Banjo Challenge 30-Day Update

I've practiced every day I physically could for 30 minutes for 30 days in a row. Today is Day 30, and just as I was feeling in a slump about it being difficult, I can now see how far I've progressed!

What's been tough:

• Not seeing immediate gains.
• Not progressing quickly through the books.
• Needing to practice certain parts over and over (and over...) again.
• Needing to listen to the examples provided on my laptop.
• Learning new techniques such as the "slide" and "hammer on."
• Needing to trim my fingernails so I can put my fingers square on the strings.
• My left arm aches sometimes.

What's kept me going:

• It is a challenge.
• I can see glimpses of progress.
• I like hearing what it's supposed to sound like, and I try to make mine as clear.
• When it sounds good, I smile.
• My fingers have gotten used to the work.
• My left arm has gotten stronger.

Here are my updates...
I've stuck more with the Earl Scruggs book than the one I had been using prior to this challenge, so I haven't really practiced "Go Tell Aunt Rhody," "Tom Dooley" or "Good Night Ladies" like I should have been doing. Instead, I've been learning more "how tos" from Earl Scruggs, which lead me to practicing "Boil Them Cabbage Down" more, and two new ones - "Old Time Religion" and parts of "Cripple Creek." I've not opened the "Morgaine's Hornpipe" page from the (difficult solo) book, because I thought I'd wait on that gem until I got many more basics down. That one's my dream song, so I'm going to use that as a reward to myself when I feel better about my skills.

With that in mind, here are my videos from today's progress (my favorite is the last one)...