More plonking

My scales are actually approaching recognizable at this point. Still working on not having to look at the fretboard, as well as only catching the one string at a time, but I'm improving on both fronts.

I'm also finally able to get my chords to ring out nicely on the first-or-second go. So now the big goal is being able to switch between them at something resembling playable speed.

Fingers are definitely toughening, and I'm developing enough muscle in my pinky to hold down the thicker strings properly. Related, I had no idea it was possible for your fingertips to be numb *and* hurting at the same time. Ow.

Thinking about investing in a gig bag with backpack straps. Amazon has one for less than $20 that's decently well-reviewed. A couple of folks commented on the lack of padding, and of course there's the fact that zippers eventually break, but given that [a] my guitar's hardly anything I'm overly worried about protecting and [b] that's a great price, I'm thinking I'll nab it - it'd be nice to be able to strap it on and head downtown on my bike. I need some more picks and possibly a string winder, too. And Brian can use some new strings for the Frankenfender.

Strumming away still makes me feel like a hippie, and probably will until I get to the point where I can perform regularly. (Note that that's not a derogatory statement coming from me - my parents were pretty close to the hippie generation, and in their twenties played together in a band called Peace Rose that sang raising-environmental-awareness songs, fer chrissakes. It's just the strongest association I have with amateur acoustic-guitar playing.) So of course when I found these picks I had to order a set. And, in keeping with the theme, I've decided to call my guitar Mary Jane. :D

Meanwhile, it looks like I've picked up the new hobby just in time - I just got the "business is slowing so we probably won't need you again until fall" email from my second job, and Cristina's been making noises about reducing my hours on the first one (though so far she's been only marginally successful, thanks to a crazy week with the rest of the employees). So I should have plenty of time to practice daily. I think I'm going to make it my goal to be reasonably skilled and have a repertoire of between three and ten songs that I can perform without embarrassing myself by the end of the summer. (I'd set a more firm number but I don't know how long it'll take me to get to the song-performing point, or how long it'll take me to learn said songs when I do.) Wish me luck, everyone - though, more importantly, wish that my enthusiasm doesn't run out.

More plonking

My scales are actually approaching recognizable at this point. Still working on not having to look at the fretboard, as well as only catching the one string at a time, but I'm improving on both fronts.

I'm also finally able to get my chords to ring out nicely on the first-or-second go. So now the big goal is being able to switch between them at something resembling playable speed.

Fingers are definitely toughening, and I'm developing enough muscle in my pinky to hold down the thicker strings properly. Related, I had no idea it was possible for your fingertips to be numb *and* hurting at the same time. Ow.

Thinking about investing in a gig bag with backpack straps. Amazon has one for less than $20 that's decently well-reviewed. A couple of folks commented on the lack of padding, and of course there's the fact that zippers eventually break, but given that [a] my guitar's hardly anything I'm overly worried about protecting and [b] that's a great price, I'm thinking I'll nab it - it'd be nice to be able to strap it on and head downtown on my bike. I need some more picks and possibly a string winder, too. And Brian can use some new strings for the Frankenfender.

Strumming away still makes me feel like a hippie, and probably will until I get to the point where I can perform regularly. (Note that that's not a derogatory statement coming from me - my parents were pretty close to the hippie generation, and in their twenties played together in a band called Peace Rose that sang raising-environmental-awareness songs, fer chrissakes. It's just the strongest association I have with amateur acoustic-guitar playing.) So of course when I found these picks I had to order a set. And, in keeping with the theme, I've decided to call my guitar Mary Jane. :D

Meanwhile, it looks like I've picked up the new hobby just in time - I just got the "business is slowing so we probably won't need you again until fall" email from my second job, and Cristina's been making noises about reducing my hours on the first one (though so far she's been only marginally successful, thanks to a crazy week with the rest of the employees). So I should have plenty of time to practice daily. I think I'm going to make it my goal to be reasonably skilled and have a repertoire of between three and ten songs that I can perform without embarrassing myself by the end of the summer. (I'd set a more firm number but I don't know how long it'll take me to get to the song-performing point, or how long it'll take me to learn said songs when I do.) Wish me luck, everyone - though, more importantly, wish that my enthusiasm doesn't run out.