Remember Dick Clark and the old American Bandstand?

There was the “Rate-A-Record” part where they would play a new song, and ask a couple of the dancers to rate the song on a score of 1 to 100.

The joke is that they almost always said, “I’ll give it an 85, it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.”

In other words, the song was good enough and they could use it.

Well in guitar-world I often get asked about how good is “good enough” when it comes to learning one lesson and moving on to the next.

The reality is that mastering one lesson could take months… whereas memorizing that lesson and assimilating what it has to teach you might only take a matter of days or weeks.

Mastery – being able to play something flawlessly as if you created it (“owning it” as I call it) requires enough technique to be able to play it flawlessly in the first place. You may have that kind of technique already, but chances are you don’t.

So you have to find a happy medium here. You have to get to the point where you have the lesson memorized, because you can’t really practice something if you have to keep looking at the music to see what comes next. That’s 2 different actions with different goals in mind.

If you have it memorized and you can play it, but it’s a little too slow and there are a lot of mistakes, you need to keep working on it a bit more.

Ideally, you’ll get it to where you play it at full speed (whatever that speed happens to be) but you might make some mistakes along the way.

Mistakes are not the enemy. It may be that your technique is just not quite developed yet in that area.

Let’s say you are working on the first lesson from Blues Guitar Unleashed but your barre chords really aren’t that good yet. Should you give up on the rest of the course? Absolutely not!

In fact, the reality is that the only reason for that lesson is to prepare you mentally for how you’ll use chords in lesson 4 down the road. So if you gave up just because your barre chords down sound perfect, you’d be missing out on a lot of great stuff very soon.

If you get to the point where you can finger the shapes, but all the notes don’t come out every time, you’ve got it good enough. If you can strum it along with the example and make the changes – even if the chords don’t ring out every time – you’ve got it good enough.

As you move on to the next lesson and practice the things there, your technique will improve. And as you move on to the lesson after that, your technique will improve.

And as the old saying goes, “A rising tide raises all ships.” So after doing some of the other lessons, you may go back to that first lesson and find it remarkably easy, even though you haven’t been working on it at all.

That’s because the technical end of playing guitar, the “hows,” are very different from the mental side and the understanding, the “whats.”

Learning “what” to play is different from “how” to play it. And sometimes they don’t move at the same speed and that’s OK.

Above all else, don’t give up. I’ve seen students come in week after week for many months and struggle with certain techniques… then one week they show up and they can just play it with ease.

In my experience, technical advances come in leaps, not in slow, small, steps and many people would have you believe.

And if you feel like you are beating a dead horse when it comes to a particular lesson… just put it aside and move on to the next one.

In the end, that’s the fastest way to improve and it happens to be the most enjoyable as well… it’s a win-win.


    175 replies to "I’ll Give It An 85 – It’s Got A Good Beat And You Can Dance To It…"

    • John Bikadi

      Ha that’s too funny you should mention this griff I have been beating solo 3 to death as a matter of fact for about 6 months. I am so obssesed with matching your speed and being able to play it with the solo3 backing track on my own that I have been saying to myself I think I need to move on to the next lesson. I have been able to play solo 3 at 90% in Riff master with out too many mistakes and I can sit down and play it with out looking at the notes now.so its time to move on. Im glad your always there to give us your knowledge and move us along.
      Im now working on getting the three solos up on Utube. to show of some of my skills I have learned so far. thank you again your the best.

      • Michael Martin

        Living well into my seventies, I concur with the above.
        It’s like driving a car, you wonder what all the fuss was about in the beginning

    • Bile

      I`ve been playing out for almost 60 years and I am still trying to get the first song I learned right — go figure —

    • Len Lawson

      Thanks Griff,I feel better knowing other people have the same frustrations I do at times.I play some of your simple rifs, and then I can,t find any song I know to apply them.Len.

    • Michael

      Thanks teach, I was wondering about that very subject. the tempo and the
      changes in lesson 1 and 2 of bgu unleashed are there but the cord sounds
      are not as clear and perfect as the examples. Very frustrating at times!!
      Now I know I can move on a little and come back to those from time to time
      to clean them up. thanks again Griff 🙂

    • whistler

      Loud & clear
      Still lovin it

    • Larry

      I hadn’t picked up a guitar until age 70, about a year and a half ago. I bought an acoustic and figured to learn a few cords for campfire type playing, just a little fun. We live in a rural area so practicing did not disturb any neighbors. I did the resurch on the internet found many websites with the open cord basics, then looked for more and practiced.
      We winter in Florida where the neighbors are about ten feet away so I purchased an electric guitar with an amp that would accept earphones, the electric changed my entire outlook. I found I had a real desire to learn blues guitar, purchased BBG, completed it and moved on to BGU. I do find myself hitting a wall at times so I take a break and try to learn something else, a little different, available on the internet for awhile. I feel I have a fair amount of guitar knowledge but I don’t know if I am applying it correctly. I also think I should be graded, I don’t know if I am where I should be for the length of time I have been learning, is my ability below average, average or above average.
      Griff’s lessons are great but on occasion I wouldn’t mind him reaching through the TV screen and correct a fault I am having, to help move the learning process on.
      I find I can play a lesson fairly well until I go to playing with the recording or jam track, I’ll blow it more often than not.
      A forum such as this helps me through down times, hearing my problems are the problems of others and hints as to how to overcome them.
      Do I remember American Bandstand, you bet! I can actually remember the place I first seen it on TV.
      Thanks for letting me vent!

    • Jeffrey Goblirsch

      Thanks for the encouragement Griff! I call it mechanic’s, you call it technique! Sooner or later if you keep practicing & practicing you do get better! Even the timing get’s better too! I fiquire it will take another 2 to 3 yrs to get my technique down!
      6 yrs ago I never even own a Guitar. Now I feel so comfortable w’ a guitar under my arms. My motto is “If there’s a will there’s a way”
      Griff keep the encouragement coming. BGU is a win win situation!

    • James Alzate

      Thanks Griff.
      The goal is to enjoy the process!

    • Lee Warner

      My, so many good tips, Griff.
      Have noted my own progress a little labored, though my first attempt at ‘blues’ and it continues to fascinate me! The ability to move up/down the neck in a particular key seems simple enough in theory, yet takes me some time to figure out on my own. Sometimes unable to get a daily practice in, then often needing more like 45 min., and lately numerous practice sessions to be able to accomplish the chord fingering and/or ‘count’ properly in BGU, is challenging for me. Even so, am enjoying the spurts of progress I feel, however slow the outcome!
      Thanks for your courses, blog, & email tips!

