Awesome video! This is so good to see how each person is working through their own struggles! I am still working through the beginner checklist and you mentioned possibly offering a progress chart or a goal for a month by month…. Any of that would be so helpful! I need a few goals so I can track progress and also the challenge of a deadline to work a little harder at the more difficult stuff.
Discuss the Banjo lesson: January 2025 Forum Hangout- New Year Goals
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Howdy @Jae! I can’t create your goal for you as I don’t know what you’re working on/through right now, but how about you create one for yourself and check in on the forum hangout at the end of February and tell us about your progress. You can also share in the hangout about your current struggles and I can then suggest a goal for you to strive for.
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I gotcha. I understand that. I guess my goals would be big. And that’s where I struggle. I often set goals that are out of reach and then get discouraged for not reaching my goals. I want to play bluegrass rhythm well and then play solos with a few cool licks. But at only month 2 of your program, this seems like unattainable goals. Should I set smaller goals like, just learn to efficiently play rhythm at a moderate tempo, also the same for solos? I hope I am making sense, it’s hard to put into words.
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Yes, you are describing a long term goal, which is great, but we have to get more specific. I can help you set shorter-term goals that will get you there. But I do need to see where you’re “at” right now, not so much where exactly in the learning track but your proficiency. Feel free to make a video and either post a link here in the forum or send it to me in a message/email.
FYI, I’m about to be out of country for 10 days so excuse the delay.
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Hi Jae no goal is every out of reach it just takes time to achieve it. Don’t sit down to eat the whole birthday cake. It’s best to manage a portion a day.
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@Jae your long-term goals sound a lot like my long-term goals. And I’ve been at it a little over 5 years now. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel like you’re not progressing at the pace you would like. It takes time…a lot of it. I’m still nowhere close to where I want to be, but I’m a whole lot closer than I used to be. I second what Ben says about setting some short-term goals. Set one that should be fairly easy to achieve - maybe pick out one lick that you want to learn and work on that. Maybe getting a win on a short-term goal will help you feel encouraged rather than discouraged.
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I love this forum!! Everyone is so willing to help. Attached is a video. Sorry, it’s not great. Haha. But am I tracking good or do I need to change up some stuff? My first goal I feel like I accomplished, playing without tabs or the chord walk down pdf! So I am really happy with that. But where do I go from here? I know more fluid or rhythmic and cleaner notes, but what else!
I can’t get video to load. Not sure what the deal is. I will work to get it posted soon.
Hi @Jae Upload your video to YouTube and post the link here. Make sure it is public & not private
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I think I got it! See if this works!
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Good job! I do wish I could see your pick hand better, but you can adjust that on your next video.
All in all, looking good! I like both your hand positions. A few things to be mindful of:
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in your first video there are pauses here and there as your transitioning to the next chord. I encourage you to take a Pickalong, like Unclouded Day, and put these skills to use. Playing along with the video will keep you honest, and that’s a good goal to work on b/t now and the next forum hangout.
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In the second video, lots of good stuff going on! I like your hands and the good clear tone you’re getting. We need to start introducing songs that have more up strokes in them, Try out a song like Greensleeves (https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/what-child-is-this-greensleeves-basic-guitar) or add strums with Amazing Grace Build a Break: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/amazing-grace-build-a-break-guitar
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Woohoo!! Thank you. Also for some reason when I would press record I would completely fall apart and forget everything. Hahaha. Thanks for your feedback! I will be working on your suggestions this evening. I will take all the feedback I can get, good bad and ugly!!
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It happens to us all @Jae it’s called red light syndrome. I used to keep the camera running all the time when I practiced eventually I overcame the anxiety. There is a tendency for us to hold our breath when we hit that record button. So it helps if you do some deep breathing exercises just before you begin recording.
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Oh, believe me I know what you’re talking about! I just finished recording a four part cover of “Unclouded Day”. It took several days to get all the recordings to at least a decent level for mixing. And, it’s for a competition, so that was another nerve racking thought! You did a great job, though! Keep it up!
One thing that I did when I was first starting to practice transitioning from one chord to the next was to have one of my siblings call out the chords in a random order. Then, as soon as they called it out, I transitioned into the chord that they said. It was up to them to decide how long I was on a chord, when I transitioned, and what chord I transitioned to. Eventually, I would do the same thing on my own, just mentally think of a chord to go to. This helped me, so I thought I’d bring it up! Again, you’re sounding great!
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Just wait 'til they call out a Db chord! 
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Oh my! 
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Thank you!! It’s so much fun.
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Gotcha covered, bro! Actually, sometimes I’ll sit down and play the same song over and over again, going up a half step each time. It’s a lot of fun! (And, no, I don’t use the capo for that!)
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