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 Posted 5/3/2007 11:36:14 AM |
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Supreme Being
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I wonder how many people would be interested in starting a "Progress" thread here to discuss what DVD you are studying, how you are coming along, pass along suggestions, ask questions, etc...?
would anyone be interested in an ongoing thread of this nature?
Peter
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| Posted 5/5/2007 9:22:28 AM |
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Supreme Being
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I will go first in hopes that others will be encouraged in their playing, and in posting their own progress.
45 years old. Played since I was 16. Self taught. Played some easy strum in church, but not much else.
Jump start to Jan 1, 2007 New Year's Resolution: to play every day and find a way to actually learn how to play. Can't afford lessons.
1. Started online lessons. Very inexpensive, and only teaches songs. Discourages learning TAB, as well as scales. First month was fun, learning songs, but each progressive level seems more geared towards selling guitars than teaching. Stale song list. Yet, playing every day, no matter what.
2. Discovered Homespun DVDs and began in earnest to buiild a DVD library. I have heard of Happy Traum from Dylan and feel like I've stumbled on a gold mine.
3. Started with "Acoustic Guitar Method" . Had to skip DVD1 (rank beginner) but enjoyed DVD 2 a lot. Especially the introduction to Travis picking. Completed.
4. Beginning Blues by Happy. Very easy, and a lot of fun for someone who knows nothing of the blues. Great start. Finished DVD 1. Will start DVD 2. Completed.
5. Learning some songs. Working with Pete Huttlinger's DVDs on practice/techniques, scales, etc. Also toying with John Denver and Jim Croce songs (nothing too much yet) and Happy's Dylan. (his "Buckets of Rain" is amazing! but a bit over my head for now)
6. Working mainly on Happy's Alternate Fingerpicking DVD 1. This is the core focus of my work. It is NOT coming naturally to me. Basically have the first songs down (Skip To My Lou) (Spike Driver Blues) and am in earnest for Green Green Rocky Road (off the beat) and Stagger Lee. I did jump ahead to "Hobo's Lullaby" because it is not only easy, but beautiful. I changed the lyrics and sing it to my kids at night....fun to play.
while doing this, I am flirting with the Christmas songs from Happy, with the first half of "What Child is This" down fairly well. The second half Happy moves a bit too fast for me, so it will take time. I have slated the month of August to learn the entire DVD so I can practice and be ready for the Christmas season.
My main desire is to thoroughly learn fingerpicking. I have not missed a day of practice since Jan 1, including 2 sick days where all I could manage was 15 minutes of strumming while under a fever!
My wife says that in the 4+ months, I have made a lot of progress. I worry that I drift to new things before learning FIRMLY the others, so I am staying with DVD1 of Easy Fingerpicking (DeMystfying Altrnt Bss!) until I know it back and forth, and then will go on to DVD2.
On weekends, I concentrate just on songs, and practice the songs that I already know.
I am tossing in Bookbinders and Solo for Acoustic when I need a change of pace from the fingerstyle. I will also be tossing in Happy's Blues part 2, but since it starts off with alternate bass, I am going to wait a bit as I continue to learn from the main DVD Easy Fingerpicking (DeMyst).
I would really enjoy hearing testimonies about the progress of others; specifically in conjuction with the Homespun DVDs.
I have no one to play with right now, so it would serve as an encouragement to me, and also a great way to share which DVDs have been the most helpful.
What have you been using?
How is the progress coming?
How long have you been playing?
What are your longer-term goals??
Thanks to all who wish to participate.
Peter Hyatt
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| Posted 5/6/2007 3:45:56 PM |
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Supreme Being
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| Peter , I think this is a great idea. I started at 16 but gave it up for sports and coaching Hoops. Now at 57 , I am the " king of the no talent bum guitar wannabes " but Homespun is helping. My wife thinks I'm getting better but .... I'm here in Ct . Nobody to play with but I'll keep going and i think your idea is great . I'm working on DVD of Happy's You Can play and I have to be patient with rhythm stuff and damping . keep playing and keep in touch !
