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. 🙂
If you would like to submit a video, you can add it to your comment by including a video LINK (for example, a YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox link). (Email Dan for help if you get stuck uploading a video)
YouTube and Vimeo links are the preferred video format. Make sure that your links are set to unlisted (not private!) and then only we will see it.
Hopefully, you have all noticed the new comments section at the bottom of each page in the DTAA! I would love for you to comment, ask questions and say “hi”!
The second time I took it I got 19 out of 20. The first time was 18 out of 20. I too would like to know which one(s) I missed. I need to go through your “Guitarists Get Theory” book again.
Well done, Denise! I’ve added you to the Honours board! I will get the answers page done and will email you and everyone who has passed it so far. 🙂
Hi Everyone, I’m Paul Allen, a complete beginner at 71. I bought this course because the advert was targeting the over 50s who perhaps no longer have the fluid finger dexterity of youth. I’ve tried to play before but failed due to frustration & the resultant dwindling motivation, feeling that I’m banging my head against a musical brick wall. This is one last attempt. I’m not negative in my approach but I need to find some glimmer of hope that lets me know that I can do this & fan a tiny spark into a flame of success. I’d love… Read more »
Hi Paul, welcome aboard. Totally understandable. Learning guitar can be very overwhelming but going through the basics with patience and the positive attitude you mention is key. You will nail it this time, just please do stick with the course, and make it your mission to go through part 1 at least a few times. It will make a big difference. Also, the Amazing Grace lesson can be fun too. Enjoy and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hey: My name is Michael, I’m an old fart, 72, decided to pick up the guitar after a 4 decade hiatus. In case your curious it’s not like riding a bicycle, didn’t take to long to realize that it’s back to basics. Frankly, I’m excited. I started 2 months ago using the Gibson app.came to the conclusion I needed something more visual, intimate. So, here goes.
Hi Michael, welcome to the course. Yes, 4 decades is a long time, but the good thing is, some of the knowledge will come back and as the muscle memory will likely be gone, you can start again and build really good habits from day 1 with this course. A lot of what I do is repair the bad habits people have. This is a fresh and exciting start! Hope you enjoy and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
I’m Kerryn from Australia – 66 yo and play the piano and flute. Always wanted to play the guitar. My 9yo grandson who lives with us desperately wanted to learn the guitar (ultimately an electric) but lost interest after a whole term with a teacher, strumming the same tune with the same chords. I’m teaching him the piano and he has a great ear for it and hearing himself create a melody inspires him to keep going. He still wants to learn the guitar but has lost confidence. We don’t know anything about finger picking, so I’ve started your course… Read more »
Hi Kerryn, welcome aboard. Delighted you are here and excited to begin! That’s so cool that you are learning for both yourself and your grandson. Fingerpicking is super exciting, beautiful, and inspiring, so I hope you both love it. Do let us know how you get on. Enjoy! 🙂
19 of 20…I would love to know which one I missed. Some of the questions were quite challenging, and the quiz did take me 15 minutes to complete, since I needed to work some of the answered out. Thanks for putting this together for us.
Hi Michael, welcome aboard and welcome back to playing guitar. I hope you’re enjoying the course so far. It will certainly help with the muscle memory. Keep enjoying it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Thanks Dan, there were some lovely “aha” moments in that lesson for me. and a delicious tone. Need some kit to stabilise my new position, but really nice to be making progress again. Cheers
Love this, Dan!!! I can see where getting this smooth and consistent would help in so many areas… maybe even combining it with the blues shuffle (which I still need to get smooth and consistent) … HAHA Cheers Buddy!!
Cheers, Logan. Glad to hear it. Yeah, you can have a lot of fun with this and turn it into a full 12-bar blues (let me know if you’d like that. It will be a fun lesson). Keep at it and enjoy! 🙂
A very big well done to the Leaderboard winners for June 2025. The winners were Gold – Jim Davis, Silver – Teresa Halvorson-Fox, and Bronze – Rich Augugliaro.(Plus, the best comment prize goes to Tom Herder for his honest and positive comment HERE). I will be in touch with the prizes! Cheers everyone! 🙂
Hi, I’m Tony. I’ve played guitar sporadically over the last 45 years, chunking out chords, but never with any finesse. Now I need to relearn my left hand due to surgery and looking forward to putting my bad habits right. Good luck everyone
Hi, I’m Bob. I’ve played drums for 52 years, I’ve become disabled and can’t play very much. I want to play guitar, jam, play on the worship team. I love music and want to keep creating it.
