FD Members – Introduce Yourself

Hi..

I am a software developer from India. Got the guitar a year back and just haven't stopped. Haven't enrolled for guitar classes. Just googled everything and have not stopped learning till now and never will i want to become a good guitarist who is good at doing solos and therfore I want to master scales… I am trying my bit to understand music theory. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I succeed. But every single time, I do not give up =D.

Just want to let you know that its dedication and hard work (and smart work ofcourse ) that can help u break the walls!!

Do your best!! JB rocks

Godspeed!!

Harsh

Hi.. I tinkered with guitar in my late teens a bit,but I was more interested in drums so the tinkering was mainly just getting the guitar & bass players to show me bits of songs thatI liked.Now nudging into the second half of my 40's,I stopped counting birthdays in my 20's,it's not really relevant or useful to me in any way at all.I don't really have the space to do things with my bikes & I think it was driving me a bit loopy.I can't really explain it,I just suddenly needed to get a guitar,so I got one & started learning,this was the first weekend in October,this year.Boy do I wish I'd been a lot more serious when I was In my late teens,I could have been,well probably a good 25 years ahead of where I am now,but that's life,anyway,I think it's helping me relax,a lot.I just want to learn as much as possible & play along with some of my favorite songs,mostly rock,metal,punk,which is kind of where my music journey started of my own choice.Though I do still remember a lot of chart music from when I was a kid & still like a lot of it,that'll be 70's glam type stuff,T-Rex,The Sweet ect.But I also like a whole load of other stuff,all over the place really.if I like it then it gets added to the collection,well that's a bit about me.I'd just like to say many thanks to John B for all his effort & hard work doing the site,which I've already learnt a lot from,long may you continue sir.I'm just going to keep practicing & learning & see where it goes,thank you,Furry.

I am 46 yrs. from Detroit, MI.. Relocated to Lompoc, CA. Played guitar as a teen for 4-5 years. Taught myself after learning drums for parents but, guitar was my choice and still is. Almost same story as JB, play entire alubums of; Rush 2112, Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo, Aerosmith, ACDC, the list was huge but, never really understood what I was doing. I would hear a song and could play it. Joined the Navy and gave it up for 20 years. Now I am on a mission to understand what is really going on when artist make up songs and what it means when a musican says "a 1, 4, 5," chord progression. I have watched some of JB's lessons on youtube and was so impressed I signed up to his website. His lesson techniques are what I wish I would have done the first time I picked up a guitar. LEARN THE THEORY FIRST AND THE REST WILL COME MUCH EASIER!!!!!!!

Hi JB.I grew up in Wellington, NZ and now work has taken me to Auckland. Please don't hold that against me! When I was a young kid, there was always music of some sort in our house. Dad played the piano and Mum encouraged us to listen to all sorts of music. Growing up, I started with recorder, then piano and then had a brief foray with drums and now have fallen for the guitar. I'm in my late 40s and recently a work colleague had his guitar in at work and played some blues based on some pentatonic scales. I was determined to find out more about pentatonic scales and I found your video on YouTube. Your video made me wish I had paid more attention to music theory when I was learning piano – I'd like to make up for this on the guitar. My aim is to be able to jam along with a few friends and have fun! I really appreciate your philosophy and the great resources on your site. Thanks heaps.

Hello my name is Steve and just turned 50. When I was a 15 year old I use to steal my brothers guitar to learn and did this quite a bit. Later my mother bought me a guitar and I learn by sheet music for guitar and was ok but not what i expected, and played until I was in my twenties. Then when I got a little older and had kids I kind of got away from it. Then last year I bought a Martin and started to get into it again. With a little maturity I found that I'm better than what I was. But I'm also learning more about music not just trying to play songs now. I'm hoping this will show me more in the aspect of theory and the structure of music.

Hello….My name is Bob. I am 38 years old and have been playing the guitar since I was approx. 8. I play mostly bluegrass now but I was into all sorts of music in my teens. I grew up around bluegrass and learned quickly….unfortunately I never really learned about theory or music itself…..heance I know what to do but not what Im doing. Im hoping to pick up some useful info from this site.

Hi Folks,
I'm orignally from Montreal and for many years the only piece of wood I held in my hands to play with was my hockey stick… after my playing days were over, I converted to playing guitar. I have always loved music and for the past 12 years have played nearly everyday. I first learned the basic open chords, but then learned the alternating base finger picking style of playing and learned to play many old country blues songs. But I feel apart from knowing the Blues scale I am new at learning about chord construction and chord progressions, identifying chord forms up the fret board, etc..

