[Holly.B]

This has been a very exciting week for me.

On Tuesday I bought my first brand new guitar. I had been playing an acoustic that I'd picked up second hand a couple of years ago. My practicing was sporadic at best because the darn thing was so big and cumbersome for my little hands. I bought an acoustic electric and not only is it not as deep and wide as my old one, the neck is narrower as well. I love the darn thing .. it feels as if it were made for me and it's so darn pretty!

Many people on this site have recommended listening to CD's and trying to play along. I thought that was way beyond my very limited abilities .. until last night. I was listening to Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" and to my amazement, I actually recognized a chord! I picked up my guitar and started to strum along with Bob. A few wrong chords along the way but eventually, and with much perseverance, I got it!

My husband (who by now had listened to Turn the Page about a dozen times) came into my office to ask me to take a break for the night .. until he saw my face. He said "I was going to ask you to stop for the night, but with a smile that big, I don't have the heart."

I can't tell you how much fun it was! I'm definitely hooked.

[Kirk Lorange]

I love reading posts like yours, Holly.B ... it is a rush, isn't it? It sounds like you have a good ear to be able to hear chords and find them on the fretboard. It's a great feeling to experiment a bit and all of a sudden hear for sure that you've zeroed in on the mystery chord. That gets easier and easier to do, too, so keep it up.

[Holly.B]

I think this was a good one to get my feet wet with, so to speak.

I recognized a minor chord .. that was easy, they sound sad to me. I tried Em and it worked. The rest was pretty much trying the chords I knew until it sounded right. Em, D, A, and a C. Pretty darn simple, but no less an incredible feeling of accomplishment. (thank you Mr. Seger for not throwing an F in there)

It also helps a lot, that each chord is played for several (4?) measures. Makes it a great song for beginner guitarists like me.

[Chris C]

What a great post Holly.B

Good for you! And your hubby sounds like he's got a terrific attitude to it all. It can be tough on a partner having to listen to us as we repeatedly hack our way through bits of this and bits of that, and it's wonderful to get some support. My wife has developed 'cloth ears' to cope with my practice. She says that she vaguely hears that I'm playing but that it just becomes part of the general background noise and that she doesn't actually tune in to what I'm doing. She's either worked out a very good way of not letting it be intrusive - or she's wonderfully tactful. I think it's a bit of both.

Well done you for spotting that chord and figuring it all out. I'm jealous. High time I tried figuring a few out for myself as well, but somehow it always seems to be going to be 'next week'. I shall head off now and give it a try.... now I wonder if we've got any Bob Seger.... perhaps I could cheat a little...

Cheers,

Chris

[eddiez152]

Holy.B,
Keep it up, you got the idea. I love to listen and play to CD's thats the way I started.
Now I come here to learn and figure out how to do it better.

[scott58]

Rock on Holly!

[Hilch]

Keep on a rocking Holly

Lovely story

My neighbours usually let me know when its' time to give up for the night , my wife just goes out now .....

[TwistedLefty]

Good job Holly! I wish I would have had CDs when i was younger, i hate to think how many vinyl records I went through.