Hi Bob, welcome to the course. Super pleased you are here. That’s great about 52 years of drumming. No doubt you have sublime rhythm then (that will help!). Enjoy the course and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hi Jim, welcome aboard. Delighted you are here and I hope you enjoy the course. Please do stick with it and your fingers will get doing what you want them to! Do let us know how you get on 🙂
The tone test video was amazing! It definitely helped my ability to play. It was like magic! I also liked the cup test as well. It will take a little more practice as I relearn getting rid of bad habits.
That’s great, Chuck. Pleased to hear it. Love to hear how quick wins like these make such a difference. I hope you keep enjoying the course and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hi, I am Chuck. I recently turned 70 years of age, and wanted to rekindle my love for music, mainly learning to play a better guitar after a 20 year hiatus. I have always wanted to learn fingerpicking, and the time is now for me to accomplish that task. I am very excited to begin!
Hi Chuck, welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy the course. Fingerstyle is definitely a great way to further rekindle your love for music. You’ll have a great time and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Visiting these again and not surprisingly, I can get more and more of them each time I come back. They are so much fun. I kind of wish you would reinstate the monthly riff.
Hi, I’m Steve, been playing on and off for over 15 years. Still can’t play a full song. Really like Fingerstyle and I plan to really work on this and stick with it. I live in AZ, if anyone is in this area give me a shout.
Hi Steve, welcome aboard. I hope you love the lessons and it helps your playing in many ways (the Amazing Grace bonus and the others are great for playing songs). Stick with it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Glad to hear it. Yeah, much more practical I find and definitely helps with the association of hearing notes in relation to the fretboard. Plus, can help learn the note names too. Cheers. 🙂
I had no musical training in my childhood, but have thought a lot recently about how useful it would have been. And this is exactly what I had envisioned I might have done with a piano, given a teacher back then. Cool stuff!
Thanks. Yeah, a lot of musicians get trained in this sort of thing but for some reason guitar tuition often lacks ear training, instead people preferring to teach via TAB for fast results. Ear training though, although harder, definitely gives excellent medium and long-term results. 🙂
My problem here is stretching the pinkie to fret five on the B while holding the second fret on the D string. I’m switching from the barre A to just using my index on the D and pinkie on the B. Tough. Otherwise, this isn’t too tough. Any advice? I’m almost frustrated enough to abandon this.
It is a big stretch. You can use a capo to practice the piece at around fret 3 or 4. That will shorten the distance the pinkie has to stretch. You can then move the capo down one fret at a time until you get comfortable. Otherwise, you can play the E on the open high E string instead of fret 5 of the B string as mentioned in the TAB and video. It’s a good option but it means the picking hand has to make a change of strings. Let us know how you get on. 🙂
I could have figured this out myself, Dan. It was just easier to get frustrated. I learned that, and the workaround here is WAY easier than that stretch (and more possible!). Thanks for the guidance, Sensei.
I know what you mean, Tom and that is not uncommon (been there myself). Of course, always ask if you’re unsure, and pleased you’re finding it easier! 🙂
This is a fun and challenging exercise. As a person who enjoys singing and playing, this exercise is useful to slow things down and help me feel connected to the sound of the guitar .Thanks Dan!
Super pleased to hear it. Great name for it too. If I ever record the EP I plan on one day, I’d like this piece to be in it. Maybe that would be a good name for it. 🙂
LOVE IT. it flows beautifully Dan. It’s a very sweet. Thank you for creating the bridge so quickly after the first piece. Thank you so much for this beautiful piece, its amazing.
That’s great. Delighted to hear it. My pleasure. It was a joy to create and I hope you get many hours of fun from it, as well as inspiration for anything you ever want to create, or songs you want to spice up. 🙂
hi Dan , just going over this again & want to say that I love it when you explain the timing & count it out . That helps me a great deal to get it right from the beginning until I get the timing right.
so thanks for that.