My favorite music is typically British rock from the 1960's, Brit pop from the late 80's and 90's and alternative pop/rock today from the USA, Sweden, Norway, etc…
I also love Chet Atkins and would like to play some of the songs he made famous in his style (I own a Gretsch 6120 I also like playing with others. I use to play at a lot of Open Mics, but now I would like to play in a band. How about a Kinks cover band?
I really like your lessons JB.
Cheers
- Michael

Hi JB ,
My story goes very much like Graemes Nov 30th. I was brought up in Whangarei and Grey Lynn. Finally 1987 moved to Auckland , with my wife and family . Now settled in little old Geraldine, South Island.
As a youngster I learnt the recorder and tried the piano.
Now at 65 , I wish I had taken more time to discover the guitar as like Graeme I want to learn and have sing a long with friends . So have a lot to catch up
Thanks JB for the effort you have put into this site
Regards Bryan

hi there JB

im letia ive only just started playin the guitar this yeat and have loved every min of it

i would love 2 learn more aboutplayin the guitar!!

Namaste All ,

I'm Regina Williams born and brought up in Hyderabad in India.I'm single and love to spend lots of time at home – So I do painting,dancing, singing, making greeting cards and writing poems.

I love to play guitar as my dad was a guitarist but as he is no more. I just want to be like him.. I decided to learn guitar… I love to play and want to learn more and more about it…I have learnt so far – few christmas songs already .. Hope to learn more and be like my sweet dad one day

I played bass in my teens, and became fascinated with the guitar in my later years. I love music and the learning process.

Hi. My mame is Petter Brenner, I from Brazil, 49 years old. I am playing guitar in intermediary level. I like to play blues.I don't write well in english, but a can read. I must survive. Today is my first lesson. Thakas. Best regards.

Hi, My name is Israel Montilla, I was born and Raised in New York City but Currently I live and Work in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Im 46 years old and I am playing guitar for a couple of years but mainly self taught My musical interest is Mainly Jazz Smooth and Standards, Sometimes I find myself frustrated and put my guitar away and come back to it again. but I hope by joining Guitar domination I can work my way up to becoming a great guitar player. If been working with systems from Matt Otten and Chris Standring. both great guitar players and mentors. well guys wish me luck. Best regards Izzy

Hi my Name is Guy Im 52 . I have been playing learning for about 4.5 years . My interest is in composing my own music . I like almost all kinds of music Lean towards Blues Pop Country Jazz . Im working hard at learning all I can about the guitar . I have found this site to be very helpful !! Hoping and expecting fretboard domination to be as good as the rest of the site . I live in Oregon USA .

Hello
My name is Diana. I have played around with the guitar for years. I have never had a lesson. I just played old country or some folk music for my own enjoyment mostly.I would love to get with it again and actually progress beyond three or four cords.
I am married all my children grown. I live in the mountains in Eastern Oregon. I am in the pine forest beautiful!

Hi. I am originally from Sri Lanka now living in Auckland, NZ. Started playing guitar around 18 and dropped off a few years on. 0 voice in the singing dept. but now at 48, started to helpout in our local church Praise and Worship group – noticed that the years had caught on and the 'ol fingers not so nimble. I am interested in learning to play instrumentals on the guitar.

Estevan Belo from Toronto, Canada. Have been a guitar hobbiest for approx. 20 years. Never had time or direction to take the art any more seriously. I enjoy all types of music .. classical, blues, gospel and rock. After countless costs and search this site is the 'Holy Grail' for guitar instruction. Fantastic approach to teaching and all the support that is needed to take guitar from Hobbiest to Artist.

Thank you for sharing your teaching skill and for the effort in making this the ULTIMATE guitar study on the planet !

Hi, Eric Solbjor from Lincoln City Oregon. I was a Violin prodigy as a child, I was playing at near orchestra level at 9 years old. My parents started to push hard and I bailed out on playing just to piss them off. I've spent the following 35 plus years wondering what would have been, and doing nothing about it. A few weeks ago I went on eBay and and just did it. I ordered an Acoustic and an Electric Guitar. When I pressed the purchase button, I actually got a lump in my throat, I guess it's never too late. When my Guitars arrived, the necks fit in my hands like a long lost love.

I have a job that will allow allot of practice time per day, I'm totally jazzed! about playing and becoming good again. Plus I'm hoping it will help get me laid at some point.

Hello. My name is Tim I 49 Have been playing guitar sence I was 12. I play in a classic rock band.But also like Country Rock rhythm & blues. I am always looking for new guitar lessons and styles of playing.

Dear John:
My name is Israel im 46 years old, live in the Dominican Republic, I have been on and of of many guitar programs but with lost of interest during the process.Ive decided to give your program a try. I do believe that this time I'll complete my course because I feel it is different from others. My playing level is at a stage where I can play notes just by hearing the song and improvise with what I feel that sounds nice. but im not satisfied I feel I need a real foundation in order to pursue my dreams, that is to become a interesting guitar player. my musical prefrence are JAZZ STANDARDS, BE BOP JAZZ, STANDARDS AND SMOOTH JAZZ. thats all I want to do is play well and be able to form a small jazz band. please help me out im desperate to learn and play well.

my favorite guitar players are:
1.- George Benson, Larry Coryell,John Stein, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, Joe Cohn,Jimmy Bruno,Ed Bickert,Matt Otten, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Lee Ritenour, Randy JonstonLuis Salinas, etc. I could keep on and on.

