So, it was guitar lesson night and it was...well, I think bad would be an understatement. I still can't play along with Richie Sambora. That in and of itself is frustrating. But, on top of that, I struggled through the easy note exercises. Where I basically play thee notes in this book for beginners. Which, granted, I am a beginner...but this is like...first grade stuff.

( The book )

So, we're not talking rocket science here. And I'd have the fingering right...but I'd hit the wrong string. And even Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was a mess. Yes...we're talking that basic. GRR!

I was disappoitned with myself. My instructor was disappointed. I really need to practice...even when I'm not at home. Just take 30 minutes of my time and sit down and do what needs to be done. Because another lesson like that...and yeah...

In other news...the two large trees that lined the walkway of our apartment building were both hit by lightning. There was even some burning and charring going on. Pretty wild. Thankfully my car was sitting at the university because ladystarblade came out trying to beat the storm. Had a tree landed on my car, I would not have been happy. But check out her LJ entry on it and see the pictures. Insane. It sure made getting inside a lot of fun. And I have to wonder how long those will sit there. Trees are down all over the complex. It's a mess. But OY!!

I'm pretty much picturing ladystarblade calling me to tell me a tree fell on my car. That would not have been a fun phone call either way!

And that, my friends...is life as of tonight.

The guitar lesson was last night. And while I'm still a bit slow on playing the beginning of "Wanted Dead or Alive," my teacher was quite impressed that I could do it, since it's such an advanced song. The speed will come the more I do it. And I even purchased the book he wanted me to that teaches me the different notes on the strings...which will come in handy. I know how to read music...just not exactly where to play such things on the guitar. So, I'll work on that in addition to the song.

Whew. Lots of homework on guitar this week. Still loving it though!

Had one of the funniest and wildest conversations on the phone last night with marcgunn. But we got a some stuff worked out before that regarding the Celtic Music Magazine. Now we're just working on implementing it. :) I need to work up a few things for him and will try to do that tonight. But...thank you, marcgunn for all the laughs last night. You rock!

Didn't get my evening walk or my yoga in last night. Mostly because lessons keep us out until about 9:00 p.m. And then showers had to be taken. So...it was a moot point then. But we'll work it in tonight.

InCon is this weekend. It should be a lot of fun. Looking forward to seeing people again! And, ladystarblade and I are going to be working on a project while there. I'm pretty excited about it. She came up with a kick ass idea!

Alright...apparently there is an Alumni Board meeting tomorrow and my boss needs reminders sent out and phone calls made immediately following to find out if we'll have a quarum...otherwise...no meeting. It's iffy with the holiday. So we'll see!

I leave you with this...

Swiped from ladystarblade:

You Are Ballroom Dancing

You are sophisticated and classy. Definitely not the type to be seen dancing on a bar. You are a bit old fashioned. You prefer dance to be subtly sexy, not in your face sexy. You are sentimental and nostalgic. You appreciate the beauty of old things. You are even tempered and cooperative. You work well with a partner.

Well, I sucked at practicing last week only because I had that final exam coming up. So...now that it is out of the way, I'm making a point to be better about it. While still working on "Rockstar," I'm now starting a brand new song.

And Tim, my instructor, said that this isn't one that he normally teaches his beginning students. But I wanted to learn. So this may take a few frustrating weeks, but I'm excited to be learning it.

The song is "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi. We started working on the opening part up until just before Jon comes in to sing. And for any of you who don't realize how difficult this song gets on guitar...take a listen:



I can do this right? Right.

So...it's that time again. Time to blog about my guitar lesson. And I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I'm going to whine about how horrible I did and how it was because I didn't practice and blah blah blah. But you're wrong. HA!

Granted, it could have gone better had I more practice time. But immediately, my instructor and I put on "Rockstar" and began to play with it. He had to correct me quite a few times, especially when Chad Kroeger changes up the chords, but...I did better than I thought. By next week, I think I'll have "Rockstar" down and then it's on to "Wanted Dead or Alive." Actually, he started to teach me the opening to that...but it was really confusing so he promised to write down the TABS for me. WOOT!!

Feeling good. For only 8 minutes of practice time...I only screwed up a few times when he told me to "play it alone with the CD." YIKES. No pressure. Really. HAHA!!

My guitar lessons went VERY well tonight. My instructor says I almost have "Rockstar" down. Probably within the next two weeks. And then we're moving on to Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive." HEEE!! He played some of that for me today and it looks difficult...but I'll work at it.

So, that was the highlight of my day. It just goes to show that...I am getting it. Kinda. I know what I need to work on, so that's important.

Hopefully I'll make some progress this week.