    • raymee

      Thanks Griff! This is a problem I have to deal with cause I am always in a hurry to learn and move on! It does not work that way for me. Most every time you show me something I have to spend more time on it thsn I want to spend on it. Trying not to think that way. It only causes frustration to be in a hurry.

    • kingbee

      A little advice for the player with sore finger tips…keep playing, its the only way to get your fingers tough. In 1 area I was blessed, I started playing barr chords many years ago, so I don’t have any problems with them, but I have problems in other area’s to make up for that. Playing an acoustic will help strenghten anybodies hand for better barr chords, it just takes time. I’ve made it through the first 5 songs in acoustic blues, (really love the course)though not to my liking, I still stumble some. I’m still learning the scale boxes and notes, and keeping time, making some progress. Like many more here, I’m 65 and the learning process is a bit slower. The encouragment and instruction Griff provides helps bunches. Some days I sit down and just play the stuff I’ve learned in the first 5 songs and put off the lessions for a few days, that way I’m ready to absorb new things in the next lession. Besides, it makes learning more fun, after all, we do play for personally satisfaction for the most part. Point being, relax and enjoy playing what you’ve already learned in the blues instead of trying to cram to much new stuff in every day.

    • Dave

      Good Stuff…. Love my BGU and I am still learning to Count!

    • Jerry

      You hit the nail on the head ,so to speak! I with my own difficulties would get frustrated, set the lesson aside & move on to another. Than after a week or so I would pick up my guitar and play the very thing I was struggling with! Like you said Don’t Give Up, Give it a break and just try it later, I was surprised maybe you will be to.

      Thanks Griff,
      Great Lesson
      Jerry

    • tony

      words of wit from one of the best mystros I have ever had for a teacher . brovo brovo KISS meaning keep it simple stupid ,the rest will come depending on how bad you want it(sorry you said that). B-)

    • allan halstead

      Hey griff..Is it possible to get BGU shipped to the U.K. ? I’ve been enjoying ur little email lessons so it’s a natural progression for me to start the course and find out if I can cut it as a blues man 🙂 thanks al

      • Andy Rigby

        Hi Alan, yes Griff does ship to the UK. I reside in the UK also and currently doing the blues guitar unleashed. Thoroughly recommend the course.
        Andy

      • BOB HILL

        Yes i have bought a couple of things from Griff over years and i reside in UK. Just takes a little longer to arrive .BOB.

      • Saddler

        Hi Allan, yes Griff does ship to the UK. I’m currently on BGU. I’ve bought several courses from Griff. I live in the west Midlands. Its a great course to be on. Griff explains everything so clearly. I say go for it.

    • EJG

      I agree that progress on guitar is not slow and steady, but rather occurs in spurts of remarkable growth followed by long plateaus of seemingly little progress. I’ve seen it in myself and others (especially my sons).
      I often wonder what’s going on during those plateau periods. Something is definitely happening, but I don’t know if anyone knows what it is.

      • Tom W

        Hi EJ, I’m no scientist but I think the neurologists call that “building” new synapse between brain cells. Basically memory paths. I’m guessing that the plateau period is that building phase. That means no short cuts. Ever noticed how long it takes the new house done the street to progress out of the ground? All of a sudden one day the house almost looks finished just because the walls went up in a couple days. There is still a lot of house to complete but those walls and roof sure did look impressive. Nothing gets built without putting in the work but it sure is nice when it’s finished! I’m still laying more ground work than building walls myself. Let’s all keep using the tools Ole Griff is supplying and build our own houses – so much more satisfying than having someone else build it. TW

    • Howard Spruit

      I bought intermediate level “acoustic blues unleashed” because I could play a dozen or so songs that I learned from friends that were advanced performing musicians, but I never got the basics, so when I watch your Lessons sometimes it takes me awhile to figure out the language you are using, but that in its self is entreating for me.
      Thanks very much.
      Keep smiling!

    • Patrick

      I was just pondering the “how good” question yesterday. I went back to the BGU course after months away with private lessons, lots of practice and digging through chords and scales. I started at lesson 1 again and heard/ saw things I missed completely the first time I struggled through lessons 1 through 5.
      Try it.
      I’m a slide enthusiast and find I have learned more about chords, scales and the fretboard than any other way. Just knowing where the 3rd, 5th and 7th are improved my playing a great deal and I remember it.
      As Griff says, “If you can play it in one place it will work all over the place. ”

      Keep on playin.

    • Maurice Mousseau

      Hello. Thank you for the reminder….the good tips.
      Always appreciated.

      Maurice

    • Jean Dominique

      Thanks for your insight and encouragement. That was is of great help.

    • Skip Anderton

      Great Blog Griff. I do on a regular basis go back and go over previous lessons in several of the courses I am taking. One reason is just to review some detail and at the same time I see if the lesson is more comfortable to play. It is an easy way for me to really feel if I am improving.

    • Nick Edwards

      A good balanced blog and down to earth insight.., thanks for showing us where the boundaries are within our silent screaming days of trying to master or indeed progress our skills when they seem so unattainable. Keep on keeping on …!
      Nick Edwards
      (mistabeatmusik.com)

    • Bob JK

      So if you gave up just because your barre chords down sound perfect, you’d be missing out on a lot of great stuff very soon. – I don’t know if “down” is a typo but your right I usually play a fret “down” when i make a mistake.
      Great article – keep the inspirations and info coming.
      Regards
      Bob RJ

    • Curt Hinkle

      Griff,
      Thanks man. You are appreciated.

    • Phill Robinson

      I have been in the Guitar world for over 40 years now and I can state has fact.
      NO ONE yes NO ONE plays a piece perfect every time. You have to live with it.

      • mark

        That is likely the case – but with guys like Yngwie Malmsteen it makes you wonder. His riffs sound so polished that it’s more like some machine playing them. And for that very reason, I don’t have any of his stuff. It’s so perfect it sounds either heartless or generic or thereabout. J Page, on the other hand, wasn’t or isn’t so hot. Yet those little quirks on certain studio releases are, unwittingly, classic. I love those little scratches of the string with the pick…

        There’s another lesson about breathing in the context of phrasing. Excellent guide.

