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You did fine.  Good luck in learning to play.  Check back in often and let us know how it's going.  Lots of beginners on here (including me) to commiserate with you and offer advice. 

- Zurf

In Hard Working Pilgrim, it's a song about a fellow who passes on and is in front of the Lord basically saying, I'm sure I've messed up from time to time, but I've been a true believer and a hard working pilgrim all the way. 

"Don't know how to preach a sermon
'nary a way to make a start
But I'm a God-fearing Christian
Trying best to do my part."   
Going from memory, probably messed it up some, but that's the way with Bluegrass.  Get close and folks'll let it slide.

In Holding up the Ladder, he's talking about a ladder to heaven held up by angels.  He climbs it all his life, and when he reaches the top he's dead but the angels are rejoicing at having another believer come home.  It sums up the idea of being a Christian as a journey rather than a single event or a defining title. 

I like the idea of both of those songs.  Unfortunately for this being a guitar site, the versions I know of both of those songs are a capella harmonized versions.

- Zurf

Nine Tonight by Bob Seger.  I don't even much like Bob Seger, but it's a terrific live album. 

- Zurf

My Yamaha is very similar to the F-310.  Not the best guitar you'll find, but surely good enough to learn on. 

Good list.  Were it me, though, I'd keep it under $200 on a beginner's acoustic until I was sure I was going to stick with it.  Once sticking with it, I'd spend more.  I'm in that mode now, but I've still got some canoes and kayaks to buy...

- Zurf

D
Forever and Ever Amen

For memorization, I put the songs that I want to learn at the present time onto a CD and play it in my car during my commute.  I learn the lyrics that way.

Then I print out the chords (usually from Chordie) and learn to put the chords together with the lyrics playing straight through.  If I find there's a tricky or sticky part for me, I'll go back and hit just that part ten or twenty times a night for a couple weeks and usually that'll be enough practice to get it smoother.  Unless it involves a barre chord that is.  In that case, I'll have to check back with you about how long it takes to get it smoother.

Anyway, I don't try and do it all at once, but I also don't try to learn the guitar part without singing.  Some folks will tell you that, but for myself it doesn't work too well.  I get wrapped up in the playing and then whenever I try to put the lyrics into it, I wind up just mumbling.  It's a push between which is worse, my singing or my guitar playing, but at least they're balanced.  If all I do is mumble, well, that's no fun for anyone especially me. 

Good luck.  Try some different systems and see what works for you.

By the by, I've been seeing the same bunch of guys the same time of year for the past six years or so and except for one fellow who writes a bunch of songs, the other guys play the same songs around the campfire each year and they still sound good.  No need to learn 40 songs!  Do it if you want to, but it's not necessary for back porch picking.

- Zurf

Welcome njbasspro88!!! 

I have nothing to add to the topic.  I just noticed this was njbasspro88's first post.

Thanks Ibaroff for that excellent description.  Very informative. 

- Zurf

Dive in.  Cut yourself some slack.  Sing while you learn.   Keep it fun, but don't shy from the frustrating stuff.  You've got to slog through that stuff to get good with the more funnerer stuff. 

- Zurf

Sure. 

Of course, that Carole King song could cause you some trouble if he believes you.

- Zurf

As long as the instrument makes the right notes, the rest is all a matter of preference.  However, given that choice of trading an Ovation Celebrity for a Martin, I'd jump on it.  Assuming of course that they're relatively equal value on the used instrument market.  Both companies make a fairly wide assortment of guitars.  Ovation makes guitars from the mediocre to the truly mind-blowingly expensive, Martin starts at the better than average and goes on up from there.  I'd think twice about trading a super-amazing Ovation Celebrity I could sell for $1,500 to get a Martin I could buy for $450.  But if we're talking roughly equivalent guitars, I'd jump all over that deal in a heartbeat.

- Zurf

Zany Unoriginal Regurgitated Fodder - speaking of my set list

My real name has the following meanings
"Gift of God"
"Strength"
"Protector of the People"

I should have been a cop instead of a beaurocrat.

- Zurf

Doc - Trying to answer a few of your many questions.

1. There is no connection between Blues and Bluegrass.  Blues has a foundation in Spirituals, which came across the pond with some of our forced immigrants (slaves).  There are a lot of kinds of blues - Memphis, Chicago, and the Mississippi Delta all have their own distinctive styles.  Then there are performers who have their own styles, never to be matched, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker lead the pack there.  I have an album by Buddy Guy (a living legend in Blues himself) doing a John Lee Hooker tribute album.  They put some session talk on the album where Buddy Guy was talking about how you can't play John Lee Hooker music and try to put any kind of rhythm to it but his own. 

Bluegrass on the other hand has its roots mostly in Scottish Highland reels and jigs.  Totally different music, totally different roots, totally different sound. 

2. As far as Chicago, I'm no expert but have been there a few times.  I've never been scared in Chicago the way I've been scared in New York City.  I've walked the underground alone at night and not been worried.  In New York City, I've been in places that scared me with three other people during the daylight.  For a time, my brother-in-law lived with me.  He loves the show Cops.  Well, one time when I was travelling to Los Angeles, I got lost trying to get back to the airport.  I found myself driving through a neighborhood I had seen FREQUENTLY on Cops.  And I needed directions.  So, in my business suit, I got out of the rental car at a convenience store and walked in.  The convenience store side was covered in gang graffiti.  I looked around and found a map and took it to the counter.  The guy said, "You look lost."  "Yeah.  I needed a map."  About that time three tough looking guys came from loitering near the coffee machines towards me.  One say, "Oh man, that's hard when you don't know where you are."  Another says, "Where you trying to get?"  The third says, "Let's look at that map."  Here, I figured I was getting ready to be on the news, and these tough fellows every one of them were wanting to help me.  They gave me excellent directions, drew them out on the map, wished me well, and tried to send me out the door without paying for the maps.  I had do INSIST on paying for the maps, plus I bought them each a cup of coffee for their trouble.  The cops only see the bad stuff in neighborhoods like that.  You and I have been blessed to see the good stuff. 

- Zurf