I went to my lesson early last night because I had to be at the theater. Thankfully, my instructor still had an open slot he could fit me into. Whew. I would have been mad if I missed my lesson, because 1) it's paid for 2) I had to pay for the following month 3) I am frustrated but still loving the learning process.

Walked in yesterday and the first thing he asked was how my practicing was coming along. I started to laugh. Literally. And then told him that will be possible after my summer class ends in mid-June. Ugh.

But the lesson went well. I started to play along with the Nickelback CD on "Rockstar." Still have a long way to go, but he told me the way around the elusive F (which I'm to still practice...but for these purposes...), which requires playing a power chord. Very awesome. Much easier. YAY!

So...that's now coming along better. I need to work on it some tonight. Once I get everything else I need to accomplish done. Oy!

So, not bad at all. I still want an electric guitar. I hate tuition and my car for this reason.

Okay...so my "Wild Thing" is still a bit disjointed. But it takes practice and unfortunately, I've had very little time this week to do that. I want to make a point to do at least 30 minutes a day. That was what I did for my piano and flute when I was learning those. It's just hard when I'm in class 3 days a week and expected to be places on the weekend and...yeah...

BUT...

In addition to working more on "Wild Thing," Tim decided to teach me another song. And this is why I love my teacher...

I'm learning "Rockstar" by Nickelback! Oh yeah. I LOVE it. It's an easy strum pattern.

Down, down, down, up, up, down, down.

Four chords.

G, Cadd9, F, Bь

The last one is the hard one for me because my fingers are so small so the reach is a bit tough. But he's showing me ways around that. AWESOME!

So...still loving it!!

Okay...I think I've calmed down enough to talk about my guitar lesson now...

Yesterday, as you recall, I took my first guitar lesson. And I was really nervous going into it because I've never played an instrument with strings before. But I bought this beautiful acoustic guitar and I figured I best learn how to play it.

My instructor, Tim, is awesome. He came out to get me right on time. And he was in a Hendrix shirt, which should have tipped me off to his awesomeness right then. But, we went back to the room and he commented on my big guitar case and how it was almost as big as me. LOL! It's so true! But, he loved the stickers I've put on it to decorate it thus far. And said he used to do that too! Heee!

Okay...so Tim just moved into this room, and it's decorated with this awesome light-up guitar clock. Yes, ladystarblade...we need one of these for our apartment. It's $30 at Big Lots, he says! Hellz yeah! So, I get out the guitar and he asks me if I know anything about the insturment. I shake my head. And he promises me that I'll learn. So, he pointed out the different parts of the guitar. And then started to explain his teaching style.

In order to learn chords, he prefers to teach songs. The chords are all in the songs, so it's just a matter of learning the songs and what chords are used when. He's certain that it's a much easier to learn them that way, and while he will focus on some theory, he'll start off with songs.

And to prove his point...he began playing "Rockstar" by Nickelback on his electric guitar. AWESOME! And then showed me how the different chords worked in the song. Which led him to his next question...

What kind of music do I listen to?

Heh. I told him I wasn't lying when I said I listened to everything. Having worked in a CD store, I really did get exposed to everything and there is good stuff, even in rap music, my friends. Especially in the music...not so much the lyrics. He agreed.

I mentioned that I was going to go see a Snoop Dogg concert, but not for Snoop Dogg, but to see the opening act of the opening act. That would be Fiction Plane. He'd never heard of them, so I talked a little about them, mentioned the connection of Joe being Sting's son. Turns out, Tim's instructor has played with Sting. On many things. And is like this big-wig in the Hollywood scores now. He said he needed to get a poster of his instructor to put on the wall in his room to be like, "Yeah...this guy taught me." After which, I said I mostly listen to classic rock these days.

This made him happy.

So, the first song I'm learning is "Wild Thing." He showed me the different chords I need to learn...because there are only three throughout the whole song.

A, D, E

And you play each chord twice: A, A, D, D, E, E, D, D, A, A, D, D, E, E...etc.

Easy!

So, as soon as I get a little quicker on the chords, which he was impressed by how quickly I picked up the fingering and playing...I'll actually know the song. LOL!! WOOT!

Yeah...I think I'm really going to enjoy this teacher.

I also have a fingering exercise that I really need to work on. It's harder than it looks. And he showed me a riff he made up thanks to his fingering exercise. Awesome! He handed me my chord chart and we were done.

So, hopefully by next Wednesday, I'll be better with my fingering on the strings and actually be able to strum out "Wild Thing."

As my instructor told me: "The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to learn, but one of the most difficult to master."

I believe it. But I'm willing to try!

I start guitar lessons tonight.

At 6:30.

For 30 minutes.

Yeah...I'm a little nervous. LOL!