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. ο»ΏIβm 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). π
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. π
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”!
I’m really struggling with example 3. My pinky on my left hand keeps sliding over onto the fret, leaving me with a dead note, and my right hand doesn’t seem to want to cooperate either. It’s taking me a lot longer to get this one down than it did the first two, but I’m trying to keep it slow and use the 10x method to get the progressions down. It’s a beautiful finger pattern, and I know I’ll be glad when I get it.
Hi Dan As Iβve just joined the course this lesson was great and very informative right through it also helped my pinky to get it working very happy with it and will be looking again at it later on thanks
Listen to it a lot, hum the tune a lot, and slow down the recording (either this one or the original song on YouTube). Those are usually the best tips for really hearing the rhythm. Let us know how you get on. π
So I tried the classical position in my practice yesterday. I went through a couple of riffs that I am working on and found that I had a harder time in that position than when I did it the way that I’m used to, i.e. with the guitar on my right knee. One riff I had real trouble with in the classical position but nailed several times in a row in the other. I don’t know if this is due to my just being used to having the guitar on my right knee or what. Should I keep trying the… Read more »
It is quite normal. A lot of it is due to muscle memory. Your hands are in a slightly different position in the classical position than the casual position. You do not have to play in the classical position, and for some the change in position (especially if you’ve played for a long time) can be very hard and possibly not worth it. I’d still say though, don’t dismiss it – you may want to try playing the easiest thing you can play in the classical position and see how that works for you – over time, you may see… Read more »
Yes, Dan. That’s good advice. I won’t totally abandon the classical position, but like you say I’ll stick with the old way for more challenging stiff and try the classical here and there for easier pieces. We’ll see how it goes.
Hi my Name is John Bartlett,
I’m a retired Fire Chief after 48 years. I love music, I have tired to learn how to play the guitar off and on for most of those years. I am now retired, I’ve decided to give it my full attention.
I want to be able to take the guitar down and actually play when someone ask me if I can play.
I hope your your class will get me to that point! I hope you are that guy Dan.
Thanks,
John
Hi John, welcome aboard. That must have been a great career! Now, it’s time for you to love playing the guitar. I am certain, if you stick with the lessons, you will love them and see some big progress. Do let us know if at any point you get stuck as I am happy to help (sometimes it’s just being pointed in the right direction for a certain lesson). Keep us posted and enjoy. Cheers! π
Hello everyone my name is David Smith from Wales 84 years old with my aim is play the guitar to my family and friends I just joined Danβs Accadamy course to help me achieve that
Hi David, thanks for the comment and welcome aboard. Delighted you are here. Let’s get you achieving your goals. Do keep us posted with how you get on. π
What I really like about this lesson is that you teach us how to practice, not just what to practice. It’s something that, sadly, many teachers don’t cover. I consider the information quite valuable.
Hi Mike, thanks, yeah, sadly there’s so much surface level stuff out there that assumes students can do the basics but as we all know, that is not always the case. Very pleased the lesson was helpful and keep up the great practice. π
Well done, that’s superb. A great start. Hope you enjoy the rest of the quizzes (no rush doing them – and I’ll be creating the rest of them soon). π
Just revisited this and it was so delightful . There is a lot of good information in this little interactive story and it bears repeating. I hope you will do more of this type of thing just cuz it is a fun way of learning.
Thanks, this was such a joy to create, and although it was a bit “out there”, I’m pleased you enjoyed it and found it useful. Got to flex my story telling muscle so was a blast. Would love to do this again – even thought about turning it into a print book one day and expanding the story. π
Hi, All. My name is Mike McHugh. I live in San Antonio, Texas. I’m 67 years old and have been playing guitar for about 10-15 years. I’m basically a solo acoustic musician; i.e., I play guitar and sing as a solo act. The reason I joined the academy is that, while I have basic chords (including barre chords) and strumming down, I have struggled to advance beyond this as far as technique. I have learned some fingerpicking and some basic licks and riffs but I struggle with consistency in these two areas. I still make too many mistakes playing songs… Read more »
Hi Mike, welcome aboard. We hope you love it here. Sounds like you are in the ideal place – the lessons in the In Focus course and 5-star award will help you fill in the blanks and improve the weaker areas – and each month, the new monthly lessons will give you some exciting things to play. Great selection of bands and artists you mention. Enjoy and let us know how you get on. π
Correction: there is an βnβ in the name of these strings. Curt Mangen. Darn word substitution! I mention these strings here as it might help someone else. Electric guitar strings come in very light gauges and I didnβt know acoustic strings could be this light.
I have used 10 gauge Elixirs.
Hoping this very light gauge strings will be my ticket to barre chords.
Hi Dan. Barre chords have always been my biggest struggle. Very difficult with small and now weak arthritic hands. I have your barre chords course. I actually found 9 gauge acoustic strings by Curt Magen. Iβm going to try to get someone to help me put them on. The tone on these nine gauge may not be great but no one is going to give me an award for playing with 12βs or even 11βs. Iβm just going to do what works for me. My concentration is still poor but I can play the four chords as barre chords as… Read more »
Hi Roxanne, good stuff. Don’t worry about the lesser tone on lighter strings. I don’t really buy into that when people talk about it. My reasoning is this – if lighter strings help you play noticeably better, you’ll more than make up the 5% or so difference in tone, and likely play with far more enjoyment, which in turn helps you play with more passion, and therefore better tone. Well done making the progress you mention! π
I have gotten to the point where I automatically start doing the 10x method on anything I donβt get right away. I havenβt been slowing it down nearly as much as you did here but will start slowing more on harder bits. Also, this has a completely different sound slowed way down – it is a little sadder and more melancholy.
