learn to play acoustic guitar

...and popped in a dvd instructional video. It started nice and slow, and it looks like something I can actually do. Eventually. I was so thrilled just to tune the thing.

Going to have a one hour “lesson” twice a week, and practice 20-30 minutes a day.

This week: chromatic scales on every string, E chord arpeggios, A minor arpeggios, and cut my nails to the quick.

Some tennis ball squeezing would probably be helpful too.

Next week, a simple song! (I peeked ahead)

I’ve always been into music. When I was five, I would play the theme to The Flintstones by ear on a little crappy electric organ. By fourth grade, I had adopted the clarinet as my band instrument (flute was TOO girly, and everything else was too loud, I was told.) I would eventually have keyboard lessons, learn the bass clarinet and be elected for the all-county band and have status of one of the best musicians in school.

Then high school ended and it was over. I mean, it just didn’t feel natural to pull out the ol’ clarinet and play a few tunes. I planned for a career in music, but my college advisor told me I wasn’t good enough. Not sure how he would know, but that was back when I believed in the knowledge of authority. Now I know better.

I’ve always been drawn to two instruments: piano and acoustic guitar. I have a Casio keyboard but honestly I don’t touch it much. I have illusions of going on a group camping trip and pulling out a guitar to play, or spending every other weekend playing in a little coffeehouse just for enjoyment.

I miss playing music, a lot. I even miss band. However I do not miss marching band uniforms, whatsoever.