Hello All:
My name is Luciano and I'm 36 years old. Many years ago in college I took a Beginner's Guitar course and I just didn't give it a chance and after 3 weeks I dropped the course. It has been one of those things that I regret giving up on. I love listening to all types of guitar players, especially recent groups like Rodrigo y Gabriella and Kaki King. I have these "songs" stuck in my heart that I don't know how to get out and share; I can see them but have never really played. I received a Yamaha guitar for Christmas and I have committed to learn over the next year. I looked at many "beginner" courses and they all seem to teach exactly the opposite that you teach. That is why I am going to go with yours, because just like the musicians that I enjoy, you are considered unconventional.

Hey, I am Ken. I am 46 years old and have been playing on and off for about 30 years. I have gotten back into guitar around 5 years ago and play my guitars everyday. I have spent countless hours learning tableture and songs that I play with the two local rock bands I am currently in. I dont want to always play other people's music as I want to be able to express myself through my guitar, contribute to the bands originals and I want to be able to improvise freely (while staying in key). Although my fingers can pretty much do what I want them to do, my ear is terrible and I dont know where to go on the fretboard. I understand some music theory and I have spent tons of cash on the best gear, software and books. I figured that would remove any excuses but you can't buy good playing. When I solo I tend to get nervous, rush myself and tend to skip notes or take shortcuts so I can fit it all in. Sometimes nobody notices but anyone with musical knowledge and mainly "myself" knows what is played good or bad. I listen to and enjoy a lot of different genres of music and would love to be versitile enough to play rock, metal, blues, country and even 50's oldies. Also, to wrap it up I guess I can honestly say that I dont know how to practice to get the most efficient results in the least amount of time. I am wondering if I should just start taking lessons through a music school to set me on the right path of "Fretboard Freedom".

My name is Brad and I of course regret the lost years of learning the guitar. But then I think of BB King and Buddy Guy and how they still, to this day, love to play, and at a high level; so I keep trying. John, the way you present the goals and the means to fulfill them in FD, match what I had been searching for in the many books and courses I have looked at. It was all so diffuse but you integrated it; I used to even hand draw my own chord boxes, but you provided them already.You definitely filled a need, and I'm grateful.

Hi JB, I'm in my 50's, a flower child long haired surfy in my teens. Loved music all my life and have only purchased my guitars in the last 8 months.
I try to play every day, tend to gravitate to blues style. I have been doing scales for ever and would like to play chords with these stubby fingers ofmine. I have watched a few of your youtube vids and liked your style of explanation so I will keep trying and watching.

Mark, Adelaide South Australia.

Hi, my name is Aaron Jordan. I collect guitar materials for my personal improvement and came across your chord downloads for free. I enjoyed them and as I have started your course it is simple, direct with no wasted words. I like that. There are gaps in private lessons and at times assumptions about what a player does and doesn't know.

I enjoy playing jazz and blues. I love playing Joe Pass materials, studying Ted Greene's materials. I love traditional blues and rock blues like Joe Bonamassa. My Goals are to be able to perform both in small group settings and in a solo fashion, with grace, beauty and style. I work very hard at it, I have very good equipment and look to make people smile with how and what I play.

To All … i've been playing pretty consistently for 48 years, seems like i would have improved more in that time … i'm amazed at the availability of teaching aids on the internet, YouTube, etc. and most of it free! … that's a huge difference from times past … there's really no excuse for not learning guitar now … from time to time i try to dig back into the theory and see how it might improve my playing … my wife and i have performed for many years, sometimes for pay, mostly for fun … we do cowboy songs, old time country songs and old popular songs and most any song with a good melody and an interesting story … i love blues and Western Swing and big band music … my picking is mostly Carter style, chords and some implied melody … i'd like to be more flexible in my playing and be able to improvise on the spot more … jim

Hello,My name is Saul I'm 42 years old married with two daughters and one son , I have been playing guitar for 2 years.
I have been self-taught for 2 years, I've used dvd's and the internet for help. I practice 1/2 hr in the morning and study at lunch time. The lessons from JB and some other music books have helped me understand how to play .I took guitar lesson for about 2 months. I was learning new things, but my teacher was going thru some personal problems and the lessons ended there .Now I'm trying to learn from JB, the Fretboard domination an area that I need help to understand. My dream and goal is to be able to play with others and be able to improvise by playing guitar scales. Some examples of music I like are blues from Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana ,latin music ,rock – jimmy page, and christian music from Jars of clay. I will primarily be playing christian music, latin, christian rock,pop and gospel. I am interested in learning different styles.

