Hi all,

Same day as today, a year ago, after clicking on the banner image of some crazy dude we all know, I landed here and like the rest of us decided it was worth checking what this GMC stuff was all about... didn't know I was in for a ride!

I used to play guitar when I was younger, singing some Springsteen, etc. songs along with a few open chords and powerchords, and that was pretty much it. 15 years later and with a different perspective on life & music I got me a new guitar and amp, and came across GMC. Saw some of the lessons and decided to give it a go, and now I see it was one of my best decisions ever , if it wasn't for this site & community I guess I'd have got lost in boring tabs with no technique, and would have stopped playing.

But it wasn't the case. Soon after trying some simple heavy metal for beginners lessons I started to pay attention to the forum and Andrew's theory lessons. I finally understood pentatonic & major/minor scales, and learnt to improvise a bit across the fretboard using the caged method and Kris' lessons. That was a major improvement in my playing, as I had never studied scales and they are the key to guitar playing.

Appart from lessons I got addicted to the forums, people at GMC are the most helpful bunch I've seen across any site ever. Being helped by other members and instructors is a key part of GMC to me. That's how I discovered about recording with cool gadgets such as Toneport/Reaper, (In fifteen years things sure had changed since the last time I played guitar: now we have internet, amp modeling, GMC , I feel old).

Soon after learning how to record a bit I took part in some collabs, it was a blast, and soon after came the competitions. Wiki competition made me take interest in our Guitar Wiki, I enjoy writing articles and somehow ended up as Wiki Coordinator, which is quite fun as it involves several GMC aspects such as keeping the wiki frontpage updated, working on the WCP project daily and helping a bit here and there with some related stuff. By the way, feel free to join our wiki anytime, we need new articles!, visit the wiki forum!

So, after 12 months, some scales & licks learnt, and a bunch of lessons completed now I can even play some easy Iron Maiden songs, all I can say is this was an amazing year. I've learnt so much, and all I want to do is just keep at it!, improve, get better!. I practice around 2 hours/day, and I might increase that in the coming year. If I can play some harder solos by this time next year I'll be more than happy. I undestand I can't play like Dave Murray in one year, but I'm on my way!

So, long story short: thanks all for being so nice, specially all the instructors here, you guys truly rock, and I hope I keep writing & learning at this site on my 80th Birthday. Thanks GMC, it's a pleasure to be here.

Congrat's on the Anniversary Fran. It's a pleasure to have you here. I think you are doing a great job with the Wiki and other areas you are associated with. GMC is truly an amazing guitar site, but your accomplishments should also be credited to you for the determination to learn. So once again, congrats and hope you will be around for many more to come!


Steve

Very cool GMC is one great place!!!!

What a great post... It's been a true pleasure to have had you here for one year Fran - looking forward to your next GMC-birthday!

Hey Fran my Number 1 fan congratz on your first year at GMC your a great member and a credit to GMC.

Congrats Fran

Gratz on your one year anniversary!

Very cool story. Congratulations

gratz on your first year Fran! you do awesome work on the wiki and your a great guy also

*chink* heres too many more years

Thanks for sharing the story, happy anniversary. I see you have commitment, you will be ready for a Dave Murray solo soon.

Heres to many more years to come

congrats Fran

Awesome post Fran
And happy anniversary, it's been great having you around the forums mate

Happy anniversary Fran!

Hey Fran, glad to have you in the community, and big grats

Congratulations mate, happy anniversary. We share the same anniversary date

Congrats on your one year anniversary!

Congrats on the year here mate. Hope you enjoy your 2nd year here

Congrats Fran.