2/1/2024, Journal: Exercise, Glarry Telecaster, and Justin Guitar

Let’s see if I can blog meaningfully in 30 minutes or less. (I failed. This blog post took 40 minutes.)

Three big things today:

  1. Exercise. Walked a mile listening to Dave Simpson play an Alvarez 00 acoustic guitar on earphones. Dave is awesome.
  2. Glarry Semi-Hollow Telecaster. Practiced silently with headphones.
  3. Justin Guitar. Twenty minute module.

What did I learn today?

I am a Justin Guitar online student. Today I studied 10 minutes of a 20 minute learning module. I am on his Grade 1, Module 8 section named “The Stuck 3&4 Chords”. I can’t give you a link to it because you need to be a student.

I have gone 8 minutes through a 20 minute module. Most of his modules are smaller.

I am learning the “Big” G chord, the “Rock” G chord, Cadd9 chord, and Dsus4. And I’m not even half way through this module. Sorry, I can’t provide snapshots because it’s Justin Guitar material (respecting his property).

But if Justin Guitar is teaching me those 4 chords (and more), he has a reason. So I’m working my way through it.

Practice Routine – Easily 90 minutes

In the past I have laboriously listed all my practice steps. But that might be a bit boring. Let’s just say I do finger stretches, riffs, all my 20 known chords, strum my 4 strums, practice Old Town School material, study Justin Guitary, and practice songs for my grandkids. Yes, I’ve given you the practice list once again.

If you’re serious about learning guitar, you should have your own written practice list of what you’re doing. That way you stay consistent and focus on weaknesses.

A Few Observations Today

Just two.

Playing the Glarry GTL Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar with Headphones

Today is my son’s day off on a Thursday. At his request I played silently in the house using an electric guitar, my amp, and my headphones. Today I used the Glarry.

Some might laugh at this guitar. It’s $119 somewhere on the Internet. I purchased it for $60.

What’s special about my Glarry is that it was professionally set up by Chris the technician at a local guitar store in Chicago, IL. This was the first guitar I bought after I realized that my black/white Harmony electric wasn’t playable.

I love this guitar. Dependable, beat it if you want, leave it in a cold basement, humidity doesn’t seem to affect it. With new strings its just fine for me.

I’ve spent a lot of time on my acoustic guitars lately, and playing the electric guitar seemed easier. That seems to be the general opinion. Electric guitars have an easier string action for playing. However, you need an amp wherever you go.

Two Teachers for Learning are Useful for Me

I attend the Old Town School of Folk Music once a week. Nice people, great place, fine instructors.

But to go an entire week with only one lesson isn’t enough for me. I also use Justin Guitar’s course for learning. There are other good courses out there (Lauren Bateman is another example.)

Thanks for Visiting Kaizen Guitarist Today

I tried to be brief but it’s still taking 40 minutes.

Perhaps I’ll move to weekly blog posts. To be Kaizen means to improve every day and I am improving with guitar, blogging, and SEO. Writing these blog posts means little if people can’t see it. So I will need to invest more time on SEO: Search Engine Optimization.

Be Kaizen when you play your Guitar. Each one of us is a Kaizen Guitarist.


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