Really glad to hear it. Positive practice habits for sure! Feel free to slow it down only as much as you need to to nail it 10x in a row (it’s usually slower than we naturally want to go though). Yeah, I do love how a tempo change can add more emotion and/or bring out that emotion. π
I enjoyed this course immensely. These are songs that I can play forever, and I’m so glad to be building a repertoire of songs I can sit down and play. Thank you.
I enjoyed this very much. America the Beautiful is my favorite patriotic song, and I’m glad I can play it solo-style on my guitar. Thanks for such a simple but beautiful arrangement.
Ideally try and get the level 1 part to a semi comfortable level at least. If you don’t it’s not the end of the world, as the main idea is that the first time you go through the course, you just get the basics sorted – then you can go through the course again after 21 days. That’s what I recommend but of course, feel free to focus longer on each lesson if you really prefer to though. π
This is the end…..but this is not the end, if that makes any senseπ€. The end of 21 days of learning and fun, but with many options ahead. The timing is great for me as I’ve got a few days off work and will use these to go back to day 0, which actually seems like a long time ago. I’ll work through the course again, pulling out and highlighting the parts that need more work. You have helped with this by pulling the main patterns from the course together in one pdf π. I’m super excited about the bonuses… Read more »
Thanks for the comment, Dave. Really pleased you enjoyed the course and are excited for everything that lies ahead. Your comments throughout have been great, not only for me to read but for others who take and have already taken the course these past few weeks. Very pleased you enjoyed it all and keep up the great practice. Thank you too! π
I decided I wanted to try some new things so I have been playing the videos on the strumming songs and riffs pages. It will let me play a few videos or the same video a few times and then it tells me I have to log in again to see a video. Exact message is βSign in to confirm youβre not a bot, This helps protect our community. I am logged in when it tells me that but if I log out and back in, it does fix it. I think the message is actually coming from YouTube. Seems to only happen… Read more »
Never knew these blank sheets were offered on this site. Trying to learn one of the riffs. Went and got some blank tab sheets I had downloaded elsewhere. I have always found that writing things down helps me remember and learn them better. Happy to know that these are available!
Yeah, one of the things I should mention more for users. I will add more links to these in the DTAA members. Thanks for that. Glad you found them helpful. π
Pleased to hear it. That’s okay and at least you know. Keep doing as much concentrating/focusing as you can but start with very small busts (i.e. under a minute), then take a moment or two to reset. Listening goes a long way too so keep it up. π
The final day, maybe, but so much learning to go back to and drill, get right, consolidate and build on. It’s been a great three weeks which promises much more to come. And what a way to finish – riffs and pumps. I enjoyed all three, not just on their own, but looking at how similar things could be applied to different chord sequences. But there is work to do to get them “locked in”. I have a few days off next week so I’ll be going back to day 1 and reviewing the whole course before even thinking of… Read more »
Thanks, Dave. Glad you enjoyed this lesson. It’s lots of fun and the more you use them and experiment with your own ideas, the more fun you will have. Sounds like you’ve enjoyed it all so far and pleased to hear it and enjoyed your comments and positive approach to learning throughout – long may it continue. It goes such a long way on the journey! π
I guess it’s finally time to give focus to a weak link of mine. I have been working on fingerpick patterns, (from the bootcamp) to really get them set under my fingers, all going along fine, so i added a ‘banjo roll’ i had run across, said was a 3×2 (a simple thumb/ index / middle finger roll on strings 4, 3,2, wash and repeat) in 4/4 time over a 12 bar blues in G, i can count it out, and mostly get it right, so then i added a click and of course, …it breaks. I can go back… Read more »
It’s pretty common to lose the timing and let it drift with a click. One thing you can do is pluck notes on certain beats a little louder to help keep in time. Usually this can mean plucking beat 1 louder. It’s not a blanket fix but can help to reset the pattern each time it comes round rather than having an endless stream of notes. Of course, also take lots of breaks from the click (20 seconds or more of playing to a click can be too much for some at first).
This is a nice little piece, but I find I’m having trouble placing my right hand to mute the strings. I tend to mute the G string as well, and I end up feeling like my right hand is a claw – kind of tense and uncomfortable. Could use some advice on how to fix this.
Just to be clear there is no need to mute the strings here. Are you talking about playing this piece in a more of a “Boom Chick” kinda muted way? If so, one of the best things to do here is just work on the bass thumb plucks very slowly. Do a count of five between each pluck, relax, breathe, and try to let go of tension (which often starts in the arm or shoulder). Also, for the G string to sound clear you will need to adjust the picking hand position slightly (usually moving it up a touch) –… Read more »
I’m doing much better not muting the strings. But boy, that hammer-on with the pinkie is a real challenge. Using the metronome to get myself up to 160. About 100 now, so I’ve got a ways to go.