Hi Diane, pleased to hear it and glad the counting helps. Will look to do more of this for sure but also if you need a specific counting video, that could be something I could do – it would help for everything. Let us know if you’d like that. 🙂
Congratulations to the May 2025 Leaderboard winners! Gold goes to Teresa Halvorson-Fox, Silver to Jim Davis, and Bronze to Dawna Brissette. A special shoutout to Dan Garrioch for winning the Best Comment prize with his heartfelt message HERE.
I’ll be in touch regarding the prizes. Well done to the winners—and to all members! 🙂
Dave Jellison in Dallas, TX – but Dan might remember me when I was in Zurich, Switzerland. I’m now 69 and been somewhat musical my whole life – choir, piano as a kid, and later picked up guitar with some friends and even played in church services. I absolutely enjoy messing around with guitars and piano now, but want to take it more intentionally and improve dramatically. I realize the key is to make sure it is fun, and not turn into the bad old days of dreading practice sessions.
Hi Dave, welcome back. That’s a really interesting history with music you have. I know what you mean. The key is to keep it fun. Every day for the next month at least, ensure you do something you enjoy each day on the guitar. Don’t force the progress, at this stage, you will likely see progress come with the fun if that makes sense. Cheers. 🙂
I went back through my DTAA lessons and revisited all the Dyads, Triads, power chords and barre chord lessons. I think I just made a jump in my understanding of theory.
Beautiful,
As Leslie said what a sweet soulful piece & not too difficult yes great piece for practicing & refining hammers, pull offs & vibrato. Nice thank you Dan.really enjoy this piece.
I have been using these two exercises to ‘equalize’ my two very different guitars. Lately, I mostly play on a 60s/70’s classical guitar (nylon GBE) of unknown origin. But I also have a fairly new steel string Seagull guitar that I bought myself a few years ago. It is more difficult to play – dreadnaught size, thicker strings, thinner neck so strings closer together – but has a gorgeous sound and I know I can play it because I used it exclusively before I was given the vintage classical. This is an excellent practice piece for getting back to being… Read more »
That’s great to know. Always fun playing things on different guitars. It’s always an eye-opener I find, in terms of highlighting pieces and techniques, when using different guitars. Keep enjoying the piece! 🙂
I have been watching your pull offs on other videos for other lessons. It always looks like you are really just lifting your finger. I had to come back here to see that you were doing what I thought you were. Yep, you just make it look effortless.
It’s all just technique and repetition with focus. Getting good at these techniques, was a case of doing them over and over in a slow, focused way, like an early version of the 10x method. Keep doing the same 🙂
I am really enjoying these little musical interludes that have special techniques in them. I have a bunch of them (several are days from this course, some are from DTAA) in a special Just Messing About section of my notebook. It is fun just to pull them out and play them one after another – I find it a relaxing and fun way to practice techniques like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, etc.
Great stuff. I like how you are organised with the lessons. Definitely something worth doing! That’s great that you enjoy them like this. Keep it up. 🙂
I’m feeling very successful with this one. I was able to follow and stay with you on the second run through the video. Kinda love “the groove” and wonder where I can apply this to my repertorie. Maybe some Dylan songs. Cool lesson. Thanks, Sensei, on a good day that your Claret and Blue beat Tottingham.
Good stuff. It’s great when you “lock in” with the groove. You can apply this to anything you like really, songs or jams of your own, your own versions of songs, Dylan would work, and it is a cool strum for any song where the original has a pretty boring straight strum pattern – this will spice it up. Yeah, the Aston Villa lads are doing well! One more game to go! 🙂
I enjoy this little piece. It’s very soulful yet not too difficult to play. Just working on getting the hammers to fit smoothly with the rest of the piece.
Great stuff, Rich. I think every musician out there can get a lot of benefit from more rhythm work, so I’ll be sure to be providing this for the DTAA members. Will be fun. 🙂
Ok, now I am going to take that back . . . A little more practice and I am playing it faster and it sounds much better. (Also playing on a different guitar so that may have something to do with it too).
That’s good. One thing to be aware of in that measure is the two B notes played directly after each other (4th fret G string and open B). Any slight tuning issue can make the notes clash. It may be that playing the G string open sounds even better. 🙂
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. 🙂
If you would like to submit a video, you can add it to your comment by including a video LINK (for example, a YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox link). (Email Dan for help if you get stuck uploading a video)
YouTube and Vimeo links are the preferred video format. Make sure that your links are set to unlisted (not private!) and then only we will see it.
