Beginner's Thread

[close2u]

Posting your first audio / video of you playing is a big step for some.  So, we have this thread just for members taking their first steps.  If you have never posted before and would prefer not to create your own thread, with the spotlight on you individually, then you are more than welcome to join in here.

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A few house rules:

1]
We would like the Beginner's thread to be for Beginners only, working through Justin's Beginners Course Classic or New playing songs from the Songs section of the website or his songbooks.

2]
We would ask that you limit your uploads in the Beginner's thread to a maximum of five per person.  This could be five recordings of the same song, showing your progress. It could be five different recordings, perhaps from the same stage, perhaps spread out across several stages of learning.

3]
When you reach this maximum, or before if you feel confident enough, we ask that you then begin to use the wider Progress, Performance & Feedback Area. 

a] Create your own threads in Audio or Video of YOU Playing.

b] Share any live performance you may have enjoyed (for example at an open mic) in the Live Performance Audio / Video section.

c] Have fun stretching yourself with a challenge in the Guitar Challenges threads [ i ] Songs [ ii ] Improvisations [ iii ] Miscellaneous

d] Work together with others in the Collaborations / Songwriting / Projects Area

d] Look for specific, constructive criticism for original songs / music etc in the Music Critique Section

e] Don't forget - you can look to meet up with other guitarists in real-life in the Meeting Place.

f] You can create a little of your own (editable) space for audio projects, learning logs, posting photos of your gear etc in Road Cases.

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Jump aboard and join in.

Be positive - about your own progress and towards others.

Give 'Good Vibes' to others.

Have fun. 



Thank you.

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INDEX (names in bold have reached the maximum of 5 and are requested to create their own threads)


erichamion
[1] October 06 2014 - I Walk The Line


Rolandson
[1] October 23 2014 - California Dreaming
[2] November 11 2014 - California Dreaming (take 2)
[3] December 01 2014 - California Dreaming (take 3)
[4] December 11 2014 - California Dreaming (take 4)
[5]  January 13, 2015 - California Dreaming (take 5)


Floydnb
[1] October 26 2014 - Three Little Birds


Tobyjenner
[1] October 27 2014 - What's Up
[2] October 28 2014 - What's Up (take 2)


Rossco01
[1] November 10 2014 - Everybody Hurts


McLabraid
[1] November 11, 2014 - Wild Thing


dbrx
[1] December 07, 2014 - Walk Of Life
[2] December 07, 2014 - Mad World
[3] December 14 2014 - This Year's Love
[4] March 15, 2015 - Mad World (take 2)
[5] March 15, 2015 - Back To December (takes 1 & 2)


Bad Omega
[1] December 07 2014 - I Walk The Line


phx1973
[1] December 10 2014 - Unknown Song (track now deleted)
[2] December 11 2014 - Wild Thing (track now deleted)
[3] December 12 2014 - Mad World (track now deleted)
[4] December 15 2014 - I Walk The Line (track now deleted)
[5] December 16 2014 - Killing Me Softly (track now deleted)


Numbnuts
[1] December 11 2014 - What's Going On
[2] January 19, 2015 - Killing Me Softly
[3] January 19, 2015 - Mad World
[4] March 10 2015 - Orphan Girl


Boobook
[1] January 03 2015 - Three Little Birds
[2] January 11 2015 - A Girl Like You
[3] January 28 2015 - Hey Joe
[4] February 14 2015 - Killing Me Softly
[5] March 12 2015 - I Wanna Hold Your Hand


m_c
[1] January 17 2015 - Killing Me Softly
[2] January 24 2015 - Before You Accuse Me
[3] January 30 2015 - Chord progression
[4] January 30, 2015 - Brown Eyed Girl


lunarscope
[1] January 31, 2015 - Three Little Birds
[2] January 31 2015 - Wild Thing
[3] March 13 2015 - What's Up
[4] April 27 2015 - That's Alright
[5] April 27 2015 - Brown Eyed Girl

ajmarch
[1] February 07, 2015 - What's Up (track now deleted)
[2] February 07 2015 - Common People (track now deleted)
[3] February 19 2015 - Back To December
[4] February 24 2015 - Back To December (take 2)


