I have, of course, had on my Ad Man hat for the past couple weeks. April is the start of a new quarter in the Fingerstyle Five membership, and it's not only my job to make and teach all the new lesson material, but to also jump and down and explain exactly what I'll be teaching and why now is such a good time to get started.

But for today's newsletter, I wouldn't mind letting someone else talk about the membership for a change. Because while while it's up to me to make the stuff, I am always at least a little surprised by how people wind up using that stuff.

For example, as much as people in the Fingerstyle Five look forward to starting a new tune, or enjoy revisiting earlier songs from the archive, what a lot of folks say they value most is being part of the community that has developed in the membership forum and during the live streams.

Here's Morgana, a longtime member, advising a fellow Australian on how to deal with the massive time difference between Austin and Melbourne:

"The live streams are going to be on even earlier for us, but definitely worth getting up for if you can. David's lessons are brilliant and the sense of community here is definitely the icing on the cake."

In the same thread, Ruben, a self-described "metalhead with a fingerstyle blues identity crisis" had this advice for new members:

"Open the communication doors and windows to the community. Feedback and encouragement will drive you, and also helps folks trying to figure out parts you've solved and have under your fingertips."

I have also been surprised to discover people applying what they learn in the membership to all kinds of genres, not just blues. Jamie, from New England, posted this recently:

"I play Hawaiian slack key, and a couple of weeks ago, I decided to learn a new slack key tune. Within a week, I had it to a performance level. Before the Fingerstyle Five, that would have taken many months."

So, according to some of its most ardent participants, the Fingerstyle Five is more than the sum of its tabs and videos. It's a place to meet and engage with fellow musicians, participate regularly in interactive lessons, and acquire skills you can apply to whatever styles you already enjoy.

The spring quarter begins this Thursday, April 3 with an introduction to "Statesboro Blues," new exercises for right-hand technique, live instruction on the alternating-thumb bass style, and much more. Join us at the link below!

Join The Fingerstyle Five

More soon,

David

P.S. For a preview of "Statesboro Blues" and answers to questions about the membership, you can find a replay of Sunday's live stream here:

A Fingerstyle Five Preview And Live Q&A