[Buddy Love]

I know many people like me have been ripped off by claims of miracle learning methods and books. Here’s my story:

I’m 55 years old and started back to playing guitar again last year – 2005. I first started playing when I was 14 back in the early 60’s. Learned about 3 chords but got extremely confused by the books of that era and went into semi-retirement for 41 years.

When I started back I was amazed at all the information on the internet and the new books on the market. I began learning more than 3 chords and a lot of music theory. Yes, there are a lot of method books today but you can easily work your way into a state of confusion.

My wife also plays guitar. We were playing and singing together and making great music. We loved it. Recorded together and those who heard it were amazed of how quick we learned guitar.

I decided that I needed to learn to improvise during our breaks to fancy up our songs. I then began the search to learn how to improvise. I began buying and obtaining all the popular CAGED methods and books.

As I began my regimen of learning scales and modes, practice routines, etc., as the books and lessons demanded – something happened. I started to hate doing scales and modes. I started to dislike being forced to do something – I didn’t understand. It just didn’t make sense. Also, starting guitar late in life – I felt that I’d never learn the guitar in this lifetime. I started to hate just picking up the guitar for the gruesome practice time.

Having a background in computers, creative thinking, and statistical methods, I quit playing and just studied the fretboard. Having seen patterns in statistics – I became convinced that there was something there in the fretboard that I wasn’t seeing. The CAGED methods alluded to it but no one was saying out front what was there. I determined if I couldn’t find something to explain what was there – I was giving it up - again. Life was too short to waste time practicing something that would take years to master.

Searching the internet one night I found Guitars for Beginners. I looked at all the free lessons Kirk has on here and his explanations of his method on the Plane Talk site. It seemed like this guy had something. I sent Kirk a list of questions about it and he kindly responded. I told my wife that this was the last book I buy – if it didn’t work out – that’s it.

I read through the book as he suggested a couple of times. I picked up my guitar which hadn’t been played in a few weeks and bingo – making melody. My wife and I were shocked. The book and slide rule are amazing. The Plane Talker’s Forum is a gold mine of advice. It has the friendliest people on the internet who actually care about each other and will answer any question. A week later I ordered the DVD which really put it together.

Honestly, as a fellow player and human being, Plane Talk works! Do yourself a favor and get it. If you aren’t having fun playing the guitar and see no direction for the future – get the book and DVD. You will not believe how quickly everything will come together.

Lastly, Plane Talk is about freedom. The freedom to play what you want, when you want, know what you’re doing and - not stress yourself out. I am eternally grateful to Kirk and Clancy for Plane Talk and these forums.

Cheers,

Dan