Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce - Acoustic Guitar Lesson Series

[@RobbieC67]

Hi everyone, here's TIme In A Bottle by Jim Croce. Have fun with this!

[@jeffro4kag206]

Best one yet. Thanks for the chord and string pattern. I've been playing so long and I have been trying to get this great song from start to the end! I'll have to watch and study this at least 30 times, and then I think I can get it!

[@robsguitarschool]

I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed this! My team and I put a lot of effort into these and feedback like this makes us feel really good! Do you have any songs that you’d like us to do a tutorial for? ~ Rob

[@jeffro4kag206]

​Thank you so much for the response. I'm a huge Gordon Lightfoot fan and I've been trying to play the song 'Beautiful ' and ' If You Could Read My Mind' for the longest time. I would bet that you would play these songs so wonderful! My issue is I do not like to use a capo and Gordon Lightfoot uses the Capo a lot.

[@robsguitarschool]

Great suggestions! I’ve taught “If you could read my mind” for years. I’ll add that to the list!

[@charliewest1221]

Howz, Rob,trusting this finds you well. To say: two months down the line and I'm improving... was brave enough to 'perform' in front of an lil' audience of family and friends this eve ... most satisfying, although still a work in progress. Bless you great personality, excellent teacher.

[@robsguitarschool]

Glad to hear it and congratulations on the performance! That’s how we learn and grow - by nudging ourselves to do bigger and better things. I recently played classical guitar at a funeral (which is something I never did before - I just play classical for fun) and it went over really well and I got a lot of compliments. I was nervous beforehand but really glad now that I did it. Thanks for sharing this! Above all, keep having fun playing guitar and the rest takes care of itself. You’re doing great! ~ Rob

[@evakarjagin2413]

Great lesson thank you. Like the charts!! Hi frim Finland

[@robsguitarschool]

Hello from the US! I’m glad you found everything so helpful. Keep having fun playing guitar and stay tuned to our channel. There’s lists of great stuff here! ~ Rob

[@johntiger5]

I was an electric guitar player, and never really mastered the acoustic guitar. Now in the later stages of my life I really like the freedom an acoustic guitar has of not needing a band and a bunch of equipment to enjoy myself and entertain only my sweetheart. This was one song she wanted me to learn. Well, your lesson was a success. I only had trouble changing from the steve chord. Lol.. super cool. Job well done a great lesson for a great song. Also , I like that Taylor nylon string. You make it sound great with your touch. Peace. I

[@robsguitarschool]

Hi John, great to hear from you! Yeah, I started on electric as well in the early 80s playing metal/VanHalen. Playing acoustic around the house is a lot of fun. Glad to hear that you’re digging the video. I’ve got more stuff I’m working on that I think you’ll enjoy. Thanks for the props on the Taylor nylon string. It’s a really fun instrument to play. Keep having fun playing guitar! You’re doing great John! ~ Rob

[@leticiam8804]

Holaaaa....gracias from SPAIN, VALENCIA.....LOVE YOUR LESSONS

[@robsguitarschool]

Glad you like them! Stay tuned, there’s more to come! ~ Rob

[@cynthiadeg9206]

I really love that you add the chart thingy so I know where to put my fingers. You are awesome

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Cynthia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the lesson. You’re doing great on guitar!

[@jcompagna]

Great lesson brother! This is one of my all time favorite Jim Croce songs and I love how detailed you get about the finger picking patterns.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks bro! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It is such a beautiful song.

[@charliewest1221]

Hi, Rob, pleased to inform you that I'm a' making progress. Thanks. Regards.

[@robsguitarschool]

Glad to hear it! You’re doing great! If you’re interested in a free trial lesson from one of our instructors, fill out this form and we”ll get right back to you. www.robsguitarschool.net/next-step

[@ReynaldoRubia-r3y]

Very good tutorial thank u

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful. If you haven’t already done so, click like and subscribe. There’s a lot of great tutorials here plus a lot make to come! ~ Rob

[@josenoelzepeda4769]

Thanks bro 💖

[@robsguitarschool]

You’re welcome! I’m working on a new one for Operator by Jim Croce as well. If you haven’t already, click like and subscribe, we’ve got a lot of great tutorials here plus a lot more to come. Keep having fun playing guitar! ~ Rob

[@joseluisdavalosflores1865]

Great great video! Very didactic, really a great teacher!!!

[@robsguitarschool]

Glad you liked it Jose! If you want, click like and subscribe if you haven't already done so. Stay tuned for more! All the best ~ Rob

[@jijianji1]

Nice, you got me through the whole song, now I have to memorize the sections! (with practice!)

