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Que522

So the guys presentational skills are a little shaky and there are one or two gaps in his terminology BUT he is giving an introduction to the guitar in a friendly and non-threatening way and he has taken the time to put his presentation on the net.  It's all too easy to sit back and criticise someone once they've actually done something.  My personal opinion is good luck to him.  Everyone has to start somewhere.

John

It's a bit daunting but find out where your local folk club is and pop in there on a singers night when anyone can get up and have a go.  There are loads of these little clubs all over Yorkshire and the dales, my local one is Skipton, and the regulars are always friendly and welcoming.

Go without your guitar for the first few visits until you get a feel for the place (it took me about 5 weeks to pluck up the courage to actually take mine along) and then give it a go.  It's a huge buzz when you finally do it and you can hardly wait to improve and go again.  The main point of my rambling message is that while there you can meet up with all sorts of people who may be looking to form musical partnerships or who would be happy just to informally pass on loads of good advice.

Cheers

John

Thanks Bootlegger

Don't know why but this really hadn't occurred to me and I do indeed have a couple of very experienced friends whom I could ask.

Cheers

John

Keep at it my friend.  I started in exactly the same way about 6 years ago and now guitar playing is a huge part of my life (not to the detriment of my marriage you understand) and I now play occasionally in a local folk club.  The best piece of advice which I was given by a good, guitar-playing friend of mine was just to enjoy where you are at the moment and play at that level.  As long as you do that then improvement will follow but as soon as you start to become aspirational and therefore dis-satisfied with your current level of playing, then everything starts to fall to pieces.  I do fall into the trap myself and every time I do then the guitar playing ceases to be a pleasure, and let's face it, we are all playing for enjoyment.

All the best.

John

Hi Tibernius / Last_rebel / John

Thanks for the prompt response and yes, I understand that older guitars can offer fantastic value but if like me you are of limited knowledge, plumping for a second-hand guitar can also result in being left holding a complete donkey and I'm afraid that I don't have enough experience of buying guitars to prevent this happening.  I will in all probability buy a new one and enjoy it as it matures with me (I am only 47 after all!!).

I admire you posting yourself playing on You Tube, very brave.  I can just about muster the courage to do a couple of songs at my local folk club.  I'll check out your playing later on.

Cheers

John Shaw