Susanne - Posted - 02/22/2021:  02:39:40

Hello everyone!

I first joined this site back in 2013 or similar when I had bought my first real (my first not-cheap-whatever guitar) guitar and was interested in learning flatpicking. In those times I didn't have the time to dedicate to music really, so I never got anywhere with it. But after having fiddled with a variety of instruments for quite many years, last year my husband suddenly wanted to play bluegrass mandolin, so I backed him with my Taylor and later used his Martin D-18 instead. It was June, and then I got my inspiration back and decided to start learning flatpicking, and this time really do it. The D-18 wasn't a good fit for me so later that summer I bought a 000-18, much more comfy for me to play and I really love my guitar!

So from June last year I've been learning scales, then started learning some tunes from Norman Blake's tutorials (he's my greatest inspiration) and then in August we both signed up for Artistworks, my husband with Mike Marshall and myself with Bryan Sutton. My husband is doing really well with the mandolin, and I'm at least making good progress and can play a bunch of fiddle tunes (although most not up to speed), chords, bass runs and simple solos.

With lockdowns and restrictions going on for a long time yet, no sessions in sight, we have plenty of time to practice and learn and to play music just the two of us together, and we're absolutely having a blast with it!!
I ran into this site again this morning, and honestly had no idea it was still active!! I'm delighted to see people posting here and hope to be active myself too and to have some good chats with you.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 02/22/2021:  22:31:13

Probably doesn't mean anything about this site if 30+ people view this post and don't even hit the LIKE BUTTON, as we say in America, "What's up with that?"

Susanne - Posted - 02/23/2021:  02:16:02

I generally dislike "like" buttons everywhere. Like buttons kill conversation. People get lazy and just click the button without commenting. And yeah, if they don't even click the button.. Has the forum culture disappeared with the popularity of social media? There used to be lots of good chats on forums. The Martin guitar forum is very active though.