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)...