PW62
[1] April 16 2015 - Love Me Do
[2] April 17 2015 - Love Me Do (take 2)
[3] April 18 2015 - What's Going On
[4] April 20 2015 - Brown Eyed Girl
[5] April 21 2015 - I'd Rather Go Blind


Tobsen
[1] April 24 2015 - Killing Me Softly
[2] May 06 2015 - 12 bar blues in A
[3] May 27 2015 - Back To December
[4] May 30 2015 - Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay


randomlock
[1] June 28 2015 - Mad World
[2] July 28 2015 - Sweet Child Of Mine (intro)


ojr
[1]  August 03 2015 - The Drugs Don't Work


jonrob
[1] September 28 2015 - Killing Me Softly


JaminCat
[1] December 29 2015 - Mad World


Davdo
[1] January 30 2016 - Dock Of The Bay


Omar
[1] April 23 2016 - A and D chord changes
[2] May 01 2016 - Three Little Birds
[3] July 29 2016 - Fast Car
[4] August 17 2016 - Fast Car
[5] September 17 2016 - A Girl Like You


Jackl
[1] May 19 2016 - Mad World


asic
[1] May 22 2016 - A Girl Like You
[2] August 15 2016 - How To Save A Life


clutterfingers
[1] October 23 2016 - Voice


lihp8270
[1] November 20 2016 - Killing Me Softly
[2] November 26 2016 - Working Class Hero


Laila
[1] November 26 2016 - What's Up
[2] December 18 2016 - Chocolate Jesus
[3] January 13 2017  -Working Class Hero


The_Hodge75
[1] November 30 2016 - Three Little Birds


McCosta84
[1] December 10 2016 - Save Tonight
[2] January 13 2017 - Save Tonight (revisited)

zoglug
[1] January 03 2017 - Stand By Me
[2] January 03 2017 - Wonderwall


farshield
[1] January 08 2017 - Mad World
[2] January 23 2017 - House Of The Rising Sun
[3] February 14 2017 - The Gambler


Unsui
[1] February 05 2017 - I'd Rather Go Blind
[2] February 08 2017 - The Gambler
[3] March 01 2017 - Bad Moon Rising
[4] March 25 2017 - Hurt


willsie01
[1] February 26 2017 - Hurt
[2] April 02 2017 - The A Team


sdd56
[1] March 26 2017 - What's Up


vibranttrout
[1] June 23 2017 - Nothing Else Matters
[2] June 29 2017 - Nothing Else Matters (take 2)
[3] June 30 2017 - Banana Pancakes


PerryE
[1] October 06 2017 - Mad World (link now dead)
[2] October 06 2017 - Sing (link now dead)
[3] October 17 2017 - Mad World (take 2)
[4] October 17 2017 - Sing (take 2)


sdd56
[1] December 30 2017 - Last Christmas


sarah598
[1] March 08 2018 - Back To December


LeftyLoosy
[1] March 19 2018 - This Year's Love
[2] March 27 2018 - Back To December


daren.brown.16
[1] April 01 2018 - Perfect


The_Fien
[1] May 13 2018 - Three Little Birds
[2] May 17 2018 - I'd Rather Be Blind


silman
[1] August 30 2018 - Bad Moon Rising
[2] August 30 2018 - Hey Ya



PilgimPod
[1] November 05 2018 - Down On The Corner



OpsRes
[1] December 18 2018 - Chatahoochee (not in Beginner Songbooks)

[erichamion]

Well, we might as well get this started.  While this isn't technically the first media I've posted here, it's certainly the first actual playing.  I Walk the Line, or some approximation thereof.  I didn't use headphones, so the metronome is audible in the recording, which was intentional (although I didn't want it to record nearly that loudly).

Criticism is welcome.  I'm not sure whether I'm trying to push the tempo too high before I'm ready.  I know about the painfully slaughtered D chord in the second half, and it's not unusual (specifically for that chord) when I'm playing this song that way.

  https://soundcloud.com/erichamion/2014-10-05-i-walk-the-line

[close2u]

@erichamion

Good Vibes given for posting and starting this thread rolling.
Early morning here so I will have to listen another time.