Post your video below…
Hopefully, you have all noticed the new comments section at the bottom of each page in the DTAA! I would love for you to comment, ask questions and say “hi”!
The second time I took it I got 19 out of 20. The first time was 18 out of 20. I too would like to know which one(s) I missed. I need to go through your “Guitarists Get Theory” book again.
Well done, Denise! I’ve added you to the Honours board! I will get the answers page done and will email you and everyone who has passed it so far. 🙂
Hi Dan, I just worked through this lesson. I for one would enjoy more finger picking chord embellishment training in the future. Thanks!
Hi Rich, great stuff. Thanks, happy to do more on this soon for sure. 🙂
17 of 20
Well done! Added your name to the Honours Board for Star #2. 🙂
Hi Everyone, I’m Paul Allen, a complete beginner at 71. I bought this course because the advert was targeting the over 50s who perhaps no longer have the fluid finger dexterity of youth. I’ve tried to play before but failed due to frustration & the resultant dwindling motivation, feeling that I’m banging my head against a musical brick wall. This is one last attempt. I’m not negative in my approach but I need to find some glimmer of hope that lets me know that I can do this & fan a tiny spark into a flame of success. I’d love… Read more »
Hi Paul, welcome aboard. Totally understandable. Learning guitar can be very overwhelming but going through the basics with patience and the positive attitude you mention is key. You will nail it this time, just please do stick with the course, and make it your mission to go through part 1 at least a few times. It will make a big difference. Also, the Amazing Grace lesson can be fun too. Enjoy and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hey: My name is Michael, I’m an old fart, 72, decided to pick up the guitar after a 4 decade hiatus. In case your curious it’s not like riding a bicycle, didn’t take to long to realize that it’s back to basics. Frankly, I’m excited. I started 2 months ago using the Gibson app.came to the conclusion I needed something more visual, intimate. So, here goes.
Hi Michael, welcome to the course. Yes, 4 decades is a long time, but the good thing is, some of the knowledge will come back and as the muscle memory will likely be gone, you can start again and build really good habits from day 1 with this course. A lot of what I do is repair the bad habits people have. This is a fresh and exciting start! Hope you enjoy and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
I’m Kerryn from Australia – 66 yo and play the piano and flute. Always wanted to play the guitar. My 9yo grandson who lives with us desperately wanted to learn the guitar (ultimately an electric) but lost interest after a whole term with a teacher, strumming the same tune with the same chords. I’m teaching him the piano and he has a great ear for it and hearing himself create a melody inspires him to keep going. He still wants to learn the guitar but has lost confidence. We don’t know anything about finger picking, so I’ve started your course… Read more »
Hi Kerryn, welcome aboard. Delighted you are here and excited to begin! That’s so cool that you are learning for both yourself and your grandson. Fingerpicking is super exciting, beautiful, and inspiring, so I hope you both love it. Do let us know how you get on. Enjoy! 🙂
18 out of 20
Super stuff. Well done, David. Hope you are ready for Star #2. I’ve added your name to the Honours board for Star #1. Cheers 🙂
19 of 20…I would love to know which one I missed. Some of the questions were quite challenging, and the quiz did take me 15 minutes to complete, since I needed to work some of the answered out. Thanks for putting this together for us.
Very well done. Added your name to the Honours board for star 3. I will get it updated to reveal answers after taking the quiz. Cheers, Rich. 🙂
My name is Michael, It’s been 4 decades since I last played guitar. Muscle memory doesn’t last 4 decades, surprise, surprise. Starting from scratch.
Hi Michael, welcome aboard and welcome back to playing guitar. I hope you’re enjoying the course so far. It will certainly help with the muscle memory. Keep enjoying it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Thanks Dan, there were some lovely “aha” moments in that lesson for me. and a delicious tone. Need some kit to stabilise my new position, but really nice to be making progress again. Cheers
That’s great, cheers, Tony. A super start. Very pleased to hear of your progress. Keep it up and keep letting us know how you get on. 🙂
This is cool. I have a few blues riffs down already and this one will be fun to add.
