Leaderboard

Would you offer to someone starting to play guitar? Whilst I've had a guitar for about 20 years, I never got beyond strumming a few chords and playing very simple songs,jntil I got an electric guitar a year ago. I've struggled with fast position and chord changes until I remembered something from karate training. Relax. If you are tense you can't move quickly. If my arms and hands are tense I find it difficult to pick and change hand position.

Cheers Douglas for the very kind words, moreover really pleased you’re chuffed with the pedal. I’ve just been playing, and I’m missing it on my board. It’s a small board (hence the sale) and my other ODs as great as they are just can’t bring the muscle that the Fender can. Not that I usually need the muscle, but it’s nice to have on tap eh?!

@Chiliwailer: T's all your fault, for posting such a convincing ad, coupled with an equally convincing video. Long story short: I was convinced. Apologies for not taking up this offer, though; I'm in France, and the extra faff (a technical term...) and import costs put me off, just enough to have a scout around LeBonCoin (our equivalent of Gumtree..?), where I found an identical pedal, which I bought..! Received it this morning, and it fulfils its promise. Ideally suited to my, admittedly excruciating, guitar playing (I'm a drummer, so...), and fits in very well on my modest pedal board (Boss Compressor, Boss Fender Deluxe, Twin Big Muff, Akai Headrush and now Fender Santa Ana...), all into my Fender Bassman 50w valve amp. Soft, creamy, nice switching options and very useful tone controls; I'm very pleased. All this to end up with 'BUMP'..! This is a fine pedal, which I'd have been happy to buy if I was in the UK. The Seller is a very reputable member on the sister Basschat forum, so no need to hesitate. This is an Overdrive pedal; much more subtle sonic options than a mere fuzz or disto, but marries well with other pedals. 'BUMP', I say, 'BUMP'..! Douglas

You are absolutely correct, relax! Sing, while you are playing. Get your chords to ring out ok, then have a simple chord progression going, slow at first, then up the speed of the chord changes little by little. Have fun. Sing while you play!!!

Hi everybody, Thanks for letting me join. I have just returned to picking up the guitar at the ripe oldahe of 60 after a lengthy absence. I used to play years ago at school and we had a heavy gigging schedule in bedrooms and garages, neither I or we as a band were that good to be honest. I picked up my son's guitar and dabbled with it for a few months a few years ago but didn't continue, however I have recently bought my own acoustic and consider myself very much a beginner again. My fingers hurt a bit, my coordination is off and I am struggling to get a decent sound at times, but I reckon a bit of patience and a few months should see me become more accomplished. I only plan to play for my own pleasure. Looking forward making progress and to chatting on here of course. Thanks Alan

You mention 'fast position and chord changes'. My single piece of advice would be to solve this issue by doing things slowly. Slow is the new fast. Slow is the fastest way to do fast. Whatever it is you're wanting to do, do it slowly, preferably with a metronome, or whatever you use for tempo, but set it to slow. Do whatever it is you are wanting to do, slowly, for a while (two, three weeks..? Every day, for ten-fifteen minutes..? Slowly..!). Once it can be done, slowly, well, up the tempo a little. No, just a little (60 bpm becomes 65 bpm, for example...) do this, regularly, for another 'while', and once you've become proficient at it, up the tempo a tad more (65 becomes 70..?). Repeat; if, after a 'while' it's still not smooth, clean, easy, go back down a tad with the tempo and repeat. It is useful, and recommended, to start from the original 'slow' tempo now and again, for a day or so, working back up to one's current tempo, as a refresher. Always with the metronome, or whatever you use for tempo. This is the way to obtain whatever speed one wants, and is the guaranteed fastest way. Is there a downside..? Yes, it requires a large bucketful of Patience. Those without this essential accessory will not achieve their goal, so be sure to have that bucket, and keep it well topped up. It is of no advantage to do this for hours on end, nor too many times a day, but if time permits, a couple or three sessions of 10-15 minutes (no more...) may be permitted. The key is in the regularity (every day...), in the keeping the tempo slow (hence the metronome or equivalent...) and the Patience. It cannot, and never does, fail. Douglas