Basic Guitar Checkup Guitar Lesson
Basic Guitar Checkup
Jim talks about the future of his Phase 1 guitar series and where to go from here.
Taught by Jim Deeming in Basic Guitar with Jim seriesLength: 4:18Difficulty: 0.5 of 5
Setting Goals
In lesson 3, Jim stressed the importance of setting goals. No matter what you are trying to achieve in life, setting goals is an absolute necessity. Here is a quick review of the materials presented in lesson 3:
Short Term Goals
An example of a good short-term goal is what you plan to do this week. Set some preliminary goals at the beginning of the week. How long do you plan to practice each day? What do you need to work on this week? Many of your short-term goals are determined by your midterm goals. It's hard to focus your practice if you don't know what you want to achieve.
Midterm Goals
Do you want to play a song that is currently above your ability level? Do you want to learn the basics of lead guitar? These are examples of midterm goals. Asking these kinds of questions will help you focus your practice. For example, if you want to improve your improvisation skills, devote extra practice time to learning licks, scales, and techniques such as bending.
Long Term Goals
Do you want to play at home for your own personal enjoyment? Do you want to try out for the high school jazz band? Or, do you want to form your own band and write your own songs? These are long term goals. They make several months, years, or even decades to accomplish. Asking these kinds of questions will give you a direction and purpose when practicing. Talk to someone who has accomplished the things you wish to accomplish. What did he/she do in order to achieve this level of success?
Achieving Your Goals
Gaining proficiency on the guitar is a very rewarding experience. With time and patience, anything is possible. Here are some great tips that will help you achieve your goals - whatever they may be.
Contact Teachers
JamPlay is an interactive website! Feel free to ask questions of all the JamPlay instructors. Post questions on the forum or under the "Comments" tab of each lesson. You can also send an email directly to a JamPlay instructor. Be sure that you phrase your question clearly. Be as specific as possible. Often members submit questions that can be rather confusing. So, do your best to help us help you!
It is very helpful to the instructors when members send them feedback. Let them know how you are improving or what you are currently struggling with. This will enable the instructors to design the best lesson plans possible.
Have Fun
"Our goal here is to play music, not to do drills." Although technical exercises are absolutely essential to gaining facility on the guitar, they do not constitute music. It is necessary to devote a large portion of your practice time to technique. However, it is equally important that you spend some stress-free, fun time with the instrument. Set aside a few hours of your practice time each week for pure pleasure. Forget about scales and theory and just play. Becoming a skilled musician requires a lot of hard work. However, if playing the guitar ceases to be fun and inspiring, what is the point of doing it?
Your level of enjoyment while playing will carry over to the audience as well. If you are having fun, they are more likely to enjoy hearing you. The reverse idea is also true. Nobody wants to see a performer that isn't enjoying what he/she is doing.
Listening
One of the most important components of studying music is listening to it as frequently as possible. In addition to listening to old favorites, make a habit of looking for new and exciting music. This will provide you with a fresh perspective and approach to the guitar.
In order to become a successful guitarist, you must first learn what success sounds like. The best way to accomplish this goal is to listen to your heroes and begin to emulate them. This will provide you with a source of comparison when learning new techniques. In addition to listening for enjoyment, set aside time each week for structured listening time. When you listen to the music you love, spend some time analyzing it. What is it about this music that draws you to it?
Assess Strengths and Weaknesses
Each month, take an objective look at all your strengths and weakness. This will help you organize your practice time. Practice your weaknesses. Practicing material that you have already mastered achieves nothing other than satisfying your own ego.
Transitioning to Phase 2 Fingerstyle Lessons
If you have mastered the concepts presented in the first twelve Phase 1 lessons, you are ready to begin Jim's Phase 2 Fingerstyle series. However, you should not abandon your Phase 1 lessons. Many of Jim's Phase 2 lessons will reference topics discussed only in Phase 1 lessons. For example, techniques that are essential to all styles of guitar playing will be presented in Phase 1 lessons. Typically, fingerstyle specific techniques will appear only in Phase 2 lessons.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Guitar with Jim
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsFingerstyle master Jim Deeming teaches you the basics of guitar playing. With over 30 years of experience teaching and playing, Jim will definitely start you in the right direction. This is a great series for beginners and guitarists looking to refresh their knowledge.
Lesson 1
Introduction Lesson
In this short lesson, Jim Deeming will introduce himself and talk about his upcoming lessons.
Length: 6:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Choosing a Guitar
Jim gives his thoughts on purchasing your first guitar.
Length: 7:09 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Goal Setting
Jim discusses the importance of setting goals. He provides some tips that will help steer your practicing in the right direction.
