Been working hard on Dirty Old Town. Paul challenged me to attempt it without a backing track. Still think I could add a touch more swing to the strumming, but I'm pretty pleased with this first solo attempt. Almost getting to the point where I could post it publicly and not feel embarrassed, rather than unlisted! As I reach the fifth anniversary of playing guitar, with Paul leading the way, still can't believe I've ended up being able to do this (whatever "this" is). Thanks Paul.

Here's James' version on Sunday https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvU8kWruyT8/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Went to the Black Country Folk Festival on Sunday at Himley Hall to combine my love of photography and guitar music. Organiser James Stevens, from The Empty Can, played Dirty Old Town and I felt inspired to work on it with Paul at this week's lesson. I've sorted the first verse but still work to do. Great fun though 😀

I'll put the champagne on hold until at least 8.15pm tomorrow. Let's clear the 7.15pm hurdle first. Fingers stayed tightly in the D position. I checked all three strings (while I was mid exercise) and found myself playing a D while looking out the window rather than staring at the strings. I relaxed myself into doing it properly seemingly!

Also... I need a beer after all that. It was quite intense, but thoroughly recommend it to drive up standards. To be fair to Paul, he has been suggesting this to me for nearly five years :-) And I've found a video from October last year where I appear to be floundering at D-D at 40bpm. Perhaps there is hope after all.

When it's written down, there's no hiding... but also some things are pleasantly surprising! Never been a huge fan of playing chords to themselves, but I do see the merit in driving up the speeds. In August I will have been playing guitar with Paul for five years. I'm not for a second suggesting these numbers are amazing, but when I think back to those early days, the thought of playing D to itself at 140bpm would have blown my mind. Yes, I've been playing tonight on my own with no-one watching or listening, but I haven't cheated. When the Drummer's Pulse has felt too quick for me, or I'm hanging on to make consistent sounds, I stopped and put that as my latest benchmark. Of the nine challenges set by Paul, I've managed to get five over the 100 mark. I'm disappointed with my A-D still, but now I have the evidence to work from, rather than assuming it was ok, better than ok, good, or bang average!

Thanks Paul. Felt it straying when it happened so tried to sort mid song which I take as a positive. I know it could be loads better but hopefully it’s a basis to work from. Moved on to Noel Gallagher Slide Away. That’s a good tune. See you tomorrow 👍

Trying to build the number of songs that I can play. Always loved Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. It's been my focus so far in 2023. I can play the intro in the proper style (A-E-D), but still working on when the singing starts. If I start immediately strumming, I find it easier to start singing in the right place. I've tried to use midi files (although can't find a Snow Patrol one) and also been playing around with Garage Band. But that's not proving much use. It's so complex, and it will import the midi files but doesn't show what the chords are. So I'm back to Chordify where I found a karaoke version of Chasing Cars. Duffed the intro on this but overall kept up I think!

Seems to be. Need strap and case. Got a ton of bubble wrap for Eden. Bit disappointing that GuitarGuitar haven’t said sorry and/or offered me a voucher. Two weeks to replace. Not great customer service. Not as if it was £30 from Argos 🤷‍♂️

I think I’ve tuned it. But as you know when it comes to tuning I’m a better exponent of the D chord

Inspired by Noel, even if it’s a slightly different financial level! Bought an Epiphone ES-335. I know it’s all about the guitar player rather than the guitar. But it still feels like Christmas Day

Keep trying 😞

Still trying to nail the D chord

Better keep up my end of the bargain then 👍

Sounds a plan. Cheers Paul. Will see if I can find time to do some work before Tuesday too ;-)

It's now exactly four years since I started playing guitar with Paul. It's one of the best things I've ever done. It was slow going at first, and I'm still by no means perfect, but I love playing and look forward to my lessons with Paul every week. My ambition now is to build the repertoire of songs that I can play without needing to rely on a chord sheet. I've got a few under my belt (Wonderwall, Chasing Cars, Hotel California, Shivers by Ed Sheeran. I can probably do a few more but still feel like I need the comfort blanket of a sheet or computer screen (I use the website and app Chordify). So at last night's lesson we looked at another of my favourite songs to play. I was lucky enough to see the Eagles in concert at Anfield in June. I was blown away by their music even though I was only a young boy when they were in their pomp, honest. So my challenge is to learn how to play this without any help. I made some progress last night. So tonight is stage one. Record something that I'm happy with to kick me off. I kept looking at the screen, but hopefully by next week's lesson I'll be able to post a video that doesn't show me "cheating". :-) To add to the drama and excitement, I played with a pedal bought as a father's day gift from my guitar-playing son. It's pretty much taken me until now to work it out!

@Old Swanner Interesting to see how the song is played on youtube. And for once, the cameraman sticks mostly on the fretboard!!! EBS TV Seoul Korea 도미닉 밀러 shape of my heart YouTube

Thanks Paul. Will do. Had already clocked the one finger G ;-) Had used finger 3.

Pattern sticking. Will aim for another video before Tuesday 👍. watching it played properly on YouTube is a a bit daunting though. Lots of movement along the fretboard

Trying to develop my finger picking from pretty much level zero 😀 Love the guitar playing in Shape of My Heart by Sting. Guitarist is Dominic Miller and I’ve found him on YouTube Sting - Shape Of My Heart Paul drew me out a grid last week to start me off. Tried capo at fret 9, but quite a tight squeeze for my fingers. Elsewhere on internet, found several examples at fret 2. Speed is clearly an issue for me so far, but Paul has always preached the importance of getting the foundations right first. So I reckon I’ve worked out the pattern. so an opening video as I start my Sting journey. Sting