Yeah, it is tricky. Definitely worth working on the pinkie hammer on, on its own, and trying to nail it 10x in a row to build up positive muscle memory. Good stuff using the metronome too. π
That’s good – striving for better tone is something we can all do I find. Just small little improvements over time can go a long way – so many legends of the guitar talk about this sort of thing too. Good work. π
Thanks Dan. I absolutely love Johnny Cash. I first came across his music when I was a young punk rocker and this opened me up to lots of ridicule π. But I think in his later years he became popular with nearly everyone. Anyways, I digress. I have tried this style using a pick and always seem to mess up the bass notes. I really enjoyed this lesson and am looking forward to using this fingerstyle, after more practice, on I Walk The Line ππ.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I was into hard rock and grunge and one of my mate’s got me into him. At first, I found it odd that he loved Johnny’s music so much but quickly realised how cool, deep, meaningful, and often fun, his tunes were. Great voice too. Great song you mention! Hope you keep having lots of fun with this technique and style. π
Got through Level 1 and 3 no problem. I seem to have a mental block when it comes to the London pattern…still. So, I have made it part of my daily practice routine. 10 min. It’s a slow go. lol
Glad you have nailed level 1 and 2. There will always be one or two areas that causes more problems than most but keep focusing on it and you will nail it. A great pattern to have in the locker π
My name is William, and I want to learn finger style guitar. I will try this course and decide if I shall continue after the trial period. The monthly fee is expensive so that is a major factor. Regards William
Hi William, welcome aboard, and thanks for joining us. I hope you love it here and do let us know how you get on. Would love to hear how you progress! π
Front a complete stranger, the metronome has become my new friend. I really like these exercises, especially the later ones. I struggled with the rhythm a few lessons back with the 3/4 Travis style pattern and found the metronome really helpful there.
Good stuff, the metronome is such a wonderful tool. The problem is that many folk teach people to play tough stuff using one and it puts them off. Glad you are finding these helpful. π
Excellent. I feel that I’m repeating myself commenting on each lesson, but I am enjoying these lessons a lot. Super fun trying out different chord progressions within the key and using different patterns. And then adding little embellishments between chords, and then trying different ones….the variations are endless….and I haven’t even got to the bonus yet ππ
No worries about repeating yourself. It’s great that you are enjoying it. Ha, yeah, there are so many things we can do with these techniques – it’s all very exciting, and I’m glad the course and lessons are opening up new doors for you. (You’ll love the bonuses too). π
Hi, Dan. Lovely jolly piece. I’m finding it a challenge to get the thumb plucks clean. The strings are still vibrating when it’s time to pluck again, so it’s very obvious if the thumb brushes against them before/while plucking. I can avoid that by plucking a string, then immediately placing the thumb on the next string ahead of the beat, so that it stops the vibration more cleanly and is primed to pluck again. I honestly can’t tell if you’re doing that in the video, although it seems likely. Anyway, is that the right idea? And would it still work… Read more »
Hi Dawna, glad you enjoyed the piece. It’s okay if the strings are vibrating as that means the notes will be ringing out cleanly. I encourage you to only touch a string with the picking hand at the point you pluck it. If you rest on the strings it will kill off the note. If the vibration is a buzzing sound it’s likely the fretting hand is releasing pressure (get close to the frets with this hand and keep the pressure on). Palm muting does kill off the strings faster but the same principles apply. I hope that makes sense… Read more »
Thanks, Dan. The unwanted noise is from my thumb brushing against a string before plucking – either the target string or its neighbor (both are still vibrating). Guess I’ll have to work on precision! Feels like more of a swoop down from a (slightly) greater height when I get it cleaner without stopping the string, whereas the stopping motion keeps the thumb closer to the plane of the strings.
It’s an interesting one. I wonder if part of the nail or thumb is touching the string. It’s hard to say without seeing (but feel free to send me a video if you want me to look). It’s well worth isolating any technical thing like this and just practicing thumb plucks over and over, paying close attention to when it sounds/feels good or bad. Do let us know how you get on. π
I just dusted off my copy of Jamie Andreas’ Principles book, and discovered Foundation Exercise #12 for the R hand (bouncing thumb with arpeggio). That felt so good that I suspect it will help somehow!
Dan, Excellent course. daily lessons are concise and supporting videos quite helpful.
just the right amount for each day. great basics with good suggestions for creativity
and experimenting. looking forward to the bonus courses. thanks
Cheers, John. Super pleased to hear you have enjoyed it and the format was a hit. Well done going through it and enjoying the process. Hope you enjoy it when you revisit it and enjoy the bonuses too. π
That was an 8 minute lesson, but there was so much content within it. I found that it required a lot more concentration, presumably because I’m more used to 4/4. Level 3 was particularly challenging but like anything new will just require concentration and repetition. I’m writing this in the evening after my third visit to the lesson….it is so much fun learning all these new techniques and patterns. π
That’s great, Dave. Love how you are revisiting the lesson and paying close attention to it and all the details. Keep up the great practice and keep having fun. π
What a fun way to actually get better at Travis picking. I love the sound of it and have worked hard at learning it. This is a great way to go from just playing the base notes and one or two melody notes to playing more melody without losing the base. Still working to get the whole thing, but the first part is coming along nicely. 10x for the win!
Pleased you enjoyed this. Love Travis picking and hopefully this shows how simple stuff can sound great. Good stuff with the progress you’ve made so far and keep enjoying it. π
This is a great way to warm up hands for cold winter days. Of course, where I am we’re having this incredibly extended Indian summer. We haven’t even had a hard frost yet.But it felt good anyway!
