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”!
Dennis McGuire—US—72 years old
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with guitar for quite a few years. When I retired, I thought taking guitar seriously, getting live lessons, etc. would have me playing in no time. (This is not my first foray into guitar). I did progress fairly rapidly, then plateaued, then lost interest again.
So, I’m jumping back in now—hoping to get better.
Hi Dennis, welcome aboard. Pleased you are here and I hope you enjoy the course. The guitar definitely can have that effect but you are in a supportive place. Hopefully, now we can help you kick on and love every second of it. Any questions, do let us know. 🙂
Hi Dan, sorry for the tactical site question, but I unlocked box number 3 fingerpicking treasure hunt…is it supposed to show up in”my content”? As of now it does not…I need to remember where it was that I unlocked this content in order to find it each time I want to access it. Thanks.
I don’t have much problem with my fretting shoulder, but I get a pinch in my trapezius on the picking shoulder. I think part of it has to do with lifting my arm over the guitar, but I’m going to focus on relaxing it more.
Yeah, that could well be the issue. If the body of the guitar is large it can raise the picking arm shoulder. Definitely worth tweaking the position of the guitar a little and of course, as you mention, relaxing this arm as much as you can. Keep at it. 🙂
Great lesson. I tend to have a lot of pressure in my shoulders and frequently have a pain in my right shoulder when I’m done playing. I will try to apply this method when I’m playing. Thanks.
Glad to hear it. Do let us know how it helps and keep stopping every minute or two to assess the tension. The more aware you are the better it should start to get. 🙂
Paul Usher. Ireland
Hello, I am 66 and although I am English I now live in Ireland. I have messed around with the guitar for several years without much success. I am now looking forward to starting this course and see what advances I can make.
I enjoyed this video very much. There were some tips about hand positioning that I didn’t know, and I’m going to work on keeping that shoulder down. Thanks!
I currently play with my right leg on a footstool, but playing with my left leg in classical position isn’t very comfortable now that I’m getting older. I’m going to order a cushion. Also, I need to go buy a strap.
Changing to the classical postiion can take a lot of getting used to particularly if the body of the guitar is large, but it’s well worth trying to transition even if for just a few minutes per day. The cushion and the strap should help. I hope they do. 🙂
One thing I do when I’m learning a new pattern (or maybe practicing one I know) is to adapt it to Amazing Grace if I can. That song is so very flexible. It works well in several keys and slight rhythm changes. Once I can do that well with a new pattern, it’s mine, I own it now.
Thanks, Jim. Glad to hear it. Yeah, some will be easier than others, so do be patient especially with the ones that are newer to you. Pleased you are enjoying the lessons and the Boom-Chick blues. Keep having fun. 🙂
Dan… I was taking private lessons for a number of years, with multiple teachers, prior to joining DTAA. No one ever explained this basic fundamental routine to me. You mention it a lot and it is such a game changer. It has become a habit for me to check the tension in my fingers, shoulders, and neck. Unrelated to guitar playing but, here in eastern PA in the US, we’ve only had a few decent days for bike riding this winter. When I get the opportunity to get outside, and I feel the tension building in my hands and shoulders,… Read more »
Thanks, Jack. Glad to hear it. Very pleasing you have made it a habit checking for tension. As you know, it’s so crucial. Good to hear that you have been out on the bike too (and apologies for my voice following you everywhere, haha). Good stuff and keep it up. 🙂
WOW!! What a great lesson! I am excited for the opportunity to learn these different skills. Happy Birthday and the present has been given to all of us. Hope to be around for the next 8 years of lessons. Thanks Dan.
Thanks, Allan. Pleased you’re excited to learn these and thanks for being a great member for the last few years. Long may you continue to keep improving and enjoying the lessons. 🙂
Hi Angie, that’s cool about the boom-chick blues. Glad to hear it. Slow the flamenco strum right down and use a capo if you like to make the chord shape a little easier. Pleased you’re enjoying the pieces. 🙂
Happy Anniversary Dan! Went to a Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert last night featuring Aniello Desiderio on guitar. He was soooo… good. Made me excited to get to your new lessons for this month. They do not disappoint! Love the Boom-Chick Blues.
