Geoff wrote:

That was really nice playing and your tone and expression is excellent. Judging by what you have on your floor it looks like you have a serious collection of some good gear too 🙂

What I am curious about is what you mean by a “handful of years” because it sounds like you have playing guitar for a really long time. I do know that coming to the guitar from another instrument can be really helpful.

Really impressed that you could produce a video of this quality for a first time. It took me quite a while to come up with much beyond my cell phone the first few times I started recording anything.

Yes, I have a bit of a gear addiction. I especially like the amp tones and builds from Two Rock and Top Hat amps. My playing level probably does not justify having the gear.

I purchased my first guitar (acoustic) about 12-13 years ago. I learned some open chords and then it sat in the case for several years. I was really into playing keys in bands back then. I got my first electric a few years after that and managed to learn some bar chords, then that sat in the case for a couple years. About 5-6 years ago I got more serious about guitar and started learning some bluegrass flat picking technique and tunes. I have not been very consistent with learning/practice and there have been some many-month pauses, but I also binge on it occasionally. One of my desires/goals for this year is to implement a consistent practice routine and plan. Routine always wins in the long run, but it is hard for me.

I do think it helps to have played piano since I was 7 yrs old. I don’t find some things on guitar (two hand coordination, theory, alternate picking, etc.) hard to learn. However, the guitar is more highly dimensional in regards to touch and feel, so some things (finder placement, accuracy, tone, movement) are harder to control. I really enjoy the challenge and the variety in the instrument.

Thanks for the warm welcome and response! I am enjoying catching up on other videos participants have submitted. So much to learn!

Sal wrote:

Real nice playing there Dave!! For a lifetime Pianist, you sure have a lot of guitars and related stuff!! Nice recording for your first video, and hope you do a lot more posting! Would be interesting to see your guitar collection!!

I used to have a bunch of keyboards and synths, but I sold most of them when the guitar addiction hit hard. I still have a grand piano, hammond organ and midi keyboard, but a lot of gear was sold to buy guitars. I will make a video sometime on the guitars and amps. I have been pretty serious the past 5-6 years on buying and selling gear until I find the ones I love the most. I was fortunate to also have a tech company I founded acquired a few years ago, so that has freed up some time and resources for this passion. I admire so much anyone that works to learn to play an instrument. I have always found that journey to be among the most interesting in life. It’s nice to find this community Brian has created. Hope I can share something positive from time to time.

If you, or anyone here on Active Melody is ever in Colorado, let me know and you can come play some guitars at my place!

sunjamr wrote:

Hey Dave, that’s as fine a performance as anyone could do, well played! By “self accompaniment”, do you mean “standalone”? If so, most of those lessons are for acoustic guitars, but a few are for electric guitars. Are you willing to play along to a jamtrack? Why not lay down a keyboard backing track and play over it?

With such a state of the art music studio I am gobsmacked that this is your first post! You definitely should be doing the monthly challenges on a regular basis. We could all learn a lot from you.

You are too kind Sunjamr. Yes, I meant standalone. I have played to backing tracks too, but no lessons here yet. I have thought about making some jam tracks sine I like to compose. I did submit some bluegrass guitar videos to Artistworks in the past. You get direct feedback from the instructor so it is pretty cool. I have been working on one of Brian Drop D lessons and I think it sounds good with both acoustic and electric. Anyway, I appreciate all the kind words here. I have honestly been a little scared about posting recordings.