson now to try and get it as good as possible at this stage. Also trying very hard not to look at my hands. It’s a great course, thank you
Hi Lynette, good stuff. Pleased you are taking extra days to ensure it all sinks in nicely. Thanks for the kind words and super happy you’re enjoying it. 🙂
I definitely prefer the minor scale when noodling around. I’m still catching up on lessons and need to return back to last week’s, but scales caught my attention. I love scales!! 🙂 I’ll be all over that CAGED lesson soon. I don’t know why I’m so obsessed with that.
Good stuff. The slightly darker and more brooding sound of the minor scale is always a joy to play. Ha, glad you enjoy scales – for sure a lot of fun to be had with them and great for learning the fretboard. Enjoy! 🙂
I love the second level. I couldn’t get the harmonic on the third, so this was the first day that I wasn’t able to do all three levels. Which is good! It gives me something to come back to…although I should probably keep a notebook to remind me of places to come back and try again.
Well, you have been doing superbly with the course so far and of course, no worries not being able to nail level 3 this time. Yeah, a notebook will be super handy (or you could make a note on the inside back page of Fingerstyle 101 if you’ve had it arrive. :))
I learned this piece very quickly, and now I’m memorizing it so I can put it on my repertoire list. It is such a pretty little piece.
Super stuff – that’s great on both counts. Keep it up and well done! 🙂
This was a fun lesson, although I’ll have to work on it a bit to get it up to tempo. I’m glad to have the slide and hammer-on notes to practice on.
Good stuff, yeah they are both fun and practical things to enjoy. Keep taking your time with them and have fun! 🙂
level 3, on the G chord, that hi E string pluck with the ring finger, after the B string D hammer-on, that ring finger pluck pattern embellishment got me.
worked on it and is starting to work now.
Am pattern level3, same thing no issue. go figure.
bonus d scales, also no issue.
going to need more attention for the level 3 Gpattern, like the rest strokes a couple lessons back. coming along, just more focus
very lovely patterns.
Good stuff, Allan, sounds like it is clicking nicely and the practice is paying off. Keep it up – lots of fun to be had here for sure. 🙂
I’ve enjoyed each day’s lesson so far, but the last two days’ lessons have been SO worth the price of admission. 🙂 Excited to work on this stuff more! Thanks, Dan.
That’s great to know you are enjoying it and really pleasing that these two days are so much fun for you! Cheers, Sharon, and keep up the great practice. 🙂
Another excellent lesson. I enjoyed the exercise at the end moving up and down the neck. Not easy at first but started to fall into place with some practice, sort of 🤔.
The initial exercise is great for stretching the fingers as well as learning the notes on the strings, as they also apply to the low E string.
Great stuff and pleased to hear it. Really good how it’s all started to fall into place. Remember, for tricky stuff, you can always come back and use the course from the beginning in the near future. No doubt you’ll make more breakthroughs each time you use it. Pleased you’re enjoying it so far. 🙂
It was nice spending time with the patterns we learned yesterday.
Glad to hear it – that’s one thing I wanted to make sure we do in the course. I.E. Use the patterns in a variety of fun ways. Pleased you liked it. 🙂
level 3 makes a nice little melody.
comparing Emajor vs Eminor this way is very visual, good for my ‘ear’ and fretboard visulation.
good for practicing that ‘rest’ stroke as well. Onward!
thanks.
Good stuff, glad you are seeing how the various elements all work together and you’re applying the lessons like this. Really pleasing to know. Keep it up. 🙂
I loved the 6/8 pattern. I picked it up right away. However, the Travis picking is still hard for me. I need to put it on my list to do a little every day. I can get the hammer-on with the G chord, but haven’t mastered the Am chord yet. Will keep trying.
Glad you like it – such a useful pattern. Sounds like good progress with the Travis picking one too. Some movements will be harder than others but keep at it – good you have added it to your to-do list. Keep enjoying the process too. 🙂
I have a good understanding of time signatures, but I enjoyed applying the fingerpicking patterns to these key signatures.
Glad to hear it. Always good to have a little refresher, and of course, some practical application of them. 🙂
This is such a brilliant lesson. I have just watched it for a second time before going onto Day 3. And I’m sure I’ll return to it as there is so much useful information. I find it more comfortable to stand when playing guitar and discovered the usefulness of a mirror by accident – it really is useful and allows you to see the positioning of your fingers easily and certainly saves any strain on the neck. My immediate takeaway from this lesson is the classical position. I am struggling with finger separation at the moment, especially between my ring… Read more »
I wish all hammer-ons could be like the Am–index finger is so much easier than trying to do the G. But the cool thing is that at this stage in my guitar playing, I can look for the “easier” embellishments to add while I keep working on harder ones.
Good stuff. Yeah, that is one of the unique things about playing guitar – the different chord shapes lend themselves to different embellishments and different ideas. Keep enjoying the process and keep at it. Sounds like you’re having fun. 🙂
Great stuff. Yeah, I wanted to keep all the lessons short so as not to be overwhelming but couldn’t help but pack this one with all the key details. These tips will help you throughout the rest of the course and super pleased the classical position is making such a good difference already. Well done applying it. 🙂
I’ve gotten a little hung up on this lesson because I love the sounds and want to get the chords and progressions right. But that’s okay. I love the way that you have set it up so I can fall behind a day and still be able to keep progressing.
Glad to hear it. Yeah, try not to get hung up on too much but feel free to take a small handful of lessons and practice them each day. Mostly though, remember that once you complete the 21 days, you can come back and re-start the course, or simply spend a week or so going through the lessons that need more attention, before restarting it in the future. 🙂