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| Posted 5/6/2007 6:51:51 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Hello guys, I'm always interested in this thread because like you guys,I started on my instrument late in life, (46- been playing 7 years now) and tend to obsess a bit about my progress. (I went into some detail about this on a
previous thread entitled "Playing for a Living" I think it was.)
Focusing on one's progress is
great fun when strides and break-
throughs are made, and not so fun
when the progress is painfully
slow, as much of mine is nowadays. I always think of something B.B. King said in his autobiography, "Blues All Around Me", and to paraphrase, it's "Obsession breaks down barriers." But at my particular stage, which I would classify as mid-intermediate, I musn't focus my obsession so much on "how much better am I now than 3 months ago?" -but rather something like "Yippee! I get to play my piano an hour today!" But all
that said, like you guys, I still want to get better, and yes, I
measure myself today against my-
self a year ago. I suppose the
main thing to remember is to have fun. I have a fairly extensive
library of instructional tapes
and dvds, (I used to play drums)
and much of it is from Homespun.
I have never purchased one of their products I didn't like or
find helpful. The piano ones I have are: Johnnie Johnson Blues/
Rock Piano, the first volume of
Dr. John Teaches New Orleans Piano, David Cohen's 3-tape series
on Beginning Blues Piano, oh yeah,
and also his Hammond B-3 one. All
great. That's my .02's worth! I
leave you with an old saying my
dad had, (he was a housepainter
who played "Sentimental Journey"
on the piano, and it's "Keep
Pluggin'!" -Mike King
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| Posted 5/7/2007 12:55:09 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Joseph, seems to be more than a few of us starting later in life.
About a month ago, I started a small journal of my practice. It is a real eye opener to see, 6 weeks ago, that I could not get through a song, even painfully slow, to being able to play it without the TAB.
anyone using a journal to track progress?
Stephen, what are you up to in the "you can play guitar" series?
My son is working on the beginning blues piano----he has reached a point of being stuck, but he is not sure if it is more just due to "crunch time" in college as the semester comes closer to the end.
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| Posted 5/11/2007 8:59:37 PM |
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Supreme Being
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I would love to chart progress with you folks.
I'm a late bloomer myself. Will be 58 this year. A littl background.
Strated playing on my dads old dobro, round neck when I was 12 or 13. By high school, had several bar chords down.
Married and started "strumminn" in church ( old time gospel). Hung guitar up from 24 yrs. old till 50 years old. Picked it up again to play Contempory Gospel in church.
Cant sing worth a lick.
Can play some rythum, but no one to play lead.
Can play SOME lead, but no one to play rythum.
Then "Happened" to run accross "Happy". On my Lord!!!!!!!
Could'nt imagine playin lead AND rythum at the same time!!!!!
Started with my first DVD about 1 and 1/2 years ago.
I measure my progress, by family and other folks response.
While I know I have gotten better, I feel its not in a disciplined way.
For example, cant seem to get the thumb over the top!!!!!!!!
A good fried suggested to just cheat, cause a mans got to know his limitations. So regrettfully thats what I did. Plus, I believe perhaps I tried TO mnay different styles, I switched around to much,
Travis Style, slide, open D tuning, open G tuning, now seems I know a lot of incomplete stuff.
However, some folksseem to lick their chops at my playin ( Novices of course)
Think I'll go back to square one. I remember once long ago, at hard the bar shord was to fret cleanly, but once there, opened up a whole new world. You mentioned how easy Hobos Lullaby was, I avoid the song, cause of the dreaded F , thumb over the top.
Roger
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| Posted 5/12/2007 10:59:16 AM |
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Supreme Being
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Roger,
thanks for sharing. You make a great point that I have kept in my mind since getting hooked on the DVD lessons: not to spread too thin. It is very tempting.
I have been struggling with the alternate bass and am tempted to jump elsewhere (every so often I do) but go back to the Fingerpicking DVDs 1-3. I am beginning DVD 2, but really need to wait until DVD 1 is mastered. The alternate thumb bass is not coming naturally, and I can only do it by memory. Putting notes off the beat can throw me into the arthritic monkey convulsion.