Great stuff, pleased to hear it. Can’t beat the blues. Enjoy. 🙂
17 of 20. Need to do some more studying on this one.
Super stuff. Just a few minor things it seems. Feel free to do it again (it will help solidify things), and well done! 🙂
18 out of 20 and I know exactly what I need to work on to get those last two!
Well done. I’ve added your name to the Honours board. Glad you know how to get nailing the last two. 🙂
Love this, Dan!!! I can see where getting this smooth and consistent would help in so many areas… maybe even combining it with the blues shuffle (which I still need to get smooth and consistent) … HAHA Cheers Buddy!!
Cheers, Logan. Glad to hear it. Yeah, you can have a lot of fun with this and turn it into a full 12-bar blues (let me know if you’d like that. It will be a fun lesson). Keep at it and enjoy! 🙂
18-20 and I’d love to know where I made mistakes! 🙂
Great stuff. Well done! I’ve added your name to the Honours Board. You can re-take it or I can create an answers page soon? 🙂
A very big well done to the Leaderboard winners for June 2025. The winners were Gold – Jim Davis, Silver – Teresa Halvorson-Fox, and Bronze – Rich Augugliaro.(Plus, the best comment prize goes to Tom Herder for his honest and positive comment HERE). I will be in touch with the prizes! Cheers everyone! 🙂
Hi, I’m Tony. I’ve played guitar sporadically over the last 45 years, chunking out chords, but never with any finesse. Now I need to relearn my left hand due to surgery and looking forward to putting my bad habits right. Good luck everyone
Hi im Stewart and just started playing guitar can manage some cords
Hi Stewart, welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy the course and do let us know how you get on! It’s an exciting journey. Have fun! Cheers. 🙂
Hi, I’m Bob. I’ve played drums for 52 years, I’ve become disabled and can’t play very much. I want to play guitar, jam, play on the worship team. I love music and want to keep creating it.
Hi Bob, welcome to the course. Super pleased you are here. That’s great about 52 years of drumming. No doubt you have sublime rhythm then (that will help!). Enjoy the course and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hi I’m Jim from Easton, PA. Seem to be stuck with my playing. Been playing for years. Fingers and mind don’t move like they use to.
Hi Jim, welcome aboard. Delighted you are here and I hope you enjoy the course. Please do stick with it and your fingers will get doing what you want them to! Do let us know how you get on 🙂
At first my fingers did not want to cooperate, but eventually, muscle memory kicked in. Very nice!!
That’s good to know. It can take a while to get going with anything like this, but glad you got there with it! 🙂
The tone test video was amazing! It definitely helped my ability to play. It was like magic! I also liked the cup test as well. It will take a little more practice as I relearn getting rid of bad habits.
That’s great, Chuck. Pleased to hear it. Love to hear how quick wins like these make such a difference. I hope you keep enjoying the course and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Hi, I am Chuck. I recently turned 70 years of age, and wanted to rekindle my love for music, mainly learning to play a better guitar after a 20 year hiatus. I have always wanted to learn fingerpicking, and the time is now for me to accomplish that task. I am very excited to begin!
Hi Chuck, welcome aboard. I hope you enjoy the course. Fingerstyle is definitely a great way to further rekindle your love for music. You’ll have a great time and do let us know how you get on. 🙂
Visiting these again and not surprisingly, I can get more and more of them each time I come back. They are so much fun. I kind of wish you would reinstate the monthly riff.
That’s great that you are enjoying them and getting more out of them. Good shout, this is something that could be fun to do. 🙂
Hi, I’m Steve, been playing on and off for over 15 years. Still can’t play a full song. Really like Fingerstyle and I plan to really work on this and stick with it. I live in AZ, if anyone is in this area give me a shout.
Hi Steve, welcome aboard. I hope you love the lessons and it helps your playing in many ways (the Amazing Grace bonus and the others are great for playing songs). Stick with it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I like this method of ear training – much better than any of the apps I found. Could use it t9 help learn the fretboard too.
Glad to hear it. Yeah, much more practical I find and definitely helps with the association of hearing notes in relation to the fretboard. Plus, can help learn the note names too. Cheers. 🙂
I had no musical training in my childhood, but have thought a lot recently about how useful it would have been. And this is exactly what I had envisioned I might have done with a piano, given a teacher back then. Cool stuff!