Thanks, Peter. Wow, sounds very cool. Will have to check Aniello out. Love that the concert got you excited for the new lessons. Live music has that power! I hope you enjoy them and glad you’re loving the Boom-chick blues. 🙂
That can happen for sure. Keeping the nails short, relaxing the shoulder and letting your elbow move freely so you can get on the tips can help. Also feel free to try the capo a little higher up if you like too. You’ll nail it. 🙂
Happy Birthday (anniversary?). This is good stuff! I love it when I get presents for someone else’s birthday! (Also wish I had started with you a lot sooner than I did!)
Thanks, Teresa, glad to hear it and it’s also the last month filming with the old cameras/setup. 🙂 Plenty more stuff coming soon. Enjoy, and you are definitely making up for any lost time now. 🙂
I noticed the new set up on the finger picking you tube. I really like it . . . Like how you now have your guitars behind you and really like the colored lighting. Very nice!
Thanks. Yeah, it’s cool. These most recent DTAA lessons were filmed just before I was getting the changeover of gear fully set up. Excited to release the new DTAA lessons next month with this new setup. For now, I hope you enjoy these 🙂
Hi Dan and Happy 8th Anniversary!!! I just listened to the 8 pieces and am looking forward to giving them a go!!! What a great idea throwing together 8 different styles.. this will definitely be fun getting a taste of them all! Thanks for opening us up to these variations!!!
Cheers
Cheers, Logan. Pleased to hear it. Yeah, it’s so much fun playing in different styles and there’s a good variety of skills to enjoy here. I hope you have loads of fun with them and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Congrats to February’s winner of the Leaderboard. Gold – Jim Davis, Silver – “Danimal” Dan Garrioch and Bronze – Denise Gillard. I will be in touch about the prizes and well done! 🙂
Hi, I’m Leslie from Branson, MO, the musical capitol of Missouri. I’m 75 years old and have fooled around with guitar since I was in my twenties. I’m a pretty good rhythm player, but I want to learn fingerstyle solo guitar, and this looks like a good place to be.
Hi Leslie, welcome aboard. Super pleased you are here. Sounds like you’ve had some fun on the guitar and glad to hear you are happy with your rhythm skills. I hope you enjoy all the lessons here and the fingerstyle materials. Let us know if you want pointing in the right direction at any point and enjoy 🙂
Working on learning this and have run into the oddest problem. In measure three, I can get the first three notes fine, but when I go to move my pinky from the fifth fret to the fourth, it (my pinky) gets stuck and won’t bend. Eventually it snaps to bend, but it isn’t smooth. It does it every time. It doesn’t do it on the stretch in the first two measures. I have started playing measure three with 424 for all three triplets because if I don’t, I have a big gap in the music. Any ideas?
Sounds like a slight technical thing but that is not surprising – this is a tough piece. Things that helped me were making sure my playing position was as good as it could be. Classical position with the headstock high. Relaxed shoulder and elbow allowing me to get the fingers in the ideal position, placing the pinky on first to get in position. You might like to practice this bar on its own and move it up the fretboard a little to help reduce strain. I hope that helps and let us know how you get on. 🙂
That’s great to know, Larry. Yeah, using the same lessons multiple times, and in different formats is so powerful. Pleased you are enjoying it and seeing progress. 🙂
Hi Howard, a big warm welcome to you. I hope you are enjoying the DTAA so far, and if you are very early on with your playing, it is well worth going through the Breakthrough Beginner course. If you have any questions, do let us know, and welcome to what will be a super exciting journey. 🙂
Never heard of Robert Fripp. But that’s fine as I’m sure there’s a lot of musicians I never heard of. Yes, it’s important to be comfortable while practicing because you might be able to practice longer.
Good stuff, and glad to hear it. He’s from King Crimson, and played some stuff with David Bowie. Still a super dedicated and skilled player, and yeah for sure, you are right. Enjoy the practice. 🙂
Love Archie’s song!
If I attempted that it would sound like Jughead was playing it! Lol
Great job Dan
By the way is Archie following your musical path?