Length: 11:00 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Changing the Strings
Jim Deeming walks you through the process of changing your strings. He gives some excellent tips on this important process.
Length: 41:09 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Meet Your New Guitar
Jim introduces proper playing technique. Then, he explains how to play your first chord.
Length: 52:24 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Learning More Chords
Jim teaches you the 3 primary chords in G major. He also explains how chords relate to specific keys. A great lesson!
Length: 39:15 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Right Hand Revisited
Jim discusses a plethora of right hand techniques that are essential to guitar playing.
Length: 35:19 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
New Chords and Keys
This lesson provides additional information about chords and keys.
Length: 19:08 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Let's Play
This lesson is all about playing. Jim will start you off playing a song. You will have the opportunity to play along with him.
Length: 20:10 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Alternating Bass and Chords
Jim teaches you a few more commonly used chords. Then, he discusses a technique known as the alternating bass line.
Length: 40:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Shape Chords
Jim covers all possible fingering options pertaining to the basic open A chord shape.
Length: 17:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Basic Guitar Checkup
Jim talks about the future of his Phase 1 guitar series and where to go from here.
Length: 4:18 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Notes, Scales and Theory
Jim delves into basic music theory. He starts from square one in this lesson.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Fiesta
Jim Deeming invites you to a veritable chord fiesta. He demonstrates common dominant and minor chord shapes.
Length: 43:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Movable Chords
This lesson is all about movable chords. Learn the importance of barre chords and other movable shapes.
Length: 40:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Proper Practicing
Jim Deeming explains how to create a productive practice routine. Make sure you aren't wasting needless time!
Length: 30:00 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
The Pinky Anchor
Many guitarists use their pinky as an anchor. Jim explains the pros and cons of this technique.
Length: 9:00 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Palm Muting
Jim discusses an important technique--palm muting. He explains how palm muting is used by flatpickers and fingerstyle players.
Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Reading Tablature
Jim Deeming covers the basics of reading guitar tablature. Knowledge of tablature will help with JamPlay lessons as well as learning your favorite songs.
Length: 21:12 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Tuning Extravaganza
Jim explains various tuning methods. He provides useful tips and tricks that will ensure that your guitar is sounding its best.
Length: 31:45 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Let's Play : Red River Valley
Jim is back with another "let's play" style lesson. He teaches the classic song "Red River Valley" and encourages you to play along.
Length: 52:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Drop D Tuning
Jim Deeming introduces drop D tuning. Drop D is a popular alternate tuning used in many styles of music including rock, fingerstyle and blues.
Length: 25:25 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Let's Play: Wayfaring Stranger
Jim Deeming breaks down the song sections to the classic tune Wayfaring Stranger.
Length: 29:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
More On Drop D
Jim Deeming takes another, more focused look at drop D tuning.
Length: 6:27 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
Your Friend, the Metronome
Jim Deeming discusses how to use a metronome for practice, skill building, and speed building.
Length: 24:02 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
About Jim Deeming
View Full Biography
Jim Deeming got his first guitar when he was only six years old. His Dad was taking fingerpicking lessons, and Jim wanted to be just like him. The Mel Bay books didn't last very long before he strapped on a thumb pick and added the Chet part to Red River Valley so it sounded better.
Most of Jim's early learning was by ear. With unlimited access to his Dad's collection of Chet Atkins albums, he spent countless hours decoding his favorite songs. They were never "right" until they sounded just like Chet. Around the age of 12, Jim heard Jerry Reed for the first time and just knew he had to be able to make that "Alabama Wild Man" sound. The styles of Chet & Jerry always have been a big influence on his playing.
More recently he has pursued arrangements by Tommy Emmanuel and Doyle Dykes, in addition to creating some of his own and writing originals.
Jim has performed in front of a variety of audiences, including concerts, competitions, weddings and the like, but playing at church has always been a mainstay. Whether playing in worship bands or guitar solos, gospel music is deep in his roots and is also the driving theme behind his debut CD release, titled "First Fruits".
Jim has been playing for about 38 years. He also has taught private lessons in the past but believes JamPlay.com is an exciting and better venue with many advantages over the traditional method of weekly 30 minute sessions.
Jim lives in Berthoud, Colorado with his wife, Linda, and their four children. Although he still has a "day job", he is actively performing and is already back in the studio working on the next CD. If you wonder how he finds time, look no further than the back seat of his truck where he keeps a "travel guitar" to take advantage of any practice or song-writing opportunities he can get.
