Guitar Lessons 4: A Change of Tactics

Oh hi, didn't see you there. Wondering where I've been? No, didn't think so, considering that only five people read this thing, and half those people are my parents. Apparently, I have some weird half-parent that makes up the .5 in my 2.5 parents. (See...because half of 5 isn't a whole number and...yeah....) Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, no one reads my blog.

Despite that being the case, I would say I've been making progress in this hobby I call "guitar playing." I do have a callus on my pinky, so that's one goal done.

Also, the G chord is a breeze now. I'm not perfect at it, but at least I'm as mediocre playing the G chord as I am playing all the other chords. So another goal is checked off.

And, the Ring of Fire? I'm..OK at it.... Actually my "Songs I Can Kind of Play" list has changed. These songs include and are limited to:

• You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
• Mad World by Gary Jules
• You Can Do Better Than Me by Death Cab for Cutie
• Whole Wide World by Wreckless Eric
• Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (it's last for a reason)

I've noticed the transitions between G and C are much easier, considering You Can Do Better Than Me is pretty much G and C over and over again. There's an A minor in there too.

Songs I've been working on:

• Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright
• I Don't Believe You by P!nk (again, last for a reason)

Hallelujah is teaching me not only how to spell "Hallelujah" but also the much dreaded F chord. Yes ladies and gentleman, I am taking on my first barre chord. I'll hold for applause.**

Oh yeah, barre chords. They're difficult. I now question my right to call the G chord difficult now that I'm attempting the F chord. It's almost humorous. Haha. Yeah, so humorous. Tell that to my fingertips that still turn purple when I'm on the guitar for more than ten minutes.

Goals for next blog post? Um..how about:

• Don't sound so terrible when playing F chord
• Oh, and progress on those songs will be good too...

All right, it's signing out time. See my blog post below if you want to hear me ranting. Two blog posts in one night? Yeah..I went there. *high fives self*

I really need to get out more.

That's all I have to say. Peace out.

EDIT (3/29/11): OK, the song "Hallelujah" had too many F chords so I have switched to playing "Jar of Hearts" which has five or so F sharp chords, which is the same as F chords, only a fret higher. I'm progressing at it. Also, I've been playing the G chord with the wrong fingers this whole time. That wouldn't be a big deal except in "Jar of Hearts" the transition from G to G minor would be way easier if I was using the right fingers to play. So I'm working on that now too.






**Hey, have you ever noticed how the word "applause" looks really similar to the word "applesauce?" I confused the two words once and now every time I'm reading and I come to the work "applause" I think "applesauce." Anyway, what was I saying?