Ah, cheers. Delighted to hear it. You can do it for sure. Don’t overload yourself but feel free to give it a bash just for pure fun. At the moment, Archie is sport crazy – I was the same at that age though. He does play a little keyboard nicely so I reckon in a few years he might like to take up guitar. 🙂
Hi Dan. I’m Arnie from Maryland, age 73. I have your finger style ebook(s) and have used them, but I’ve discovered that I learn best with videos and books together. I will use this video course to begin again, and I hope to play more systematically. I find myself strumming many songs and not playing finger style enough to make much progress. So I hope this course is a new beginning for me, and I thank you for producing it!.
Hi Arnie, thanks for the intro. Glad you are here, and yeah for sure the book is great but with the video it’s extra powerful. The information tends to get learnt and absorbed better that way which is ideal. I hope you enjoy it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I listened to the 3 level 1 fingerpicking songs and love the arrangements. I am currently working on Danny Boy in chunks and love the ease of following the lessons. Great job Dan!
Hi, the videos are working okay here. Is it just this one video? If so, that may be a temporary issue with something, but if you have issues frequently it is often due to browswer or VPN issues, so can be worth a quick try on another device or browser. I hope all is working okay and let us know if you have any problems.
Hi, I’m Patty from Florida. I am 80yrs young and have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I am a totally newbie and have learned a few chords from utube videos but I find I can only play 2 finger chords due to an injury to my left hand on my 3rd and 4th fingers so I am having trouble being able to shape my fingers but I can play 2 finger chords which I have a list of most of them. I first bought an electric guitar only because they didn’t have an acoustic, but it is… Read more »
Hi Patty, welcome to the course. Pleased you are here. It’s great that you have found a way with the chord and hand injury issue. Many great players such as Django Reinhardt and Tony Iommi (two of my favourites) have both had to overcome similar issues. In terms of chords and the course, you may have to adapt some of patterns slightly to fit your two finger chords but feel free to adapt them as much as you like – even with two finger chords you can still have lots of fun. Do let us know if you have any… Read more »
Hey Dan
I come back to this video to remind me what to do.
I was definitely pulling my shoulders up and keeping my elbow in tight.
Now that I am aware of this I am concentrating on dropping my shoulders,
loosening my arm up, and playing with a lot less tension. I find it makes it easier to form my chords now.
Thanks for another great lesson!
Danimal
Very pleased you have done so. Watching the “Three P’s” videos as often as you can (ideally once per month or more) is so important for both beginners and those who have been struggling. Very pleased to hear it and good work applying the lessons. 🙂
Hi, I’m Michel (Mike) from Canada. 69 years old
Started to learn guitar as a retirement project
Lots of ups and downs but not a lot of progress
Seem to reach a certain level and get excited but then get in a rut…
Hoping this course will keep me motivated
Sounds encouraging
Hi Mike, welcome aboard. Delighted to have you here. Let’s get you taking your playing to the next level with plenty more ups than downs now. I hope you enjoy it all and any questions, do let us know. 🙂
Trying to incorporate this pattern into “Someone Like You”. It seems like I would have to play at 235 BPM to keep up with the tempo Adelle sings at. I have been playing a pattern I worked out for that song, which sounds good, but trying the Ultra-Flexible Pattern with this song isn’t working for me. Any suggestions?
Hi John, not sure why. The tempo for that song is 135bpm which definitely works for this pattern, and the picking pretty much follows the piano melody. It is still a little quick so feel free to use the pattern you already worked out but I hope that helps, but let me know how you get on. By the way, what is the pattern you were using?
Hi, Dan. I’m back to this lesson again and I’ll keep coming back to it. Middle of February 2024 and this keeps inspiring me. Getting the bass grove going is so important to the rhythm and sound of any song.
I love the Sound of Travis picking!
Even though I’m just new to guitar and learning the basic beginner stuff I’m trying to work a little bit on finger style and think I will try a little Travis picking in my daily plan.
Sounds like it would be so fun to play songs in this style.
Danimal
Glad to hear it. It really is an awesome style of playing. Yeah, definitely worth doing a little bit each day if you are passionate about it. Keep enjoying it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I started this journey with Dan by buying the e book Fingerstyle 101, and I wanted the video version because I learn some things better that way. Dan has transformed my playing in the year and a half or so I’ve been with him. Now I want to go back to the roots and review. I’m quite sure I will benefit greatly from this video version. 😊
Cheers, Larry. Very kind of you to say. I’m delighted the book helped you so much but huge credit to you for applying the lessons and making such good progress. I hope the video version helps give you more nuggets of useful advice. Enjoy 🙂
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”!