The opening song you hear in Jim's introductory JamPlay video is called, "A Pick In My Pocket". It's an original tune, written in memory of Jim's father who told him early on he should always keep a pick in his pocket in case he ever met Chet Atkins and got the chance to play for him. That song is slated to be the title track for his next CD, which will feature several more originals plus some of his favorite covers of Chet and Jerry arrangements.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Danny Voris
Lesson 7 is all about arpeggios. Danny provides discussion and exercises designed to build your right hand skills.
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Lincoln
Time to unlock your creativity because in this information packed lesson. Mark dives deep into how to deconstruct the process...
Free LessonSeries Details
Peter Einhorn
In this lesson, Peter discusses the two bar clave that is common to the Brazilian style. You'll put together several patterns...
Free LessonSeries Details
Hawkeye Herman
Hawkeye teaches several Robert Johnson licks in this lesson. These licks are played with a slide in open G tuning.
Free LessonSeries Details
Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.
Free LessonSeries Details
Eve Goldberg
Eve talks about the boom-chuck strum pattern. This strum pattern will completely change the sound of your playing.
Free LessonSeries Details
Erik Mongrain
Erik expounds on the many possibilities of open tunings and the new harmonics that you can use in them. He explains what...
Free LessonSeries Details
Nick Amodeo
Nick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.
Free LessonSeries Details
Miche Fambro
Miche introduces several new chord concepts that add color and excitement to any progression.
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Daniel Gilbert
Known around the world for his inspirational approach to guitar instruction, Musician's Institute veteran Daniel Gilbert...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jane Miller
Jane Miller talks about chord solos in part one of this fascinating mini-series.
Free LessonSeries Details
Dennis Hodges
Learn a variety of essential techniques commonly used in the metal genre, including palm muting, string slides, and chord...
Free LessonSeries Details
Chris Liepe
Chris brings his ingenuity to this lesson on the American folk song called "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" Also known as...
Free LessonSeries Details
Kenny Ray
Albert Collins brought a lot of style to the blues scene. In this lesson, Kenny breaks down Albert's style for you to learn.
Free LessonSeries Details
Emil Werstler
Emil takes you through some techniques that he uses frequently in his style of playing. Topics include neck bending, percussive...
Free LessonSeries Details
Lauren Passarelli
Lauren Passarelli offers up her wisdom on purchasing a guitar. She also includes information regarding proper setup and care....
Free LessonSeries Details
Allen Van Wert
Allen shows you the 24 rudiments crucial to developing finger dexterity. This is a short lesson but the exercises here can...
Free LessonSeries Details
Lisa Pursell
Lisa breaks into the very basics of the electric guitar. She starts by explaining the parts of the guitar. Then, she dives...
Free LessonSeries Details
James Malone
James explains how to tap arpeggios for extended musical reach.
Free LessonSeries DetailsAdditional Lesson Features Available to Members
While we have attempted to provide you with an accurate rendition of our video lesson experience, there are some features which
require a membership with us!
Custom Progress Reporting
At JamPlay, we give you the ability to monitor your own progress for any lesson! If you watch one of our lessons and feel as though you understand around half of it, mark your progress at 50%. This adds the lesson to your customized Progress Report, and gives you an incredible ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.
Progressive Bookmarking
With thousands of lessons at your fingertips, JamPlay can be a touch intimidating to a first-time user. With Progressive Bookmarking, we give you the ability to systematically bookmark sections of any lessons you are working on to quickly access later. After all, what is the point of all this content if it isn't easy to use?
Save Your Notes
JamPlay also gives you the ability to leave notes for yourself on any lesson. Just like in any educational system, taking your own notes while learning gives you the ability to highlight the instruction that is important to you. Leave your notes, and we store them in our database for you to reference each and everytime you come back to the lesson.
Join the Thousands of Members at JamPlay
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.wooo hoooo! I get to work on PHASE 2!!!!!
Where do i find good practice music to fit your lessons
While I appreciate your suggestion that I find a guitar player to emulate, I simply cannot pick any one. Maybe it's wrong, but I need to develope my own style. That doesn't mean I won't stop looking as spend a lot of time on youtube as well. Also, I am simultaniously going through Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique as want and need to learn more about reading and playing music. Your first hand knowledge and personalization is invaluable but the written instruction gets into detail you simply cannot on video. Enjoy the webcast when I have time to sit in. Keep up the good work! Hope to hear you play live some day...
