Peter T

I used to do this, years ago, when I was just learning the basics and was playing small gigs where I tried out my stuff. I wish I'd never stopped because I'm sure I've lost alot of information over the years since then. I often don't know when or if I've played a particular hall before until someone else tells me about it. The biggest loss is all those little riffs and tips and such that I never wrote down the first time I learned them.

Now I record most everything because I am teaching guitar again after years away from it. I don't use the computer to store the information however because I am very distrustful of the technology, so everything is backed up by real paper, some of which will eventually become lessons and such. The real benefit to your journal is that you'll never quit learning. Once you quit keeping account, it's harder to progress, as I'm finding out. I sometimes think I learn as much from students as they do from me, it's just different stuff like human nature. I learn from hearing and watching other musicians on all sorts of instruments, and keeping an open mind (which is harder to do than to say).

As for form, I like loose leaf binders with dividers by topic. This is easy to transport. Technique tips, playing tips, performance tips, chord movements and cool fingerings which I might be inclined to forget, tunings, bizarre scales, exercises, etc. The other thing that helps is actual recordings of yourself and/or others. Add a diary of acts seen and heard, places visited, conversations and correspondence, and you'll have a real treasure.

Keeping an open journal helps to keep an open mind.

Peace, Mooh.