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About Darren White "Guitars are Hard":"The details of my life are quite inconsequential." Dr Evil
Wanting to know about someone because you like their work is like wanting to know about a duck because you like paté. All I've ever wanted to do is entertain. Oh, and own a kidney shaped dancefloor. |
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I'm back baby! I'm finally back!
16 Apr 2025: The channel is back! And it's all thanks to Google! Wait, what? What did Google do? Back in Dec 2024, I was the victim of hacking and illegal activity on Google accounts. I was also the victim of fraud. This would kill my YouTube channel for FOUR months. But, finally, here we are with all of the restrictions removed after an in-depth investigation by Google. As I said, thank you Google! My channel is resurrected. Hopefully, it can now return to normal! |
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Irony of ironies...
02 Jan 2025: With the channel basically out of commission, it hit a new high: 25,000 subscribers! This would have been a huge celebration & milestone a few months earlier, but in context of trying to recover the channel, it passed by without hardly a second look. Thank you Russian hackers! |
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Utter Disaster Strikes! Hacked!
09 Dec 2024: I was the victim of hacking & illegal activity on Google accounts, which were suspended! I was also the victim of financial fraud. This halted YouTube activity in the coming months, while I tried to resolve the issues. I also lost access to some Google accounts. I had hoped that the channel could return to normal quickly, but alas not. "If this is the end of this channel then thank you all for your support. I have loved every minute and planned for the channel to continue and hopefully grow..." |
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A massive milestone achieved!
03 Dec 2024: This is the aim for lots of channels. Finally, the channel became a full YouTube Partner & started earning money from adverts! Not a lot of money as it turned out... This was so exciting and the channel seemed to be on an unstoppable upward momentum! |
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Growing, growing, growing...
28 Nov 2024: By the end of the month, the number of subscribers had grown by 2,000 to over 23,000. Also, the channel passed 400,000 views in its lifetime! What an extraordinary figure that is! More milestones! |
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...and the milestones just keep on coming!
08 Nov 2024: Another 1,000 subscribers, gained in just 14 days (2 weeks)! That's over 70 per day. That's also 21,000 subscribers in total. Plus, the channel passed 375,000 views in its lifetime! What an extraordinary figure that is! The milestones just keep on coming! |
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October Was Officially The Best Month So Far!
01 Nov 2024: So, somehow, October 2024 was officially the channel's best month so far for views. In October the channel got a smidgen under 31,500k views apparently! That's over 1,000 each and every day! Wow! Plus, it became a YouTube Partner and hit the 20,000 subscribers milestone. Truly the best month so far! |
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I'm Officially a YouTube Partner!
02 Oct 2024: The channel finally became (partially) monetized with the release of Channel Memberships, Super Thanks & a Store Link. The reviews completed slightly faster than 7 weeks, taking just FIVE DAYS in total. You can become a member to show your support here. |
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So, you do love me!
28 Sept 2024: The channel finally, finally got partially YouTube monetized when it was invited to become a YouTube partner! This is is so exciting, and the culmination of lots & lots of hard work, not to mention long hours, mostly spent editing. Thank you so very, very much for your views & watch hours. Now I just have to wait seven weeks for the channel review... Full partnership expected in Nov 2024. |
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Show your appreciation by Buying Me a Coffee...
1st Sept 2024: No, the world didn't just start downloading hot beverages from the internet. Instead, you can buy me a virtual coffee by donating to me online. |
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USA based eBay Shop Launched!
2nd Sept 2024: I've been a really, really busy bee! I also created a USA-based ebay Shop. Most of the "Guitars Are Hard" branded products are available from there, if you prefer to use it. Note that the prices will be in US Dollars, will be subject to local sales taxes and all items are produced and shipped from the USA. Probably one for North Americans only, while the cheaper, worldwide Etsy shop exists. |
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Etsy Store Updated & Relaunched!
1st Sept 2024: It's about time! The Etsy online, worldwide store was updated with the latest branding / logos and lots and lots of new products were added, all sporting the new logos. Items with the classic logo remain whilst stocks last. Go buy something. Seriously, go buy something. I'll be here waiting when you get back. |
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400,000+ views On Tik Tok!