Jim, in response to your comments about communicating; I am so enjoying the lessons and I work consistently on getting better. The bar chords are killer though, just can't seem to get them and maintain "any kind of rhythm." Especially the 'A' but I appreciate the way you teach, it makes things accessible. Even when they are hard to do. I hope to develop as a country blues style of play. I have been visiting Eric Madis a little and then coming back to your lessons. As far as a style or artist that impresses me, I really like Eric Bibb a lot. Your playing is mind-blowing as well. Your fingers do things that are hard to even imagine. You are a blessing. Thank you.
Jim I too am an old geezer and I have enjoyed the lessons thus far..am learning a lot but I find that I need a lot of practice and reviewing your lessons as I go..you have a good approach to teching and I look forward to the future lessons as wll. I do want to learm finger style and I know i have a long road ahead of me..keep up the good work.
Hi Jim love the lessons and your explanations thanks a lot.Am on an old guitar my friend gave me which has high action I think??? seems The strings are very far from the frets. It is not a cut away so even at the 1oth fret I cant get a decent sound. Is this because my fingers are not strong enough or is it the guitar? is it a big job to get things fixed. I cant afford a new guitar just yet and would like to learn the basics on this one if its possible.
vidia Jim Love the lessons . I have owned a guitar for 15 years,but have never found a set of lessons on line or a private teacher who had a set program ,(how to play the guitar step by step) teachers just went from topic to topic with no plan. This doesn't work for me. I like your step by step approach. I am having a real problem with the A bar shape moving down the neck of the guitar(lesson 11) You explan its tougher closer to the nut , I in fact find it harder as you progress down the neck , frets get to small to stack 3 fingers in one fret ie fret #9,10,11,12 etc etc .Any suggestions ?? Unlike you I have the problem of small hands. I have no idea how you can do it with those big mitts. Thanks Again I look forward to hearing from you
ooos, I put this in the wrong place first time. I too am really enjoying your lessons Jim. I'm a 62 year old beginner, and yes I have followed you this far. Although I think I'll have to revisit lesson 10. Lot of info there. My goal is to learn to strum & fingerpick. (can't sing worth a lick so if I every want anyone to listem to me play, I'd better be able to carry a few notes) The style I'd like to learn is Travis picking in the Linday Buckingham style. i.e. never going back again. If I can play that some day, I will have arrive. Thanks again......on to 13.
Aloha Jim, I'm enjoying your lessons. I have been playing the guitar finger picking style for a while now, but have resolved to learn to use the thumbpick. It's been challenging so far, but I'm not going to stop any time soon. Thanks!!
I too am really enjoying your lessons Jim. I'm a 62 year old beginner, and yes I have followed you this far. Although I think I'll have to revisit lesson 10. Lot of info there. My goal is to learn to strum & fingerpick. (can't sing worth a lick so if I every want anyone to listem to me play, I'd better be able to carry a few notes) The style I'd like to learn is Travis picking in the Linday Buckingham style. i.e. never going back again. If I can play that some day, I will have arrive. Thanks again......on to 13.
hi Jim, picking is fun Ive really tried to stay lesson by lesson in phase one but im inpatient and knock out a few rhythm tunes to break the lesson.
Jim, your lesson series is great. I have learned a lot. I am going slow due to time contraints, but it has been great!
hi Jim, Just started yesterday and i have played on and off for several years. but i want to start playing more often. I have went through all you material up to here, and i am comfortable in saying that i know and can change well between the chords you have covered. So my question is are you telling me in this video that i should start on phase 2 at this point? By the way i have always flat picked, and i am really looking forward to fingure picking.
Jim thanks for helping with my problem of the d chord on the electric guitar due to the smaller neck. You were right I was pressing too hard.
Hi Jim, I started Jamplay about two months ago and have now arrive at this lesson (12) after going through each lesson two or three times. I can go through all the CAGE keys, but still have to go slow (about 1 foot tap per second) The biggest problem I'm having is trying to use the thumb pick (instead of flat pick) - especially for up strokes. I guess I need to start forcing myself to use the thumb pick, since I really want to learn the finger style. I only have one thumb pick, and I'm wondering if there are variations - other than thumb size. Thanks for the great lessons. Bill Newland
I'm sure Jim will chime in also, but meanwhile I recommend taking a look at this lesson by Hawkeye. The whole lesson is basically about thumbpicks - recommendations for brands and tips on how to wear them: http://www.jamplay.com/members/guitar/phase2/hawkeye-herman-38/lesson87.html
Hi, I have sped thrugh to this point in 2 days as I have been playing for year, though I havent had hardly any lessons. It is great to finally learn some basics though like how to properly string a guitar. So I am going thru every lesson no matter what.
