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  Looking at guitar

  Posted by AnnieT on January 10, 2024 at 5:49 pm

  Hi! I’m brand new here, about a week in. I’m really struggling to play anything close to correct without looking at both my fretting and strumming hands the whole time. When I do this, it cramps my neck so bad I can’t play very long. I rrally don’t want to get discouraged here. Any tips?

  Fletch replied 2 years, 2 months ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Philb

  Member

  January 10, 2024 at 6:24 pm

  Be patient with yourself. You are just beginning, and it takes time and consistency (more than most of us would like to admit), to see movement and improvement in any part of this; and to work out different things personally.

  Looking at what your hands are doing is normal; especially to start with. Can you position your body/neck in such a way that you can get comfortable, and glance back and forth with just eye movement.
  I am older, and for me personally, having lost some flexibility and dealing with joint stiffness; I have found stretching daily really helps for TAC and all aspects of life. I do finger and hand stretches (Tony has some exercises I believe in the skill section); and neck movement and rotation daily as a part of it.

  I am almost 4 years into TAC, having only learned a few basic chords (and not too well), previously. I am not where I want to be, but I am playing guitar, songs (and have posted some); and cannot believe how far I have come with consistency over time. The changes seem so incremental at times as to not be noticeable; but they add up and surprise you. Welcome to TAC. Make it an enjoyable experience.

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  Moose408

  Member

  January 10, 2024 at 9:18 pm

  I’ve been playing for 7 months and I still have to look at the fretboard when learning something new.

  I some people practice in front of a mirror, you might want to give that a try.

  Also perhaps break you sessions into multiple smaller sessions, so instead of practicing for 30 mins straight, do 15 mins take a break and come back, relax your neck and come back for another 15 mins

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  Fletch

  Member

  January 11, 2024 at 5:04 am

  Annie… Quit the practice before it starts hurting… (But don’t fret, you muscles will adapt/grow in time and you’ll be able to play longer…)

  FWIW, I often practice my fretting and strumming separately… So practice your chord changes with a simple down strokes so you can just focus on your fretting. And Vica Versa, just hold one chord whilst learning a new Stumming/picking pattern. Then, when your comfortable with the separates, start doing them together… Might save bobby your head around…

  Have fun… Break your practice time up if you need to… 🙂

  
  

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