Woohoo! Milestone reached!

[ronmcc4]

 I don't know if many of you know about the songs/lessons that Tony Polecastro teaches on his website but I like 'em.  I've been struggling to learn "Last Steam Engine Train" (one of the songs you hear on Acoustic Letter guitar reviews) for weeks.  I've been working in little pieces and taking it slow. This is also a new kind of fingerstyle playing for me so the challenge was twofold. 

Last night I finally was able to play the song all the way through!  Not perfect of course and about 2/3 of the speed it should be played at but all that will come in time. A milestone for me for sure. Just had to share. 

[Jersey tuning]

Congrats.  My interest is piqued to check him out.

[Earl]

Hey Ron, congrats!  Starting fingerstyle playing with the "Last Steam Engine Train" is kinda like learning to drive in a NASCAR event.  But you got there, and that is the important part.  I've played that one for a long time, and worked through it very laboriously as an early fingerstyle player too.  I melded the original John Fahey version with the Leo Kottke version.  And I definitely play it slower than Leo does.  (I'm not sure I can even listen as fast as he plays).

I will have to check out the lessons that you mentioned, being unfamiliar with that source.

[Sprintbob]

I am working on Freight Train from Tony's site and can play it through but not up to speed yet. He's got some good lessons there.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Congrats, always fun to play one all he way through the first time!  I like Tony's reviews but haven't checked out any of his lessons.

[ronmcc4]

Starting fingerstyle playing with the "Last Steam Engine Train" is kinda like learning to drive in a NASCAR event.

You're right about that Earl. Even Tony says in his lesson that this is not an easy tune to learn or play.  I have been playing sort of a simple self-created fingerstyle for years; mostly to accompany my singing with an embellishment here and there. The style Tony teaches is very different but is probably more "proper" than anything I've been doing.  I learned his version of Freight Train and then leave it to me to jump on something even he says is hard.   

[Guitarsan]

Yay, it's the little milestones that keep us going. Remember, if it isn't hard, you're likely not learning much.

I don't make resolutions, but this year will be a first for that. I will exit 2015 a much better guitarist than I am right now.

[timfitz63]

...  I've been working in little pieces and taking it slow. This is also a new kind of fingerstyle playing for me so the challenge was twofold. 

Last night I finally was able to play the song all the way through!  Not perfect of course and about 2/3 of the speed it should be played at but all that will come in time. A milestone for me for sure. Just had to share. 

Congratulations, Ron!  I took to strumming more naturally than fingerstyle, but have challenged myself to learn a few (well, if the truth be told at this stage, two...) songs that I enjoy and that are either partly or wholly fingerstyle.  I took the same approach with "Dust In The Wind:"  I just learned the intro -- slowly at first -- and kept working on that until I had that part down pretty well; then the first verse and refrain; after that, there were only minor variations on what I'd learned, so I put it all together and kept working on it.  It was a wonderful sense of accomplishment when I could play the whole song straight through!

I still can't play it perfectly; but I at least can play it passably enough to keep me working on it...!  So keep at it!

[Maple422]

Congrats on reaching your milestone! That's why guitar playing can be so therapeutic.
I do enjoy Tony's Acoustic Letter video reviews (much Taylor content) and have considered trying out one his lessons. After this maybe I will.

[Craig]

Yes congrats Ron, I had a dabble at that last night and while the left hand won't be a problem getting my thumb and fingers working independently does seem to be.

Craig

[BobSol]

Brilliant, well done. The sense of achievement when something eventually comes together after the hours of frustration is just priceless. Two years ago I couldn't play a note now I can hack out a few easy songs so I know how you're feeling. Just enjoy, my friend.

[Edward]

It's a very good feeling to hit a marker.  Good for you, Ron ...well done sir! 

Edward