Very cool to know. Ah, lucky you for sure! Sounds like some nice times for playing the guitar. Nothing better than doing so on a lovely warm evening in the sun, and when the frost comes you’ll be ready. π
I use a metronome quite often. With my piano playing, I use it to get the tempo faster on pieces. With guitar, I use it to get my spider exercises faster. It was fun to use it with fingerpicking as well.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I find musicians in general tend to be good at using them but guitarists don’t get enough encouragement. The metronome is super useful and can be fun too which I know you know! π
Although I have the Fingerpicking 101 course, I’ve never finished it. I think this course will give me the motivation to not only do this course but finish Fingerpicking 101 as well.
Ah, that’s so cool. One of the big aims with this course is to get people using it and finishing. Many online courses never get finished for a variety of reasons. Even Fingerstyle 101, which is well loved, doesn’t always get finished. Sounds like the structure of this course worked for you which is pleasing to know. π
I have truly enjoyed this course. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time with the course, as well as diving into the bonuses. Thank you for all the work you put into this course.
Exciting? Well, yes indeed. And my review and consolidation is completed and I’m ready for a new lesson tomorrow. My method for this course has been to watch the lesson video(s) in the morning, before going to work. Then after work I print out the TAB and do the lesson. Then on Monday, which is my first day off, I review the previous lessons and post a comment if I have not already done so. I am really enjoying the variety and depth of this course. I have never really bothered with power chords, but this adds another dimension to… Read more »
That’s cool. You have a great system for using the course which is working well for you. Glad you are enjoying the variety – was keen to make it a fun and varied course as well as teaching the fundamentals. Glad you like the power chords and dyads – both are ace. π
Another superb lesson and some new patterns to learn… really enjoyable using the rhythm of the strumming pattern too…but, I’ve come to a roadblock! I’m struggling with the percussive slap in the Secret Bonus lesson. So I think I’ll return to it in a few days time.
Glad you enjoyed it. The percussive hit is awkward at first. If it’s new to you, it will feel strange but with some experimenting, you will get it for sure. Do be patient though. Enjoy π
Brilliant. Add this to the ever expanding list of new skills. It wasn’t easy but I enjoyed it very much, and I’m sure I’ll be returning to this lesson again. Superb Secret Bonus too.
That was awesome! So much variety and so much fun. I really liked level 2 with the pull off, something that I struggle with, and the two chords at the end. What a lovely sound. I really struggled for a long time with the harmonics before realising that I was doing it wrong. Adjustment made and yes ππ. I have never come across harmonics before, so add this to the list of new discoveries on this wonderful course. I love these intros and also the added practice on the picking pattern ππΈπ
Cheers. Happy to know you enjoyed it. Sounds like lots of fun for you here – and yeah, harmonics, they are a bit of a secret weapon on the guitar I find. Such a cool sound. Keep having fun with all these ideas and thanks for the comment. π
I enjoyed this course. There is a lot of information presented in a very digestable fashion. I will be cycling back through again, to pick up on ideas I missed first time through, and really setting muscle memory, which …for me… just takes a bit of time. While i can play a piece, or an exersize, setting the muscle memory, really getting it under my fingers, makes the techniques themselves really mine. Just me, ymmv. I like the idea presented, of going through the course, then doing a bonus lesson or 2, then going back thru. Thats the path I’ll… Read more »
Thanks, Allan. Pleased you enjoyed it. No doubt the more you go through it, the more little things you will pick up on, as well as refine other things. Keep enjoying it and I hope we all get to hear more about your progress. I appreciate all the comments throughout too! π
I enjoyed these ideas and can see how they can be expanded to other chords with a little bit of experimentation. This has been a fast three weeks, but I’m excited that I can go back and tighten up my technique on the earlier lessons. A few of them had things that I couldn’t do in one day. Thanks for putting this course together.
Good stuff, I like that you are thinking about using them on other chords – like you say, it requires a bit of thinking, but that is time really well spent I have found. Fun too! Super pleased you enjoyed it and are excited to keep progressing. Well done! π
Great tips Dan super duper π
Cheers, Angie. Glad to hear you like the lesson. Keep coming back to it too. π
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. ο»ΏIβm 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). π
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. π
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”!
I’m really struggling with example 3. My pinky on my left hand keeps sliding over onto the fret, leaving me with a dead note, and my right hand doesn’t seem to want to cooperate either. It’s taking me a lot longer to get this one down than it did the first two, but I’m trying to keep it slow and use the 10x method to get the progressions down. It’s a beautiful finger pattern, and I know I’ll be glad when I get it.
Hi Dan As Iβve just joined the course this lesson was great and very informative right through it also helped my pinky to get it working very happy with it and will be looking again at it later on thanks
Cheers, David. Pleased to hear it. Well done applying the lesson already and keep up the great practice π
Iβm trying to get the Mr Tambourine man riff. I have all the notes but I am not getting the rhythm right yet. Any suggestions?
