Comments on: TELL YOUR STORY

By: Ginger

Ginger — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Hi Lisa – thank you for the invitation. We sort of met when you posted the 3 chord carols on You Tube & I appreciate your invitation to join your community here. I just read thru’ most of the posts here & recognized Jim Scanlan from Acoustic Guitar Community. Jim & I have spoken a number of times there but what a small world this music world is really! Hi Jim!

I also noticed there were a number of people here with special things to overcome & I am among them. I began playing at the age of 12. Self taught for the most part using an old Harmony Jamboree guitar that a friend of my mothers left at our house for a year. It came with a little cardboard card with chord finger diagrams & I experimented from those until I was able to play.
From there I was in a band for 8 years as a rhythm guitarist. I didn’t do much singing…have about a one octave range & could do voice overs for Minnie Mouse. But I loved my guitar! At that time I had a Gibson LG1 & my beloved soulmate, a 1964 Framus Falcon12 – a guitar that was almost destroyed when movers stored it unprotected in desert heat for 10 months. More on that in a moment.
Things in my life were going along smoothly til May of 2001 when I had a brain aneurysm which paralyzed my left side. End of guitar playing, plus a few other things for awhile.
But then the move from Vegas & the (almost) destruction of my beautiful Framus. I found a very talented man who works at Martin guitars & he repaired my guitar. At that point I thought if my baby can be fixed & ready to play again, so can I! And I felt that if I was going to have to relearn everything, why not learn to finger pick or flat pick…something I’d wanted to do my entire life!
It was that determination which brought me to your 3 chord carols on You Tube & here I am today. My hand works, I have all the tools I need in my brain to play, but just need to get the message from the brain to the fingers. For some reason your method has enabled me & it is happening. Glacially slow, but happening! =)

I look forward to getting better yet with your assistance. Thanks for being here. ♥
~Ginger~

By: Lisa McCormick

Lisa McCormick — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:34:24 +0000

Graham,
How wonderful. Your grand daughter is a lucky girl!
I am currently giving lessons to a gentleman who is just getting started, at the age of 73. It’s something he has always wanted to do, and now he is doing it. It gives us both great joy.
I wish you all the best in your journey.
Stay in touch, let me know if I can be of help.

By: Graham Kerr

Graham Kerr — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:22:49 +0000

I had a guitar at 18 years old, never “found the time” to truly learn……..one of these regrettable mistakes in life. Now I’m 50 plus, work away from home with time on my hands to learn and most of all, I want to play and write tunes for my little grand daughter who is eight months old. I’d like to play her something by the time she’s four or five years old. This will truly be an adventure in love, both for my grand daughter and for my love of music……….thanks.

By: Jeff Emmerson - My Story of Hope and Following My Heart!

Jeff Emmerson - My Story of Hope and Following My Heart! — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:01:57 +0000

I’m TRULY starting at 34 years young!

- Jeff Emmerson

By: Lisa McCormick

Lisa McCormick — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:30:42 +0000

Thanks so much, Tony. DId you happen to see the video lesson on how to play Amazing Grace? Playing guitar is most definitely a journey. Glad to meet you on this path.

By: Tony James

Tony James — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:42:12 +0000

Well Hello Lisa MCCORMICK, I enjoy reading your articles and am new to the guitar but not to new to life. Put another way-I am not a spring chicken and not ready for a rocking chair. I approach learning the guitar as more of a journey than a process and want to thank you for making it more entertaining. I want to work on two songs “Amazing Grace and Dust in the Wind” and you have my condolences for the passing of your friend.

Thanx,
TONY

By: Lisa McCormick

Lisa McCormick — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:02:36 +0000

Trez,

Oh my God, you jammed with Neil Young?? I’m so jealous!
Welcome to the site, and thanks for your story!
Be well – Lisa

By: Trez

Trez — Sat, 01 May 2010 22:17:10 +0000

I have been off and on with guitar since 1975 when I bought a Ovation. My little brother was my inspiration, until I moved to California, where neil young joined our local jam session.
I find I need a group, or at least one other person to play with to feel inspired.
I now live in a rural area, and recently discovered Lisa and Guitar Tricks, and my Gibson J3 remains out of the case, played daily.
I also have a Strat now, and enjoy the variety.
Thanks, Lisa!

By: Lisa McCormick

Lisa McCormick — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:51:16 +0000

Great to meet you, Gene. It sounds like your guitar has had an adventurous life with you, out at sea and all. Are you still playing the “beater”, or do you have others? If guitars could talk…
I love upright bass too. Thanks for sharing your story!

By: gene suggs

gene suggs — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:44:06 +0000

i am 63 and have been playing for 50 years or so. i spent 30 years in the navy and having a little “beater” guitar made life at sea bearable. i play several strined instruments including guitar, mandolin, dobro and upright bass. i stumbled upon your lessons section at epiphone and gibson websites and really like youe style and the way you teach. never too old to learn another way. thanks and i’ll follow your website.