1) Watch the whole video through from beginning to end, like a TV show without your guitar. Doing this will help you see the "Big Picture" and you will have a clearer understanding of the approach to playing in open tunings. Mind over Matter. Get the directions first, then walk out the door!

2) Work through the lessons. Although not essential, it might be helpful to take each lesson in the order they are presented, but don't feel you need to master a lesson before moving on to the next lesson. Gain some proficiency, and then move on to the next lesson. Return to the earlier lessons at a later time to get what you have missed. Your playing skills will be better, so your ability to learn will be stronger. Revisiting material is key.

3) Explore the Fingerboard. Start by locating all the first tones on the fingerboard. Then find ways to travel between them using the major scale. Create a fingerboard reference system with the major scale. Find the three basic chords (one, four and five) Find all three inversions. Discover how chords and scales fit together. Take a very simple tune that you know like BINGO. Find the notes that you are singing. Try to find the chord accompaniment too. Train your ear to find the melody in your head on the fingerboard.  

4) Experiment. Don't limit your learning experience to just learning what is on the video, but use the material to create variations or make up your own arrangements. Use your ears to guide you. Step outside the box. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and sound bad, if it helps you expand and get better.

5) Research the versatility of Open Tunings. Here are some ideas: Notice the guitar is tuned to a chord (D, G or C). What three notes are used to make up this major chord? What is the interval relationship between the strings? Is there a relationship between different open tunings? How do I move musical ideas from one tuning to another? Can I alter the basic major chord tunings to make minor chord tunings? Research the use of Open G tuning in Hawaiian Slack Key guitar and Banjo playing.

6) Take a song you can play in standard tuning and try to arrange it in Opening Tuning using the same key. This is the BEST exercise for exploring and understanding the fingerboard of an open tuned guitar. As you arrange, search for note, doublestop and chord locations that make your arrangement not only sound good, but physically finger easily. If you think open tunings are limited, it is all in your head and your mind's limitation of knowledge. It is not the note arrangement on the fingerboard. It is all there for the taking. You just got to find it.

7) Be Patient and Disciplined. Don't expect to get everything in just one sitting. Trying to force learning never works. Try to practice consistently for shorter periods, than erratically for longer periods. Once in a while devote a larger block of time to focus on one subject. Woodshed! Hide in your basement or backporch so no one can hear you. Emerge like you discovered the secret of the universe!

8) Learn whole songs and video tape or record your performances. Don't waste all your time noodling around on the guitar and getting nothing done. Regardless of your skill level, try to learn complete songs up to a performance quality. Intro, verses, solo,etc. (Sing! It will improve your ability to match the notes in your head with the ones on the fingerboard - ear training). Then video tape or record the songs to be able to view your progress over time. When playing songs, play through your mistakes. Don't stop and start over again. Pretend you are always performing in front of an audience and you can't stop. The show MUST go on. Practice your corrections later.

9) Realize drugs and alcohol will not make you a better player. Take care of yourself, no one else will.

10) Play the guitar, Don't work the guitar. Most of all, have FUN. Understand like everything in life, anything worth having, takes work to achieve. If you can enjoy your work, you will never work a day in your life. If your practice begins to frustrate you, put the guitar to bed and try again tomorrow. Just keep coming back.

CDs available at:

http://shop.ebay.com/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686