Re-learn to play the guitar

I’ve been getting better at practicing my instrument. My problem was too much emphasis on the greater goal, and not enough focus on the small and steady improvements that results in a good ‘clean’ sound. I would try to learn songs all at once, get frustrated that it sounded terrible, give up, and then start the whole process over with another riff or piece I wanted to learn.

I’ve been practicing basic chord progressions, and just playing them over and over and over and over again in 15 minute periods, usually resulting in about 45 minutes to an hour a day practicing the same formula. It gets boring after a while, but I am seeing improvement in my playing and my mental arsenal of chords/chord progressions is increasing at a relatively fast pace. I’d say if I keep this up for about a month or two, my playing could improve significantly. I’ve been making music for ten years, so I intuitively know what sounds good. Now, I am just adding on to my technical skills.

The fact is, I don’t have enough time to both be a good musician and also do the other things I want to do. I’m not DaVinci, as much as it stings my ego to admit it.

Talent is a function of time and effort. And frankly, playing the guitar just doesn’t measure up against the other goals I have, so I’m dropping it.

I used to be pretty good at playing guitar as a teenager, but I have seemed to lose my ‘mojo’ or something in recent years. I know what sounds good in my mind, and have a good ear for what chords and melodies are ‘supposed’ to accompany each other, but I can’t seem to translate that into reality anymore. My ‘go to’ chords have been limited to only a few basic ones and get stuck in a loop repeating the same things. This is concerning for someone who has wanted to be a ‘musician’ for ten years.

My guitar is perfectly tuned and ready to go. I used the online tuning site I found and posted and in a few minutes, I am looking up some Christmas carols (since that is my end goal. If I can play a Christmas carol, I am in business).

I figure I’m going to start there and see where it gets me. My fingers are still mutant small, even for a grown up, but what the hey. They’ll remember the fingering positions.

Works for just what I need. I have an old school six string acoustical guitar. Nothing fancy.

online guitar tuning tones

No piano at the house yet, and no music making anything about the house, but my computer.

The guitar is sitting in the closet waiting, and I’m ready with book of chords.

I’m going to pull it out this week and start to get used to at least holding it again.

But – does anyone have any websites that they could suggest that would give me the notes (I would want them to sound good strong notes) so that I could tune the thing?

I don’t think that the guitar has ever been tuned (I bought it for my husband for Christmas some four years ago and he has never ever used it), so I’m going to give it a try.

I am hoping maybe someone has a website they use to give them the notes for tuning.

I last played guitar in school both solo and in a class. Not since then.

But I have gone so far as to purchase an acoustical six string and a book of chords, and even have software and all the types of things that computer geeks might need to re-learn.

My number one goal right now is to be able to play Christmas carols. If I can get to that point, I will feel like I have accomplished my goal.