… isn’t that part of the assignment? 
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That is indeed what the practice exercise is all about.
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@joergkutter That was below the belt.
You know, up until Billie Jean, I really hadn’t had a lesson really test me. I wasn’t an absolute beginner by any stretch, so most of the workouts were just cleaning up the line and muting over the 2-3 reps in each workout.
Billie Jean was a reality check last night. The combination of right hand starting on the middle finger, using the ring finger above the pinky, and moving the riff up a string really tripped me up. I’m hoping I make a better show of it tonight.
Rather than get hung up on it, I’m going to continue on with the next lesson after I warm up. I’ll play through the slow workout at the end of practice.
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To me, Billie Jean was the reality check I needed to start taking this thing seriously. It got me down from “I got dis” to “damn, he wants me to step up my game!” 
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We aim to please 
The reason why B2B is a great course and Josh is a great teacher is, among other things, that he “dumbed down” a few of the bass line examples we are learning. There is plenty of challenge and the necessity to practice them again and again - no need to take all the fun out by throwing a near impossible bass line at us. It is a great balance between rewarding challenge and frustration.
And, yes, as several others have stated: don’t get hung up on it… come back to it later, but for now, move on and enjoy the course 
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Ooooff!
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Hi Eric, yes it’s a rough time especially for us who suffer fae the Black Dog, I’m getting as much sunshine into my eyes as possible. We had to cancel our annual Easter week visit from the Grand Kids 
It was the realisation that if we dont self quarantine we may never see them again. Sheesh! That was a hard but sobering thought. Hang in there @Eric keep busy keep safe.
Jamie
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Awesome story @ericabulman, and I must say, as one journalist (retired) to another, well written and quite lucid.
Welcome back to the jungle.
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Thanks, @PamPurrs. Turns out I love the jungle. Where did you work as a journalist?? I always love connecting with others. It another kind of fam!
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@Erica from the mid-eighties until I was forced into retirement by the internet, I worked in print media; mainly in travel magazines, some industrial trade mags, computer mags, and business mags. I was too young to retire, so I went back to school, attending law school for long enough (2 years) to get a paralegal degree. I worked in the legal field until I REALLY retired in 2012.
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That’s so amazing that you reinvented yourself, so to speak. I love that. It takes a lot of guts — and incredible drive and perseverance… I have trouble sitting though a one-hour press conference as it is now, let alone a two or three-hour lecture!
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I can gauge what kind of practice, and what kind of mood I’m in, by how well I play Billie Jean.
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Newbie here. Looking forward to encountering Billie Jean when I get to that module! Good to read about your frustration and persistence!
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Famous last words. 
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I’ve spent about 2 hours on it now… and once or twice I can get through it on slow without major mistakes. It’s frustrating for sure because everything before Billie Jean seemed easy.
It’s very helpful to know that it might be the most technically difficult song in the course and that it takes months to be able to get through it for a lot of people. Makes me feel less frustrated with my short fat fingers.
I’ll give it another go tonight and then move on through the next lessons.
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I know, @KenKnight !! And it’s so weird because I can get through it slowly no problem, but once the workout speeds up, my fingers go a-flyin’ doing whatever they please!
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Yes, I had the same thing. I breezed through the course up to and including M4L5.
Then, at M4L6, I felt like I had hit a brick wall, head-on.
I do know how to get past her now, though.
It’ll come, don’t worry.
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It was the same with me. I had planned on doing the course in 30 days when I started, and was pretty much on track until I encountered that slut. She bogged me down for a week, and I didn’t want to skip her and move on, so I stuck there. I finally gave up and moved along, revising my goal to the 3 month plan.
I did, however, beat that wanton tart into submission after I had finished the course.
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Ah, poor Ms. Jean, from being a wicked mistress, now, to a wanton tart, and more! But, alas, she has taken us all for quite a ride, so, it is very fitting! And c’mon, we must all be enjoying it, to continue to give her such affectionate monikers.
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