To say that I am new to the guitar is not quite a truth. I suppose I could say that I’ve been playing for about 25 years, but with a 23 year break in the middle! Having first picked up a ¾ size classical acoustic as an 11 year old I was overawed by the shear volume of technique and theory that was thrown at me by the tutor that my parents felt would enhance my enjoyment of the instrument. Learning to play the guitar was quickly relegated way behind BMX biking and football amongst my hobbies of the day.
Last year, on the occasion of her 6th birthday my daughter asked for a guitar and whilst in the shop purchasing a ½ size acoustic for her it seemed like a good idea to get a cheap steel strung starter pack for myself so that we could learn together.
She is proving to be a good little strummer and will I’m sure quickly be teaching me a few tricks!
As for myself, the Encore steel strung was proving a very tricky instrument to get to grips with but with a little perseverance I was able to work my way around the basic open chords. Enough so for me to quickly look at upgrading the instrument. And so, an afternoon in the local music store trying out a number of very differing new and used guitars I eventually opted for an excellent second hand Yamaha AEX500 semi acoustic. It wasn’t until that point I realised just how high the action on the Encore had been. A problem that has now been rectified.
And so my learning continues as I fumble my way around scale patterns and chord progressions, even attempting the odd barre chord now and again and having immense fun in the process!