    • Peter

      Definitely great insite here. I was working on the Clapton version of Walkin Blues. At first I couldn’t use the slide at all, but I’d do a bit each day, then go on to other things and not get hung up at all. I figured it would come when it came. Sure enough the day came when I could play it right through and it sounded not too bad. I’m not a master of the slide, but it sounds OK to me. I played it for some friends and they were awed. Another thing you mentioned in previous blogs. The mistakes you make may not even be noticed by the listener. Keep sending the insites Griff they are all so helpful.

    • Harry DeBold

      Griff,
      Love reading your blog posts, find I’m not alone in the old geezers beginning group. Bought my first guitar at 64 and Beginning Blues soon after. I now have most of your courses, 3 guitars and save the videos you post. When I get tired of practicing something I play with another lesson. I used to say I suck but now I really enjoy the time I have a guitar in my hands. I see no end to this journey. Wife seems to enjoy my playing also. I play some of the 5 easy blues solos almost every day. Mostly play my strat but spend time on the porch with an acoustic too. Keep it up man, you have a loyal customer here.

    • Happy Jack

      Great insight and positive input. I am 65 and recently had a heart attack. I have the time to practice now, but I wanted someone to take me on this journey into ” The Blues. ” I saw in BGU a plan developed by a man that I sensed was an educator with a passion. I have messed with with the Guitar for years. I was in a RUT and needed direction. I think I can expect to get the direction I need to succeed in mastering the BLUES.

      Happy Jack

    • LouisVA

      That’s great news above. Perhaps I should stop driving myself bonkers over:
      (a) Lesson 10 – The Texas Shuffle – that syncopated rhythm has me stumbling over myself. I can do the “walking bass-line” or the chord but trying to do both at the same time has me baffled.
      (b)Lesson 12 – Jazzy Shuffle Blues – I love it when hearing Griff play it but thus far it has me stumped.

    • Ed Wholley

      Hey Griff on my 57th birthday to my surprise my wife gifted me with an electric guitar starter kit. She knows how much I loved to listen to great blues bands. And I must have said to her many times , that I wished I had learned guitar. So it’s almost been two years of many,many hours in the man cave, practicing. I have one of your cd courses from BGU. I have even upgrade my guiter with a beautifull american made strat and a second hand vintage tweed amp. But I was still very frustrated with my overall ability to play,what and how I wanted. And believe me I do practice. So anyway, I did somthing , and this may help some of your other students. I went out and bought myself a decent acoustic guitar. And I have been having a blast! I only so far just know a hand full of songs. Simple open chord stuff and some right hand bass line technics , wich I’m still working on. I feel it has turned up my confidence in learning guitar. So I have dusted off your course, and diving back in. With much more confidense then previous .thank you for your email stuff and keep practicing!

    • Slim

      Surprised and happy to find that I’ m not the only sixty something studying BGU. Every time I hit a wall or have a problem you seem to know just what to post on my email to keep me on track, thanks.

      • andy arkin

        slim–i was going to write a reply and then read what you wrote. spot on!! this blog could not have been more timely. i wasn’t going to give up quite yet, but was very frustrated and then this blog came out and put me back on my lessons.

    • rchism@weedranch.com

      Thanks, Griff. I needed to know that it was okay to move on without fully mastering a lesson. I finally bought BGU. Thank you for the $50 discount that made it possible, plus the bonuses. One thing that surprises me is that there are so many older guys like me (68) who are picking up the guitar in their retirement. I’d be interested to know how well those old lame strummers (like myself) do after picking up your course. You are truly a teaching maestro.

    • Ray Jackson

      Here’s a great rut buster. Go get yourself a bass guitar, (off eBay, it’s cheaper that way). I did cos’ my Grandson told me he wanted to learn to play Bass. I brought this big blue Fender Bass home, (I had fooled around with the Bass many years ago whilst I was serving in the RN), plugged it in and messed about with it and within minutes I was playing the Bass line to Crossroads. Playing the Bass can be so un-stressing, especially when you seem to be going round in circles with one of your guitar solo lessons. And what your learning on BGU can be put over on the Bass, just beefier. I love that big blue Bass and so does my Grandson. Regards, Ray (UK)

    • Michael Lofchick

      Thanks for the motivation Griff. You’re right about going back. Some of the lessons that seemed difficult in the beginners series are now much easier and I haven’t been practicing them.Lesson 5 in Blues Guitar Unleashed is posing some difficulty but I will get through it !

    • Jerry Burns

      Thanks Griff sometimes I feel like I just can’t get it than I will try something else when I go back to the problem spot it is a lot easier

      Jbee

    • Ralph Hammond

      Thanks Griff, Staying with it, seeing improvement, trying to pick up the guitar every day….Ralph

    • Joseph Canno

      Great bit of instruction, I’ll use this right away

      Thanks Griff

    • Ralph Fucito

      Working hard to increase my ability and knowledge- older player (69)- with not much time right now – keep getting reply from family – you keep playing the same stuff (riffs) over and over – but no songs – or stuff we can recognize – frusatrating – enjoy your e mails – will keep on playing- do not play along with the actual songs – liked the riff master progam –

    • berrypatchkcm@yahoo.com

      Hey great advice. I am an older player and sometimes find myself struggling with a part even though I know it. so sometimes moving on , letting it simmer so to speak, and then coming back to it helps.

      Thanks Giff.

    • David Munson

      always great advice.Thanks again

    • Friend -

      Great advice put in a most articulate manner. Loved it.
      Andrew

    • Art Martinez

      Griff, for some unknown reason I had never fully read this piece of advise until just now. To say that you hit the nail on the head is an extreme understatement. It’s unfortunate that in the 8 yrs plus that I have been taking private lessons from a total of six different instructors over most of those years, only one I can say really cared enough to say something similar, YET, never really developed a good progress plan for me to stay with as each week was; okay, what do you want to learn today? What did we do last time? You are in my opinion the model instructor who goes to the nth degree to get the student to not only want to learn, but provide the student the opportunity to contact you, blog you, blog other students, and provide the materials needed to follow and learn in a quick and easy to understand format. Okay, I’ve praised enough, but in all honesty, the evidence in those who have spoken before says it all, you were meant to teach! Thank you

    • jacquie

      thanks for this read, I am on the strumming etc course and barre chords, my fingers do not like, so I learnt the other practice tunes without the barre chords, glad I did right and moved on.

