To hear a master guitarist like you say that you struggle with cliffs of dover, makes me feel a lot better about myself. We all have mountains to climb!

My wife is always complaining that I can’t play any songs, after about 11 or 12 years playing. While that is not quite true, I don’t have 10 campfire songs, and I have attempted too many in the dreamer category, so I definitely need to write down a list.

Man, I really think your attitude has changed for the positive over the years. I recall your being much more dogmatic about what to learn and what not. Now, you express a far more open and accepting (and playful) attitude toward each student’s individual circumstances. Thank you.

I just go all-in and learn the tunes I love. It took me 2 years to nail "Shape of my heart" by Sting. Every time I play it, it reminds me the reason why I picked up the guitar.

The way you teach always helps me to stay on track even when it's quite frustrating to do. I'm so happy to have you as a guitar teacher/mentor

And here Justin goes again helping us not to quit guitar 😂🔥

This may be the most practical guitar playing advice I ever seen ( and I’ve seen hundreds). THANK YOU 🙏🏼

I'm on the intermediate stage and all I've been doing for the past 3 months is transcribe AC/DC songs and jam along to them... it's seriously fun

6:06 this is so reassuring to hear. I was trying to learn You Really Got Me by Van Halen and I had no idea how to do tapping. So I added tapping into a 5 minute block during my daily technique practice, and I integrated that new skill into application in that song.

It's normal to find Cliffs of Dover hard. If you see Erlc Johnson playing it live you realise that it's hard even for him! 😁

Love your Warning at the beginning Justin!! I got a nice chuckle!! 😄

This is how I improve my skills the fastest. Learning songs that have skills I want to get better at.

You are a treasure for the guitar community. You give such a coherent structure to your knowledge and experience that helps us to grow. I have followed your courses and bought your theory book. Thanks! 🙏

What a gem of advice! I've been playing for 17 years, and I feel that this is really useful advice for me going forward. Thank you!

This resonated so much with me, I kind of skipped the campfire part and it keeps me from really trying to play in front of others.

this is a vital reminder that yes sometimes getting your backside onto the seat can be difficult.The point is, nothing ventured nothing gained. fairly regular practice if only for 15 minutes is the secret. Sometimes my playing of songs does improve simply by not OVERPRACTICING, maybe by taking a 2 or 3 days break. Amazingly this works good for me, as the stress has disappeared and confidence ensues..even with that, I try to practice at least 6 hours a week. Thanks for posting this Justin

You're one of the greatest teachers of my life Justin. Thank you! No, really. Thank you for everything!

I've been playing since April and watching you has been instrumental and monumental in my learning. I'm 34 and learning the guitar has brought the excited and eager kid inside of me back to life.

You’re an insanely good educator, sir.

Justin is one of the best teachers that we can ever get for guitar learning. Kudos to you Justin ! 🙏

You are the ORIGINAL and THE BEST KZfaq guitar guru/teacher. Thank you for all you’ve taught us, Justin!

Justin = a great inspirational speaker....and teacher.

I really enjoyed the "Dreamers" section, Justin. Like you said, "Have a go." Just learning bits and pieces of tougher songs is fun and it makes you a better player. For years I avoided trying to learn more "difficult" songs because I'd have trouble figuring out alternate tunings, intricate chord shapes, and so on. Lately, I've jumped in (with a lot of help from tutorials on KZfaq) and I'm now MUCH more comfortable having a go at more complex songs. Learning even a tiny bit of theory helps as well. Thanks for a great video!

"Once you sit there with your guitar it'll never be just one minute because its fun!" *sits there for 18 minutes and 43 seconds holding a gorgeous PRS and doesn't play it at all*

the campfire category is often overlooked, so thanks for bring them out in public. those are the songs to "teach" you confidence, musicianship and performance. music is not to play faster than anybody else, but to play less and still sound great. The art is not "to play", but to "not play"

That disclaimer is AWESOME!

