Hey everyone! I was teaching this today to a group and figured it may make a cool share for any of you looking to learn how to play with drums. The outline: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (seasonal I know) with a 120 BPM shuffle beat! 🎶Here's how to practice step by step: 1️⃣ Step 1: Tap in Time with the Drums - Play the drum track and tap on your guitar in time. - If your tapping isn’t steady, the rhythm won’t work! 2️⃣ Step 2: Strum with Your Thumb - Start by strumming gently with your thumb (not a pick). - Listen for the beats on 2 and 4 in the drum track—they’ll guide you! 3️⃣ Step 3: Focus on the Drums - This is a focus exercise, not just playing. - Don’t let your mind wander! Stay locked in with the drum beat. 4️⃣ Step 4: Add Chord Changes - Practice switching between chords (like G and D). - When you change chords, quickly refocus on the drum beat. 5️⃣ Step 5: Sing While Strumming - Sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer while keeping time with the drums. - If your strumming goes off beat, stop singing and get back on track with the drums first. 🎁 Bonus Tip: Start Slow! If 120 BPM feels too fast, try: - 100 BPM → 105 → 110 → 115 → 120. Let me know how you’re doing! Share your progress in the comments. 👇🎸 ..and here's the drum track I was using

If you are learning an open chord song and struggle with: - specific chord changes - counting the rhythm - putting it all together ..then there may be a little something in this roughly cut vid.. I was finishing up a lesson this evening at the house & recorded this quick recap for the student, but figured I'd share it here if there's even one little nugget in it. 📝 Main Points: 🏃‍♂️ Tempo is everything: pause before you start to play. Think of the hardest chord change. Visualise your hand making the move, and then from that feeling, decide on what tempo you'll begin at. 🎶Always drill in this order: - get the chord change working well first (D7->G) - then play one bar of a chord going into the chord change (D7 - - - | G) - then when you feel ready, give the entire line a go..but be sure to be alert coming into the chord change ..and by drill I mean, focus on that ONE thing for 2-3 minutes at a time, until it starts to come together.. 🚀 Poetry vs Reading If you're not at the stage yet to read and play through the 2 lines without stopping or losing time..then if you try to learn it by reading and playing through, you'll more than likely get more of the same. Instead, if you treat it like poetry..where you break the 2 lines apart, and treat them like verses of a poem... Making: G.- - - | G.- - - | G.- - - | D7 - - - | Into: G.- - - | G.- - - | G.- - - | D7 - - - | Making sure you've: - got the chord changes flowing smoothly.. - an awareness of how much of each chord to play (4 down-strums) ..then, you start piecing the bars together.. Anyhoo, some thoughts, but I give it more context in the vid! 🚀 Theres a few guest passes going for TSG+, if you are wanting to come inside for 7 days, try everything completely free, and meet our amazing community, then drop me a DM! This isn't open to everyone. 📩 DM me INVITE to see if you qualify.

Day one completed

Finished up the challenge. Have the A,D,E chords down pretty good, just need a little work yet on the A to D change and getting the changes up to speed. Had my 1 on 1 call with Dave . He was great.! Thanks Dave.

https://youtu.be/a2W3rKDJHVs?si=0Tu7q3-TsvvgFSF4 Here is a song I am working on. See what you think.