    • Noel Summers

      When I finally “own” Down to the Station, I’m headin’ to your next gig where ever it is and you’re gettin’ a hug from a 64 year old Tasmanian Griff, bucket list stuff…might be a while though. I forget what I learned yesterday. God, I love this journey……lead me out of the desert Griffo!
      Strobey.

    • krick1@cox.net

      I’m getting a little better by the day. Keep the great info coming.

    • Dominic Mancini

      Thanks Griff! Just reading your blog helped me and applying your approach the last few days proved your point.

    • Ronald Myers

      Thanks for the great advice. At 47 years old I am looking forward to the journey of learning to do something I always wanted to know how to do.

    • Ron T.

      I am soooo confused. I find that many days I am looking at so many free pc lessons every day that it is difficult to practice your lessons. Should I stop looking at the pc and just practice the lessons that I purchased?

    • John Green

      Griff — this is really good advice, and takes some of the stress out of trying to get it “all” right. Overall, what you are saying fits my experience very closely, so I appreciate you confirming I am on the right track. thanks much, John

    • Joseph Keck

      Great advice and good to hear it. I’ve been doing this very thing and often times think it’s not the “right” thing to do.

      Thanks for the insight & perspective Griff.

    • Joe Driscoll

      I give this a 100.

      Because, like you said, one day the barre chords fall into place, and now the slide is actually sounding like a series of notes rather than random, annoying noise. Your Ry Cooder link in Blues Artists is a time trip that brought out many memories of time an place gone by.

      Your courses are great, and slow “Delta Blues Slide Guitar” does allow the fingers/hand/body/mind to develop at a pace that makes ‘noodling around’ fun.

      Thanks.

    • paco247@live.com

      Fantastic advice Griff … I keep working on lessons you’ve provided for free and if I could afford it I’d purchase your DVDs however it’s very hard surviving on welfare and poverty . It is the guitars I never sold now helping me live for tomorrow … Thanks again Griff !!!

    • Gary Knowles

      OK Griff, I totally agree. You have to move on to move forward, whether you do it perfectly or “good enough.” I’ve purchased a couple of your programs and truly like your teaching style. Not many blues players in my area, so I’m trying to transpose some of what I’ve learned to the dominant “country” genre, which isn’t always easy. I purchased a series of DVDs from one of your compatriots and have found they are, to some degree, repetitious, (even duplicated lessons), and now all of his emails only promote more products. Anyone in business has to do business and we all understand that, but you are, by far, the most class act teacher I have encountered on the net. Consider this my official “Thank You!”
      Lastly, I think it’s time you got to work on your most important series of any you’ve created thus far. The title of this DVD series will be “Griff’s Riffs” and it will contain lead riffs that can be used in many genres, simply by making a few easy changes. (Case in point, a blues riff can be changed to a country riff by simply changing a couple of notes and the timing). I look forward to purchasing this new series and I think I should be a beta tester…lol. Good luck Griff!

    • Brenton Meyer

      Yes spot on Griff you just have to keep at it and at it, eventually it arrives.

    • DAVID GRIFFITH

      When I bought your blues guitar unleashed course I saw the diagrams showing the pentatonic and blues scales and realised that learning these patterns would be needed. Two years later and lots of playing along to backing tracks and it’s becoming more fluid.

      9000 hours to go … chuckle chuckle.

      thanks for all your work, Griff. …. the emailed thoughts and lessons are inspiring.

    • Friend -

      A friend of mine told me a long time ago if miss a note, play on through.you will get it later.

    • Larry Lorgeree

      thanks Griff
      Have practiced this and find going back and forth is fun from lesson to lesson.

    • David Malecki

      Absolutely, Grif! I was just thinkig about this the other day. It is a relief to have this advice from you. Much appreciated!

      Thanks again,
      David (daveyjoe)

    • scarman@new.rr.com

      Awesome advice and really needed, thanks…..again! It’s like you can read our minds 🙂 pEaCe

    • Raul Moralez

      Great advise. I am still working on it. Mastered the moves, nope, but still improving. I play at church and it has moved me forward.

    • Don Bender

      Great advice. Thank you.

    • Edward Beck

      Although my preference is country guitar. I purchased Blues Guitar Unleashed over a year ago simply for scales and technique. Absolutely nobody can explain the guitar better than Griff.

    • Michael Samaritano

      HI Griff just wanted to tell you how much i appreciate your view’s.I play proffessinally in northen ca.And ialway’s pick something good from you

    • Larry Collins

      Your advice works. I have experienced this myself.
      To Yvonne Carpenter: May I suggest that you do some finger stretches before you play. After all you would do some leg stretches before going jogging. Put your hand flat against the wall and spread your fingers as far apart as possible. Mark where pinkey finger stops, Next time try to stretch
      beyond that point and mark that point. Soon you will see improvement. It was hard for me to stretch from the second fret and put my pinkey on the 6th fret. Now I can easily reach the 7th fret with my pinkey finger without bending my wrist to far under the neck of the guitar.

    • Larry Collins

      Your advice works. I have experienced this myself.
      To Yvonne Carpenter: May I suggest that you do some finger stretches before you play. After all you would do some leg stretches before going jogging. Put your hand flat against the wall and spread your fingers as far apart as possible. Mark where pinky finger stops, Next time try to stretch
      beyond that point and mark that point. Soon you will see improvement. It was hard for me to stretch from the second fret and put my pinky on the 6th fret. Now I can easily reach the 7th fret with my pinky finger without bending my wrist to far under the neck of the guitar.

    • Alfred Young Man

      …so, where does Dick come in? ???

    • tomcar1@flash.net

      I am learning a lot with the book and video. I can’t reach all of the chords. The action needs to be changed. I think my strings are too high. My fingers on the left hand are really bothering me. By the way. I read music, but always wanted to play the guitar. Is there anything that helps with the sore finger tips? Thanks for all of your help.
      Yvonne Carpenter

    • Frederick Carr

      Brilliant! thanks for the encouragement Griff!

    • Lyman Budnick

      I never heard anyone say that, but I confess that I’ve done that but did not tell anyone I was doing it. So now I feel more comfortable about it. Thank you very much.

