Am I missing something as a beginner?

[michiganlover]

I think what you have now is a great starting point. While many of us on these boards tend to smoke a wide range of tobaccos, and have amassed a large amount of pipes, it doesn't have to be that way. Many pipe smokers of old had just one or two pipes, and smoked the same blend day after day.
I myself greatly enjoy cobs, and the old time codger blends like Carter Hall, Prince Albert, and Sir Walter Raleigh. They may not be complex blends, but they are not junk!!
Captain Black is often frowned upon on these boards, but other than a too high price, I find it to be an enjoyable smoke.
I think the old adage applies here: smoke what you like, and like what you smoke!

 

[aldecaker]

Please bear in mind that "sweet" has a much different meaning for tobacco than it does for many other things. When people speak of a "dry" wine, for example, they are not literally speaking of the dried residue at the bottom of a wine glass.

 

[andrew]

I'd say the main thing your missing is time. If your tongue gets sore or mouth, take a break for a few days and let it heal. After awhile there's definitely some kind of build up of pain threshold I think that makes tongue bite not happen really unless you totally go crazy puffing, kind of like how you develop callouses playing guitar. I've also just always used the 3 step method for packing, never bothered trying to learn the frank method, it sounds too complicated, and I'm probably around my 5 year mark now for pipe smoking. I actually have the 3 step down to about 2 steps at the most, sometimes one step. Trying some different blends can't hurt but I'd stay away from straight Virginia's and VaPers in the meantime, stick to blends at first. I've personally never smoked any of the blends you have so I can't comment on the flavors. You'll also want to get the moisture level right, I find though dunhill blends are perfect right out of the tin. Actually I did smoke CB white and found it bit bad unless you really sipped it slowly.

 

[seagullplayer]

It is very easy to make far to much of this.
These forums can be like studying the commentary before reading the text.

 

[jvnshr]

And after all of those comments you will be feeling like a deer again. Just read the FAQ below:
http://www.glpease.com/FAQ.html
especially On Pipe Smoking part.

 

[pastordaniel]

Feeling a lot like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IORS5Dq0W8s

 

[macaroon]

Heh, what a great movie! But in seriousness, please keep in mind that most of the fun from this hobby, at least for many, comes not just from the act of smoking but from the experimentation involved. Trying new blends, collecting pipes, comparing notes. Many on the forum I think will agree that learning how to smoke and enjoy a pipe is a long-term proposition. This website and its forums are filled with decades' if not centuries' worth of experience (if you include inactive forum members), far too much to take off in a single bite. Heck, the same can sometimes be said for a single thread! Progress at your own pace, there is not pressure. Most of what you learn will come from experience, augmented and guided by what you read and hear. Ultimately, it is about what brings you pleasure, right? Enjoy the ride!

 

[mrbigglesworth]

The great thing about cobs is, they don't really need much rest time. And you can smoke different blends in them, whereas with briar you may want to stick with just aromatics for one pipe, englishes for another, or maybe even a certain blend for one pipe. Then, if you're like me, you start getting worried about smoking anything else in one of your pipes and overthink things. Pipes smoking is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, not something to agonize over.
On smoking various blends, do whatever suits you. I have recently been on a steady stream of good ol' Lane 1Q for about 6 months, occasionally smoking a bowl or two of Frog Morton to have something different. I have enjoyed smoking the same blend for awhile and learning to smoke slowly and steadily. This has led me to find a depth of layers and flavors in a blend that I almost walked away from as a new pipe smoker years ago.
When we're new, we tend to pack too tightly and burn too fast, missing the subtle flavors provided by the blend. And different blends tend to burn and smoke differently so what you do for one may not work for another.
So, yeah, mix it up from day to day, try out one blend consistently for a few weeks, do whatever suits you. Just have fun in the process and enjoy. When I get PAD or TAD I think, "Hey, I've got some pretty nice stuff and I need to be thankful". I can always save up for that pipe or those tins and buy them another time!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have noticed that when someone learns a little (me included) about this hobby we become confident experts, and then when we learn a lot more, we realize that we can't possibly know everything and become more studious. Yep, the best part of the hobby is constantly being in a state of learning, absorbing. I think that if I started truly thinking that I know about this hobby, that I would probably get bored. Open your mind, pack your pipe, and enjoy whatever the smoke brings to you. I hope that you enjoy all of this as much as I have.

Keep it smoky ::