Edit after listening ... as Marcus suggests below ... a little out-of-time on some of the changes.
Try to strum so that you 'make the metronome disappear'.
Justin teaches the knack here - albeit with scale pattens - you can apply it to chordal strums too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1mlnUVYkNs

http://justinguitar.com/en/TE-403-TheDisappearingMetronomeTrick.php

It's coming along well so keep on practicing the same way.

[marcusmarkmus]

That sounds good eric. I dont think its too fast for you at all imo, keep trying to get it perfect at that tempo. Some chords doesnt start perfectly on the beat, maybe due to chordchanges needing a little work. 

[Rossco01]

Good start erichamion and a big plus for stepping up and recording.

Need to up the levels from a recording point of view but you sounded pretty on beat to me.. how long have you been playing? keep practicing you'll get there.

[Sweed77]

Nice first effort erichamion.  I didn't think the tempo was too fast for you.  As marcus suggests get it perfect at that tempo.  The strumming pattern you switched to in the second half didn't seem to throw you off at all and I could sing along to it, so that makes it a song .  Good start.

[erichamion]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. 

[Rolandson]

there are a few mistakes in the song. I play it with the correct strummin but it doesn't sound right.

https://soundcloud.com/thewholedamntruth/california-dreaming

[Tim Mason]

Hi Rolandson

It probably doesn't sound right because you're hesitating between chord changes. This is perhaps because you're having to concentrate on the strumming pattern. So it may be helpful to go back to four downstrums for this song until you've got the chord changes drummed into your memory. But if you want to work on both at the same time, it'll sound a bit off until you've brought them together successfully.

[Rolandson]

thanks

[Rossco01]

Good effort Rollandson. The intro almost sounds like it's there . You're not a million miles away with rest you just need to get comfortable with chord switches. My version isn't great ( as I think this is a tricky song ) but if you listen yours isn't far away.

[Sweed77]

@ Rolandson

Dreamin is a tough one between the two bar strumming pattern, the push on the & count after the 4th beat in first bar, and bars that use F for only half the bar.  With chord changes not being smooth it is hard for me to tell but are you pushing the chord at the end of the first bar on the & upstrum after the 4th beat?  This one thing makes a huge difference in how the song sounds.  Jason explains it in video so if you haven't watched it check it out.  One example would be in the bar with the Am-G-F-G chord progression it should be like this..  Note how the F is played a half beat before the bar changes.


AM        G        F          F      G
D    D    D U    U          D      D U D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 1 + 2 +   3 + 4 +


In your recording the chords are clear and the problem is how quick you can make the changes and perhaps the push(?). As Tim said you could either go back to a simple 4 down to lock in the chord changes and then go back to the real pattern or, you can continue with the real pattern and know that it will be simply time and practice that will smooth things over.   

You're on the right track with the chords ringing pretty clear.  With some more practice you'll soon have the chord changes up to speed. 

[floydnb]

Seeing the constant improvement of others in this thread is really encouraging so thanks everyone for posting. 

I think I'm almost ready to move onto stage 2 of the beginners course so I thought posting in this thread from the start will be a good way to keep me motivated. 

Anyways I've uploaded my first recording (three little birds) for stage 1. 
 
https://soundcloud.com/floydnb/three-little-birds-stage-1


All feedback welcome.   

[close2u]

@ floydnb

Confident and clear strumming on the chords ... crisp changes ... there is nothing major to find fault with... everything is coming together nicely and as you progress through the next few stages you will improve more no doubt.
Well done.
Critique:
Sometimes the 4th strum, just before a chord change, is a little uncertain ... is this the anxious anticipation of having to shift your fingers? Maybe. It'll disappear with learning and practice.
Your tempo varies ever so slightly. Later stages introduce practice with a metronome. And as you improve ability you'll be able to keep up with the speed of the records and play along. These will improve your in-built rhythm / metronome. So again, you will see natural improvements if you 'stick with the program'.

Good Vibes to you and keep at it, good progress on Stage 1.

[Sweed77]

@ floydnb

Pretty much just going to echo Close2u.  Nice clear chords and changes, really quite nice for stage 1.  One of the first things I notice when I listen to a new players recording is whether or not it is easy to sing along with.  With smooth chord changes and pretty good tempo there is no problem doing that with your song.   Really well done for stage 1, keep at it.

