TAC Family Forums

Share your wins, get unstuck, or see how others use the TAC Method to create a fulfilling guitar life!

  • TAC is forcing me to use a pick!

    Posted by Skyman911 on October 24, 2023 at 4:58 pm

    I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had rejoined TAC as I wasn’t putting myself in uncomfortable situations, and had gotten out of the habit of using a pick. Mostly due to being a beginner and not being comfortable with a pick. So, I would play strumming songs with my thumb, and then started to learn fingerstyle. No need for that pesky little pick anymore, and no flatpicking.

    Well, every challenge so far has been with a pick, and I’m now starting to look forward to using one. This was another reason I rejoined, as I wasn’t pushing myself trying to use the pick better. I just stopped using it.

    Looking forward to future challenges, and being able to strum like @Loraine!

    Kyle

    Loraine replied 2 years, 5 months ago 5 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • dbvirago

    Member
    October 24, 2023 at 5:23 pm

    I’ve been doing fingerstyle for years, but was surprised how quickly the pick felt comfortable in my hand. More so with single string that strumming, but it’s coming along quickly.

  • Loraine

    Member
    October 24, 2023 at 6:08 pm

    hahaha @Skyman911 . It is a lot of work to learn to strum, and I put in the hours and hours to prove it. There are still days I just can’t seem to do it smoothly. Play on the very tip of the pick (took me a long time to learn this), lighten your strum (make it almost featherlike), and practice turning the pick in the direction of your strum to reduce the resistence of the pick on the strings. This can be done with a very loose wrist too, but my wrist is perpetually stiff from fybromyalgia and arthritis. I’m working on loosening it and stretching before playing, but I have to consciously think about it. I have no doubt you’ll get it Skyman.

    Btw, what does your moniker mean? Very interesting.

    • HowardM

      Member
      October 25, 2023 at 2:22 am

      I struggle with strumming, and I will take your advice to heart. Thanks, @Loraine.

    • Skyman911

      Member
      October 25, 2023 at 10:09 am

      My Moniker. Well, I’m not too tall at 5’8″ and played a lot of volleyball when I was young. For some reason I could really jump high, and would surprise taller people at the net when I could either block or hit over them. My teammates gave me that nickname. Skyman was already taken by my prior profile, so I just modified it to Skyman911.

      • Loraine

        Member
        October 25, 2023 at 10:17 am

        I like it!

  • albert_d

    Member
    October 25, 2023 at 7:48 am

    Down Up, Down Up.

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