WyoWoman,

If you could do it right away WW, everyone would play guitar. What a mess that would be. Guitar playing is reserved for those who try harder: for those who will casually engage you in conversation while repeating the same chord and fingerpicking pattern until you go nuts; who can while away hours watching TV, studying chemistry, and gazing at thunderstorms with a guitar in the arms while practicing John Hurt's thumb picking patterns; and for those who think finger tip callouses are kind of neat. Guitar playing is not for those who seek the easy path.

Clearly if I had done my homework instead of practicing guitar, cleaned my house instead of practicing guitar, spent time with Marge instead of practicing guitar, paid my bills instead of practicing guitar, .... my life would be quite different. I have one firm rule. I don't take a guitar to work (I have thought about it though). I realize I am not ready to survive on my musical abilities, so I better keep my day job.

But if I had done all of those things instead of practicing guitar: my pinkie would just be a loose appendage on my chording hand instead of an essential part for chording and melody creation; I would still cheat by fretting only the four high strings to make an F chord; I would not be able to form a clean clear A chord by arching one finger tip across all three strings; and I wouldn't know the joy that came with learning one barre chord formation that literally means I gained 10 new chords in my repertoire.

Keep up the good work! If you need inspiration, just log on the 'Cat.

Big RiB