[@robsguitarschool]

Glad to hear it! When I practice, I just keep playing it over and over until gradually it becomes memorized. Make sure to keep it light and fun when you practice. We naturally want to do things that are fun (this builds up great practice habits). Once your fingers know where to go on each section it becomes much easier (and a lot of fun!) to play. You’re doing great! Oh yeah, if you haven’t already done so, click like and subscribe. We have a lot of great songs to learn here and a lot more to come! ~ Rob

[@dantepagunsan]

Most detailed guitar lesson

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Dante! These are a lot of fun to put together. Click like and subscribe for more great lessons to come. Keep having fun playing guitar! ~ Rob

[@dodongdavsalicumanjun5769]

I'd like the way you explained, your unseen student from the far east, Philippines..... Thanks.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Dodong! I'm glad you're enjoying our videos. They're all about helping you to get where you want to be on guitar and have fun along the way. Keep playing guitar. You're doing great! ~ Rob

[@dodongdavsalicumanjun5769]

You are welcome sir.

[@matthiassoellner]

That's so great, Rob! Thank you so much!!

[@robsguitarschool]

You're welcome Matthias! Glad you enjoyed it. If you like this and want more, click like and subscribe. Check out what we already have on our channel. There are more awesome videos to come too! ~ Rob

[@carlosandresvargas7169]

Great video, thanks!

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Carlos! Sorry for the delay in my reply here. I'm glad it was helpful for you and thanks for saying Great Video! We really try to make good ones here. :) Stay tuned, we've got some very cool acoustic lessons coming up - America by Simon and Garfunkel, Wild World by Cat Stevens and a very cool easy fingerstyle version for When I'm 64 by the Beatles. Keep having fun playing guitar ~ Rob

[@pooner61]

Happy to have stumbled on your channel! Liked and subscribed….nice lesson. Thanks!

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Ed! Welcome aboard! Let us know if you have any requests. ~ Rob

[@donnatori44]

I agree with a few others who said singing along would be helpful. Probably just link a separate video with you singing and playing! Doesn’t have to be perfect LOL!

[@robsguitarschool]

Great suggestion! Ok, will do!

[@aphazey2863]

Great work!! Looking forward to more lessons!

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks AP! Glad you liked it. We were just in the studio this morning filming. Lots more to come! Keep having fun playing guitar. ~ Rob

[@박두만-l1e]

Good lesson, thank so much ^^

[@robsguitarschool]

You're welcome! More great lessons are on their way on our channel!

[@lavin3000]

Could you do a video teaching how to play Next time this time by Jim croce?

[@robsguitarschool]

Hi Lavin, great to hear from you. That's a great one! We'll see what we can do. All the best! ~ Rob

[@KugoVolarus]

Awesome video! Thank you!!!

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Kugo! These are a lot of fun to put together. Click like and subscribe for more great lessons to come. Keep having fun playing guitar! ~ Rob

[@franciscoderege4603]

Great rob! Subscribbed.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks so much! Keep having fun playing guitar. There’s a lot on our channel plus a lot more to come! ~ Rob

[@travisb1757]

Awesome lesson! well organized and to the point. Just subscribed.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Travis! Glad you're enjoying our videos! I love making these. We're working on more now. Stay tuned! ~ Rob

[@asukaranagiya93]

thanks for this. you deserve more recognition sir!

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Asukura! Let me know if you have any questions. Keep having fun playing guitar - you're doing great! ~ Rob

[@Daniel-pq8no]

Nice job mr rob

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Daniel. This was a lot of fun to put together. I love doing these videos. Keep on having fun playing guitar. You're doing great!

[@gandolfgrey5385]

Great lesson one that might be good would be janis joplin summertime. I have yet to find a good tutorial on it.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Gandolf! Thanks for the suggestion. I'll see what I can do. I love the Gandolf name - I'm a big LOTR fan. Check out our new video teaching America by Simon and Garfunkel :) ~ Rob

[@cynthiadeg9206]

Great! New sub. Can you do a lesson on Diamonds and Rust? There is no good one on YT. Another is Stevenson’s original of My Maria . These would be great to learn.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. We’ll add them to the list! :)

[@charliewest1221]

How can one ever hope to teach a song like this without singing it?

[@robsguitarschool]

I know, if I get your point correctly, I agree! This song is so beautiful, you can't help but sing it when you teach it!

[@charliewest1221]

@@robsguitarschool Thanks for taking the time to respond. Appreciated.