    • Robert Rhodes

      .2 true Griff.
      understanding what the lesson is about puts you 2/3 there and patience is a useful
      tool. Things are, as you said, coming together at their own pace.

    • Tim Leslie

      Ah forget it this sucks I Quit!

      JUST kidding have a little humor, I love my music therapy! I couldnt get rid of it if I had too.

    • Tim Leslie

      I’m with Alan, I had a very hard time moving on. I had been telling myself I have not played for 30 years and I dont have 30 years left untilI I can play the way I want to. I found that as long as I commit to learn the “whats” I have an good enough feeling of progress.

    • ALAN WHITESELL

      Thanks for the wisdom. I’ve been struggling with the perfection beast, perhaps now I can Iock-it back in it’s cage.

    • Phyllis Perkins

      Thanks Griff , That was what I needed , very good lesson. Now I can stop beating myself up and have some fun!!!

    • John Jarrell

      Good timing Griff. I’vr been trying to do a lesson that I cannot seem to do. My hands probably aren’t good for guitar and certain things I cannot do. Literally. I still don’t want to quit guitar altogether so I do what I can as well as I’m able,. but I don’t feel as good about it as I once did. Stumbling blocks make me feel as though I can’t progress to the next level and that I’ve gone as far as I can. Very disappointing for sure to realize I won’t ever be the player I wanted to be. Sort of feel like I’ve made a fool of myself and won’t be able to play after all. How can I get past this? I need help or guidance. I can’t be the only one with this issue. Is it best to let it go and forget about it? Don’t know what to do. Don’t trust my teacher anymore but I don’t want to fail either. I’m seriously confused at this point.

    • KHotz@aol.com

      This is very encouraging! Those of us who are perfectionists should take heed here. It doesn’t have to be perfect!!

    • Friend -

      Thanks. I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

    • Matthew Gomez

      Tks. I needed that. Do the best that I can.

    • Richard Raley

      Been doing exactly what you’re talking about with the first lesson. I’ve played for 50 yrs. I’m a robot. Have to show me what you want me to play, in depth; then I normally can . Play a few simple solo’s, but mainly the second guitar. The little 3 chord progression, first lesson, is easy. Just been adding slides and such to the progression, a little added 5th or 6th something’s (I don’t know what they’re called, why I’m taking BGU) just jazzing it up. Having some fun with it. I haven’t even looked at the 2nd lesson. I don’t read tabs or music. I’m learning. May come a time when I will need some help from the forum in that vein. I’m 63 years old. From now on just call me “63 Blues.” One day you’ll understand – – –

    • Dominick Popolillo

      Griff, Ive been playing guitar as long as I could hole one(Before that I played a ukalally)!Ha!
      heres the problem. The last band that I played in had 10 pieces!!!! I was the rhythm guitarist.Wait it gets better! (I was the only “white” guy)!!!! Where talking,”Earth,wind, and,fire-Ohio Player,s_ average White band!……You want to talk about blowing 9th chord,s?Whow!
      Heres the problem. I have been a hairstylist for 34 years and the Jackasses hat I work with insist on playing “Light” music. Cant live without you,my life is nothing without you when will I see you……It crucifies me. For me It,s like 20 people scratching a blackboard all day long!
      I spent many hours learning steely Dan< Rodger Water,s. Page,Beck<…….They are killing my brain.
      Dom

    • Bob Hopkins

      Griff: I have a bunch of videos like this. I will be give you 50 dollars to help you out. Bob Hopkins

    • Chris Ford

      Fantastic Griff, that’s pulled me up out of the doldrums and back on track, I’ll keep it handy! Been ‘learning’ to play for 10 years but only found you recently much to my dismay. I’ve picked up more in those few months than in the previous years of live one-to-one tuition. How much further down the road would I be if we’d met earlier? If only……………..

    • Martin Sweet

      Good advise as usual. I know it’s true because it still happens to me. Some times you get discouraged because you just can’t get over that hump. It’s tough to keep going sometimes but, if it were easy…

    • Colin Campbell

      Good observations Griff and as you often say, guitar playing should be fun, and its a bonus if a student discovers they are a naturally talented guitar player.

      I am eagerly looking forward to your release of the Freddie King/Eric Clapton blues style lesson.

    • Gary Maccollum

      I have used this many times..I find sometimes if I move on and then go back I can play it without many mistakes..

    • Bill Thompson

      Right on track…. in a perfect world right next to Jupiter… there are no mistakes or yes humankind!
      We learn more from our mistakes then our success!! Great instructor to help us move forward at a even pace of work and knowledge. The journey can feel perfect, just the same.

      Thanks for Sharing!!!

    • fuzzydunlop77@yahoo.com

      Griff,

      Do you write all these comments yourself?

      Fuzzy

    • Denis MacDougall

      Based upon my personal experience, Griff you are right on. Oh yeah and don’t forget to practice.

    • Bob Miller

      Griff,
      You just articulated exactly what has been going on with how your courses have helped me. It’s almost like we talked about how it’s going and you wrote down what I said based on how I was doing! And we never spoke about it! Your courses are great and I recommend them to everyone who asks what I’m using. Keep up the good work!
      Bob

    • John Rutledge

      Tkhanks for the encouragement. I find that I was in a smiilar rut. These words of inspiration let me know that I am not so unusual and that there is progress in process and that I should stay the course. God Bless Griff

    • Byron Alleyne

      Great advice Griff. I’m doing Beginning Blues Guitar And to keep me fresh I sometimes stop whatever lesson I’m doing to try to learn a new song. Then I go back sometimes 4 or 5 lessons and do them all over again. That works for me. Byron

    • Graeme Hyslop

      Right on the mark as usual Griff,thanks for the reassurance.

    • Richard Hunter

      Thanks Griff, that is a question I have pondered many times in my journey of learning to play guitar. And thanks to you I finally have an answer.

    • A RICHARDSON

      Makes a lot of sense

    • Robert Jackson

      Hi Griff,
      I can relate to that.
      Many times I’ve become stuck in the rut slogging without any improvement happening, trying my patience and getting frustrated after days on end. Moving on to the next thing and returning has nearly always found my gremlins gone and it has become so much easier, with less tension and more confidence.

    • Friend -

      Good advice and chimes with my experience!!!

