Feynman

For what it's worth Zen, you more than paid back your Mom's sacrifices - you're one of the best players I've heard. It was a guitar in the right hands. I'm sure I've told my story here before, but I'll recap since I started the thread. I always wanted to play guitar, but we were poor and my father had a pretty stern policy against useless things like music and literature (my two favorite things). There's no way in hell I could have gotten a guitar or lessons. When I was 25, I was in the Air Force and working at a coffee house in the evenings. A guitar playing friend from the coffee house gave me the Yamaha he used through his music degree, on the condition that I promised to learn to play someday. It sat in my apartment for over a year (he had since moved out of state), but I finally decided to buy myself guitar lessons for my birthday. My first lesson was the evening of my 27th birthday, and I was hooked in no time. I played that Yamaha for years before I was in a position to buy something nicer, but that was a pretty great guitar anyway. I only recently found a deserving home for it which I'm very happy about, but I had logged thousands of hours on that guitar over the last sixteen years. It was bittersweet to see it go, but far more sweet than bitter. I got pretty decent with the ole Yamaha, so I feel like with some effort I can be decent at electric someday too. I really like theory, and fingerstyle anything, and Bach and Bossa Nova and jazz and flamenco and...well, everything. Unfortunately, between work and night school and a bunch of kids, practice time is next to zero. The things I learn are given no time to reach my fingers...it's very frustrating. Someday I'll actually finish school and have some time on my hands to work on improving. I suppose until then I'll just hack away in my spare moments, try out new guitars and chat with you lovely people. Thanks for listening.

Nice!

Total agreement here.

Come on folks - entertain/enlighten me! Brooks? Zenmindbeginner? Brother Lathrop? Harry65? JeffRo? Bruce919? Shredmeistermonster? JackC? Etc...

i had a mini-debate at work which got me curious. I'm completely a guided-by-educated-teacher proponent, but I realize that isn't how everyone thinks. We all have differing abilities, goals and interests anyway. What did you do? What works best or doesn't for you? Did you listen to records and try to copy? Read any books? Play with better musicians and pick up tidbits? College? Do you like learning theory or have no use for it? You get the idea. This place is full of fantastic players - I'd love to hear your stories. Edited to include our bassists.

My favorite Strat model. Good luck with the search.

What fun is that?

Fine. Don't click it.

That's some funny stuff right there.

Forge Steve Stevens signature, with a message thanking you for teaching him to play and turning him onto Hamer.

I just got mine too - thank you very much! For those who haven't ordered it, what are you waiting for? As a teaser for you, I've scanned in the first chapter here. If you don't want to buy it after this, shame on you:

Assuming our love for you isn't enough, try this:

Because Beethoven wrote great music.

Edited to add: or Jason Newsted

Lovely, lovely Ludwig van!

He has a link to the POD settings in the video's description...

It really is. I've probably listened to it about 25 times in a row so far. I've always had a thing for Lynch's tone and phrasing (don't we all?), and few can pull it off I think. The ever humble Zen has it down. Zen and his Pod are clearly as one. That Hamer is in worthy hands.

Channeling some serious Lynch in all of its toneful goodness.. http://youtu.be/JMy1UNuXUS0

Thanks. My decline is due to simple neglect. I've barely tread water these last few years as I've concentrated on buying and selling electric guitars instead of trying to be a better guitarist. Also, classical and electric really are two very different instruments, so working on one can actually hurt performance on the other. I guess I'm just a little bummed that I have neglected the guitar I love most of all, and for what, to own 47 electrics in six years?! That's a whole different topic though, and it probably requires psychoanalysis. In any case, this wasn't really supposed to be about me - I'm just hoping that some of you make steady musical progress, which was always my real goal until this unfortunate yet fun multi-year distraction.

I'm a bit bummed as I have this amazing sounding new guitar but I seem to have lost the capability to do anything with it. I know what to do, but moments like these are frustrating. I have lost a significant amount of ability over the past seven years, in several ways. How about you? I hope most of you are progressing (unless that's not what you are looking for, and of course that's cool too). I could use some inspiration.

Armitage....wins.

WTF? You're OUT! (Jerk) Edited to add "Jerk."

Forgive the delayed update - I've been in Japan for the past two weeks. Congrats to Austin.

Bubs' Soldano ad is getting too much attention.