What DVDs have been the most helpful, and what style are you trying to master?
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| Posted 5/12/2007 5:43:46 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Well, I sort of went at it backwards.
My first lesson was of Tom Bresh (level 4).
Worked on My Blue Bell for weeks.
Then ordered one of Doc Watsons,
worked on "Windy and Warm" for along time.
Frustrated so ordered Happys 3 DVD series "Easy Steps to Guitar Fingerpicking". Best teacher I EVER seen!!!!!!!!!!!!
DVD # 2 is for Drop D pickin.
Then ordered Bottleneck blues and beyond taught by Mike Dowling. Super good stuff, just to far ahead for me, and ole Hap's still the best "Teacher" I've ever encountered!!!!!!!
Then ordered Easy Steps to Guitar Fingerpicking by Happy.
Then The Blues Bag, 2 DVD set of Happy's.
It takes me hours and hours to even get close to play'em half way close to right, and after weeks and weeks on ONE song, the whole household is ready to string me up, and so finally, I'll break down and try something else for a while, and once in a while come back to it.
Heard a man once say, always play with someone better, or always be trying to play something above you, at another level, and someday, you will start getting better. Never get comfortable and stop learning. Guess I'm a prime example of that, just disatisified with my progress. But on the other hand, I remember saying 1 1/2 years ago, seeing and hearing the first DVD, " How on earth does anyone get that good"? And my first attempts were pitiful, but my desire and passion kept me trying, so 20/20, guess I have indeed made progress. A friend told me he thinks those old Blues Cats, singing about Never Satisfied, could of possibly been talking about their playing???Ha!
All I know is,nothing ventured , nothing gained.
I know you can record clips on the computer, but I dont have that capabilitie.
Thouight perhaps each of us, could make a recording of our playing at current level. Say, pick out 2 or 3 songs. And everyone has everyones copy.
Then , say 1 month??? Make new recordings, and send to all, and let all concerned measure how we are progressing, sort of Critique It.
My family says after many hours of practicing, "Oh thats nice, are you done?" Would be nice for some musical comments. What do you think????
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| Posted 5/12/2007 9:14:19 PM |
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Supreme Being
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I think that will be great.....very encouraging...I also have to learn how to post -----perhaps a small recorder for the iPod?
How long were you on the Fingerpicking 1-3?? Just like you I stay on ONE song for soooo long, but my wife is really encouraging excpet when she said, "I can't get Skip To My Lou" out of my head! I said, "well, I can't change it because when I add notes off the beat I sound like I am about to trip, fall down, and knock myself out!". She's a great sport.
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| Posted 5/12/2007 10:53:44 PM |
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Supreme Being
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You might find this somewhat odd.
I had, and still have some difficultie on Skip To My Lou.
Cant pit my finger on it (literrilly)
After some time, perhaps a few weeks, an hour or so a night, I skipped STML, and went on to Spike Drivers Blues.
Was there a week or so, and on to Green Green Rocky Road. Really nailed this one early. I'm thinking cause its in drop D. I love drop D!!!!!!!!
You can alternate the base strings without freeting them. Didnt care much for Staggerlee to much, so moved one quickly to Nine Pound Hammer. LOVED the key of E, and the Travis "sweep" as opposed to alternating base notes.
I hammered on Hammer for several months, made prgress fairly quickly.
Then Hobo's Lullaby. Still dont have it cause of the dreaded 'F' chord, with thumb over the top.
ALL MY PLAYIN DAYS my F was a bar chord. ( The E position, slid up one fret and using the fore finger bar all six strings. Hard to teach old dogs new tricks, plus I dont have long fingers.
Moved on to DVD 2, Fell in love with Colorado Trail, and got it in 2 or 3 weeks, about one hour a night, sometimes 1 1/2 to 2 hrs.
