Well, happy day!

I've learned to play a very, very, VERY simple version of Soldier's Joy . . . Soldier's Joy is the first bluegrass tune I could recognze, back when they all sounded alike to me. EB plays it on the banjo, and it has always been my favorite.

At my last guitar lesson, I learned to try to play tunes by first making the indicated chord shape with my left hand, and seeing if I could pick out the notes from there. Turns out that Soldier's Joy is played almost entirely from the D chord (with an A thrown in at one point). It's simple!! I tried learning it years ago, but without knowing about the chord shape trick, I found it very difficult.

All of a sudden, all sorts of songs are opening up for me. This is so-ooo cool!!

I'm still not getting too far with learning to read music - I think I might not have the brain cells for that until next May, when the teaching is over. But nonetheless, I have plenty to keep me occupied and happy on a Saturday night . . .