One of the OG's of guitar yt still going strong in 2021. The vids keep getting better tbh

Heart of Gold, Wish You Were Here, Hide Your Love Away, Cats in the Cradle, Perfectly Good Guitar, Sam Stone, Willing, Can't You See, City of New Orleans, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald... All simple, everyone knows the words. Finish up with the Star -Spangled Banner and Freebird. ☺ (I typed all that before I heard Justin's list)

I keep exploring other online teachers but invariably, I always come back to You. You are the best, Justin.

Lockdown made me learn guitar which I couldn't learn in 30 years. Now I can play rhythm and can play at least 30 songs by heart. I am in the campfire level. All credit to you sir. I have learnt to catch chords by ear.

Songs should be on the list; 1. Happy birthday to you. 2. Jambalaya (2chords) 3. Let it be (simple chords) 4. No woman no cry (difficult strum). Oldies songs: 5. Autumn Leaves (slow easy) 6. Blueberry Hill. 7. Am I that easy to forget 8. He'll have to go. 9. Blue Moon (Elvis). 10. Cant Help Falling in Love (Elvis) 11. Love Me Tender (easy chords and easy strum). 12. Wonderful Tonight. 13. Don't be Cruel. 14. Sealed with a kiss. 15. Knocking on Heaven's Door. 16. Lucille 17. Honky Tonk Woman. 18. Dream dream dream (All I have to do is dream) Everly Brothers. 19. House of Rising Sun (easy chords and steady arpegio). 20.imagine Dream Songs; 21. Stairway to Heaven. Cheers from Indonesia.

going thru this course has been so refreshing. i played a few months, learnt a few chords and decided to learn never going back again. it took me about half a year and ever since ive been building my repertoire with tommy emmanuel songs. looking forward to becoming a well rounded guitarist and maybe finally a musician

I love your videos. They make my day!! Thank you for posting them so others can enjoy as well

Fun story. I wanted to learn Dear Prudence for decades and couldn't wrap my brain around the fingerpicking. Blackbird was no problem because it was "fake" fingerpicking, but Dear Prudence was beyond me. I would try periodically but it never clicked. Decades later, watched a lot of Tommy Emmanuel and got curious enough to look up proper techniques, but didn't have a specific song in mind. Stumbled onto Doc Watson giving a little lesson and playing Deep River Blues. He mentioned "Travis Picking". I decided I wanted to learn Deep River Blues. Did some research on Travis picking and stumbled into a couple basic exercises for the pattern as well as Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotton. Could not and still cannot wrap my fingers around Freight Train but noticed that the basic Travis picking pattern sounded awfully familiar. Pulled out the big white Beatles songbook and looked up Dear Prudence for the intro fingerings. Within an hour I had it down. Within another day I figured out that Julia and Happiness is a Warm Gun used the exact same pattern. During a short interlude I realized that Dust in the Wind by Kansas uses almost the same pattern. Applied the same pattern to a bunch of songs I knew that don't use that pattern including original songs just to see if they would work. Some did. Still haven't sat back down to finish Freight Train. Tried picking up Deep River Blues but haven't been able to get it at all. But... ... I can play Dear Prudence now. And Dust in the Wind and Julia.

Lol!! That was a great "warning"! I actually enjoy the ones where you speak and I don't have to have my guitar at the ready as much as the hands-on ones. Firstly, you always have something of value to teach us, and I save this type of segment for when I am out walking, etc. There is a whole world to learn when it comes to the guitar 🤗

This is such good advice. My dreamer is Never Going Back Again, by Fleetwood Mac.

I never touched a guitar until I was 46 and didnt even know how to hold one. 4 years later my guitar playing has become an addiction. Much thanks and appreciation to you Justin for your great lessons. I must say that some of my dreamer songs are outside the normal lesson songs taught online. I would love a lesson for the Acoustic version of Bottom of a bottle by Smile empty soul. Again, Keep up the great lessons and Cheers from Canada

This is spot on dude. Campfire songs are so important simply because they are about how good the songs make us feel when playing them. Which in turn if others can listen and watch and catch the feel good vibes coming out then the moments are magical. Great video.