    • Friend -

      Brilliant as normal Griff – would love to meet up one day – Mick

    • Roy -

      Never a truer word spoken Griff. I struggled with barre chords for what seemed like way too long. Then my teacher got me playing “9 chords” and all of a sudden, with no extra effort full barre chords just popped right out of the fretboard, and whilst they may not have been perfect, they were as you suggested above, good enough to play through a piece. That was only 3 months ago and now I don’t even have think about that dreaded F chord, or my nemesis, the B chord.

      Up to that point it seemed almost like I had gotten as far as I was capable of going on my guitar journey, which just wasn’t true. I may not (in fact I know I won’t lol) be the next Satch, but I certainly am having a lot my fun on my guitar.

      Please keep up the good work, I love your lessons and look forward to getting them. Regards, Roy. UK.

    • daveprosser@rocketmail.com

      Brilliant Blog. raely usefull info.as an old self taught 60s guitarist I am finding it a bit ground breakin. re kindled my interests

    • Francis Mercuri

      I respect your experience and vast knowledge. I do think that technical issues need to be overcome before moving on at any level. The saying I go by is, bring up the ease not the disease. I find that smoothing out these issues early is what progressing is and stopping built in tensions that will later be come more ingrained .Thanks for these great moments.

    • Friend -

      Griff- I really love your stuff and I have encouraged all my students to check your stuff out.Your conversational style and laid back approach are very welcoming to students. I hope my peeps are buying your stuff! This lesson encapsulates very nicely what I always tell my folks; its better when you dont worry! Bless you and keep up the good work!LMW (POD Recording/Avebianco Instruments)

    • Stephen Adlem

      SImple sound advice….guess I am like a lot…the guitars get put aside for a while…hoping to find more time to get back to it soon…having a more relaxed frame of mind to achievements will likely help…

    • Chris Cummings

      Hi Griff
      You hit the nail on the head, especially with barre chords!!

    • John Bailey

      Hi Griff

      It,s gets pretty frustrating at times .i feel much the same as everyone else .

      Very easy to get stuck in a. ” RUT ”

      These professional players make it look so easy but it is not .

      Been practicing for about ten years now and getting nowhere fast.

      I am always waiting for mistakes to happen !

    • Anne

      Thanks so much. I have been finding that this is exactly true and wish I had known it earlier because I thought I was never going to get anywhere but now I realize it is a huge tapestry where all the threads affect all the other threads.

    • michaelplayer@bigpond.com

      THANKS FOR GETTING ME OFF LESSON 1 IVE BEEN THERE FOR MONTHS

    • David Kuhns

      Good post and absolutely true.

    • wbtimm@tx.rr.com

      I used to force myself to practice for hours on a piece, and getting frustrated. Then I remembered an old saying, a friend told me.
      ” Study Long, Study Wrong”
      Now I spend a short time on several pieces, and this has helped me progress faster with less frustration.

    • wittwf@hotmail.com

      Thank you Griff
      Love you teaching style
      I am metal/hard rock guy who loves the blues (true rock) and use your lessons to improve my out side the the blues plaing.
      All rock is blues, its just how you express it
      Thanks again
      William

    • John

      Whatever you start to learn, break it into bite sized chunks. Try playing it till you start feeling frustrated. That may be only 10 minutes at first. Put it down and do something else for 20-30 minutes. Something not musical… You will find that your subconscious is still working on it while you focus on a different task… Wash the car, cut the grass… but keep coming back to the guitar frequently with the same idea in mind… repeat the process… try it, more frustration, do something else, try again in 20 or 30 minutes later… In very short order you will find the piece getting easier, and easier and the frustration turning into elation.

      While it may take a day, the actual time spent on the guitar will be minimal compared to beating yourself to death with frustration trying to get it. Let your subconscious work out the muscle memory/coordination issues. It really works!

      You’ll be amazed how much faster things take hold.

      .

    • Jack Henriksen

      Thanks for this very good advice. I’ve come to really appreciated what you do for guitar players, offering great advice and helpful tips. It’s patently clear that you know what we’re going through, what we are experiencing and how best to overcome so many problems. This blog really hit home for me. I have your strumming course and love it but have questioned how long I should continue trying to “own” a particular lesson before moving on. This article addressed my concern almost as though you could read my mind. Thanks again for all of your help.

    • Mark Haldeman

      I used to have periods where my skills would seem to improve rapidly for awhile,, then I’d get “stuck” for a week or two. I would get discouraged but I discovered that sooner or later, I’d have a “breakthrough” and get going again. Just gotta keep playing.

    • Greg T

      From all the comments I read it seems this happens to mostly everyone. I know I have experienced frustration in learning a lesson but after leaving it alone then coming back makes a huge difference. I am happy to see all these old dudes learning and playing guitar ! I am 57 and really enjoy making progress even if it is slow ! Thanks Griff you are the ultimate guitar teacher !

    • Rex Alvord

      Very helpful, thanks. I was thinking I had some brain damage cause it is taking me weeks to learn a 45 sec piece. The weird this is that memory wise its better the faster I play, technique is better the slower I go.

    • Theodore Alexander

      I have real problem with being a perfectionist. I tend not to move on until I have it ‘perfect’. It really slows and frustrates me. I will now let go of that and move on!
      Thanks.

    • Phillip Kloer

      Griff. This is so great to hear. I have been waiting until I have one lesson pegged until I move on to the next, and have been getting bored unless I’m learning something new. Thankyou! And, you look too young to remember American Bandstand or did you make a deal with the Devil? Phil

    • Ron De Git

      Good advice. I am really struggling with the concept of when to move on from a lesson. Meaning have I really learnt enough to go on. What you have just written makes a lot of sense.

      Regards
      Ron

    • ArtieD

      You’re so right. I’ve been playing for some time. Barre chords are not a problem, I read music and I know some difficult chords. I can play a lot of songs. I purchased BGU and can you believe I’m having trouble keeping in time with small chords. Yep I’ll keep at it, but I’m afraid when I get to the tough stuff like making blues licks sound right. I’ll keep working and hope my technics will come along.
      ArtieD

    • Einar Christiansen

      Good stuff Griff! Perseverance is so important. We have to keep going and never never ever give up. After all life is a journey not a destination and so it is with playing guitar or anything else for that matter.Cheers
      Einar

    • cjmistal@telusplanet.net

      I agree, but sometimes you have break it down
      cj

    • Hulett Braswell

      Thanks Griff I have been in that spot several times. I would have a lesson memorized and it just did not sound right, and I could not decide whether to move on or stick with that lesson until I had it down almost perfert. It is just like anything else that we learn, you are going to make mistakes along the way no matter what.