Dennis McGuire—US—72 years old
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with guitar for quite a few years. When I retired, I thought taking guitar seriously, getting live lessons, etc. would have me playing in no time. (This is not my first foray into guitar). I did progress fairly rapidly, then plateaued, then lost interest again.
So, I’m jumping back in now—hoping to get better.
Hi Dennis, welcome aboard. Pleased you are here and I hope you enjoy the course. The guitar definitely can have that effect but you are in a supportive place. Hopefully, now we can help you kick on and love every second of it. Any questions, do let us know. 🙂
Hi Dan, sorry for the tactical site question, but I unlocked box number 3 fingerpicking treasure hunt…is it supposed to show up in”my content”? As of now it does not…I need to remember where it was that I unlocked this content in order to find it each time I want to access it. Thanks.
I don’t have much problem with my fretting shoulder, but I get a pinch in my trapezius on the picking shoulder. I think part of it has to do with lifting my arm over the guitar, but I’m going to focus on relaxing it more.
Yeah, that could well be the issue. If the body of the guitar is large it can raise the picking arm shoulder. Definitely worth tweaking the position of the guitar a little and of course, as you mention, relaxing this arm as much as you can. Keep at it. 🙂
Great lesson. I tend to have a lot of pressure in my shoulders and frequently have a pain in my right shoulder when I’m done playing. I will try to apply this method when I’m playing. Thanks.
Glad to hear it. Do let us know how it helps and keep stopping every minute or two to assess the tension. The more aware you are the better it should start to get. 🙂
Paul Usher. Ireland
Hello, I am 66 and although I am English I now live in Ireland. I have messed around with the guitar for several years without much success. I am now looking forward to starting this course and see what advances I can make.
Welcome aboard, Paul. Glad to have you on board and I hope you enjoy the lessons. All the best with them and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I enjoyed this video very much. There were some tips about hand positioning that I didn’t know, and I’m going to work on keeping that shoulder down. Thanks!
Excellent, pleasing to know, and glad you are going through the In Focus course from top down – really useful that. 🙂
I currently play with my right leg on a footstool, but playing with my left leg in classical position isn’t very comfortable now that I’m getting older. I’m going to order a cushion. Also, I need to go buy a strap.
Changing to the classical postiion can take a lot of getting used to particularly if the body of the guitar is large, but it’s well worth trying to transition even if for just a few minutes per day. The cushion and the strap should help. I hope they do. 🙂
I have worked through the first six…really very good material, very interesting.
Super stuff. Glad to hear it. Keep having fun with them and sure you will enjoy the last two as well. 🙂
good lesson1 ! I was doing the air changes an d thought it was wrong or rushing the chord change. so good to know
Thanks, Cindy. Glad to hear it. Yeah, it can feel like cheating, such is its power, but it is a really useful technique. 🙂
120 out of 120. Thanks
Well done, Alan. That’s brill. 🙂
One thing I do when I’m learning a new pattern (or maybe practicing one I know) is to adapt it to Amazing Grace if I can. That song is so very flexible. It works well in several keys and slight rhythm changes. Once I can do that well with a new pattern, it’s mine, I own it now.
Good stuff, Larry, and nice idea that. It’s a great song for that sort of thing for sure and I love how you have done this. 🙂
The Travis Picking and Boom Chick Picking is beautiful! Thanks again for sharing this excercise!
My pleasure, and very pleased you are enjoying them. Do let us know how you get on with the rest throughout the month too. 🙂
Happy Birthday! Great celebration idea. Struggled a bit with the Embellishments and Flamenco but good intro. Particularly liked the Boom-Chick Blues.
