[Garry]

That seems pretty challanging for me Simon. But I'm determined.

One of biggest things that bothers me is my finger-style. Really gets to me.For one, I never had any formal instruction, tried a few lessons but got bored very quickly. Guess you might say I was too anxious to actually play a tune than sit there and go through hum-drum excercises and theory that was presented at the time.Now I have regrets and yet a whole new perspective on what I missed out on.

Yup, looking back, after leaving my music class it was "out of sight-out of mind"..I couldn't wait to get home, 86 the lesson that just made my little mind contort in agony.Break out the new Album I just bought and proceeded to destroy by lifting the stylus repeatedly to "hear that part again" and if ya got lucky, it would gouge that vinyl in just the right spot, where it would repeat automatically I was ahead of the game. What technology!!!! Then once returning to my teacher and feeling like a fool,cause I had no clue what we discussed the prior lesson. Eventually I quit after about a month or so. I clearly remember my teacher "Ronny" saying, "OK Garry, that sounded pretty good, now tell me, explain to me what you just played" and the said thing is, I'm like that to this day.
I play strictly by ear, refer to tab to get an idea of where I'm supposed to be playing and basically just "wing-it" from there.Couldn't begin to tell you what I was doing...or how I was doing it for that matter. Bugs the hell outta me to this day.
Anyway....enough singing the Blues for me..I'm singing praises to people like you, and the ones involved in making this site what it is today. For all you up and coming axe-slingers out there, the amount of help and technology nowadays is unbelievable.
Just think, you could be learning off a stamped sheet of vinyl and a needle. Man..or the super high-tech 8-track tape...there ya go...now ya can't scratch up that album.. just had to wait what seemed like about a week to hear "that" part again...and if ya missed it...well, we won't get into that.
You guys are great here and one more little thing, I'm not throwing these tunes out here to show-boat or show off...I'm putting them on here to get exactly what you just gave me Sid," constructive criticism".. and I want to thank you for that.
Hell, I just learned how to record about a week ago thanks to Canuck-Todd

If I can help you in any way as far as picking Sid, don't hesitate to ask, that's more familiar territory for me....thanks again guys.

Garry

[Blind Rat]

I like it Garry,keep up the good work.

[Lcjones]

Nice stuff.... a few more tracks and you can build an acoutic space music album.

Very cool.

Les

[strtblstr]

Man Garry, I could put my name in front of that paragraph you wrote. I go through my guitar mags tab for a while then I end up jamming to mp3s. I don't read music, my eyes glase over reading theory. That much said, I think part of playing for me is having fun, and jamming with backing tracks improves your improvising skills. Not that theory and reading music isn't a good thing. I envy people that can just pick up sheet music and play, but I don't think I'll ever be able to do it. With the advent of computer recording I get more enjoyment by creating my own songs, adding tracks and seeing how the song evolves and changes.
As far as using a pick, I'm rather profiecient at it and I practice by playing scales. I know, I know, scales are a bad word but some songs lend themselves to scales. Plus it improves your dexterity with your pick hand and fingering hand. I don't mean just sit and play actual scales, I mean figure out a run of notes to a backing track ( the am blues BT is a real good one.) and learn to play one note with the down stroke one note up stroke until you can play it fast. I play to the point of speed picking, If you listen to my take of peter gun, thats what I mean. Then when you play something with more feeling you have more dexterity.
I don't know if this helps any, but bottom line is practice untill your sick of it, jam and have fun in between, and don't give up. you WILL get better.

[B_jamin]

Just when I thought I had that song down pat, I listen to yours. Nicely done.