Lots of scales exercises on Youtube. Justinguitar.com has a scales lesson that looks like it ought to be good if I ever actually got around to it...
That's the problem with teaching yourself. Your teacher doesn't know any more than you do.
4,252 2010-12-23 15:24:29
Re: GET BACK TO PLAYING! (143 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I've set a goal for myself of scales and dexterity exercises for 15 minutes a day. I haven't stuck to it, but in a very short period I can already see how it has improved my playing. My recommendation to you is to be more precise in daily goals. Find a warmup exercise on Youtube that you like, and then do some scales practice. Maybe 15 minutes worth. Or maybe alternate scales one day and chord changes the next. But do something very purposefully for at least 15 minutes per day. Then do whatever the heck you feel like working on - like a particular song or a snippet of a solo or what have you for however long you feel like. If you play every day, within six months you'll be doing pretty well and probably ready to sit in on some campfire or front porch jams.
- Zurf
4,253 2010-12-22 23:00:25
Re: Hey I'm new (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Yeah CCString - I taught myself to play guitar too, and I'm amazed that as a student I'd stick with such a bad teacher. No accounting for taste, eh? :-)
4,254 2010-12-22 22:58:02
Re: A little scary glimpse into my brain (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Sorry to hear of the CCstring. We had to watch my mother-in-law decline over the course of eight years as well. It was a blessing for her to go home to the Lord, but that didn't make her passing any easier.
Someday maybe you'll take down the tree. It's the natural course of things. But you shouldn't take it down unless and until you are ready - to heck with what anyone else thinks of it.
- Zurf
4,255 2010-12-22 17:01:19
Re: So THAT'S my problem when playing electric (15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Changing topic a little, Alvee's comment reminded me of my Dad on the occasion of my parent's 25th anniversary. Someone asked him why he married my mother. He said, "I married her for her wealth." Confused by our middle class home, he asked the follow-up question, "So why are you still married?" Dad said, "I'm still waiting for it." The joke of it is that my mother grew up in the sort of circumstances you see in picture books depicting the poverty of Appalachia.
4,256 2010-12-22 03:04:39
Re: So THAT'S my problem when playing electric (15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
The legend is that at one time he was so broke that when he broke the guitar strings he couldn't afford to buy new ones, so he played with what he had. He's doing better now that he's been discovered. I've got no reason to know whether that's true, but I've got no reason to doubt it either. Necessity is the mother of invention. Reminds me a lot of John Lee Hooker's rhythms. "This boy's got to boogie woogie. It's in him, and it's got to come out...."
4,257 2010-12-21 21:26:32
Re: What about the smell? (20 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Detman101 wrote:
Zurfs new guitar smells GOOD!!!
=p
Dm
Rosewood.
4,258 2010-12-21 18:09:49
Re: I've been thinkin (15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Wish I had a good ear. That'll carry you a long way. Listening Mississippi John Hurt and that dude with the Rolling Stones who doesn't know he's dead yet and a whole bunch of other folks who have got groove and funk in them, I don't get the feeling that they spent a whole lot of time in theory classes debating the value of flatted sixths. They just played. And I think (excepting the Classical guys) that's pretty much everyone's goal with an instrument - to cause it to make the music they hear in their head. So, good for you.
- Zurf
4,259 2010-12-21 16:09:40
Topic: So THAT'S my problem when playing electric (15 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I've got too many strings. Seems you only need three strings and a cardboard box.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_0k3hzNS4
- Zurf
4,260 2010-12-21 14:15:34
Re: Hey I'm new (22 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Hello Auxie and welcome to Chordie.
4,261 2010-12-21 14:13:43
Re: Hello, I must be going... (11 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
But we LOVE ukelele stories. Please check in with us now and then. Don't make it goodbye, but just 'so long.'
4,262 2010-12-20 18:06:10
Re: in a pinch... searching for chords 'wheres the line to see Jesus' (2 replies, posted in Song requests)
Hi Twohands. I moved your request to Song Requests. I think you'll be more likely to get a satisfactory answer there. Welcome to Chordie. Don't be a stranger.
- Zurf
4,263 2010-12-20 14:45:23
Re: A little scary glimpse into my brain (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I'm trying Damien. I've never been to Al-Anon (the AA-like group for children of alcoholics), but I suspect this is the sort of issue they discuss there.
- Zurf
4,264 2010-12-20 14:43:35
Re: Progress (8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
My wife and I are both doing this together. Neither of us is tracking weight. She's doing a lot better on trimming down quickly. However, I seem to be getting the most strength benefit. About what would be expected given our respective sexes.
