No Sitting Allowed!

One of the big mistakes I made while learning to play guitar was sitting down the whole time. I always heard standing would be like starting all over if you don't stand from the beginning. Every time I would try to stand - I would give up after a minute - it was so awkward, I couldn't find the chords very well - and I just hated it. I knew if I continued to sit down and play that I would never be able to play in front of others because it is just so hard to sit "ladylike" and play guitar, for one thing, but if I should ever get my nerve to play at the nursing home where I do ministry with my church group there is NO room to sit -standing is a must!

Once I got it into my head that I was going to do this - if it hare lipped every cow in Texas - it wasn't so bad. Actually, by the end of the first day I was playing just as well as sitting. I have not sit down at all in a week to play - in fact my new rule is NO SITTING ALLOWED. 

The only real problem now is the strap being so uncomfortable. I have ordered a padded strap online and can't wait for it to come in! I know this will make a huge difference. 

Check out my short video clip. Feedback most welcome. :-)

Me and My Guitar

This is basically a little documentation to myself but if you are reading this - I hope you will stick with it and maybe give a little advice if you play an instrument. We all need a little encouragement no matter the situation.

I have now been taking guitar lessons for 4 months now- I actually started March 26th and there have probably been 3 weeks during this time that lessons were missed due to things beyond my control - bad storm knocking out electricity, my instructor having to take his finals - that sort of thing.

So where am I now? Well, let's see ---
here are the chords I know and am comfortable playing.


G  A  E  Am  Em  C  D  

Here are the chords I "know" but still have trouble with

Csus   Bsus   F   A2   

I can strum fairly well, but seem to be stuck on the same 2 patterns. I try to pick - but that doesn't come naturally to me. I have a LOT of trouble keeping my thumb back in the position it needs to be in order to learn harder chords down the road.

I have been told by a few people that playing the guitar comes naturally to me - so if that is the case, why am I so discouraged right now? I feel like I should be so much further along. I know I am a perfectionist - I know I am very hard on myself about any and everything. I think I am at a crossroads that a lot of people come to and this is what makes or breaks them. I am sure there are plenty of people that get discouraged by this point and this is where they give up. I don't want to do that. I want to hang in there. Right at this very moment - I feel like it, tho. I feel like it is sink or swim time. My instructor is not going too fast - but I am struggling to keep up. 


I have been told that one day it is going to just all "click" and everything will make sense - I have been told average is 6 months - you just all of a sudden understand the chords, the fingers do what the brain tells them - it starts to sound like real music. 


I have just got to hang in there!

 

High 5 For FRIDAY

OMGosh - it is Friday and we are traveling 500 miles today - with a 5 year old - again...(taking my 2 grandangels and mom back home after their 2 week vaca with us here in Texas) Seriously - she is incredibly good in the vehicle - better than me, actually! lol

Lots of High 5's for the week but I will keep it to 5 - Linking up with Lauren From My Grey Desk.

1. Even though it rained every single day this week - we still had good times and the girls NEVER complained.

2. I taught Brooklyn a song that I can play on my guitar (Country Roads)

3. I taught Brooklyn how to make a pillow using my sewing machine.

4. Brooklyn and I went to see Katy Perry: Part of Me (3D) and both of us really liked it.

5. We all went to see the new Amazing Spiderman movie - it was actually my first one to see and I really enjoyed it. Lots of action!!

The icing on the cake for the week will happen over the weekend when I get to see my Tucker Boo and daughter/son in law. Can't wait!

Meet Martin

I got it! woohoooo - my new Martin  X series guitar - solid black - pretty as can be. Sounds like a dream - even with ME playing it. The picture just does not do it justice - (this was taken with my phone)

I can't wait to show my instructor next week when I go for my lessons!

My "secret" guitar lessons are no longer a secret

The jig is up. The cat is out of the bag.
My husband now knows my secret - after taking guitar lessons for 5 weeks, I decided to let him in on it.
Why?

Mainly because I was getting such little time to practice between lessons. My lessons are on Mondays from 4 - 4:30. I only have about 15 minutes to practice Monday - Thursday in the early mornings before going to work. He is home on Fridays - so that meant no practicing from Friday - Sunday AT ALL - we are pretty much always together. He gets home in the evenings around 5ish plus I cook - so that meant only a few minutes once I got home from work. I just wasn't able to get much time in. My instructor has been pretty impressed with how fast I am catching on and made the comment that it was a shame my husband didn't know so I  could practice any time I wanted - I was really doing a disservice to myself. Just think how much better I would be if I was practicing every day and throughout the day! I started thinking about that - plus factor in the amount of money I am spending for lessons - yea - he needed to know.

So - now he knows - and believe me - it was hilarious just letting him in on it even at this point with what I have learned. I picked up my guitar and just set down while he was busy on his computer and started picking around - then played the one song I have been working on - I went through all 7 chords I have learned - and he finally started paying attention and putting 2 and 2 together.

He is VERY excited - it has renewed his interest in playing ( which is what I hoped for!) and we are going to buy me a "better" guitar this weekend. He wants me to get a Martin D15 - so that is pretty great!