Thanks, Jim. Glad to hear it. Yeah, some will be easier than others, so do be patient especially with the ones that are newer to you. Pleased you are enjoying the lessons and the Boom-Chick blues. Keep having fun. 🙂
Dan… I was taking private lessons for a number of years, with multiple teachers, prior to joining DTAA. No one ever explained this basic fundamental routine to me. You mention it a lot and it is such a game changer. It has become a habit for me to check the tension in my fingers, shoulders, and neck. Unrelated to guitar playing but, here in eastern PA in the US, we’ve only had a few decent days for bike riding this winter. When I get the opportunity to get outside, and I feel the tension building in my hands and shoulders,… Read more »
Thanks, Jack. Glad to hear it. Very pleasing you have made it a habit checking for tension. As you know, it’s so crucial. Good to hear that you have been out on the bike too (and apologies for my voice following you everywhere, haha). Good stuff and keep it up. 🙂
Dan, the first 2 lessons were great…I have never played Flamenco before but found to be great fun. Thanks.
Glad to hear it, Rich. Yeah, it’s a bit different is flamenco style playing but lots of fun. Glad you are enjoying it. 🙂
WOW!! What a great lesson! I am excited for the opportunity to learn these different skills. Happy Birthday and the present has been given to all of us. Hope to be around for the next 8 years of lessons. Thanks Dan.
Thanks, Allan. Pleased you’re excited to learn these and thanks for being a great member for the last few years. Long may you continue to keep improving and enjoying the lessons. 🙂
For me Dan boom chick blues is the easiest. Flamenco is a bit of a struggle, . They’re all really nice pieces to learn.
Hi Angie, that’s cool about the boom-chick blues. Glad to hear it. Slow the flamenco strum right down and use a capo if you like to make the chord shape a little easier. Pleased you’re enjoying the pieces. 🙂
Happy Anniversary Dan! Went to a Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert last night featuring Aniello Desiderio on guitar. He was soooo… good. Made me excited to get to your new lessons for this month. They do not disappoint! Love the Boom-Chick Blues.
Me too Peter
Thanks, Peter. Wow, sounds very cool. Will have to check Aniello out. Love that the concert got you excited for the new lessons. Live music has that power! I hope you enjoy them and glad you’re loving the Boom-chick blues. 🙂
Little trouble with Travis picking – C chord – ok until i add the pinkie on the D – my ring finger wants to mute the third string abit.
That can happen for sure. Keeping the nails short, relaxing the shoulder and letting your elbow move freely so you can get on the tips can help. Also feel free to try the capo a little higher up if you like too. You’ll nail it. 🙂
Love these Dan. Well done on 8 years
Thanks, Angie and thank you for being a part of it for a good few years, and I hope you continue to enjoy the lessons 🙂
Happy Birthday (anniversary?). This is good stuff! I love it when I get presents for someone else’s birthday! (Also wish I had started with you a lot sooner than I did!)
Thanks, Teresa, glad to hear it and it’s also the last month filming with the old cameras/setup. 🙂 Plenty more stuff coming soon. Enjoy, and you are definitely making up for any lost time now. 🙂
I noticed the new set up on the finger picking you tube. I really like it . . . Like how you now have your guitars behind you and really like the colored lighting. Very nice!
Thanks. Yeah, it’s cool. These most recent DTAA lessons were filmed just before I was getting the changeover of gear fully set up. Excited to release the new DTAA lessons next month with this new setup. For now, I hope you enjoy these 🙂
Happy b-day to you, Happy b-day to you, Happy b-day DTAA……. and thank you for putting this all together…..
My pleasure, and thanks, Susan. I should have gone and got a cake. Enjoy. 🙂
Happy Birthday… DTAA!
Cheers, Jack, and I hope you enjoy the new lessons. Thanks for being part of it. 🙂
Hi Dan and Happy 8th Anniversary!!! I just listened to the 8 pieces and am looking forward to giving them a go!!! What a great idea throwing together 8 different styles.. this will definitely be fun getting a taste of them all! Thanks for opening us up to these variations!!!
Cheers
Cheers, Logan. Pleased to hear it. Yeah, it’s so much fun playing in different styles and there’s a good variety of skills to enjoy here. I hope you have loads of fun with them and let us know how you get on. 🙂
Congrats to February’s winner of the Leaderboard. Gold – Jim Davis, Silver – “Danimal” Dan Garrioch and Bronze – Denise Gillard. I will be in touch about the prizes and well done! 🙂
Hi, I’m Leslie from Branson, MO, the musical capitol of Missouri. I’m 75 years old and have fooled around with guitar since I was in my twenties. I’m a pretty good rhythm player, but I want to learn fingerstyle solo guitar, and this looks like a good place to be.
