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Listen carefully.

GET BACK TO PLAYING!!!

End of message.

- Zurf

You sound like a guitar player all right.  All of those problems are extremely common among us.  For when to come in... practice.  For how to know which chord to use after which, basic theory.  Theory can get extremely complicated, but basic theory can get you started.  Keep an eye on the Music Theory forum here on Chordie, and if you don't understand something either (a) do a search on that term as it has probably been discussed before, (b) ask because Jerome and Russell are fantastic at bringing the complex down to the working guitarists level, or (c) both.  Please understand that you are unlikely to understand theory just by reading it.  You have to put in your time with scales and arpeggios (chords played one note at a time in order) and inversions (chords playing one note at a time out of order).  As you put in your time on those, and keep up with the reading, you'll begin to internalize it.  It takes time.  It's not a one afternoon fix. 

As far as writing songs and not knowing how to do it, I have no advice for that.  I'm in the same boat.  I've got some good hooks and concepts in my head, but I have a difficult time getting it down on paper and especially difficult time working out a melody on the guitar.  Just keep at it and wait for the Eureka! moment. 

- Zurf

"The more you drink, the better I sound."  :-)

- Zurf

You're all forgetting that Mrs. Topdown is two states away because Topdown just changed jobs and moved, but she hasn't caught up yet.

I have to say that while whiskey does improve with age, I have no plans to sample it on the second time around.

You have good company, then.  Many of us took up or took back up guitar when our beards were gray and hair sparse. 

Welcome to Chordie.  I look forward to your participation. 

- Zurf

Ben Gay on the shoulder.
Ease up on the practice. 
If it persists for too long, see if you can get a session or two with a physical therapist to teach you exercises to stabilize and strengthen your shoulder.  Also, be careful that you are using proper guitar playing posture.  Poor posture can cause all manner of ills. 

- Zurf

My first time playing guitar with a group was when I was camping.  There were these great campfire sessions every night that I did not participate in.  However, I did have my guitar along to practice and so I was sitting outside my tent practicing and getting a lesson from a friend who was camping with me when a couple of the other campfire pickers showed up with their guitars (Dirty Ed among them) and started playing.  And so it was not my intention to be in the campfire circle that night, but there was a "matinee" campfire circle that formed around me.  When it broke up, Dirty Ed said, "Remember your guitar tonight Big D."  (Big D is one of my nicknames)  And so I went and I played "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" and I messed it up six ways until Sunday, but Dirty Ed kicked in an sang along and took the pressure off of remembering the lyrics, which freed me up to remember the chords and it all worked out.  Later I did "Country Roads" by John Denver and one of the fellow's wives who was a tall and beautiful blonde woman started singing along and she had a beautiful voice.  After she started in, then my friend Al Pugh did too and the two of them sang so beautifully that I almost forgot that I was the one "leading" the tune.  It made me feel really good that other people would recognize what I was playing and felt comfortable to join in.  For me, that's what campfire music is all about - anybody and everybody who knows the song kicking in and having a good time.  It's one of the reasons I enjoy jamming with Detman101 so much.  Even if he's never heard the song before, he'll pick up on it and play some bluesy licks and fills that really makes the song that much better and more fun. 

- Zurf

Haven't tried it, but it would be fun to.  Have you got a scroll saw?  I think that'd be all you would need.  The wood should be available on-line from a retailer like www.woodcraft.com or one of their competitors.  If you have trouble finding the wood, let me know.  My dad is much better informed on wood resources and I'd be happy to ask him on your behalf. 

- Zurf

Hot, hazy, and humid.  Some days add an "er" to the end.  Same as usual.  Hoping for a nice fall.  If it didn't mean that winter were right around the corner, I think fall would be my favorite season.  This year we had spring for a few hours one Wednesday afternoon. 

- Zurf

Well.  That's twice.  AAAAAMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!   Heeeeelllllppppp. 

one more try...

- Zurf