Classical Gas is my ultimate dreamer song….now that would be great to bang out when someone says “play a song”!

Hilarious intro!! xD

So true about dreamers. I never imagined I would be able to play 'Tunnel of Love' by Dire Straits. And in a way, I still can't, because I'm not so good at it. But I can play it recognisably, solo and all, thanks to this channel. I started learning it thinking, 'What the hell,' assuming I would never really pick it up. But gradually the pieces fall together.

Well there are many guitar tutors out there on you tube I settled on 4 to help me and here's why .....1. The first 3 easy songs I learned was stand by me - Ben e king ....wonderwall (like everyone).....and Wild thing - troggs and I using a guy called Andy gutar who I reccomend to anyone to start off with ....However I was bored fingers were falling off and going through tough times in lock down and was gunna give up on everything and then came across this country music guy called Matt who said dont give up ....so I picked up the guitar again learned the cowboy cords and this helped simplify everything develop my struming dynamics using rythem and timing over the more structured down up down up robotic stuff and things started to sound better and different I began voicing the guitar and am enjoying learning different strumming patterns learned lots of intro's to songs and I recomend him to any starter (starter only) but he's a really nice guy.....3 Development stuff you gotta try new stuff - finger picking is hard so I am trying Elvis Cant help falling in love as you can finger pick and strum this song and its slow enough to learn I reccomend a guy called Marty @Marty gutar who is a fantastic coach - muting I am still developing but learned - stuck in the middle with you steelers wheel going back to Andy guitar it was a great lesson.... Songs really i wanna learn you just gotta find someone who's good at teaching it - Angie ....Rolling stones just looked on line found some girl playing it and am following her - for goo goo dolls iris I found someone - re tuned guitar as he said but blew the high e string...Then I found you and am learning this open corded instead and blowers daughter Damian Rice currently I think you are and excellent tutor. Not confident enough with guitar yet - still like crunching the gears a bit struggle going from G to F bar cords and the B sus 4 but enjoying learning every day - and I think a little practice every day is essential for muscle memory on the cords which ... a great 20 mins here and there a few times a day is better than once a week for hours till your fingers drop off Sticking with these guys and feel guilty not paying for it ...will donate to them all if I ever master this....some guys are way too advanced a guy called steve teaches music theory stuff but he simplify's things a lot and knows a lot of short cuts - very knowledgable some of the others are a bit hard to listen to for long and some (play or teach a song) but it sounds nothing like the song lol.. Anyway this is my journey its kept me going through tough times and am enjoying it more and more - I want to split song practice with developing technique - throwing in a few of these more difficult songs is helping - but freeing the neck up triads caged system and penatonic scales can wait for the moment I can be confident to say I play guitar. I want to get a bit more comfy - I should try some scales n stuff soon - start splitting song pracice with techiques. Simply to much info to take in at once but I should persist - I struggle singing and playing at the same time but hopefully it will come....Anyway thanks for the lessons ....

I just got my guitar yesterday and I learned my first three chords thanks to you I'll continue this journey with your videos!♥

You are an absolutely unbelievable teacher! I have learnt so much from your teachings no words can ever describe how appreciative I am! I am definitely not alone in your boat of students grateful how you take the time out of your day to help teach and shape other peoples guitar playing! Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🤘😎

You're right. I went through that. The GCD type "easy" songs. Then I went to Travis picking type (I still use them to work my fingerstyle). Then some solos of the same songs (sometimes). The blues too. Pentatonic scales...etc. All acoustic. You have helped me a lot. Thanks Justin. 🎶🎶🎶

Excellent advice 😊😊

Love this video and I love your teaching style. My usual practice is playing songs I like, but adding things I should learn to my playing makes total sense.

At 50+ I took up guitar just over a year ago & loving it. The thing I love most is taking my appreciation of songs I love to another level by learning musically. Also discovering new gems like Cliffs of Dover & blues licks helps to broaden my taste in music, thanks Justin!! Any chance of a lesson on the classic Aussie band Ratcat?