Hi Jim. I've been playing for a while now and I've always loved Eric Clapton. Mainly the song 'Tears In Heaven'. After finding your lessons I'm striving to become a fingerstyle guitarist. Maybe I'll be as good as you eventually, LOL jk. I got to the point where all i was doing was learning how to play lead stuff for the songs i listen to. But I know any other musicians in my area with my taste in music. Everyone wants to play the popular band stuff. I just wanna jam and enjoy what I play. Anyway I dont know if this is the place for this but, if i could make one suggestion to you it would be to plug in a few simple songs that we should learn. I know you teach songs in the lets play lessons but i was thinking maybe you could point us in a direction of some songs that we could attempt to learn on our own. I love the lessons, there great.
Hey Jim. I'll try and keep this short. I have really been trying to play since about 1979 or so. I wish I would have tried lessons and found JAMPLAY then. I would probably be on stage or somthin now. But, I didn't, so now I am trying to break a couple of bad habbits, but I will perservere. The first guitar player that caught my attention was Arlo Guthrie. I have since found mysefl always drawn to picking rather than stumming, although I appreciate both. Can't wait to learn more. One question...not really that important unless y'all are tracking my progress...can't get my prgress rpt to update. Thanks for the excellent instruction so far.
Hi Jim - Thanks for the lessons. Slow and steady wins the race. I am starting over with guitar after a 7 year absence. I write a lot and i am bringing my guitar skills up to my writing abilities to actually write songs using keys and chords that match! My goal is to get to Wells,BC this summer for a 4 day Fingerstyle class with Ken Hamm. Wish me luck!
Hi Jim. This lesson has made me realise that if you don't interact with your instructor then you are not making the most of Jamplay. Because of this I have gone back to Steve Eulberg's Phase I and left feedback for him. I am now going through your Phase I and find it really different. Steve has tried to cover all options and his teaching style makes you feel really comfortable. Your style is so different that I find it more of a `work' lesson. I don't mean that as a bad thing as I think some days you are in that kind of mood and want to buckle down and get on with learning the guitar. Thanks for the great lessons. I am enjoying them immensely, especially the way you always give us a glimpse of what might be possible a little further down the line. This is a great encouragement to get on with your practising. Just one question. I have left a few comments on the message board, here in the comments section of the lessons and on the Q&A. Which one are you yourself more likely to look at and reply to? You obviously have a limited amount of time and I don't want to waste my and your time by asking questions that you might not even have the time to read. Best wishes. Chris
For me personally, I prefer q&a stuff to be in the forums. Thanks!
Last year I learned to read notation and that was the only way I could play was easy melodies. (I like country so a lot of songs fit). This year is dedicated to rhythm guitar playing. Learning chords and different rhythms to play along with cds or jams but I like where you are going and maybe that the next goal. BTW can you or someone tell me how to use the jam tracks part of the site. If I'm practicing Key of G chords I look for a jam track in key of G or ?????
The JamTracks are really more for playing lead over. So if the JamTrack is in the key of E, play some sort of E scale such as E pentatonic. They aren't really meant to strum along too, though you definitely could.
Jim - I've been playing for 2 years, teaching myself until now. In doing so, I'm afraid I've picked up a few bad habits... I remember you cautioning us about pressing too hard on the strings and consequently flattening our finger tips. Is there any way to remedy this? If I don't press hard at this point, I cannot get a good sound, yet if I do, it makes the problem worse. My calluses are also getting caught on the strings. Some one showed me how to "get out of" having to make a full barre chord by just playing the top 4 strings. MISTAKE!! That is especially a problem now for my Bm. I somehow reversed my pinky and ring fingers on the G & D strings. I can't keep that finger formation and attempt a full barre. I dread the answer to this one... practice, practice, practice, right? I've enjoyed your different strumming patterns, alternating base, etc. That's definitely an area I need help with. My only problem is I can't find any good songs to practice to. I can't see how it all applies to the songs I already know. I'm eager to start your finger style lessons. One question though: Is it better to have longer nails to hit the strings w/ (right hand) or should I trim them so my fingers hit the strings directly?
I'm not a fingerstyle expert, but getting them to a length where you actually get a bit of contact with both your nail and the tip of your finger can give you a really amazing sound :)
Jim, I have been enjoying your lessons and your teaching styles. Thanks, john
Jim, Even though I'm one of the older geezers around and have been playing since Christ was in short pants, I'm getting a lot out of your lessons. I've gotten a good review of chord structure and am realy looking forward to the fingerstyle lessons. As for goals, I am impressed with your style of teaching as well as your style of play. That's where I wanna go! Keep up the good work.
Jim, I think you do a great job, keep the lessons coming.