Donya+12

My name is Donya Pourtaghi and I am currently enrolled in the course called " Intro to Guitar 11"

I have little experience with playing the guitar, and I hope to learn a number of basic chords and some beginner picking. I prefer to play the ukulele but I figure that having some experience in other stringed instruments will help.

After being in this class for a little over a week, I know the D chord and the E minor chord, as well as a really pretty finger picking song called "The Spanish Fandango".

[|Donya's Sound Cloud]


 * Monday, February 13th 2012 12:45 pm Pacific Time.**

I have been making great progess with the picking song "The Spanish Fandango". I can currently play at a relatively high tempo, while looking up. I feel skilled

My lovely guitar partner Syndey has shown me how to play the songs:
 * Our song - Taylor Swift (minus bridge)
 * Only Exception - Paramore (minus bridge)
 * The Funeral - Band of Horses ( the begining picking part)

I hope to improve my knowledge of chords and maybe another simple picking song.

Sydney says goodbye, Donya.

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 * Monday, February 20th 2012 12:28 pm Pacific Time**

This week the class is working on Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. Mr. Shong has told Sydney and I that Mr. Morrison preformed with his back to the crowd due to extreme stage fright. Or maybe he just wanted to be quirky. Musicians are like that.

As far as playing the song goes, I can get through it if I am given enough time to place my fingers on each chord. I hope to acheive a more fluid preformance once I practice enough.

After I am done with this post, Sydney will show me how to play Marry You by Bruno Mars. After I learn, I shall serenade Sydney as thanks for being such a lovely teacher.

A Brown Eyed Girl, Donya

Last Friday, my lovely guitar partner and I preformed "The Only Exception" by Paramore. Complete with vocals and even harmonies in the chorus. It was quite enchanting.
 * Monday, February 27th 2012 12:39 PM Pacific Time**

This week, we are getting the chords to "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. I love this song, and I am excited to be able to play it. So far, the songs I can play are:


 * Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
 * Our Song - Taylor Swift
 * The Only Exception - Paramore
 * Something in the Air - Tom Petty
 * Marry You - Bruno Mars
 * The Funeral - Band of Horses

I'm looking forward to adding Pumped Up Kicks to the list.


 * Monday, April 2nd 2012 12:22 PM Pacific Time**

I'm not looking forward to practicing bar chords. My fingers are not muscular enough. I really wonder about the quality of my playing on a good day, but now that my wimpy fingers have to hold down multiple strings, the outcome can't be good. I'm yours was pretty okay. I think I forgot to save the post from last monday in regards to im yours


 * Monday, April 16th 2012 12:39 PM Pacific Time**

After I am finished posting this update of my skills, Sydney and I will be preforming "Let It Be" by John Lennon. I really hope I dont fail because there is an F chord to be played. For those who dont understand the gravity of the situation, the F chord is also a bar chord will involves the guitar player placing one entire finger on all the frets of the fret. It's painful for those who do not have strong fingers. Like me. I already said that in the above post, butyou needed to understand how much I do not want to preform this.

So I'm still really nervous about preforming that damn song with the damn bar chord. Bar chords will be the death of me. Hey, what type of chord wonders to be or not to be? A BARD CHORD. OH JEEZ. THATS HILARIOUS. We're going to preform house of the rising sun by the animals and grenade by bruno mars. AW YEAH. not really. media type="youtube" key="EwRr-zFZbzQ" height="315" width="420"
 * Monday, April 23rd 2012 12:30 PM Pacific Time**

So Friday's preformance was a complete failure. Ah well. Its not a big deal. I've finally got the hang of bar chords... so no more bar anxiety! This week we are getting 2 weeks to write our own song. Dont expect much. Good day.
 * Monday, April 30th 2012 12:38 PM Pacific Time**


 * Monday, May 7th 2012 12:31 PM Pacific Time**

Horrah for extensions. On the song writing project for me and mi amiga! We have the first verse down pat, but still have a lot to go. Our song is about having trouble writing a song. Its pretty great. I dont have a lot of energy write now. It probably because its sunny out and I'd much rather prefer to be outside than sitting in the dreary computer lab writing about my non existent guitar skills.

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 * Monday May 14th 2012 12:24 PM Pacific Time**

Learning the above songs. Practice makes perfect. Still have to preform my self made song. Awesome.


 * Tuesday May 22nd 2012 12:35 PM Pacific Time**

We are still learning Upside Down by Jack Johnson. It has 4 bar chords in it, which gives me and my lovely partner, Sydney, anxiety. Wish us luck.


 * Monday May 28th 2012 12:38 PM Pacific Time**

This week is going to be hectic because me and my gurl sydney are going to be preforming two songs, one with our guitar playing brothers macguire and anthony, and the other von vill bee ae song zat ve've written ourselves. WOOP. I CAN SORT OF DO BAR CHORDS NOW WITH SOME CONFIDENCE. WHICH IS COOLLIO. the world of guitar has been revealed to me now that i can do dem bar chords. I HEARD THAT YOURE SETTLED DOWN. but youre not. wowowowowowow. WE MUST TO BAR CHORDS. SHE SAYS WE CANT. BUT WE MUST.


 * Monday June 4th 2012 12:18 PM Pacific Time**

Thats what makes you beautiful. Thats what me sydney macguire and anthony preformed. It was beautiful. full of beaut. This week we'll be rocking stand by me. Finger picking style. Which is infuriating. To the tenth degree. jaysus.

Final submission to talonsguitar.wikispaces.com and so i suppose that i should recap the last couple of months.
 * Monday June 11th 2012 12:25 PM Pacific Time**

Chords I've Learned: A,B,C,D,E,F,G + ze bar chords

Finger Picking Songs: Upside Down intro, The Spanish Fandango, Stand By Me

Songs I've Learned: A bunchle. I can't even being to remember.

I now know my way around a guitar and can probably entertain people when around a campfire for a sufficient amount of time. Life is good.