Hi, my name is Chris, been here a day! Been watching Tomo for a year or so.
I’m a Begintermediate I think. Have a friend who has been playing for 30 years who has been giving me weekly lessons and has laid a good foundation of basic theory, C Scale, Major / Minor Chords, Triads - Root, 1st, and 2nd inversions on all 6, 5, 4, & 3 strings and practicing those, all 5 pentatonic shapes and the 1, 3m, 4M, 5M, 7m and how they fit.
I’m wondering if there is any guidance as pathway? IDK Would appreciate any thoughts there…I want to just continue to grow and am really enjoying it.
My 13 year old son is on this journey too as he started taking lessons with our friend at the same time, so any guidance as what may make sense to begin with or go in sequence would be awesome.
Thanks!
PS - Also, how do you find out about challenges or activities within the community?
Hi Chris!
This is Kurt in Seattle. Smart move to come here to learn from Tomo. You sound like a really great Dad too!
So much here, but you will eventually find your own path for learning from where you are now. Everyone here in the forum helps by asking questions and talking about their learning experiences. Tomo has all kinds of extra videos he uses to help us here in the forum. YouTube is a great supplement too of course. There is no lack of material to digest, but I try to limit myself and move on slowly.
You need to remember this, because it will keep coming up in real life situations:
Don't worry!
Don't compare!
Don't expect too fast!
Be kind to yourself!
In my opinion, I'd recommend starting at Essential Music Theory. It is fun, not boring, you will learn a lot no matter how long you have been playing. Sight reading is important, so you learn how to mute! Essential chords, triads, technique. All so important. You need to really learn the notes on the fretboard as soon as you can. The one note scale theory lessons help you learn the fretboard and intervals. I love the Blues Foundation and Applied Theory lessons, which are more advanced. It is helpful to do the exercises in the lesson with Tomo. Just start at the beginning and go slow, go back to review a lot. Try not to move on too soon. I try to limit myself to 20 minutes for each lesson at a time. The repeating and reviewing over time is what helps me eventually to actually "know" it, not just think I know it. I have to go slowly, to make progress.
Have fun and enjoy the journey! Lots of really smart and nice people here working hard and learning.
Kurt
Hi Chris!
Welcome!
Check out the videos in this section:
See also Tomo Fujita's guidance in this thread:
And Sammi Fujita's remarks here:
Best wishes!
- RH
Wow! Kurt! Ralph!
A lot of love!
Thanks so much!
Tomo
Thank you Kurt! Will do!
One other important thing Chris:
Pay special attention to which fingers he tells you to use. He has his reasons for the fingering he recommends. Don't be like me and waste time unlearning bad habits. Go slow and your fingers will learn to like to do it his way. That chromatic exercise will strengthen your fingering. And start singing do -re- mi right away with scales!
This newest updated lesson is incredibly important.
ET12 Major Triads
Kurt