I'm finally learning to play the guitar.

Hi everybody,

I've always been told:

If you want to learn how to play the guitar.... you need to practice every day.... DID THAT.

If you want to learn how to play the guitar.... you must commit yourself... THOUGHT I WAS.

If you want to learn how to play the guitar.... your fingers have to hurt... THEY DID.

If you want to learn how to play the guitar.... you need a GOOD teacher... STOP....

A GOOD Teacher here in Italy costs 25 to 30 EUROS a lesson (usually 1 hour); doesn't give lessons when you want (only when they are free - timewise); charges you anyways when you have to cancel at the last minute because nobody else can stay with your kids (understandable from a professional point of view but a royal pain in the a-- when you have to write the check for something you didn't receive); etc., etc., etc...

SO... I pretty much decided that I wouldn't be able to learn how to play the guitar until one of the kids got through with their lessons and decided to teach me... BIG PROBLEM: my daughter likes the piano!!!!!

Then came JAMORAMA Maestro...

At first, I was psyched to start... a really fun and friendly interface... bright orange and yellow (the colors of creativity and brain-stimulation). Really simple to download and follow lessons...

I can get on my computer first thing in the morning, after lunch, before or after dinner, whenever... I don't have to make/cancel appointments with anybody.... OK - LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT...

But how can it work? No teacher: Noproblem... every part of the lessons is accompanied by streaming video guides!... I get to see what I'm supposed to do before I need to do it...

So I start to PLUCK AWAY... but I CAN'T READ MUSIC!... No problem: included in the BONUS TOOLS is a program called Jayda Music (along with a metronome and other stuff)... It's a game that I've been playing on the computer as a part of my lessons for about 5-6 minutes a day... and now I can read most of the notes on the scale without thinking about it... (Tab explanations are shown for every piece along with the normal scale but most sheet music looks like greek to me or at least did... now I'm finally getting it!)

Now I'm on lessons 3, 4 and 5... I get to JAM with the band to learn simple pieces (streams are available in the program with the guitar audible or muted so I can follow who's playing or hear myself mixing it up with other musicians at the click of a mouse...)

There has to be a catch though, right?... There is: MY FINGERS HURT LIKE HELL SOMETIMES! (Gotta pay a price... no pain, no gain).

The coolest thing is that now my daughter wants to learn how to play the guitar... and she can... (at no extra charge!)

I have to say that ALL IN ALL, JAMORAMA IS NOT JUST MEETING MY REQUIREMENTS... IT'S SURPASSING THEM!

Thanks JM.... so far, so good...