Beginner Guitarist Demo after 7 Months of Practice

Yes, I’ve been playing guitar for over 7 months. It doesn’t seem that long to me. I have practiced every day. I enjoy it.

First Demo, “Man of Constant Sorrow” – 3/4 Epiphone Les Paul Special Express Guitar

Here’s my demo using my Birthday Epiphone. The Epiphone was made on my dad’s birthday of January 13. It was made January 13, 2017. I also purchased it to celebrate my birthday.

7th Month Guitar Learnings

Guitar Strengths

I can play lots of songs that I can sing to. I’ll call that progress.

I am not afraid to sing to a song. That’s what I was taught to do in grade school.

I continue to practice every day.

Guitar Weaknesses

1. Strumming
2. Keeping the beat, need a metronome.
3. I need to play with other guitarists. It’s time to return to the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for their free jam sessions.

Noticeable Improvements in Guitar Playing

1. Guitar picking. My guitar picking with and without a pick is getting better. The Fender App that I use forces you to use a guitar pick early in its training.

Simple 8 Month Goal: To Read and Play Sheet Music Better

That’s a simple goal. Let’s say I wish to play 10 songs with correct chords, strumming, and correct beat from The Old Town School of Folk Music songbook. That’s a good goal.

“Sawbuck” the Hohner HW200 Guitar Demo

I purchased a Hohner HW200 from Florida from Goodwill for 10 bucks. That’s why it’s name is Sawbuck (U.S. slang for a ten dollar bill).

It arrived in a Chicago snowstorm with its bottom bout broken and separated by an inch. Unplayable. My hardware store friends at H&B True Value Hardware at 5329 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, IL fixed it for me for a whopping $5. Mike and Jesse were glad to help fix it (thanks to Joe the owner also).

Here’s Man of Constant Sorrow played on Sawbuck the Hohner HW200.

www.KaizenGuitarist is now www.ShoshinGuitarist.com

Here’s the reason I changed my website name in a blog post.

Thanks for Visiting Shoshin Guitarist today

Shoshin is loosely translated from Japanese as beginner’s mind. It’s also a Buddhist state of mind.

It means to learn with a beginner’s mind. That’s how I learn guitar.

I am a Shoshin Guitarist.