Thanks. Yeah, a lot of musicians get trained in this sort of thing but for some reason guitar tuition often lacks ear training, instead people preferring to teach via TAB for fast results. Ear training though, although harder, definitely gives excellent medium and long-term results. 🙂
My problem here is stretching the pinkie to fret five on the B while holding the second fret on the D string. I’m switching from the barre A to just using my index on the D and pinkie on the B. Tough. Otherwise, this isn’t too tough. Any advice? I’m almost frustrated enough to abandon this.
It is a big stretch. You can use a capo to practice the piece at around fret 3 or 4. That will shorten the distance the pinkie has to stretch. You can then move the capo down one fret at a time until you get comfortable. Otherwise, you can play the E on the open high E string instead of fret 5 of the B string as mentioned in the TAB and video. It’s a good option but it means the picking hand has to make a change of strings. Let us know how you get on. 🙂
Thanks, Sensei. Great suggestion. The fretting hand is the big problem.
No problem, Tom. Glad you find it useful. Keep trying these suggestions and the fretting hand will behave. 🙂
I could have figured this out myself, Dan. It was just easier to get frustrated. I learned that, and the workaround here is WAY easier than that stretch (and more possible!). Thanks for the guidance, Sensei.
I know what you mean, Tom and that is not uncommon (been there myself). Of course, always ask if you’re unsure, and pleased you’re finding it easier! 🙂
This is a fun and challenging exercise. As a person who enjoys singing and playing, this exercise is useful to slow things down and help me feel connected to the sound of the guitar .Thanks Dan!
Cheers, Stephen. Thanks, and pleased to hear it. Yeah, good for the ear, the voice, and getting a better connection for sure. Keep at it. 🙂
Challenging for me Dan, but I will be practising this to improve my ear training.
Good to know a simple way to do this so it will work for me.
It is definitely a challenge and not easy at first but I’m glad you like it and can see the benefits. Keep at it and you will see results. 🙂
Really nice Dan, this is fun to play and it sounds very pleasing to the ear.
Thanks, Rich. Really pleased you enjoy both playing it and listening to it. Keep it up. 🙂
This is the cherry on top for last month’s lesson. I love playing it all the way through. I’ve decided to call this piece “Misty Autumn.”
Super pleased to hear it. Great name for it too. If I ever record the EP I plan on one day, I’d like this piece to be in it. Maybe that would be a good name for it. 🙂
LOVE IT. it flows beautifully Dan. It’s a very sweet. Thank you for creating the bridge so quickly after the first piece. Thank you so much for this beautiful piece, its amazing.
That’s great. Delighted to hear it. My pleasure. It was a joy to create and I hope you get many hours of fun from it, as well as inspiration for anything you ever want to create, or songs you want to spice up. 🙂
hi Dan , just going over this again & want to say that I love it when you explain the timing & count it out . That helps me a great deal to get it right from the beginning until I get the timing right.
so thanks for that.
Hi Diane, pleased to hear it and glad the counting helps. Will look to do more of this for sure but also if you need a specific counting video, that could be something I could do – it would help for everything. Let us know if you’d like that. 🙂
Fun little groove, Dan. Thanks!
Glad to hear it, Jim. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Beautiful Dan!!! I can’t wait to start on this!!! AWESOME!!!
Cheers, Logan. I hope you have loads of fun with this. I know you will! 🙂
Congratulations to the May 2025 Leaderboard winners! Gold goes to Teresa Halvorson-Fox, Silver to Jim Davis, and Bronze to Dawna Brissette. A special shoutout to Dan Garrioch for winning the Best Comment prize with his heartfelt message HERE.
I’ll be in touch regarding the prizes. Well done to the winners—and to all members! 🙂
Dave Jellison in Dallas, TX – but Dan might remember me when I was in Zurich, Switzerland. I’m now 69 and been somewhat musical my whole life – choir, piano as a kid, and later picked up guitar with some friends and even played in church services. I absolutely enjoy messing around with guitars and piano now, but want to take it more intentionally and improve dramatically. I realize the key is to make sure it is fun, and not turn into the bad old days of dreading practice sessions.