    • Wesley Shipp

      I find being creative is the best way as long as you make it fun, using Line 6 I have many beats and backing tracks to play for. So, make it fun and play it to beat, change it up a little to match, be creative and have fun!

    • Bill Bennett

      Excellent. It gets frustrating, not to mention very boring to keep slogging through the same thing. Seems when I put something aside and come back to it, I’m fresh and ready to improve. That being said, of course you can’t stop the first time you have a problem, at times you need to bear down and worh through it. You probably won’t die from a few sore fingers, if you do, playing your guitars not a bad way to go

    • Tarquinnian

      Hey Griff!

      I’m so glad that you actually took the time to point out the distinctions between the “hows” and the “whats” of an aspiring guitarist’s apprenticeship!

      Advances with the “hows” (…or technical proficiency on the guitar neck), and advances with the “whats” (…or acquisition of musical knowledge/theory) DO NOT progress at the same rate!

      Your advice to “…keep pluggin’ away” is really the very best nostrum, because many times, as you’ve pointed out, progress in both domains can be, and usually is, impishly imperceptible!

      Also, let it be known, that the more you practice…even if you can’t execute a musical passage flawlessly, or “in tempo”, the stronger your fingers, wrists, forearms, and BRAIN, will become!

      If the apprentice stays at it, the piper will eventually pay YOU…!

      Tarquinnian

    • Michael J. Zeoli

      Griff,this really helps. I have at times got to a point in a lesson,where I felt I was not getting anywhere. I try to go back,and simular results. I will continue to try until I get the lesson. Thanks for the words of encouragement. Mike Z

    • Ron Hogue

      Griff, this is really good information for a struggling beginner. Thanks for this word.

    • dennisbarron@virginmedia.com

      Thanks a lot Griff your comments have made me feel a lot better,I am annoyed that I didn’t take your discount offer recently. Don’t suppose there’s any chance of a discount now or soon as I live in England and as I would like the quickest delivery the shipping is quite expensive, hope you don’t mind me asking.I am interested in your BGU course.

    • Lance Manus

      This is the ole 80/20 rule where you do 20 % of the work that will result in 80 % of the answer. I got through many a class on this one.

      Thanks Griff

    • Mark Brousard

      Hey Griff… Did you read my mind . I was struggling to get through lesson 3 over the last week and was agonizing over the recording part of the lesson with the rhythm . I have memorized the progression and had continued to daily have a crack at it but it was dragging me down like a ball and chain. I made the decision to move on to the next lesson and continue to practice lesson three every day as I continued on my journey. Well I went to lesson four and had it memorized and recorded before the day was out.( thanks to the email lesson of the same that I had already had )
      You have confirmed to me the logic of making such a move, your teaching experience has assisted me in moving ahead and staying motivated. I’m loving your work and insight…onward and upward…

    • Springer

      I love the encourging words. I like other would like to give up but then I would never know how it would feel to really say I can play the guitar and enjoy it.

    • Maurice Mousseau

      Thank you for encouragement.

    • Donald Adkins

      Thanks Griff- I’m playing better because of your lessons.I have a good ways to go.

    • Lawrence Chan

      This blog is very timely for me. I had put down the Unleash program for a number of months. My chords just did ring out right, and the chord progression did not sound like music. I was very frustrated and I ended up bouncing from one easy song to the other, Months later I found myself still playing the open chords and stayed where I was before I bought your course.

      This blog is going to motivate me give it another try. Tanks.

    • Gerald Irwin

      Phew! That’s a relief.

      I have finished the first DVD of BGU and can “play” everything except “Blues In E”. My fingers will not yet stretch that far: despite what you say about small hands. Being 70 years old is also a limiting factor: fingers are not so elastic.

      But you have just given me the confidence to move on to the next DVD, while keeping up with the agony of Blues In E.

      Keep up the inspirational lessons and blogs.

    • Tom

      Thanks Griff- just what I needed!
      I got stuck on the 7th chords in lesson 1 & 2 for whatever reason- practiced them for over a week and got frustrated and stopped the lessons.
      Then I went back and just played the slow temp over & over. I would play an
      E7 with my middle & ring fingers, then slide in the bar at F and move on
      down that fretboard. It clicked Sunday – the rhythm, the chord shapes and
      wrapping my head around the I-IV-V.

      Now I can’t wait to get home from work and start cranking through the rest.

    • ted "gypsy" gerling

      thanks for the “pick me up”griff. i bounce around in the bgu course.but i never expected to hit a bump in chording.i’ve been chording for a long time,but lesson 12 is a “thorn”in my side! guess i won’t worry ’bout it quite so much now.

    • James Napier

      Awesome – thanks for this Griff. It is both encouraging and inspiring and addresses what I feel and read about others feel as well is the biggest challenge to learning guitar. The notion that we are good enough to move on, shouldn’t quit or get stuck because something isn’t perfect is the one thing that would probably help every aspiring guitarist. I know I often feel I should be better than I am and be able to do more than I can and I think it holds me back. I just need to continue to move ahead and let it come, let the leaps come as they may when they do…

    • doubrley@gmail.com

      Well written. I have taught many things for many years (and still teach some things). Good job. Good advice (I still don’t play all that well, but your teaching is encouraging).

    • Terry

      Hey, Griff
      I like getting all your emails and the info they provide. The only problem I see with all your emails is the person writing them seems to have a problem with spell check.However, thank you for a very informative post, even with all the errors.

    • Michael Biehl

      I enjoyed reading your article. I’m 66 and get so frustrated at some of the lessons. I then put up the book and don’t practice or play for a length of time. I always felt I wasn’t good enough to go to the next lesson. I will be trying your suggestions and hopefully I can get through with some with a better attitude. Thanks again.

