Working on A to E , D to A , D to E chord transitions

   For the last three days I have been consistent at working on A to E , D to A , D to E transitions.  Maybe by posting my daily progress chart it will help me to continue to be consistent.

   I time myself for one minute for each of the three A to E, D to A, D to E Chord pairs and see how many changes for each pair I can do in that minute.  I record my progress for that practice period and share the Chord Study Chart automatically updates for all to see.

  Yep, the link to Chord Study Chart automatically updates each practice period. If I skip practice that day it will be posted for all to see.  No pressure.

Practicing the A-E-D chords

While Kathy has been working on the D-C-A and G chords,  I have been practicing the A-E chords daily using lessons from the Andy Guitar video lessons.

  I hope it is ok, but I like the way he does the A chord in the How to change between E & A chords on guitar so as to keep the pointer finger traveling on the same G string during the transitions.

   The next step I am thinking on is learning Paperback Writer by the Beatles using the E and A chord.  I will be purchasing perhaps this Cappo set soon(2pk) so Kathy and I will have one for each guitar to be able to play more songs.

   Than perhaps go on to add the D chord using the E, A & D chord changes video to open up more songs.

Notes on the neck

   As an exercise to help me to learn the note patterns on the frets I made a spreadsheet of the notes on a guitar fret.   I wanted a chart to show both sharps and flats on the fretboard rather than to just look one up on the web.  I modified and built on an illustration of my own based on an e-book illustration on page 5 of the e-book "Complete Chord Collection" as a reference.  I like mine better as it is more complete and clear, at least to the brain that built it.  Imagine that, that was the idea after all.  I did notice some patterns as a result.  :) Link

Practicing daily, but with a caveat

   Yes, I continue to practice daily.  But although it is the Guitar Tuna app as we don't yet have a guitar.  Okay, I know it's not the same as having a real guitar in your hands, but hey I am learning some chords shapes and it's been a wonderful little app for me, well, how wonderful it is will depend on how well it translates to a 3D object, as opposed to just a glass screen.  I will get back to you on that.  Although it is a confidence booster that I am able to  learn the chords.

    Kathy continues to want to learn too.  I showed her how I use the app as she wants to give it a try.  Her main concern at this point is just being able to hold the beast.  We will see if she can hold a full size are guitar, or we need to get a smaller one.  We will have to go to an actual store to take a look and hold them.  That sounds like it could lead to a dangerous commitment. :)

   We went to visit Dad and it turns out he had my Uncle's guitar and offered it to us.  It is missing the high E string and the the body top is warped around the bridge. It needed a quick clean and while cleaning it I noticed the bridge support inside is pulled away from the body top.  There is no name bragged about on the guitar so it looks like it was a basic guitar he had picked up at some point.   I am thinking it will not be worth repairing.  

Considering the third dimension

April 24  I continue to learn the chords G, D, Em, C, A, E, Am, F, Dm with the app but learning chord shapes in an app is entirely different than using actual finger shapes on a guitar.  How I would be able to translate head knowledge to fingers on the frets I do not know.  I need to try a few chords on a real guitar to get an idea if I can get my fingers to make the actual shapes.  Chords look very different on paper or an app than fingers do on a real fret.  And of course it will be a shocker when I find out strings on a real ferd have MUCH more texture than doing chords on a phone app.  Hmmm, go figure. :/