Musicians

Last edited Fri May 10, 2013, 02:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Too late...I've broken two,actually the same one twice,in the last several weeks,and probably am about due for a 3rd.The high E,doing full tone bends at the 8th fret,breaking the string in the middle both times.I know this is indicative of either a burr or a groove on that fret sawing away at the string.I'm not overly concerned,since both breaks occurred after weeks of literally hundreds of bends.I can live with that level of frequency,for now.After the 1st break I bought a new set of strings with 3 extra high Es,in case in happened again.Plus,once I can make up my mind whether I want a telecaster or another strat and if I think I can live with a MIM or if I really need a MIA,i'm getting a new guitar,and will get the fret fixed on this one.

Jam buddies.Yeah I'm aware of the cliquish aspect,hell that comes with anything.When I was a teen,a hundred years ago,I'd often tag along with a friend who was learning guitar,mostly for the girl watching/meeting opportunities. We'd go to the quad behind the student union at the U of I,where there were always little gatherings of of a few guitar torturers and a handful of victim/listeners/friends.All different styles,well not so much C&W,pick your poison and join in.
My problem is,at 59,I'm not going to fit into that scene,if it even still goes on.Other than music store bulletin boards,there doesn't seem to be many "quad equivalencies" for my age group.

I was recently told that the local community college offers something like a 6 week intermediate course,through the summer.I'll check into and possibly do that,with an eye toward extracurricular jamming. Last I checked online,a couple weeks ago,all they showed were beginner courses during each semester of the current school year and nothing,yet,for the summer.

A friend here,who plays in a working bar band constantly offers to have me over to jam with him,wanting more rehearsal/practice time.When I get to an appropriate level,I'll do that.I'm afraid right now,I'd only hold him back and frustrate myself.I'm hoping maybe by mid summer I'll be far enough along.

Another thing I plan to do is get the series of 3 "play along with whatever genre" CD the music store carries and jam with my stereo.Series of 3 Blues,3 Jazz,3 Pop,3 Rock and so on.
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Something else I'd like your input on,as well as anyone else's:
My last 3 private lessons have pretty much been,"keep doing what you're doing",with no new stuff added,with the exception of one week being shown a descending 'Jimmy Page lick' that simply playing the minor pentatonic beginning with the C on the high E string,pull off to the A,pick the 8 fret B string,pick the A again,move to B string and repeat.A 1-4-1-4-1-3-1-3-1-3-1-4 pattern.Sounds cool at speed.Not so much,yet, at the 60 BPM I do it in.

So now I'm wondering if I take a while off from lessons,bring what I know and can do now,all up to speed,then restart lessons,will doing so be harmful to my progress?
The next things my tutor wants to move onto hinge on my being faster,smoother,cleaner at what I'm doing now.
This assumes no breakthroughs occur during tomorrows lesson or the 2 weeks following,that are scheduled and paid up.At that point,it'll be 6 weeks being told to keep on keepin' on...Hell,I can tell myself that.For free!.

So...Good idea,craziness or meh?