Listen to it a lot, hum the tune a lot, and slow down the recording (either this one or the original song on YouTube). Those are usually the best tips for really hearing the rhythm. Let us know how you get on. π
So I tried the classical position in my practice yesterday. I went through a couple of riffs that I am working on and found that I had a harder time in that position than when I did it the way that I’m used to, i.e. with the guitar on my right knee. One riff I had real trouble with in the classical position but nailed several times in a row in the other. I don’t know if this is due to my just being used to having the guitar on my right knee or what. Should I keep trying the… Read more »
It is quite normal. A lot of it is due to muscle memory. Your hands are in a slightly different position in the classical position than the casual position. You do not have to play in the classical position, and for some the change in position (especially if you’ve played for a long time) can be very hard and possibly not worth it. I’d still say though, don’t dismiss it – you may want to try playing the easiest thing you can play in the classical position and see how that works for you – over time, you may see… Read more »
Yes, Dan. That’s good advice. I won’t totally abandon the classical position, but like you say I’ll stick with the old way for more challenging stiff and try the classical here and there for easier pieces. We’ll see how it goes.
Good stuff, Mike. That’s a good process that will serve you well. π
Hi my Name is John Bartlett,
I’m a retired Fire Chief after 48 years. I love music, I have tired to learn how to play the guitar off and on for most of those years. I am now retired, I’ve decided to give it my full attention.
I want to be able to take the guitar down and actually play when someone ask me if I can play.
I hope your your class will get me to that point! I hope you are that guy Dan.
Thanks,
John
Hi John, welcome aboard. That must have been a great career! Now, it’s time for you to love playing the guitar. I am certain, if you stick with the lessons, you will love them and see some big progress. Do let us know if at any point you get stuck as I am happy to help (sometimes it’s just being pointed in the right direction for a certain lesson). Keep us posted and enjoy. Cheers! π
Hello everyone my name is David Smith from Wales 84 years old with my aim is play the guitar to my family and friends I just joined Danβs Accadamy course to help me achieve that
Hi David, thanks for the comment and welcome aboard. Delighted you are here. Let’s get you achieving your goals. Do keep us posted with how you get on. π
Hi Dan,
What I really like about this lesson is that you teach us how to practice, not just what to practice. It’s something that, sadly, many teachers don’t cover. I consider the information quite valuable.
Mike
Hi Mike, thanks, yeah, sadly there’s so much surface level stuff out there that assumes students can do the basics but as we all know, that is not always the case. Very pleased the lesson was helpful and keep up the great practice. π
This is really good stuff Dan. Great to get the fingers moving and to work on timing and rhythm.
Cheers, Rich, glad you like the lesson. It’s good fun this! Keep enjoying yourself. π
20 out of 20, but I have been playing for a while and already knew this stuff. Looking forward to the higher levels!
Well done, that’s superb. A great start. Hope you enjoy the rest of the quizzes (no rush doing them – and I’ll be creating the rest of them soon). π
Just revisited this and it was so delightful . There is a lot of good information in this little interactive story and it bears repeating. I hope you will do more of this type of thing just cuz it is a fun way of learning.
Thanks, this was such a joy to create, and although it was a bit “out there”, I’m pleased you enjoyed it and found it useful. Got to flex my story telling muscle so was a blast. Would love to do this again – even thought about turning it into a print book one day and expanding the story. π
Hi, All. My name is Mike McHugh. I live in San Antonio, Texas. I’m 67 years old and have been playing guitar for about 10-15 years. I’m basically a solo acoustic musician; i.e., I play guitar and sing as a solo act. The reason I joined the academy is that, while I have basic chords (including barre chords) and strumming down, I have struggled to advance beyond this as far as technique. I have learned some fingerpicking and some basic licks and riffs but I struggle with consistency in these two areas. I still make too many mistakes playing songs… Read more »
Hi Mike, welcome aboard. We hope you love it here. Sounds like you are in the ideal place – the lessons in the In Focus course and 5-star award will help you fill in the blanks and improve the weaker areas – and each month, the new monthly lessons will give you some exciting things to play. Great selection of bands and artists you mention. Enjoy and let us know how you get on. π
Correction: there is an βnβ in the name of these strings. Curt Mangen. Darn word substitution! I mention these strings here as it might help someone else. Electric guitar strings come in very light gauges and I didnβt know acoustic strings could be this light.
I have used 10 gauge Elixirs.
Hoping this very light gauge strings will be my ticket to barre chords.
Hi Dan. Barre chords have always been my biggest struggle. Very difficult with small and now weak arthritic hands. I have your barre chords course. I actually found 9 gauge acoustic strings by Curt Magen. Iβm going to try to get someone to help me put them on. The tone on these nine gauge may not be great but no one is going to give me an award for playing with 12βs or even 11βs. Iβm just going to do what works for me. My concentration is still poor but I can play the four chords as barre chords as… Read more »
Hi Roxanne, good stuff. Don’t worry about the lesser tone on lighter strings. I don’t really buy into that when people talk about it. My reasoning is this – if lighter strings help you play noticeably better, you’ll more than make up the 5% or so difference in tone, and likely play with far more enjoyment, which in turn helps you play with more passion, and therefore better tone. Well done making the progress you mention! π
I have gotten to the point where I automatically start doing the 10x method on anything I donβt get right away. I havenβt been slowing it down nearly as much as you did here but will start slowing more on harder bits. Also, this has a completely different sound slowed way down – it is a little sadder and more melancholy.
Really glad to hear it. Positive practice habits for sure! Feel free to slow it down only as much as you need to to nail it 10x in a row (it’s usually slower than we naturally want to go though). Yeah, I do love how a tempo change can add more emotion and/or bring out that emotion. π
I seem to remember that there audios that I purchased to go with this course, but I can’t find them. Could you please tell me where they are?