If you can play Colo Trail, you can play My Homes////smokey Mtns.
Fishin Blues wasnt to hard, except for the pinkie stretch, which nine pound hammer prepared me for.
The blues aint nothin still working on, cant play it clean every time for some reason.
I moved to DVD3 at this point, and incorperated I Am A Pilgrim into a Medley along with 9 # Hammer.
Love deep river blues, ( theres that key of E again, love this key!!!!!!!!!) Didnt care much forLouis Collins, didnt play it or even try much. Practiced a long time on Nobody Loves You When Your Down and out. Worked several months on Step It up and Go. Have didcarded it latley in my routine, as cant play it clean, no matter how much I practice. Loose my thumb on this one, I automaticly find myself "rolling " the strings insted of alternating the base.
Crazy isnt it!!!!!
Then was about wore out so started playin slide on my Dobro to 2 different DVD'S of Mike Dowling.
Havnt got them yet. Open tunings and a chunk of glass on the finger puts a person in a whole new world.
Flipped folped several months back and forth.
Got the Blues Bag DVDS and been working on them for a couple of months.
Inbetween all the above, ordered a CD from Tom Ball on drop D tuning
and practiced heavy on his style for several months.Some of it was clasisical, some blues, some folk, etc.etc.
And I also ordered several Pete Huttlinger DVDs and worked a little on some of the practice routines. Just not disiplined enough to stay with the routines.
Also, now and then would go back to TomBresh and Merle Travis , and Doc"s DVDs and do my best.
I guess I'm working on 40 to 50 tunes all together. Every now and then I try some other stuff just to jog my memory.
Suppose my level is a strong 2, or maybe a poor 3, I just dont know.
Send me your address and I'll send you a cassette tape or a CD of a few tunes, and maybe you can tell me what level????????
see ya Roger 580-743-0999
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| Posted 5/13/2007 4:02:37 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Roger, did the alternate thumb ever kick in on "auto pilot" for you?
I'd love to hear your music. e-mail me
PHyatt1962@hotmail.com
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| Posted 5/14/2007 1:23:47 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Hi to all on this thread.
I started playing guitar at 13. I learned to strum some chords and learned a few bass lines and bass runs. I really liked the descending bass lines the Beatles used in songs like Norwegian Wood. In my late twenties I learned some finger picking patterns and thought I could finger pick. I could finger pick a little John Denver and some others, but found myself limited to certain types of songs. A couple of years ago I got Happy's "Easy Steps to Finger Picking" and a whole new musical world opened up to me. I am now 52 and
having more fun than ever playing guitar.
I love the blues and I have purchased many of the Homespun lessons on this genre. I play the MJH, Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Blusey Dylan stuff, Big Bill and others. I also like non-blues material like Pete Hutlinger’s JD and Croce and I just purchased
John’s Lovin’ Spoonful DVD. I look forward to Happy’s Brownie material when ever
it gets done. I’m currently trying out “Buckets of Rain” from Happy’s Dylan DVD.
Things that have caused me some trouble are things like getting the thumb over the top of the neck and off beat thumb moves. I am doing very well with both now, but if I stumble
on a song that’s still where I do it.
I am also interested in what I call “Grampa Jones” banjo style AKA clawhammer. I am
a beginner, but I am catching on quickly. This style is a great aid to one of my guitar troubles. The thumb almost always plays the off beat in this style.
For those interested in hearing each others recorded music, I would suggest registering
yourselves on acousticfriends.com. I am there and I have uploaded two JD songs. I intend
to put more up soon. This site gives you access to your friend’s music and vise versa.
You can easily add comments to a friend’s page. I am there under Warren. Register and add me to your friends list. I would love to hear all of your material and would like your
opinions about mine as well. I wont record any bad banjo yet, maybe later.
Here’s the link:
http://www.acousticfriends.com/index.php?page_id=5
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| Posted 5/14/2007 2:41:18 PM |
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Supreme Being
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Warren,
thanks for the info....
how is "Buckets of Rain" coming along? I love Happy's version....
