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Behind
Background: I’ve played “with guitar” for 44 years, but I can’t sit down with another musician and play a song. My goal of this course is be able to do that by next Summer (2025).
I’m having fun and a learn a little something each time I do a lesson. I have about 25 lessons under my belt according to the progress chart. I usually go 10-20 minutes, and something always happens and about a week ago, some things really clicked and I love it. I felt like my playing “moved up” a notch.
Here’s my question…
I’m behind on the lesson pace, and part of me connects that to failure. Going forward, I see one of two possible routes. The first one is, “I’m not behind, I’m just right. It’s self-paced and I’m right where I am due to travel and other obligations. I’m having fun, don’t sweat it, and just keep doing what I’m doing. It will all work out just fine.
The second route is where a figure out how many lessons I need to catch up on, then set a course where on some days I do two (morning & evening) or three (morning, lunch, and evening) lessons per day and get caught up. This one comes with the joy of being on pace with where I started. (That sounds good to me. It would come with a sense of accomplishment.)
What I don’t know is which of those two paths is the best one. I think if I had the perspective of someone who’s done TAC for a year or more, this might be easy question. Are there any multi-year members who could help shed some light on the choice in front of me?
Warm and kind regards,
Mark
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This discussion was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by
BytorR40. Reason: Formatting
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This discussion was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by
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13 Replies
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TAC is not designed to be a linear course where each week builds on the next, instead each week is standalone. The weekly challenges also repeat thought the year, the idea being that you might get all the techniques the first time through and the next time it comes around you will get little bit more out of it, rinse, repeat.
So missing a week is not a big deal. It’s not to affect your over all progress. So your #1 path is the way the course is designed.
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Thank you.
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Hello Mark, From my perspective, having been with TAC three years & logging just over 1200 sessions, you are not “behind”. The Daily Challenges do repeat as the years go by and I’ve noticed the second or even third time personal growth with them happens. Your first approach is correct from my experience.
Playing guitar face with others requires a “just do it” attitude. Find someone who likes to play lead guitar and you play rhythm. I do this with my son in law (professional guitarist years ago). He started me slow and easy with a ton of his patience. Over time you find yourself being comfortable and having a great time together. You start alternating (in my case) simple leads. I learn a lot by watching him play. Also, I volunteer to play for residents within assisted living centers. Very understanding and appreciative people. Did one 10-song set last week. Each song seems to spark a memory for them. The more I do these “mini concerts” the easier and better it goes.
Yet the best advice I offer (as Tony says) is to pick up your guitar each day – even for just “ten minutes a day” as life permits , of course. Play on Mark. I wish you a very successful guitar enhanced life.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Guitargeezer.
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Thank you Jack!
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by
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Hello Mark,
I´m with TAC for 6 years. Since 2018. At first I tried to master each Challenge Monday to Friday. It was impossible, even with the weekends used to catch up. I was frustrated because it was so uncommon for me to be encouraged to let perfection go and move on that I just couldn´t do it. I was stressed by my hobby and stopped enjoing playing my guitar. A while later I didn´t check in every day (mo-fri) anymore because I had to catch up on already known and printed Challenges. And even later I allmost stopped playing at all because I was overwhelmed by the “work to do”.
But 27th October 2020 I did a reset. I promised myself: no more catching up! Instead doing the daily challenges on the day they where due for 10 minutes. Or longer – but only if I wanted. I didn´t allow myself a guilty concience – although it was very difficult at first.
That changed everything for me. Since that day I played allmost every day. And my guitar playing is getting better and better – even though till now I still can´t “master” most Challenges. But I´m doing allright and really enjoy the Challenges. And guess what? Now I choose a Challenge once in a while – when I like it or can use it in a song – and work on it until I can play it really good – considering my learning level. But those are the exceptions from the rule.
My advise is: do all the Daily Challenges on the supposed day for 10 minutes and mark them completed. After that it is every day up to you: do the Daily Challenge a little bit longer or anything else you want to play. BUT MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE THE NEXT DAY AND DON´T LOOK BACK – exept very, very few exceptions.
Greetings from Germany
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by Kristin1.
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Thank you Kristen!
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by
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I think most Newbies, myself included, will suffer perfectionist syndrome at the start of TAC because you just want to soak in as much as possible from every lesson. After some period of time you come to realize that no matter how much time you have and could devote to learning the skills of the day, you couldn’t do it.
Instead, focus on getting something out of each day’s lesson. If you can go through it quickly and play the whole bit, then fine, do that! But for most of us, most challenges won’t be of that nature. Try to get the first measure down to some degree, maybe the first 2. If you have time later in the day or in the week to come back, give it a shot but don’t harp on learning it because you probably just aren’t ready yet.
I have found that I can usually get Monday’s challenge at least on slow speed. But today I realized that I couldn’t. Today was like a 75 yard field goal for me, some Mondays it’s a 20 yard point after attempt. The skills have to have something for everyone, this one is too advanced for me and that’s okay. I just put in 15 minutes and marked complete! Then I practiced some other skills for another 5 minutes.-
Thank you. Your comments echo a common thread here, and I’m glad I reached out to confirm. I will confidently miss some challenges, not look back and continue to pick up at least one new thing each day I play (2-7 times a week when not traveling).
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by BytorR40.
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I would encourage you to try for 5-7 days a week even if you only practice for 10 mins. Creating consistency in practice is a cornerstone of Tony’s method.
It is so easy for missing a couple days turning into a week, a month, year to stopping learning guitar.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by
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Hey BytorR40
I agree with the others, keep guitar playing fun and kick frustration in the backside 😉 the lessons come back round often. You could even bookmark them in your favourite folder, so whenever you want to revisit a lesson you’ve missed it will be there for you, so no sweat!
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I’ve been around 1,950 sessions and can agree with all the others. #1. Move on and have fun. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. 10 minutes or whatever it turns into and look forward not back.
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Maybe you can help me. I have only completed 3 daily challenges and am 2 or 3 days behind. I have spent a lot of time every day on the challenges but unsure when to move on. ????
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The idea is you spend at least 10 minutes on the challenge. If you are struggling with the whole thing, you simplify, or maybe just spend the whole 10 mins on the first measure. Then mark as complete and move on to the next day.
There is never a reason to fall behind. You do the best you can each day. Don’t try to perfect it. Somedays it will be easy, somedays it will seem impossible. Either way you mark as complete and a new challenge will be waiting for you tomorrow.
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