They’re all available here – https://rockstarpublishing.co.uk/F101/ π
I enjoyed this course immensely. These are songs that I can play forever, and I’m so glad to be building a repertoire of songs I can sit down and play. Thank you.
My pleasure, I’ll actually be doing an update for this course soon – I have no doubt you will love what’s coming too. π
I enjoyed this very much. America the Beautiful is my favorite patriotic song, and I’m glad I can play it solo-style on my guitar. Thanks for such a simple but beautiful arrangement.
That’s great to know. Very pleased you enjoyed this – loved creating this arrangement and happy you are enjoying playing it. π
Should I be getting close to perfect on each lesson before proceeding to the next one?
Ideally try and get the level 1 part to a semi comfortable level at least. If you don’t it’s not the end of the world, as the main idea is that the first time you go through the course, you just get the basics sorted – then you can go through the course again after 21 days. That’s what I recommend but of course, feel free to focus longer on each lesson if you really prefer to though. π
Methodical! π
120 out of 120. Fun quiz.
Great stuff, well done! π
This is the end…..but this is not the end, if that makes any senseπ€. The end of 21 days of learning and fun, but with many options ahead. The timing is great for me as I’ve got a few days off work and will use these to go back to day 0, which actually seems like a long time ago. I’ll work through the course again, pulling out and highlighting the parts that need more work. You have helped with this by pulling the main patterns from the course together in one pdf π. I’m super excited about the bonuses… Read more »
Thanks for the comment, Dave. Really pleased you enjoyed the course and are excited for everything that lies ahead. Your comments throughout have been great, not only for me to read but for others who take and have already taken the course these past few weeks. Very pleased you enjoyed it all and keep up the great practice. Thank you too! π
I decided I wanted to try some new things so I have been playing the videos on the strumming songs and riffs pages. It will let me play a few videos or the same video a few times and then it tells me I have to log in again to see a video. Exact message is βSign in to confirm youβre not a bot, This helps protect our community. I am logged in when it tells me that but if I log out and back in, it does fix it. I think the message is actually coming from YouTube. Seems to only happen… Read more »
It was YouTube so I went to YouTube and was able to fix it.
Okay, cool, thanks for the heads up and letting us know about that – will be handy if other members come across this issue. Glad it’s sorted. π
Never knew these blank sheets were offered on this site. Trying to learn one of the riffs. Went and got some blank tab sheets I had downloaded elsewhere. I have always found that writing things down helps me remember and learn them better. Happy to know that these are available!
Yeah, one of the things I should mention more for users. I will add more links to these in the DTAA members. Thanks for that. Glad you found them helpful. π
This really sounds beautiful! Iβll listen over and over. My concentration, focus is poor, but Iβll start out by listening to you over and over.
Pleased to hear it. That’s okay and at least you know. Keep doing as much concentrating/focusing as you can but start with very small busts (i.e. under a minute), then take a moment or two to reset. Listening goes a long way too so keep it up. π
The final day, maybe, but so much learning to go back to and drill, get right, consolidate and build on. It’s been a great three weeks which promises much more to come. And what a way to finish – riffs and pumps. I enjoyed all three, not just on their own, but looking at how similar things could be applied to different chord sequences. But there is work to do to get them “locked in”. I have a few days off next week so I’ll be going back to day 1 and reviewing the whole course before even thinking of… Read more »
Thanks, Dave. Glad you enjoyed this lesson. It’s lots of fun and the more you use them and experiment with your own ideas, the more fun you will have. Sounds like you’ve enjoyed it all so far and pleased to hear it and enjoyed your comments and positive approach to learning throughout – long may it continue. It goes such a long way on the journey! π
I guess it’s finally time to give focus to a weak link of mine. I have been working on fingerpick patterns, (from the bootcamp) to really get them set under my fingers, all going along fine, so i added a ‘banjo roll’ i had run across, said was a 3×2 (a simple thumb/ index / middle finger roll on strings 4, 3,2, wash and repeat) in 4/4 time over a 12 bar blues in G, i can count it out, and mostly get it right, so then i added a click and of course, …it breaks. I can go back… Read more »
It’s pretty common to lose the timing and let it drift with a click. One thing you can do is pluck notes on certain beats a little louder to help keep in time. Usually this can mean plucking beat 1 louder. It’s not a blanket fix but can help to reset the pattern each time it comes round rather than having an endless stream of notes. Of course, also take lots of breaks from the click (20 seconds or more of playing to a click can be too much for some at first).
This is a nice little piece, but I find I’m having trouble placing my right hand to mute the strings. I tend to mute the G string as well, and I end up feeling like my right hand is a claw – kind of tense and uncomfortable. Could use some advice on how to fix this.
Just to be clear there is no need to mute the strings here. Are you talking about playing this piece in a more of a “Boom Chick” kinda muted way? If so, one of the best things to do here is just work on the bass thumb plucks very slowly. Do a count of five between each pluck, relax, breathe, and try to let go of tension (which often starts in the arm or shoulder). Also, for the G string to sound clear you will need to adjust the picking hand position slightly (usually moving it up a touch) –… Read more »
I’m doing much better not muting the strings. But boy, that hammer-on with the pinkie is a real challenge. Using the metronome to get myself up to 160. About 100 now, so I’ve got a ways to go.