Here are some pics from the little video I had set up to catch some of his expressions during the time I was playing around - waiting for him to snap to what I was trying to tell him. The video will take forever to edit enough to make public - lol

Check out the video of:

Me Playing after 4 lessons

High 5 For Friday!

Happy Friday!

Another week come and gone - getting close to the countdown - school will out soon and the kids are going wild!

Linking up to Lauren From My Grey Desk

#1 - it's a Biggy - I let my husband in on the big secret - he now knows about my guitar lessons...I will have to do a separate post on how that all happened - it was pretty funny!  he is very excited for me and wants to buy a Martin D-15 for me this weekend! Below are a few of his expressions I pulled from the hidden video I had going when I started playing while he was at his computer - priceless!

#2 I ordered a stainless steel guitar pick that is personalized with "Pamela & Bradley" - can't wait for it to come in and give it a try. I just know it will make me sound AWESOME...lol


#3 My daughter got a new job closer to her home - a huge relief to me - she will be 5 minutes from home  instead of 45 minutes - I am so glad she will not be on the road so much!

#4 I was asked to do a product review - that will happening later this month - stay tuned!

#5 I sold almost $50 worth of baby fish this week and then 3 more batches were born! Love my 8 aquariums! I have 55 gallon, 37 gallon, 29 gallon, 6.5 gallon, (2) 5 gallon, and just under 2 gallon for Mr. Betta. I also have a 20 gallon at work in my office.

Guitar Strap & Guitar Picks

I am excited about the guitar strap I picked out and the bonus is that it comes with 3 guitar picks. I debated on a more colorful strap, but decided I really like the message this one sends. One of my goals is to eventually be able to play in church - so this one will be a nice little reminder of my goal.

The picks are of a Cross, Dove and Fish Symbol.

(Now I just have to watch for the mail and hope it comes on a day that Brad isn't home! - remember shhhhhhh! secret lessons!)

OOTD Tuesday

I decided to take a picture while sporting my guitar. Wouldn't this make a lovely album cover for my first hit single? HA! HA! (don't I wish!)

You can't see my shoes in the photo, but I LOVE them. They are my "new favs" in dress shoes.  #1 they are red and #2 they are sooo comfortable! I got them at Marshalls & they are Guess.

I have on Vera Wang jeggings and Apt 9 top from Kohls.

My guitar is a Yamaha acoustic.

You can find the leggings and blouse by visting www.kohls.com

High Five For F R I D A Y

So Ready for the Weekend  - TGIF

Even tho I had a short week - I stayed home yesterday due to my lazy gallbladder (see previous post) it was still a LONG week because of STAAR - state testing.

Here are my top 5 Highlights of the week:

1. I reached $100 in Adsense for my Youtube videos and blogs - my goal was by June - so since I made my goal early - that makes me happy. I am not blogging for the $ - but if I can get paid for doing it - why not, right?

2. I saved $404 at Kohls PLUS got back $50 in Kohl's cash - went back 2 days later and spent enough for $20 more AND I had a 30% coupon!!

3. I downloaded Draw Something and got totally addicted...not sure if that is a good thing or not.

4. I lost 2 pounds - I have sworn off sweets for the time being. I would have hoped for more, but 2 pounds is probably healthier than 10, which I would have preferred :-)

and....

5.  I started "secret" guitar lessons. shhh! I will blog about that later!

I hope all have a happy Friday - and are doing the happy dance with me.
Linkin' up with From My Grey Desk

Lyrical Monday

I would like to begin a new post each Monday  entitled "Lyrical Monday" - which will be the lyrics to a song that has touched my heart or has been on my mind. I may or may not post the reason(s) behind the chosen lyrics. I will include the artist and may even post a great video link to go with it. :-)

My first Lyrical Monday post:

Walk By Faith

artist: Jeremy Camp

Would I believe you when you would say

Your hand will guide my every way

Will I receive the words You say

Every moment of every day

[chorus]

Well I will walk by faith

Even when I cannot see

Well because this broken road

Prepares Your will for me

Help me to rid my endless fears

You've been so faithful for all my years

With one breath You make me new

Your grace covers all I do

Yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, yeah, ya

[chorus]

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face

Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

[chorus x2]

Well hallelujah, hallelu

(I will walk by faith)

Well hallelujah, hallelu

(I will walk by faith)

I will walk, I will walk, I will walk by faith

I will, I will, I will walk by faith.

This song has been my theme song since the first time I ever heard it. When I had my first phone that could have ringtones, this was my first ringtone downloaded. At one time I had a website that I entitled "Walk By Faith" but I shut it down when MSN began to charge for their websites. 

 I love the scripture this song is based from...2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

If you ever heard Jeremy Camp's testimony then you will know that he wrote this song on his honeymoon after marrying the woman he loved who had ovarian cancer and died just months later.

If you would like to read Jeremy's bio - check out this link.
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/jeremy-camp-biography/a8b9345ac4b1f62948256de9002c6c00