    • Roger Chandler

      Griff i will get back to you on that!!! I did go thru SWS and SBS and did what i could!! Some not bad and other’s were waaay over my head but i have spent many hour’s just trying to find a comfort zone with my own twist on what i learned and did the best I could with fine tuning for myself but I’m gonna go back to Square One with SWS not far down the road and start over!! Couple project’s on the go that i have to finish but gonna redo the book’s again!! These 2 book’s alone will be the death of me lol but it’s all there!! Think i have the border of the puzzle put together but there’s a BIG pile of piece’s to fill that hole yet to figure out!!! LOL

    • Francisco Diaz

      Why do I feel like I heard your comments before? There seems to be a little voice that keeps telling me to hang on after umpteen tries (both for guitar and piano which I am still wrestling at the age of 83). Thanks for your help, Griff

    • Mike Reed

      Thanks Griff! This is confirmation that im doing the right things. I like the fact that BGU begins with barre chords. I had been avoiding them and as I read on the forum,, “after a while you will wonder what all the fuss was about”. Very true!

    • peterhammerton@rocketmail.com

      Thanks for sharing this – reassuring to an aged beginner (59 & from the UK) who was beginning to think I might have left it too late to learn the guitar. Motivation when you feel like you’ve hit a wall is a challenge! I tend to try to identify all the little areas of improvement (little carrots to keep me going!) and then revisit some areas i’ve neglected – little steps are progress. Slow and frustrating but definitely progress…just don’t look towards the summit! Alas I cannot afford any courses to help me along the journey so your little ‘snippets’ are helpful and encouraging anyway.

    • paulewarner@bellsouth.net

      Guitar is such an intriguing instrument and extremely frustrating because like some others here
      I am kind of a perfectionist and I love the sweet sound of doing something correctly all the way
      without a twing or twang and some of the other goofy sounds you hear when you fingers don’t
      hit the strings correctly. Positive reinforcement from a person like you who must know some frustration as we have makes things a little easier.

    • Edwin Denham

      You are right. It is difficult to master the how. It takes time. Before giving up, I switch to something I can do well and shred it. Funny how when I come back later (maybe even a day or two) it is easier.

    • Donald King

      Good one!

    • Greg Walsh

      Oh sure, now you tell us Griff … after I spent three years on BGU lesson 1! 🙂

    • Dennis Hollenbeck

      NICE!

      I always appreciate the “Zen of Griff” that you share with us. Once again you are speaking directly to me, as my recent playing “plateau” has been frustrating as well as discouraging.

      I will attempt to take heed to your words.
      Thank you,
      Dennis

    • torney95@Gmail.com

      Excellent article Griff I’ve really been struggling with my barre chords sometimes I want to throw the guitar out the window and me behind it but it’s practice practice practice thx u I love you teaching method

    • Alexander Mowatt

      Griff, you have done it again. The right comments, the right level of pitch to raise the enthusiasm every time. Thank you for that.
      I probably have not said before, that having retired from a life, firstly in Social Work & for the remainder of my working life in Finance, I had plans. One of those all important plans was to improve in my understanding of the guitar. I am still, what is known in finance as an interest rate tart. That is to say I chop and change things about. I am pleased to say I have stuck with your delivery / training method, the most along with one UK online teacher – Mike Herbert. Regrettably my practice time is seriously lacking for two definite reasons – grandchildren to care for – A LOT & the fact our son has Large T Cell Lymphoma and undergoing various series of chemotherapy to try and get this disease in check. There is the obvious stress that can put on anybody to deal with. I do not mention this as an excuse it is just a fact of life – our’s anyway. I find it difficult to concentrate and justify the time when my thoughts are elsewhere. I have purchased a number of your courses to date and recommend your methodology to others when I can. Keep up the good work. Alex mowatt

    • Jim Siering

      Thanks for the sound advice and encouragement.

    • christopherwest@ntlworld.com

      if it wasn’t for the clarity of your online lessons,i think I would have reverted to playing the comb and tissue paper,keep up the good work.

    • Mike Walsh

      Thanks for the article. It really makes sense.

    • jjmack62@yahoo.com

      Great analogy! I like it ! I’ve been playing 30+ and everytime I play something is always there to learn. Thanks , JJ Mack.com

    • Brett Wright

      Hey Griff,
      I’m 62, and finally, after all of these years, I’m actually getting better at my playing; in great part attributable to your courses, online lessons and constant encouragement through your simplified instruction… Thank you for your patience.

    • mnozaki@live.com

      Thank you very much

    • Gerald A. Hughes

      Griff, Now for me that info will help me a great deal, however, for many years I have been trying to barr chords. I can only do up to 3-4 strings, and yes I do have small hands. I will never stop trying as I enjoy playing and the only person I have to make happy is myself.
      Jerry Hughes
      Ft. Walton Beach, Fl
      Than again for the Awesome lessons & Tips

    • Pablo

      true, it gets boring sometimes. so we move on.
      thank you for the post

    • mdblack311@aol.com

      Yep, I find that to be very true. I’ve been a half as bass player for many years. Started playing Acoustic 6 string aboiut a year ago. I’ve had some frustrated times for sure. Whole different animal to.me.

    • James Keller

      It’s always good to hear, “Don’t give up.” I did quit when I was 15 shortly after I got my first guitar.. Now that I’m 63, I plan on sticking with it this time……even though my pace is slow. My goal is to prove that you (You) can teach an old dog new tricks.

      Jim

    • eneilsen46@gmail.com

      I have to agree with the ‘leaps and bounds’ analogy. That’s how it is for me!

    • Dean Miller

      I intended to order the Strumming Mastery but got side tracked. Any exceptions on the discount if I order today?

    • Thomas Thrasher

      answers a question I have been wondering about for quite some time. Glad to hear the answer was pretty much as I expected, but it’s good to hear it from “The Teach”! 🙂

    • Friend -

      Hey griff.again you never cease to amaze me with your breakdowns.i mean the way you explain chords in detail.ive been playing since I was 5 and brought along a lot of baggage thru the years from A to Z,but I’m still impressed by your lessons and feel like there is so much more to learn.ill give you a 10..that’s on the 1 to 10 scale.i also enjoyed watching you do red house live. I like your style…you need to see about coming to the Houston area…thank you very. Much..Jesse

    • Friend -

      Thanks for describing this process,Griff.
      While my wife concedes that I am an accomplished guitarist, she wonders why I play the same section (like the intro or solo) of a song that I am learning repeatedly for an hour at a time for weeks on end until it becomes second nature. I am sure that when I play in public few people appreciate how much practice and time it took for me to get “that good”.
      -John

    • Gary Musick

      Thanks… I’ve been accused of being a perfectionist. It does slow down my pace. I’ll remember this blog.

    • gadwall04@yahoo.com

      That is good….

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