Trueman's 6 Strings Challenge

One day, few months ago, I couldn't get into my ATS account anymore. After trying all, I found myself without food for my soul. Maybe it was the Hand of God or a karmic retribution guiding me to a new journey.

It was a Saturday of July, when the whisper of a sweet voice woke me up : "Buy a Guitar". My birthday was coming and that 50's crisis pushed me on the right direction. Nothing too expensive, about 300 bucks sounded like a good deal for a beginner, including a small amp.

I practice very little during Monday to Friday, but that cheap Squier Strat by Fender knows that we'll spend time together on the weekends.

I started from zero, using youtube videos and a guitar chords poster, then I subscribed for the free version of "Guitartricks", which was way better than random videos.

Just to give an idea of the size of my challenge, I have to mention that I'm lefty and my guitar is not. My hands are big and my fingers are really wide, touching more than one string at time. Also had problems with little wounds and cuts, produced by the regular duties of my work, but I found a hand cream that works like a charm called "Working Hands".

A week ago, a great improvement to my list of resources was added. I got Rocksmith 2014 . That thing is awesome, it's not just a game and I really feel I'm learning faster and having fun, seems to be what I need for this journey. Now that I took this challenge and I recovered my ATS account,....interesting.

I know we have many musicians here, I'd like to read your advice and thoughts.

As long as you don't put it down and leave it, you are doing it right. Not everyone can get a teacher, so we use anything and everything to learn. Rocksmith is a great tool. You have already done the hard part, just to keep trying even though it sounds like a dying wildebeest, just keep plucking along and before you know it you are a guitarist!

a reply to: Trueman

Heh, I edited a lot of the samples on the early version known at the time as Virtual Guitar.

Good to know they are still kicking.

a reply to: wastedown

Thanks for those words. Hopefully one day I'll post a song here.

a reply to: Trueman

I do question why you got a righty set up if you are a lefty? Did you do a Jimi, and just string it left and flip your pickups, or are you learning as a righty? If you have a pretty good start and have been going at it righty stick with it, once you get it down, you will be able to switch between the two, along with pulling off crazy hammer on & pull off & finger picking stuff the average guy couldn't dream of. You could be KG in JB's dream in The Pic Of Destiny, playing the double leg/neck guitar like a boss.

Have you discovered Reverb for you gear porn yet?

Ive been a semipro musician for many years. Playing with other people and sharing the majic, is what makes it all worthwhile.

Get a like minded group together and play any gig that comes your way.

Don't stop with 6stg, get an nice bass groove and you will more than double your chances for gigs.

originally posted by: wastedown
a reply to: Trueman

I do question why you got a righty set up if you are a lefty? Did you do a Jimi, and just string it left and flip your pickups, or are you learning as a righty? If you have a pretty good start and have been going at it righty stick with it, once you get it down, you will be able to switch between the two, along with pulling off crazy hammer on & pull off & finger picking stuff the average guy couldn't dream of. You could be KG in JB's dream in The Pic Of Destiny, playing the double leg/neck guitar like a boss.

Have you discovered Reverb for you gear porn yet?

Oh man, I decided to learn it as a righty, but I didn't think about those advantages you just mentioned. I don't know how many times I watched that part when KG plays in JB's dream...., thanks brother

a reply to: olaru12

I gotta buy a bass as a reward when I reach a good level with this one. Really want to explore this field, guitar playing looks like a new science to me and it's fascinating.

a reply to: Trueman

Way to go! Just keep at it. I learned to play over 40 years ago listening to songs on an 8-track player. When the song was over I'd have to wait for the track to finish then click back around after the track was done to get back to the song I wanted. Man, what a pain! The tools you have these days are amazing compared to what I had to do back then. I bought one of my grown sons that Rocksmith thing, and gave him a guitar to learn on. I don't think he's touched it.