Yeah, it is tricky. Definitely worth working on the pinkie hammer on, on its own, and trying to nail it 10x in a row to build up positive muscle memory. Good stuff using the metronome too. π
I especially liked working on the fingerpicking tone in this lesson. I think my tone is a little weak, and I plan to work on overcoming that.
That’s good – striving for better tone is something we can all do I find. Just small little improvements over time can go a long way – so many legends of the guitar talk about this sort of thing too. Good work. π
Thanks Dan. I absolutely love Johnny Cash. I first came across his music when I was a young punk rocker and this opened me up to lots of ridicule π. But I think in his later years he became popular with nearly everyone. Anyways, I digress. I have tried this style using a pick and always seem to mess up the bass notes. I really enjoyed this lesson and am looking forward to using this fingerstyle, after more practice, on I Walk The Line ππ.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I was into hard rock and grunge and one of my mate’s got me into him. At first, I found it odd that he loved Johnny’s music so much but quickly realised how cool, deep, meaningful, and often fun, his tunes were. Great voice too. Great song you mention! Hope you keep having lots of fun with this technique and style. π
Got through Level 1 and 3 no problem. I seem to have a mental block when it comes to the London pattern…still. So, I have made it part of my daily practice routine. 10 min. It’s a slow go. lol
Glad you have nailed level 1 and 2. There will always be one or two areas that causes more problems than most but keep focusing on it and you will nail it. A great pattern to have in the locker π
I always find myself returning to this song/lesson. π Love it.
Good stuff, it’s a classic and love the chord changes in this tune. π
My name is William, and I want to learn finger style guitar. I will try this course and decide if I shall continue after the trial period. The monthly fee is expensive so that is a major factor. Regards William
Hi William, welcome aboard, and thanks for joining us. I hope you love it here and do let us know how you get on. Would love to hear how you progress! π
Front a complete stranger, the metronome has become my new friend. I really like these exercises, especially the later ones. I struggled with the rhythm a few lessons back with the 3/4 Travis style pattern and found the metronome really helpful there.
Good stuff, the metronome is such a wonderful tool. The problem is that many folk teach people to play tough stuff using one and it puts them off. Glad you are finding these helpful. π
Excellent. I feel that I’m repeating myself commenting on each lesson, but I am enjoying these lessons a lot. Super fun trying out different chord progressions within the key and using different patterns. And then adding little embellishments between chords, and then trying different ones….the variations are endless….and I haven’t even got to the bonus yet ππ
No worries about repeating yourself. It’s great that you are enjoying it. Ha, yeah, there are so many things we can do with these techniques – it’s all very exciting, and I’m glad the course and lessons are opening up new doors for you. (You’ll love the bonuses too). π
These YouTube videos are wonderful. Thanks for adding them to this course. You rock, Dan!
ππ
Pleased to hear it and my pleasure. Hope you have loads of fun with them! π
Hi, Dan. Lovely jolly piece. I’m finding it a challenge to get the thumb plucks clean. The strings are still vibrating when it’s time to pluck again, so it’s very obvious if the thumb brushes against them before/while plucking. I can avoid that by plucking a string, then immediately placing the thumb on the next string ahead of the beat, so that it stops the vibration more cleanly and is primed to pluck again. I honestly can’t tell if you’re doing that in the video, although it seems likely. Anyway, is that the right idea? And would it still work… Read more »
Hi Dawna, glad you enjoyed the piece. It’s okay if the strings are vibrating as that means the notes will be ringing out cleanly. I encourage you to only touch a string with the picking hand at the point you pluck it. If you rest on the strings it will kill off the note. If the vibration is a buzzing sound it’s likely the fretting hand is releasing pressure (get close to the frets with this hand and keep the pressure on). Palm muting does kill off the strings faster but the same principles apply. I hope that makes sense… Read more »
Thanks, Dan. The unwanted noise is from my thumb brushing against a string before plucking – either the target string or its neighbor (both are still vibrating). Guess I’ll have to work on precision! Feels like more of a swoop down from a (slightly) greater height when I get it cleaner without stopping the string, whereas the stopping motion keeps the thumb closer to the plane of the strings.
It’s an interesting one. I wonder if part of the nail or thumb is touching the string. It’s hard to say without seeing (but feel free to send me a video if you want me to look). It’s well worth isolating any technical thing like this and just practicing thumb plucks over and over, paying close attention to when it sounds/feels good or bad. Do let us know how you get on. π
Will do. Thanks!
I just dusted off my copy of Jamie Andreas’ Principles book, and discovered Foundation Exercise #12 for the R hand (bouncing thumb with arpeggio). That felt so good that I suspect it will help somehow!
That’s great to know. Plenty of good exercises for those fine details in Jamie’s book. Hope it helps and let us know how you get on. π
Dan, Excellent course. daily lessons are concise and supporting videos quite helpful.
just the right amount for each day. great basics with good suggestions for creativity
and experimenting. looking forward to the bonus courses. thanks
Cheers, John. Super pleased to hear you have enjoyed it and the format was a hit. Well done going through it and enjoying the process. Hope you enjoy it when you revisit it and enjoy the bonuses too. π
That was an 8 minute lesson, but there was so much content within it. I found that it required a lot more concentration, presumably because I’m more used to 4/4. Level 3 was particularly challenging but like anything new will just require concentration and repetition. I’m writing this in the evening after my third visit to the lesson….it is so much fun learning all these new techniques and patterns. π
That’s great, Dave. Love how you are revisiting the lesson and paying close attention to it and all the details. Keep up the great practice and keep having fun. π
What a fun way to actually get better at Travis picking. I love the sound of it and have worked hard at learning it. This is a great way to go from just playing the base notes and one or two melody notes to playing more melody without losing the base. Still working to get the whole thing, but the first part is coming along nicely. 10x for the win!