[@peterquinton8151]

Hello Rob from Newfoundland! This lesson was very well explained and easy to follow. I started playing guitar during the pandemic and still just learning, looked at a few lessons of this Croce song but this was the best by far. Keep up the great work, is there a way that I can follow your lessons on a regular basis. Thanks Pete

[@robsguitarschool]

Hey Pete, thanks for nice comments! Sorry for the delay here. Newfoundland? Very cool. My wife and I saw the Broadway play Come From Away recently so we've definitely been thinking about Newfoundland. :) It looks beautiful up there (we're based in Boston). The best way to follow our lessons is to subscribe to the channel. Stay tuned, we've got some very cool acoustic lessons coming up - America by Simon and Garfunkel, Wild World by Cat Stevens and a very cool easy fingerstyle version for When I'm 64 by the Beatles. Keep having fun playing guitar ~ Rob

[@peterquinton8151]

@@robsguitarschool Come from away is a great show for sure, I remember that day well. Not only Gander had many planes, we also had quite a few in St. Johns, they all came in on the same flight path, as one landed another appeared on the horizon. It was an eerie experience.. If you ever make it up this way feel free to look me up if in the St. John's area, I'll show you around. I'm subscribed, looking forward to these songs. Cheers

[@robsguitarschool]

Hey Pete, thanks for sharing that about what happened with you guys that day. I can only imagine what that must have been like. If my wife and I are ever up your way, we'll look you up! FYI - America just got released on our channel, check it out! :) Keep having fun playing guitar! ~ Rob

[@roelharinga9987]

hallo Rob, I have a question? Thanks for the lesson. I noticed that fingerpicking pattern 2, being at one moment 5 3 1/2 3 5 3 was played by you as 5 3 1/2 3 4 3. What is the correct pattern? in most patterns I have seen, it is the last version as only the 1first played string is changed every time to be the base string. Regards, Roel Haringa

[@robsguitarschool]

Hi Roel, sorry for the delay in my response here. For fingerpicking pattern 2, the 5th note of the pattern will be the same as the first note of the pattern. It is just repeating the bass note here. Example: when playing the Dm chord it will be 4 3 1/2 3 4 3. When playing the Dm/C# chord it will be 5 3 1/2 3 5 3. Hope this clears this up for you. Keep having fun playing guitar. You're doing great! ~ Rob

[@lordlymathews7429]

can u make a video for Operator, please?

[@RobbieC67]

Hey there, sure! That’s a great song. We can add it to the list. Keep having fun playing guitar!

[@lordlymathews7429]

@@RobbieC67 how can i get a 1:1 lesson of time in a bottle. I have been practicing for 6 months…I got the whole song down but its slow and at times clunky. May need some additional tips and advice. Let me know. Thanks

[@robsguitarschool]

Sorry I missed this! I’m happy to give you a free 30 minute lesson. Contact me at robsguitarschool.net/contact. My admin, Mike, will get back to you to setup the free lesson on zoom unless you live near Newton MA or Groton MA in which case we can do it in person.

[@martinziese74]

Rob, really enjoyed this presentation on "Time In A Bottle". My question is, do you sell the sheet music on you webpage? And is it in Standard notation? or Tablature? or a combination of both?

[@robsguitarschool]

Hi Martin, sorry for the delay here in my reply. I'm getting married next month and have been pretty busy! I'm glad you enjoyed this! It was really fun to put together. We don't sell sheet music, but we do prepare it for our students at Rob's Guitar School. Here's the link to the music sheet. It's in both standard notation and tablature. Please use this for learning purposes only. We're working on more great videos like this one! Let me know if you have any questions. ~ Rob drive.google.com/file/d/17aiaUZTNKYPvBx3c6jJ0E-5JzccELmmr/view?usp=sharing

[@martinziese74]

@@robsguitarschool Rob, Thanks for the link, it's going to be fun learing this piece. Also Congrats on the up coming nuptials.

[@charliewest1221]

You're a brilliant guitar player but if only, if only, you could SING the song while playing it, you would achieve your objective much easier.

[@robsguitarschool]

Thanks Charlie! I'll work on that. Singing is such an integral part of playing these kinds of songs and your feedback is greatly appreciated. Stay tuned for more! ~ Rob

[@charliewest1221]

@@robsguitarschool Looking forward to. Cheers!

[@DeathmentalPvP]

welp, fingers cannot do the dm/c# whatsoever

[@robsguitarschool]

Hey DeathmentalPvP, that's fine. What I tell students of mine that have this difficulty, is just play a regular Dm instead of a Dm/C#. It will still sound good. In the future, if your pinky strengthens, try the Dm/C# again. You're doing great! ~ Rob

[@LJC68]

I couldn't do it either. You have to make sure that your fingernails are trimmed all the way down. Second, you want to bring your thumb down on your fret hand, and third, you want to curve your hand towards the nut. I had to figure this all out by myself by trial and error and most of all practice. You also want to use the ends of your fingers more than the meat of your fingers. This will put your hand in more of a position to get your pinky up to the 5th string. I struggled with this but had to figure it out on my own. Now, I can do it. Stay with it.

[@alonebutalive7680]

I have to play before I die❤

[@RobbieC67]

It’s a great song! Have fun practicing it. :)

[@robsguitarschool]

I’m so glad this was helpful to you! If you’d like to try a free trial lesson on zoom from one of our expert instructors, fill out this form: www.robsguitarschool.net/next-step. If you’re near our locations Newton MA or Groton MA you can do it in person. :)