Hi Dave, welcome back. That’s a really interesting history with music you have. I know what you mean. The key is to keep it fun. Every day for the next month at least, ensure you do something you enjoy each day on the guitar. Don’t force the progress, at this stage, you will likely see progress come with the fun if that makes sense. Cheers. 🙂
Something clicked for me here today! I love it when that happens!
I went back through my DTAA lessons and revisited all the Dyads, Triads, power chords and barre chord lessons. I think I just made a jump in my understanding of theory.
Ah, I see. That’s really cool when the dots get connected. Love to hear of those moments. Well done! 🙂
That’s great to know. What was it? 🙂
Beautiful,
As Leslie said what a sweet soulful piece & not too difficult yes great piece for practicing & refining hammers, pull offs & vibrato. Nice thank you Dan.really enjoy this piece.
Cheers, Diane. Very pleased you are enjoying this and glad you are enjoying the skills involved. Keep up the great practice. 🙂
I have been using these two exercises to ‘equalize’ my two very different guitars. Lately, I mostly play on a 60s/70’s classical guitar (nylon GBE) of unknown origin. But I also have a fairly new steel string Seagull guitar that I bought myself a few years ago. It is more difficult to play – dreadnaught size, thicker strings, thinner neck so strings closer together – but has a gorgeous sound and I know I can play it because I used it exclusively before I was given the vintage classical. This is an excellent practice piece for getting back to being… Read more »
That’s great to know. Always fun playing things on different guitars. It’s always an eye-opener I find, in terms of highlighting pieces and techniques, when using different guitars. Keep enjoying the piece! 🙂
Those harmonic notes are cool!
Glad to hear it. Yeah, I love the sound of those too. 🙂
I have been watching your pull offs on other videos for other lessons. It always looks like you are really just lifting your finger. I had to come back here to see that you were doing what I thought you were. Yep, you just make it look effortless.
It’s all just technique and repetition with focus. Getting good at these techniques, was a case of doing them over and over in a slow, focused way, like an early version of the 10x method. Keep doing the same 🙂
I am really enjoying these little musical interludes that have special techniques in them. I have a bunch of them (several are days from this course, some are from DTAA) in a special Just Messing About section of my notebook. It is fun just to pull them out and play them one after another – I find it a relaxing and fun way to practice techniques like hammer ons, pull offs, slides, etc.
Great stuff. I like how you are organised with the lessons. Definitely something worth doing! That’s great that you enjoy them like this. Keep it up. 🙂
I’m feeling very successful with this one. I was able to follow and stay with you on the second run through the video. Kinda love “the groove” and wonder where I can apply this to my repertorie. Maybe some Dylan songs. Cool lesson. Thanks, Sensei, on a good day that your Claret and Blue beat Tottingham.
Good stuff. It’s great when you “lock in” with the groove. You can apply this to anything you like really, songs or jams of your own, your own versions of songs, Dylan would work, and it is a cool strum for any song where the original has a pretty boring straight strum pattern – this will spice it up. Yeah, the Aston Villa lads are doing well! One more game to go! 🙂
I enjoy this little piece. It’s very soulful yet not too difficult to play. Just working on getting the hammers to fit smoothly with the rest of the piece.
That’s great to know. Glad you like it and keep enjoying the process of smoothing it out. 🙂
Love all the strumming tips. Would also love tips on walking between chords!
Thanks, pleased to hear it. For sure, that will be a great lesson! 🙂
These are fun and very doable. I tried them on two pretty different guitars. It was a lot of fun!
That’s great to know. Always fun to compare how things sound and feel on different guitars too! 🙂
Dan, I really need this type of training…as much as you can provide will be appreciated. Thank you.
Great stuff, Rich. I think every musician out there can get a lot of benefit from more rhythm work, so I’ll be sure to be providing this for the DTAA members. Will be fun. 🙂
I love this pattern – it is one of my favorites. But the third measure of level one doesn’t sound good to me – it stops me in my tracks each time.
Ok, now I am going to take that back . . . A little more practice and I am playing it faster and it sounds much better. (Also playing on a different guitar so that may have something to do with it too).
That’s good. One thing to be aware of in that measure is the two B notes played directly after each other (4th fret G string and open B). Any slight tuning issue can make the notes clash. It may be that playing the G string open sounds even better. 🙂