I just realised I'm the guy that Justin just described! I've been playing close to 20 years but I don't have a list of songs that I can just play if people ask. I always felt my guitar playing had hit the ceiling but this video just changes everything!

I love this one…gives players some perspective! A couple of years ago I used the beginner app to get started and it was instrumental in my intro to guitar and my passion grew from there! Thanks Justin!! 🎸

Important recommendation from Justin and applicable on basically all tasks in live: approach with curiosity. Remain playful. Good mood makes us more intelligent which brings better results.

what is not to like about this video? Another Great Video. Thanks Justin! I love the way you explain things in clear language that is easy to follow and understand.

I cracked a smile when you mentioned the intro to Wish You Were Here as a Campfire plus. I've been working on the solo for the past few weeks and I've finally got it feeling pretty good under the fingers. Thanks Justin.

Thank you for being my guitar teacher! I'm brand new and I will work on growing these categories. It's a great way to look at picking songs to practice.

Thanks for this Justin……this is exactly what I need now in my guitar learning journey. Good stuff

Hi Justin i just wanted to send a message, im so so grateful for you, your talent and your general vibe. My dad was OBSESSED with acoustic guitar! He had 19 in his collection. I took it so for granted, im sure i thought i would hear the sound forever. I heard it everytime i saw him.. I havn't for a year now. I miss it so so much! So much i have picked up one of those 19 and started to play. AND YOU SIR ARE AMAZING!! I THANK YOU SO MUCH 🙏🙏 I cant tell you what you have done for my soul. Your videos (i started from scratch with hurt- johnny cash) have made me fall in love with my guitar. So much so im surprising my brothers with metallica. I can make a sound 💃💃🤣 not quite like my dad, but one day ❤🙏

This man hasn’t missed a beat for 10-years. Thank you.

12:42 - I can totally agree with this. Picked a guitar up just to noodle about yesterday while waiting for something. I ended up doing a small practice session for about 20 minutes

The Dreamer song for me was Classical Gas. It took a year of working at it daily, but now it is a campfire song.

Awesome motivational advice Justin. Thank you! 👍

Always first rate information and instruction. Thank you for all you do to motivate and inspire us.

Thanks Justin, needed to have more focus for my practice routine. Excellent advice

thumbs up for the disclaimer

Sometimes I feel the tune Three Blind Mice may as well be in my dreamer category 🤪, but again another superb and inspiring lesson as always. The truth is there is no shortcut to a good job when it comes to learning

Thanks!

Thanks Justin, this just makes sense... and Tommy Emmanuel's Lewis and Clark - there's my dreamer.

It's true your lessons have taught me a lot of Guitar.

My playlist includes, Tulsa time, family tradition, why me Lord, jambalaya, only rock and roll, Lodi, crazy, sweet home Alabama. I've also found backing track chord progressions are awesome, lots of chords. Good luck everyone, practice, practice.

Very, very inspiring words!! Thank you for helping me keep the motivation! Lesson suggestion: I need you (George Harrison).

probably the most useful guitar advice Ive gotten in a loooong tiiime! this is exaactly what I've been looking for. An idea for building my practice routine. Thaank you, siiir!

Thank you Justin! I needed a little boost in motivation and energy about now, and you just provided it! 👏🙂

Justin, you explained exquisitely how we learn and progress as guitarists each day. Thank you for understanding how we feel from the first day we started to where we are now. Keep jammin'!!👍🎸🤘

Wise words i laugh smile at my mistakes and a massive grin when i achieve even a few chord changes without errors (well not too many).

Thank you for this wonderful and positive video Justin, cheers!

How daunting to us novices that a guitar guru such as yourself can’t play everything you want to!!!! Gulp 🎸🎸🎸🎸

Im sure glad I'm not the only one who fumbles the tung. Your by far my favorite !

Many thanks Justin, great lesson, you always motivate me to push my playing, I'm an old geezer with a Gibson, best wishes to Pat and Ian.