Hi Leslie, welcome aboard. Super pleased you are here. Sounds like you’ve had some fun on the guitar and glad to hear you are happy with your rhythm skills. I hope you enjoy all the lessons here and the fingerstyle materials. Let us know if you want pointing in the right direction at any point and enjoy 🙂
120/120…I do appreciate these quizzes.
Awesome stuff and well done. 🙂
Working on learning this and have run into the oddest problem. In measure three, I can get the first three notes fine, but when I go to move my pinky from the fifth fret to the fourth, it (my pinky) gets stuck and won’t bend. Eventually it snaps to bend, but it isn’t smooth. It does it every time. It doesn’t do it on the stretch in the first two measures. I have started playing measure three with 424 for all three triplets because if I don’t, I have a big gap in the music. Any ideas?
Sounds like a slight technical thing but that is not surprising – this is a tough piece. Things that helped me were making sure my playing position was as good as it could be. Classical position with the headstock high. Relaxed shoulder and elbow allowing me to get the fingers in the ideal position, placing the pinky on first to get in position. You might like to practice this bar on its own and move it up the fretboard a little to help reduce strain. I hope that helps and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I’m getting so much more out of this the 2nd time through – with the video course this time. 😊
That’s great to know, Larry. Yeah, using the same lessons multiple times, and in different formats is so powerful. Pleased you are enjoying it and seeing progress. 🙂
I Howard, I live in the USA just north of Philadelphia. I would Ike to learn guitar. I am 74 yrs old.
Hi Howard, a big warm welcome to you. I hope you are enjoying the DTAA so far, and if you are very early on with your playing, it is well worth going through the Breakthrough Beginner course. If you have any questions, do let us know, and welcome to what will be a super exciting journey. 🙂
120 out of 120. Onward!
Awesome stuff. Well done, Jim. 🙂
Great breakdown of the fretboard
Easy to follow lesson!
Cheers, Danimal. Glad you found it helpful. 🙂
Never heard of Robert Fripp. But that’s fine as I’m sure there’s a lot of musicians I never heard of. Yes, it’s important to be comfortable while practicing because you might be able to practice longer.
Good stuff, and glad to hear it. He’s from King Crimson, and played some stuff with David Bowie. Still a super dedicated and skilled player, and yeah for sure, you are right. Enjoy the practice. 🙂
Love Archie’s song!
If I attempted that it would sound like Jughead was playing it! Lol
Great job Dan
By the way is Archie following your musical path?
Ah, cheers. Delighted to hear it. You can do it for sure. Don’t overload yourself but feel free to give it a bash just for pure fun. At the moment, Archie is sport crazy – I was the same at that age though. He does play a little keyboard nicely so I reckon in a few years he might like to take up guitar. 🙂
Hi Dan. I’m Arnie from Maryland, age 73. I have your finger style ebook(s) and have used them, but I’ve discovered that I learn best with videos and books together. I will use this video course to begin again, and I hope to play more systematically. I find myself strumming many songs and not playing finger style enough to make much progress. So I hope this course is a new beginning for me, and I thank you for producing it!.
Hi Arnie, thanks for the intro. Glad you are here, and yeah for sure the book is great but with the video it’s extra powerful. The information tends to get learnt and absorbed better that way which is ideal. I hope you enjoy it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
This is very entertaining, thank you Dan!
Cheers Rich, and pleased to hear it 🙂
115 out of 120 – oops!
Good stuff 🙂
So much info packed into each 2-3 minute segment, Lots of takeaways from this!
Pleased to hear it. Many words of wisdom from those legends. 🙂
I listened to the 3 level 1 fingerpicking songs and love the arrangements. I am currently working on Danny Boy in chunks and love the ease of following the lessons. Great job Dan!
Good stuff, Dan. Glad to hear it. Keep on having fun with it. Great tune. 🙂
Example 2 (the C, D & G chords ) does not play.
Hi, the videos are working okay here. Is it just this one video? If so, that may be a temporary issue with something, but if you have issues frequently it is often due to browswer or VPN issues, so can be worth a quick try on another device or browser. I hope all is working okay and let us know if you have any problems.