Eu sou brasleiro e moro em Uberlandia, Estado de Minas Gerais e tenho 57 anos e tento aprender tocar guitarra não apenas para incentivar meu filho de 15 anos, mas tambem para meu prazer. (I am brazilian and live in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais State. I am 57 years old and TRY to play eletric guitar/acustic guitar just to incentive(?) my son, 15, and to my pleasure.
(Sorry my english, since long time I do not pratice, no talkin and no writing)

Im Jason Howell 26 I have 2 daughters 6yrs and 8yrs old. I have full custody of and they are most important to me but music is always been my whole life. Im disabled and theres alot I cant do but I vent and cope through music. I love playing a guitar and I was a drummer for yrs but the guitar is my fav. I love the blues and rock n roll , the older country and 50's rock , a big southern rock fan. I love music and want to learn everything about it I possibly can. I spend most of my time with a guitar when I aint doing something with my kids im playing music.Im looking forward to this course and all you can teach me. Thanks

My name is Randy Carville,54 yrs.and a recording artist who wishes to be a solo guitarist. As I stated I am a singer song writer and intermediate guiarist. I want to be an acomplished guitarist and would like to be able to be good enough to be a studio musician, I love blues, I practice literally 6 -8 hrs a day, technique, theory study, sight reading, finger style, blues, rock, country are my favourite styles, but especially blues. I am married twenty five years, no kids, four dogs. I own a plumbing business, own a home, a bmw and would trade every MATERIAL thing I have to get out of this hell of not being a full time musician, It kills me to watch from the side lines. I plan on changing that. Wish me luck. And good luck to all of you. Follow your dreams, don't give up. Remember Susan Boyle.

Hi,
Im Phil,
I have tried guitar a few times over the past thirty years and given up!! I learned to play the organ reasonably and tried again a couple of years ago with the guitar, found JB'S site and purchased membership, worked through the seven ebooks focusing on the theory of chords and scales and particularly the shape thing in the five boxes….seem to be progressing now I enjoy playing and singing various songs from Elvis to Ronan Keeting to thebeatles and can muddle thru with the guitar. I play around with the pentatonic scales and blues scales a lot and am trying desperately to memorize the fret board, I think that is a major key to learning (excuse the pun )…anyway looking forward to some structured learning and improving my playing.

Hi Everybody,
I'm Fraser and I live in Newport Pagnell in the UK. Physically, I may be getting long in the tooth now but my wife calls me a recycled teenager – I can live with that! I'd been thinking of taking up the guitar for years but never got round to it until I took early retirement. I decided then that it was about time I did something about it so I went out and got my gear together. I have a Fender Strat, Vox VT30 amp and a ToneLab ST Effects Processor. I've been with JB for well over a year now and I think I must be one of the first to have joined his Guitar Mates website. I've also been subscribing to Fretboard Domination for over a year and have almost the complete set of FD Modules.

JB teaches in a well structured and easy to learn way with easily assimilated videos and in an entirely logical manner. He's also one of the few teachers on the net who doesn't try to convince you that you'll be able to play in a few days! Put his FD course together with his free ebook: "Guitar Chord Secrets" and you've got an unbeatable combination – you don't need anything else!! His website "Tortoise Guitar" says it all, better to learn slowly and steadily than to hare off at a great pace and finish up totally lost and confused!

My name is Greg Helin. I started playing guitar when I was about 12 and things came pretty naturally to me untill I hit "THE WALL".
All my friends all of a sudden were way ahead of me and so in order to be included I started playing bass. Fortunately I have a feel for that instrument and actually became pretty good at it playing mostly blues and southern rock.
A couple years ago my best friend gave me a Les Paul and when a gift like that is given I felt obligated to go back and learn the theory I was lacking. This course has given me the ability to connect the dots, after playing for 35 years I now know why I play the things I do and how they relate to all the other instruments in the band in general. Also as a result I can now play guitar pretty well and I'm constantly learning new tunes and can't seem to put my guitars down…
I have also developed a serious case of GAS…even worse than before!!
Thanks JB for all your hard work making it easy and fun to learn again!!!
Gitfiddler

Hello all.
I received a guitar when I was 17 and a few months of group lessons thereafter. Took it to college but it just sat in my room. Now 30 years later and many "teach yourself guitar" purchases later, I still can't do a lot with the guitar. I am 46 with a wonderful wife and two boys(11 and 13). My youngest has begun lessons and rekindled my desire to really play.
Since beginning this course three months ago the theory and logic behind the instrument and music is allowing me to start putting together some notes and chords that sound like something. So much better for me to know the "why" behind the notes. Thank you JB for putting this together.