Love the tips to approach learning with a fun strategy. Literally can use this on nearly any instrument 👌😊

Already implemented six months ago..!!!!!!!!..what u call the dreamer song list gave me a bad forearm, the triceps tendons along the elbow, left hand tendons :totally defunct!!!!!!!!, me questioning my left vs right hand coordination, ice packs..😐etc...... I hate you justin!!!! ....🤔🤔🤔🤔 nope, I don't......I learned a-shaped bar chords and a lot about coordination just by seeing your road-tripping lesson..... I live u man .... stay healthy and strong

Brillliant video. Highly motivating. I've been doing what you suggest since day one and it makes it fun. I just wish I had more time to devote to playing and practice. Thank you, Justin, for all your videos. You are a true star.

One of the best guitar instructor on you tube, if not the best.

I love this guy.

This was a very good reminder for me.

Rocksmith makes you want to want to play songs and have fun for sure!

Wow, Justin you nailed it. I was all over the place until I saw this video clip. What you mentioned, makes a lot of sense. Bravo!

Justin,that was great,it showed me exactly that,if i only know 4 songs and a few bits and pieces its ok once i keep trying,i got a good way of putting learning guitar by an old guy"its all repatition and movement"he said,i know its a bit more than that,but with "justin guitar" i will learn more👍👍👍

I have just started to play guitar but I write down all the songs I hope to be able to play one day. It;s a lot of fun finding out how to play certain songs. As you said you come along different technics. I use your beginners app but also have a teacher once in the 2 weeks, who also learns me to read notes. There is so much to learn, I wish I started years ago! Thanks Justin, your inspiring and a great help.

Hi Justin , love your channel. years ago I used to play in a band playing at social clubs and loved it. work life balance stopped that, and a change in career put paid to my playing. I am now at a point where I have time to play the guitar again. However, I have become so despondent when playing now because my skills have gone yet I think I should be playing to the standard I was at. I am really finding so difficult to go back to basics but this video has given me the inspiration to start again, which is something I am reluctantly coming to terms with. Your videos are inspirational, thanks

That guitar is effin beautiful 🤩

Don't think I'll be playing Sultans Of Swing in the near future but love the licks. Thank you for the encouragement 😊

Finding songs to learn is the hardest part for me, I even find getting on with my techique exercises and practing scales easier to do! Thanks for the video :)

Thanks to you. I have been doing this practise routine without knowing it. And it’s working. Cheers

Fantastic. You’ve summed up in 20 minutes what it’s taken me 20 or 30 years to figure out. Your wisdom about practicing guitar easily applies to piano/keyboard playing as well. I would just add that it’s also helpful to work on getting down one song a day, and record yourself playing it. You don’t have to get it down perfectly, but well enough so that you can play it smoothly from start to finish.

Thank you Justin. I really needed this, I'm that guy that's been playing for years but knows nothing lol. I have a jam list on my phone, but I can't just pick up a guitar and play them. I've now made a camp-fire playing and I'm going nail these songs. THANK YOU!!

I'm a beginner and currently just learning songs I like and thankfully at least for now they are pretty easy

Thanks for the great tips. Retired a year ago, so decided to pick up the guitar, started trying to play about 8 months ago. Started few easy songs and work on cord changes (House of Rising Sun, Country Roads, Take it Easy, Can't You See). Have seen some improvement. But then found you on youtube. Been watching some of your videos for awhile. Love the way you teach, so now have your app and using you methods. They seem to be working. Focus right now is on finger stretching since I have small hands and some chords are really difficult, finger accuracy. keep those tips coming!

I always enjoy your lessons and thoughts on playing. One thing I’d add to the “dreamer list” idea is going back to it a few months or years later. I’ve been very surprised and pleased to go back to songs I just couldn’t play and after, for me, a few years I can knock them out. Or at least see them as achievable.

I literally learning Cliffs of Dover at the moment and hearing someone as good as Justin say it's hard just give me massive encouragement, thank you so much Justin

Super ideas Justin thank you. I suddenly realise that after 2 years learning I can’t actually pick up a guitar and play anything!! I need to resolve that asap x