They said it can’t be done.  I beg to differ.

In fact, I think I knew intuitively that I could change and grow by getting professional help, but I resisted.  For years.

That has all changed.  I have now had four guitar lessons from a professional guitar player and teacher. (for more see this autobiography of Steve Tjernagel). This past month has been an eye-opening experience, and almost makes me regret not having done it sooner (I don’t believe in regrets; as they say, “It is what it is”).

Going back to square one.  I approached my first lesson with trepidation, thinking to myself that if he wanted me to do scales and finger exercises I might have second thoughts.  Walking out of my first lesson, my homework was scales and finger exercises!  And he was absolutely right!

The finger exercises are getting more complex, and the music theory that goes along with some of them is increasing my knowledge.  I took several music theory courses in college, but that was over 40 years ago!

Memorizing the Cycle of Fourths was one task I put my mind to.  Having examined it and played it using the four-note chords he’s taught me has begun to make things “fit.”

(The above image is located at deftdigits.com, a page that nicely explains how the Cycle of Fourths and its counterpart, the Circle of Fifths works).

Other concepts that Steve is hammering into my brain:  Knowing where the root, third, fifth (and currently 7th) notes are on any give chord form.  This coincides with the basic premise that one should memorize the entire fretboard (sorry to keep using the deftdigits site, but it has a nice visual layout and the descriptions are easy to read).

After playing guitar (on and off) for 50 years, I am not embarrassed to admit to friends that I’m taking lessons.  Heck, even Tiger Woods has a golf coach!

The 7th chords I’m learning.  And playing in the Cycle of Fourths.

Four notes, four fingers. These are “core” chords