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!