You make all this look so easy and sound so beautiful. It really does not sound that way when I play it . . .
It will do. Honestly, it took a while for me to get to that point. Much longer than I’d have liked, but you will get there too. 🙂
Hi, I’m Patty from Florida. I am 80yrs young and have always wanted to learn to play the guitar. I am a totally newbie and have learned a few chords from utube videos but I find I can only play 2 finger chords due to an injury to my left hand on my 3rd and 4th fingers so I am having trouble being able to shape my fingers but I can play 2 finger chords which I have a list of most of them. I first bought an electric guitar only because they didn’t have an acoustic, but it is… Read more »
Hi Patty, welcome to the course. Pleased you are here. It’s great that you have found a way with the chord and hand injury issue. Many great players such as Django Reinhardt and Tony Iommi (two of my favourites) have both had to overcome similar issues. In terms of chords and the course, you may have to adapt some of patterns slightly to fit your two finger chords but feel free to adapt them as much as you like – even with two finger chords you can still have lots of fun. Do let us know if you have any… Read more »
Started on this one this weekend and have done the first two chunks. Really satisfying that it sounds proper. It’s definitely encouraging!
Awesome stuff, glad you are working on it in chunks too. Great stuff and keep it up. Wonderful song 🙂
Hey Dan
I come back to this video to remind me what to do.
I was definitely pulling my shoulders up and keeping my elbow in tight.
Now that I am aware of this I am concentrating on dropping my shoulders,
loosening my arm up, and playing with a lot less tension. I find it makes it easier to form my chords now.
Thanks for another great lesson!
Danimal
Very pleased you have done so. Watching the “Three P’s” videos as often as you can (ideally once per month or more) is so important for both beginners and those who have been struggling. Very pleased to hear it and good work applying the lessons. 🙂
I had fun with this. I will make progress if I put in the time and effort. Thank you, Dan.
Glad to hear it, yeah for sure you will. Keep up the great practice 🙂
Hi, I’m Michel (Mike) from Canada. 69 years old
Started to learn guitar as a retirement project
Lots of ups and downs but not a lot of progress
Seem to reach a certain level and get excited but then get in a rut…
Hoping this course will keep me motivated
Sounds encouraging
Hi Mike, welcome aboard. Delighted to have you here. Let’s get you taking your playing to the next level with plenty more ups than downs now. I hope you enjoy it all and any questions, do let us know. 🙂
Dan,
Trying to incorporate this pattern into “Someone Like You”. It seems like I would have to play at 235 BPM to keep up with the tempo Adelle sings at. I have been playing a pattern I worked out for that song, which sounds good, but trying the Ultra-Flexible Pattern with this song isn’t working for me. Any suggestions?
Best Regards,
John
JP Finn
Hi John, not sure why. The tempo for that song is 135bpm which definitely works for this pattern, and the picking pretty much follows the piano melody. It is still a little quick so feel free to use the pattern you already worked out but I hope that helps, but let me know how you get on. By the way, what is the pattern you were using?
Hi, Dan. I’m back to this lesson again and I’ll keep coming back to it. Middle of February 2024 and this keeps inspiring me. Getting the bass grove going is so important to the rhythm and sound of any song.
Glad to hear it, Roxanne. Yeah, the bass groove is everything. Get that nailed on and the rest will come. Keep enjoying it too! 🙂
I love the Sound of Travis picking!
Even though I’m just new to guitar and learning the basic beginner stuff I’m trying to work a little bit on finger style and think I will try a little Travis picking in my daily plan.
Sounds like it would be so fun to play songs in this style.
Danimal
Glad to hear it. It really is an awesome style of playing. Yeah, definitely worth doing a little bit each day if you are passionate about it. Keep enjoying it and let us know how you get on. 🙂
I started this journey with Dan by buying the e book Fingerstyle 101, and I wanted the video version because I learn some things better that way. Dan has transformed my playing in the year and a half or so I’ve been with him. Now I want to go back to the roots and review. I’m quite sure I will benefit greatly from this video version. 😊
Cheers, Larry. Very kind of you to say. I’m delighted the book helped you so much but huge credit to you for applying the lessons and making such good progress. I hope the video version helps give you more nuggets of useful advice. Enjoy 🙂