So when the guitar landed on my doorstep last December, I went through the same process I had already gone through twice: Play songs using the A, E, D, C and G open cords until I got bored, stumble through others using barre chords until I get frustrated, and attempt to follow various lesson sites somewhat randomly until the guitar ends up in a closet and I'm on to something else. I got theguitar in December, and by late January I had given up...again.

Then in March I came across a 'simple' music theory book at the library - short chapters and lots of illustrations - and checked it out on a whim. For me, it was nothing short of a revelation. Middle C was between the Bass and Treble cleff? Chords are composed of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of any given scale? The minor scale is actually a different 'mode' that uses the major scale pattern beginning at a different location? It probaby sounds nuts, but I was fascinated. (And p*ssed at my 7th grade music teacher for never teaching me this stuff!) I'm analytical by nature, and I suddenly felt like I had the rosetta stone to this whole mysterious language of music and it all made sense.

And in understanding the basics of the 'language', I had this new sense that  the only thing that stood between me and being able to play all of the riffs in 'Sultans of Swing' was a boatload of practice. The guitar wasn't mysterious anymore. Or the piano. Or the oboe. Or the mountain dulcimer.

The guitar came out of the closet, and I've been playing daily since early April. Sometimes as much as 3 hours a day. I know why the chords are arranged the way they are. I can work out my own fingerings. I can transpose songs into different keys. I can work out scales. Incredible! (This probably sounds really lame, but I really was blown away!)

So now that I know the 'language', I've settled on working through the core lessons here to build a foundation. I'm taking each lesson slowly in 3-week increments, as it usually takes that long to build up the 'muscle memory' that makes movements second nature. I'm in no rush - it's not like I'm going to fulfill any rock star dreams at this age. If I can improvise a respectible blues solo by 60, I'll be happy.

For now, though, my goal is to get just good enough that I won't embarress myself 'test-driving' an upgrade for the Kay at the local guitar store.

(btw - Is there really that big a difference between the Squire and Kay that I've played and the more expensive stuff? Can I just swap out the pickups on the Kay to get the same effect?)

I turned 40 last year, and the most interesting gift I got was a second-hand Kay "Star*ter" stratocaster knock-off left on my doorstep by some friends. My wife and I were already in bed when they rang the doorbell and sped off, and she started laughing as soon as we heard it.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Go look," she responded, with equalparts amusement and resignation.

I had been casually mentioning that I wanted to take up the guitar to various people over the last year, and one of the couples we hang out with took me seriously. "Put up or shut up," they were saying. And "happy birthday." (They had checked with my wife beforehand to make sure they wouldn't cause a divorce.)

For my long suffering wife, this potential hobby was joining a very crowded field: British cars, windsor chair building, woodworking, gardening, writing. I wasn't around as it was, and now I'd be abusing her with tortured chords and scales when I was. For better or worse, indeed.

It had been less than 4 years since I gave away my Squire strat (purchased on my 36th) after convincing myself I was hopeless. And 10 years since I'd sold my Applause shallow-bodied acoustic for the same reason. No doubt she already had the e-Bay ad prepared.

But something seems to be different this time. 8 months on and I'm still practicing nightly. And still encouraged. And enjoying it! I've been trying to learn to play an instrument since grade school - will this third time with the guitar be the charm? I'll keep you posted...

Well, I've taken the leap, joined and become a member, completed the enrollment form, watched the "how to use..." videos, and have familiarized myself with the contents and navigation of the site, Sooooo....

It's time to stop "getting ready" and time to start doing.  I have my first assignment, I've printed out the TAB, now I just need the courageand determination to sit down and start banging away at it. === Wish me luck.

Well, I havn't played the guitar sence my last band broke up, bout a year ago (japanese jesus and the angry sensei's).  I feel this coming back to guitar was a spawning of a few events that have happened to me over the past few days.  one was a bbq over my old bassist's house, which got us talkin bout jamin again. (also picked up my amp).  eventualy we were like, We defneed to get back together and jam. 

also the following day I was invited to a battle of the bands concert to watch a freinds band play, was cool and there was a party after.  When I went to the party we I got the chance to jam with some of the members of the band and realized that although my drumming skills havn't gone away (I was a drummer for like 6 years before moving to an appartment with neighbors that couldn't stand loud drums, eg. the change to guitar)... My guitar skills had gone to crap.  

I was a member of this particular site and found it quite helpfull when I was first starting, so figured this would be a good place to get my chopps back up again and take me further than I was before (lead guitarist.. but not a very good one, lol).

To press the though that was growing in my head even more.  I was asked by my freind who I went to jam with if her and her freind could get music lessons from me, one on drums (which I had taught before) and one on guitar (i'm atleast alot further along than her, so I can give her good ideas on her practice and i know a good amount of music theory to help her with)... so if I want to be able to help, i just going to have to make sure I progress alot faster than her.  So good modivation.

 And on that note, the song I am now working on learning is bleak by Opeth.  A great melodic opener for the song that realy caught my ear.