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| Posted 5/14/2007 6:02:40 PM |
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Supreme Being
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PS, I forgot to mention that the
acousticfriends.com registration is free.
Warren
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| Posted 5/16/2007 11:06:16 AM |
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Supreme Being
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Peter,
I haven't started "Buckets of Rain" as yet, but I will this week.
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| Posted 5/16/2007 11:10:35 AM |
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Supreme Being
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another question for us all:
How many here rely completely upon Homespun for learning, and how many have a teacher?
Pete Huttlinger wrote to me about the finger exercises and feels that as long as you do not progress to a new exercise without properly learning the inital one, things should be fine. He said to get a teacher so that the teacher can spot the mistake for you...
unfortunately, that is not in the cards for me right now. It got me thinking; especially since a number of us appear to be in our 40's and 50's....
how many have a "live" teacher?
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| Posted 5/16/2007 11:11:36 AM |
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Supreme Being
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Warren,
Buckets of Rain should be a great challenge...can you update us as you work through it? posting a MP3, (or mailing it?) would be great.....
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| Posted 5/23/2007 11:49:51 AM |
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Supreme Being
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update on Progress. Completely finished DVD 1 of Happy's Fingerpicking. 6 weeks of lessons! On DVD, I am coming along, especially with Colorado Trail and Fishin' Blues. I do need a mental break, so I picked up (on suggestions here) some of Steve Kaufman's DVDs. I am doing his "Holiday" songs and they are great. They are easy to learn and are giving me a nice mental break before I go back to the concentrated alternate bass.....having some fun with "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"....I grew up on that song from "The Little Rascals" shows!
I've also had some fun starting the other recommendation made here: Roy book Binder's Blues #1. the first song is a blast to play, though it will take me some time to get it down. He is a very funny man and I like that he encourages the student to develop an individual style.
I have not missed a day of practice since my New Year's Resolution, though work and family and sickness would like me to!
thanks to those of you who made the above suggestions....
Let's here about what has been going on of late for others............
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| Posted 5/25/2007 10:29:35 AM |
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Supreme Being
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I'm now on Green Green Rocky Road on Happy's DVD volume 1. It's coming along well,the independent thumb and finger thing is getting easier.
I got a bit frustrated with it the other day...kept making mistakes so I just played other songs for a couple of days and went back to it today and I'm progressing again. Theres a tricky bit in the chorus which I've yet to master.
I'll certainly get the volume 2 dvd and I was thinking of getting a Richard Gilewitz DVD which has stuff like Freight Train and In Christ There Is No East Or West.
I'm also starting to delve into open tunings which is really interesting.
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| Posted 5/25/2007 11:50:00 AM |
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Supreme Being
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Stephen, I really struggled with Green Green Rocky Road because I was working it straight from the TAB. On an e-mail, Happy mentioned about playing from memory, and so I began to play it just on the beat, and from sound/memory (my 7 year old loves to sing that song-----gives you a hint on how often I have done that song!) and this helped a lot. I still struggle with off beat but what I have now done is taken Happy's advice, put "Skip To My Lou" completely to memory (on beat) and am adding just one hammer-on note at a time, off beat....it is a very slow method but it seems to work. I am trying to remember to keep the thumb beat with my foot, but I think my trombone playing of many years ago hinders me! I will stay at it.
I am also finding that when I work from the DVD day after day, that it is really good to "walk away" for a week-----I added in Kaufman's holiday songs, which are easy and fun, and are just playing them for a week...
Next week, back to business.
Keep letting us know the progress; specifically if the on beat is turning into the off beat....
DVD 2 is a lot of fun, by the way; especially since "Fishin' Blues" is such a great song to play (and one everyone in my household finds themselves singing; changing the lyrics!).
I have peeked at DVD 3, just to give me something to look forward to. I am months away, as I plan on really working hard, from now until July, on KNOWING DVD 1 fully, and DVD fairly well.
I just think that as the months go by, eventually the alternating thumb bass has got to become wired to my brain!
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