[starsailor]

Originally Posted by ouchiefingers

Thanks starsailor, yeah my poor dog, especially with a heightened hearing, he really picks out those dud notes...god knows he is used to my bad singing!...so in a year he will love me again?
Are you good after a year? Do you practive every day?

Mine got used to it after a while ouchiefingers, I kind of used her as a gauge of my improvement, when she didn't walk off so quickly I felt like I was getting somewhere I didn't really realise how bad I was until I'd learnt a few chords and started improving, I think my family was pretty patient as well, I learnt on a nylon classical, not the best to strum on, then I switched to a steel string, I use the classical to practice fingerstyle on now.
It took me ages to get the hang of strumming, I was really bad and it took me a long time before I could up strum, I'm not too bad now, I've learnt a few chords and I know the fretboard fairly well now but I've still got a lot to learn, I still struggle with Barre Chords.
I practice a bit every day, I also just mess about on the guitar and somedays I just play songs, I have a few guitars, one in the hallway, one in my bedroom and one downstairs, this seems to encourage me to play more, they're only cheap guitars though, I have my best guitar downstairs and play that the most I also, have the guitar with me when I'm on here, and I use the lessons online to learn so I do play quite a lot.
Practice is the bottom line with the guitar but I like to have a good time as well as it's my hobby so I don't beat myself up too much if things aren't going my, when you're learning you have good days and bad days, If I have a really bad day I just put the guitar down and go and do something else, everything seems better with a bit of a break.
Hope you're getting on ok ouchiefingers, and that you're enjoying playing.

Best Wishes

Chris