Well, I have made some gains on my guitar. (And it only took thirteen years or so.) I find now that I get a better tone if I press lightly on the strings and play softer. I can very slowly play any song in six keys up through E Major … not quite the five-sharp pinnacle of B Major, but close enough.
Of course, because I am perverse, any success makes me take a step back, because how else would I find that frustration that I evidently live for?
All these new keys have been in the open position, which is limiting. (Open position means there are six notes out of seventeen you can play without doing anything with your left hand.) I really should start playing the more difficult positions.
Then again, instead of leaving open position, instead I could focus on playing a mix of chords and notes and see if I can make the chords sound less clunky. That does mean I probably won’t be able to play “Alcohol” or “I’ll Be That Girl,” which is a shame, but the other Barenaked Ladies songs will sound better.
So, as always, three steps forward, one irresistible step back.