24 Aug 2024: Somehow this 1 min 30s holiday / travel guitar clip managed to go viral on TikTok and get well over 400k views in one weekend! The same short video clip on YouTube only managed about 200 views in the same amount of time. Go figure! If I knew why or how this happened then I'd do it for every video! Thank you TikTok! |
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Rebranding 04 May 2024: It's out with the old and in with the new. All of the logos & branding got a smart new design and refresh. Unfortunately, you can't please everyone. A survey on the YouTube Community section found that only 8% of respondents liked the new branding, with a whopping 75% preferring the old! Do you like the new branding? |
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15,000 Subscribers! 16 April 2024: 15k subscribers! Now this is just getting silly. This comes just 4.5 months since getting 10K subs, and only 27 months after the channel started! Apparently, YouTube provides free space in Los Angeles for anyone with 15,000+ subscribers. I don't know if that is parking or office space. So, how long will it take to get to 20k subs? Thank you all so very, very much! |
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10,000 Subscribers! 03 Dec 2023: 10k subscribers is quite a milestone in anyone's book. I can't believe that I got here, especially in just 23 months! Apparently, only 2 million out 114 million channels, that's 1.75%, ever make this milestone. Thank you all so very, very much! I'm chuffed to meat balls. |
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1,000 Subscribers! 06 April 2023: 1k subscribers is regarded as the magic milestone when most channels become monetarised YouTube Partners. However, I don't quite have the required 4k watch hours in the last year. Still, I can't quite believe I got here in just 13 months! That's quite an effort. Apparently, only 9% of channels ever make this milestone, averaging about 15.5 months to get there. Thank you all so very, very much! |
600 Subscribers!
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18 November 2022: Another dream come true. My second Gibson Les Paul. I've wanted this for over THIRTY years! I now own an actual Gibson Les Paul 60's Standard!
It's new guitar day, and lucky old me is unboxing a brand new Gibson Les Paul 60's Standard, in Bourbon Burst! Let me show you this amazing guitar. |
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24 June 2022: My first Gibson Les Paul. This one is a dream come true. I've wanted this for over THIRTY years! I now own an actual Gibson Les Paul!
It's new guitar day, and lucky old me is unboxing a brand new Gibson Les Paul Tribute, in Satin Honeyburst! Let me show you how amazing this guitar truly is. |
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20 Feb 2022: The first Guitars Are Hard guitar unboxing video clip "Unboxing Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG Guitar". I really love my two (to date) Harley Benton guitars, but I was so impressed by this one that I became a brand partner. "It's new guitar day, and lucky old me is unboxing a brand new Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus with EMG active pick-ups, in matt vintage black! Let me show you how amazing this guitar is for just £358."
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19 Jan 2022: The first Guitars Are Hard Learning / Tuition video clip - "7 Must-Know First Guitar Chords for Beginners, Novices & Me, Apparently!" This is the first video of my guitar learning journey. I attempt to learn, and play, the 7 open guitar chords widely thought to be the first chords that a beginner should learn - A C D E G Em + Am. Apparently, these chords are used in loads of famous songs. Not only do I try to learn to play them but I try to use them in a few songs.
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5 Jan 2022: The first Guitars Are Hard YouTube video proper - the epic 32 minute, and almost entirely unwatched "7 Nation Army Cover 2022 Update (Long Version)" clip. This is a video of my 'progress' as at the start of 2022. This video really is nothing more than me choosing guitar effects, and showing how much more practice I need. (Note: This is the long, full version. Episode 1 is the edited version. Other clips have been made from this recording.) |
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2 Jan 2021: The "I can't play guitar (7 Nation Army parts)" YouTube video uploaded - this would eventually be the inspiration for the "Guitars Are Hard" YouTube channel. I was challenged to work out the guitar parts for '7 Nation Army' by the White Strips, by a friend. I'd only restrung my guitar in Dec 2020 after not playing for about 20 years. (It's played in this video on a guitar I bought in Dec 2020.) This reignited my love for guitars!
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