One more thing on my list-DONE!

I have done it! I know that we all make New Years resolutions, such as lose weight and eat healthy, join a gym and blog only 5 times a week not 7....Not me. I went and made a "resolution"" that I am going to learn to play the guitar this year. So how do you learn to play an instrument with out one? YOU DONT! So I finally bought my guitar. It was like Christmas morning. I had my cash in hand for the last "lay away" payment and I was off to Sam Ash where they promise the best price and repair in the WHOLE Phoenix valley.

There I was, walking into a "climate controled" room where hundreds of acustic guitars were hanging. Now just for back ground, I have played the Piano since 3rd grade and just about every musical intrument I could get my hands on. So as a Pianist, I know how to read notes and can even teach...if I really wanted to. So, being the bubble blonde that I am, I just stepped right up to Patrick and said, "so, what is the difference between your #2, 169.00 guitar and the $150.00 one?" I had a couple "real" musicians in stiches.(Apparently they own 13 each. YEP 13 each, what in the hell does a guy do with 13 guitars???) They thought that it was rather funny that I would ask such a "stupid" question. Without missing a beat Patrick showed me. Yep he pulled one off the "shelf" and played the $2k guitar and then hung it back up and played a $150 guitar. Did I HEAR the difference? OH yes sir I did! That is when I told them that I played piano and while I could talk all day about the difference between a Yamaha and a Stienway...I didn't know Squat about these guitars. (Maybe too honest) The other "real" musicians finished rolling thier eyes when I saw them in the keyboards section thumbing over the choices...HMMM turn about should be fair play, right?? They asked me to play some..I showed off abit...then ROLLED my eyes. "What??? You couldn't HEAR that?" "That is the difference between the real thing and a crappy electronic board". (I felt a bit vindicated from my humiliation of asking the RAW question).

What I opted for was a good "beginner" 6-string that is amp ready and has the cut away feature on it as suggested by my 2nd sales guy Brandon. He showed me some fancy fingering on the strings and if I want to advance..I have to be able to "finger" the strings [anyone else turned on right now??? I can't help it, it just sounds so naughty!!] OK So, I bought the guitar, repair package and the "how to books, DVD and chord progression book. I am off to my house to play with my new toy!!!!! YEAH Happy B-Day to Bambi (on the 30th!!)

I open the box and put the battery in the audio tuner [this is the best feature I have ever seen!] I am OH so familiar with the tuning of drums and pianos..so this was a breeze compared. I tuned it up and began lesson one.

I am now working my way up to lesson 5, which is not at all like I THOUGHT. I am having to learn the notes and where they are vs on a keyboard. So now I am "converting" what I know about the piano to the "frets" on the neck. This is like work! Then I finally tried to do a chord. NOT as easy as it looks. There is a reason these musicians have callases...The strings are sharp! I had no idea how much pressure you need to put on a string so that it will play the right note.

Needless to say, I need to practice every day and I should have started my "New Years" Resolution sooner. Now I only have 3 months to learn to play the guitar!

Gots to go...I am in need of practice.