moving on

Like I said last time, I skipped to the next lesson which is on the 12 fret blues. It was a nice change of pace but I don't sound anything like the guy on the computer. Shocker, eh? Still ended up doing the chords a few times and it wasn't bad. Ended up practicing for an hour or more, as compared to the usual 20 minutes when I just was doing the chords.
I actually took the last two days off because I was busy. I needed a reminder on the minor chords but the majors I have in my head. Just need to get my fingers to move faster and to go where they are supposed to go.

minor chords are a major pain in the...

fingers. I really thought my fingers were used to the strings, but I was wrong. I started the minor chords yesterday and they sure are tricky. C minor is near impossible, trying to get your pinkie finger up to the fifth string-third fret, while keeping your index and middle in the first fret, and while trying to keep your ring finger out of the way? Then you only strum strings 5-2. Seriously, who came up with that chord? Then you have F and G minor, I just can't get good pressure from my index finger across all six strings. I know, practice, practice, practice.
I might skip on to the next lesson tomorrow after practicing my chords some.

major chords

I know the major chords now and just printed out the minor chords to study. I am slow but can actually do A,C,D,E,F, and G without much trouble. My big problem is that I have to constantly look at my fingers to get them on the right strings and frets. My fingers are getting used to the strings so they don't hurt as much as they just feel weird. I recently started to plug the guitar into the amp and it sounds so much cooler even though I am not actually playing music. All in good time.

knee update

Saw the doctor today and I am finally able to get out of my knee immobilizer. Its nice to not have to have that thing on, but I do feel vulnerable with all these kids around. He tapped my knee to drain off some fluid and got out 30 mls.
I get to start physical therapy next week. I have mixed feelings about that. It is painful and costs $30 so where is the fun in that.
Still have about 3 to 4 weeks until I go back to work. I have to build up my stamina in standing. I can only stand for about 45 minutes to an hour now. At work I stand for 13-14 hours a day.

I practiced my chords today but my finger tips were getting sore so I had to stop after about only 20 minutes.

Guitar practice

I have been practicing the guitar and of course it is so slow going. I have been doing the guitar secrets website lessons for the past several days. I like it because it tells about how to hold the guitar and more of the fundamentals that I just would have taken for granted if I was just doing the book that I have. I know from karate that bad habits can be hard to break in terms of posture and positioning in the long run, so even if something seems uncomfortable now, just let yourself get used to it.
The lessons have you go through and play each and every chord, major, minor, power, barre, and 7th. It seemed like such a waste of time at first because, "like I was going to remember any of them". But my next lesson (which I put off until tomorrow) is Learn how to swap between chords quickly and easily. That basically means, now that you have the chords memorized, practice switching back and forth until you can do it in your sleep. I think I'll be on this lesson for awhile.
I also got a couple podcasts on guitar lessons so eventually I can check these out and compare.

Surprise!

Saturday was my 12th anniversary. My wife bought me 20 or so individually wrapped gifts and I get to open one a day until they are all gone. Yesterday I opened some coffee which is great, then this morning I opened up ... guitar picks and a note for 1 month of lessons! She was so excited when I picked up the guitar the other day to start again, and I was so excited to be supported by her. I hear so many wives at work complaining about there husbands hobbies. I practiced today for about an hour just playing around with the chords, switching back and forth between the G, D7, and C. Mel also mentioned about a website that she had about lessons so I plan to really look at that tomorrow while the kids are at school. I can't wait to check it out tomorrow.

been awhile

I have been away from blogging for a bit, but I have just started to play guitar so I thought I would blog about it. Starting guitar because I am once again out on disablity due to knee surgery. So for now karate, and any type of physical activity is out.

I had originally picked up a guitar in the summer (back when I was heathy) but I had so much going on with karate, camp, activities with the kids, work, so on and so forth, that I just stopped playing. I had actually asked for money for either a guitar or a bass for my birthday back in August, got none, but haven't played anyway. I would like to think that if I had bought one I would have been practicing. Who knows? I'll play with my wifes old axe for now or maybe try to steal the record nerd's guitar that just collects dust.

Didn't do much as far as practicing today, because it is Thanksgiving and all the kids were all over me and we were trying to come up with cute catch phrases to put on our christmas cards. I just practiced a couple chords, g and d7. Just to get my fingers used to the feel and to try to switch back and forth between the chords. I only lasted about 10-15 minutes, but it was cool because Jaren got Reese's guitar and strummed along also. We'll make a noisy guitar duo.