[pipsickle]

Floyd - I agree that was very good for stage 1. I wouldn't have noticed the 'shaky' fourth strum but did catch it having read close's comment, but as he says I'm sure that will come with practice. Very confident strumming for this stage - well done!

[Rossco01]

Welcome back Pip! Hope you had a lovely time and we all missed you.

Really nice Floyd and sounds like you're exactly where you should be at this stage. Keep going as you are and practicing in the same way. You'll soon be tackling more difficult stuff

[floydnb]

Thanks for the comments everyone it's really helpful to gauge my progress. 

@Close2u I hadn't notice the difference with the 4th strum until you mentioned it. I think you're 100% correct that I'm strumming with a little more hesitatation getting 'ready' for the chord change. 

[Rolandson]

at Sweed77
ah that's the strumming pattern

AM        G        F          F      G
D    D    D U    U          D      D U D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 1 + 2 +   3 + 4 +

thanks
 I had
AM                              G
D    D    D U    U          D      D U D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 1 + 2 +   3 + 4 +

[tobyjenner]

WHATS UP 4 Non Blondes

Ok folks I know I'm BC8 going on 9 at the moment but have been going back over some of the earlier material. Normally I'd be happy to pump tracks out direct into AVOYP but a little unsure of this one, so Beginner SB it is. Timing seems a bit rough although using a metrnome (@135) and there a few missed up strums but as usual I'm always hard on myself.

  https://soundcloud.com/tobyjenner/whats-up-4nb

Played on my Squirerstrat for 2nd or 3rd time - much prefer this on the acoustic but struggling to get a recording set up for that at the moment.

Feedback welcome as always 

[Borodog]

@tobyjenner

Steady rhythm. Could use a lighter touch with some dynamics, and your level seemed blown out, but well done. I expected something much shoddier from your description. ;O)

[SiegeFrog]

tobyjenner

I happen to be working on this song at the moment too, so I was interested to hear your version. I'm not sure why, but it sounds different to me. I think you're using the strumming pattern from the book, and the changes and strumming sound good, but to my untrained ears, there's a difference. Are you using a capo? Which fret? Are you using G Am C G chord grips? I'm going to have to go back to the original and see what I'm missing. Maybe it's the tempo. 135 bpm seems a little fast. I've been playing it at 65 bpm as 16th notes, so that's about the same. When you listen to it next to the original, what do you hear?

[stitch101]

@ tobyjenner
re:
WHATS UP 4 Non Blondes

Slow down to around 70bpm on your metronome. Your rushing the chord changes. Maybe try playing
along with the original video Justin has posted under the lesson video.

[tobyjenner]

@Borodog - thanks. Just started recording via Guitar Rig and not quite got the settings right but I'll take on board touch and dynamics. One of my biggest problems is being heavy handed, as I drop the pick when I lighten things up. All about practice. And yes it could do with some accents

@stitch and Siege respectively
Chord progression GAmCG as you state, capo on 2nd as per BSB.
With both of your comments on tempo I think I've sussed out what I'm doing wrong, that, as stitch said, I'm rushing the chord changes and Seige

it sounds different to me.Maybe it's the tempo. 135 bpm seems a little fast. I've been playing it at 65 bpm as 16th notes, so that's about the same. When you listen to it next to the original, what do you hear?

Well I listened to the original again and realised that I was playing
G D+DUD+DU Am DUDU3UDU C D+DUD+DU G DUDU3UDU
not
G D+DUD+DU DUDU3UDU Am D+DUD+DU DUDU3UDU C D+DUD+DU DUDU3UDU G D+DUD+DU DUDU3UDU
so thats Seige 16th then. And seems more like the 4NBs original.

I need to go back to Justin's lesson as Stitch said and the accompanying video. The BSB shows the strumming pattern over 2 bars
Bar 1 D+DUD+DU Bar 2 DUDU3UDU
so I saw this a chord change for each bar.

I think this why I did not just drop this into the AVOYP thread on its own. Something did not sit right for me, so I'm grateful of the feedback. I'll give it a few days to absorb and analyse what I thinks going on, reviewing J's lesson and the many vids on Youtube to confirm the pattern.

Thank you Forum, forever helpful 

[tobyjenner]

This would suggest 16ths at 63 bpm

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0027666

Tried it sounds better but recording was a bit shoddy. Need to sort that before a re-post