Pleased you enjoyed this. Love Travis picking and hopefully this shows how simple stuff can sound great. Good stuff with the progress you’ve made so far and keep enjoying it. π
This is a great way to warm up hands for cold winter days. Of course, where I am we’re having this incredibly extended Indian summer. We haven’t even had a hard frost yet.But it felt good anyway!
Very cool to know. Ah, lucky you for sure! Sounds like some nice times for playing the guitar. Nothing better than doing so on a lovely warm evening in the sun, and when the frost comes you’ll be ready. π
I use a metronome quite often. With my piano playing, I use it to get the tempo faster on pieces. With guitar, I use it to get my spider exercises faster. It was fun to use it with fingerpicking as well.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I find musicians in general tend to be good at using them but guitarists don’t get enough encouragement. The metronome is super useful and can be fun too which I know you know! π
Although I have the Fingerpicking 101 course, I’ve never finished it. I think this course will give me the motivation to not only do this course but finish Fingerpicking 101 as well.
Ah, that’s so cool. One of the big aims with this course is to get people using it and finishing. Many online courses never get finished for a variety of reasons. Even Fingerstyle 101, which is well loved, doesn’t always get finished. Sounds like the structure of this course worked for you which is pleasing to know. π
I have truly enjoyed this course. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time with the course, as well as diving into the bonuses. Thank you for all the work you put into this course.
Thanks, Leslie. Pleased to hear it. Much appreciate the kind words too. Hope you get lots of fun from the lessons both now and in the future π
Like these Fingerpicking Fun and Jam lessons!
Glad to hear it. Hope you have lots of fun with them! π
Exciting? Well, yes indeed. And my review and consolidation is completed and I’m ready for a new lesson tomorrow. My method for this course has been to watch the lesson video(s) in the morning, before going to work. Then after work I print out the TAB and do the lesson. Then on Monday, which is my first day off, I review the previous lessons and post a comment if I have not already done so. I am really enjoying the variety and depth of this course. I have never really bothered with power chords, but this adds another dimension to… Read more »
That’s cool. You have a great system for using the course which is working well for you. Glad you are enjoying the variety – was keen to make it a fun and varied course as well as teaching the fundamentals. Glad you like the power chords and dyads – both are ace. π
Another superb lesson and some new patterns to learn… really enjoyable using the rhythm of the strumming pattern too…but, I’ve come to a roadblock! I’m struggling with the percussive slap in the Secret Bonus lesson. So I think I’ll return to it in a few days time.
Glad you enjoyed it. The percussive hit is awkward at first. If it’s new to you, it will feel strange but with some experimenting, you will get it for sure. Do be patient though. Enjoy π
Brilliant. Add this to the ever expanding list of new skills. It wasn’t easy but I enjoyed it very much, and I’m sure I’ll be returning to this lesson again. Superb Secret Bonus too.
Great stuff, this is such a powerful and important skill so I am glad you enjoyed it and the secret bonus. Cheers. π
That was awesome! So much variety and so much fun. I really liked level 2 with the pull off, something that I struggle with, and the two chords at the end. What a lovely sound. I really struggled for a long time with the harmonics before realising that I was doing it wrong. Adjustment made and yes ππ. I have never come across harmonics before, so add this to the list of new discoveries on this wonderful course. I love these intros and also the added practice on the picking pattern ππΈπ
Cheers. Happy to know you enjoyed it. Sounds like lots of fun for you here – and yeah, harmonics, they are a bit of a secret weapon on the guitar I find. Such a cool sound. Keep having fun with all these ideas and thanks for the comment. π
I enjoyed this course. There is a lot of information presented in a very digestable fashion. I will be cycling back through again, to pick up on ideas I missed first time through, and really setting muscle memory, which …for me… just takes a bit of time. While i can play a piece, or an exersize, setting the muscle memory, really getting it under my fingers, makes the techniques themselves really mine. Just me, ymmv. I like the idea presented, of going through the course, then doing a bonus lesson or 2, then going back thru. Thats the path I’ll… Read more »
Thanks, Allan. Pleased you enjoyed it. No doubt the more you go through it, the more little things you will pick up on, as well as refine other things. Keep enjoying it and I hope we all get to hear more about your progress. I appreciate all the comments throughout too! π
I enjoyed these ideas and can see how they can be expanded to other chords with a little bit of experimentation. This has been a fast three weeks, but I’m excited that I can go back and tighten up my technique on the earlier lessons. A few of them had things that I couldn’t do in one day. Thanks for putting this course together.
Good stuff, I like that you are thinking about using them on other chords – like you say, it requires a bit of thinking, but that is time really well spent I have found. Fun too! Super pleased you enjoyed it and are excited to keep progressing. Well done! π
Hi Dan, such a cool and interesting item to add to soloing.
Cheers, Rich. Yeah, it’s a really cool technique to use. Hope you have lots of fun with it. π