Today we added a Total Gym for strength training. I was able to get it free from the bonus points catalog at work, which is nice. Well, or so I thought until using it this morning. Now I know why they got Chuck Norris as the spokesperson.
4,265 2010-12-18 23:43:54
Re: My Puter is dead RIP (23 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
As I walked out of my office and noticed the Windows 98 PC sitting in the doorway I thought - hmmmmmmm - I wonder if Russell could use some parts. So check with your dude and see if you need anything out of this sucker. I'd like to get rid of it and keep missing the electronics recycling day at the dump.
- Zurf
4,266 2010-12-18 23:41:51
Topic: A little scary glimpse into my brain (12 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Growing up, my Mom (God rest her soul) stressed massively over Christmas decoration set-up. We set up the tree and decorated it much like the Cherokees were marched to Oklahoma - trail of tears. It was pressure, pressure, pressure and to heck with the consequences. Every Christmas Eve. Then on New Year's Day, that tree came down along with any remnants of the season. So I pretty much hate decorating for Christmas, which we did today. I smiled and was happy appearing for the kids while we decorated, taking pictures and helping to put up the decorations - but I've got to admit that this is always a very trying time. It is also safe to say that the fine motor control for accuracy in typing is not my strong suit just at this moment. What a difficult time of year.
- Zurf
4,267 2010-12-17 19:33:05
Re: My Puter is dead RIP (23 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
It's always cool to see someone who knows what he/she is doing get whatever it is done. I remember having an electrician friend over here one time to inspect my rough-ins and do the terminations for me. There were four of us standing around watching him work in sheer awe of his skill.
- Zurf
4,268 2010-12-17 14:57:16
Topic: Progress (8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I mentioned a while ago that I was going to lose some weight, and that I needed to buy a scale. Well, I still haven't bought a scale. However, despite the wide load images in Detman101's videos of our jam session, I must be making some progress. The plan has been five meals a day the way the gastroenterologist told me to do, each of the meals rather small. Like, a pear. That would be one of the meals. Some are larger. Anyway, I've also been allowing myself one treat per day, but only on days that I exercise. This has allowed me some treats and also encouraged discipline in exercise.
Today I moved in a notch on my belt. I am very happy about being able to do this despite it being the eating season.
- Zurf
4,269 2010-12-16 22:12:00
Re: My Puter is dead RIP (23 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
I may be able to get you a hard drive and maybe even one imaged for XP. Let me check with a buddy. He restores computers as a hobby and has a bunch of spares around. Too bad he's in Virginia instead of Wisconsin, else you'd probably be able to get your computer repaired for a game of chess and a chocolate sundae then have a jam session because my buddy's a pretty good picker too.
- Zurf
4,270 2010-12-15 12:46:28
Re: I've Got The Itch (48 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
Buy whatever you want if you can afford it. New guitars have a way of enhancing the desire to practice.
4,271 2010-12-15 12:45:02
Re: Acoustic pickups (12 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)
You may be few in years alviskleen, but I suspect that you are not "just" a kid. My guess is that you are far more important than "just" an anything. Welcome aboard. I look forward to your participation.
4,272 2010-12-13 12:31:27
Re: Hello (first post) (8 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Welcome Holycats. I'm a middle-aged Alex P. Keaton type who picked up guitar with serious intent about four years ago and have been having a good time with it. Thanks for joining us and pitching in. I look forward to your participation.
- Zurf
4,273 2010-12-10 23:24:49
Topic: In need of children's musician on Monday, December 27 in Scranton, PA (0 replies, posted in My local band and me)
There is not much of a budget, but there is a budget. If anyone knows of someone have them contact me at dazurfluh@yahoo.com.
- Zurf
4,274 2010-12-09 16:43:51
Re: By far, the most beautiful thing I've seen all week. (7 replies, posted in Chordie's Chat Corner)
Cool.
4,275 2010-12-09 13:01:24
Topic: Beginner fiddle (9 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
I've checked the "search" function here in "Other string instruments", and I've Googled. I am looking for a beginner fiddle site similar to Justinguitar.com for fiddlers. I'd like to learn, the instrument is just sitting there unplayed and unloved. I pull it out and tune it from time to time to keep it in playable condition, but I don't know the first thing. So, any suggestions? I've typed in "Beginner fiddle lessons" in Youtube and come up with some that seem like they're not entirely beginner. I have some books that I'll get started with. I'm hoping that by August, I'll be able to do a riff or two and maybe a neat shuffle.