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Skipping some challenges…? FW related
This may seem like an odd question, but here goes anyway.
I have been with TAC for over 2-1/2 years, and learned a lot. I added Fretboard Wizard at some point, but only went through it one and a half times. I found it eye-opening the first time, so I thought I’d go through it a second time. I understood the general concept, if not the execution, but some of it didn’t seem to make sense.
The CAGED part lost me also as I cannot play barre chords to save my life, but I understand the concept of using shapes to move up the neck. But it’s moot as I don’t really know what to do with that information.
Now, here is the question. At what point will I know FW is starting to make sense? I am thinking of skipping the challenges that use techniques I find impossible, or that I’m not making any further progress on, or even the ones I’m doing really well at, in order to spend more time on FW, as I don’t have time or energy for both. I have printed out the tabs to all the challenges, and favorited them, so I can always go back if I want.
Advice? Suggestions? Thanks, if you got this far.
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8 Replies
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The first way I knew FW was making a difference for me is when I was able to identify what a third was and know why it is important. The odder thing is I am still studying the same thing with completely different understanding. Today my study comes in the form of play in real time applications as I play a CFG progression for the “millionth” time but hear something different on the “million and first” run through. On the millionth and second run through you realize all the notes are stacked on top of each other and if you turn them inside out and backwards you don’t ever have to move, only possible with FW into (or the like) I would suggest it is already working on you. Ask yourself this question, does what I say make sense to you today and if yes would yourself from 2.5 years ago understand?
As for the Challenge. It is the easiest way for me to stay in the habit of playing. Even on weekends I will start at TAC. It is my warm up, my exercise and then I go out into playing whatever it is that holds my interest for as long as my fingers hold up. I can’t find an easier habit that has yielded more results for less money. Why not show up and just listen to the intro to the lesson and check out how folks are doing? (as you may be able to tell I am a big fan of the rolling stone gathering no moss. TAC keeps me rolling.)-
Hi Jeff, I’m afraid you lost me. While I think I understand what a third is, I don’t think I understand what you mean by turning those chords inside out etc, and they don’t even move…?? Yes a little has rubbed off on me from FW, and the general challenges, plus I have figured a few workarounds myself, where I can’t play a barre or whatever.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I will re-do FW, pick up any additional info from elsewhere (I have a book), and do the challenges I feel like doing or think I have a real chance of improving on.
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yes, yes! point being you do know what a third is and that little bit of info is so valuable to a player, and possibly you did not know that before? The inside out, backwards, upsidown thing comes with more time in FW and more time with your guitar in your lap. I think your plan is perfect if you take out this little part, “and do the challenges I feel like doing or think I have a real chance of improving on.” It seems good at first glance but here is where that mindset gets cumbersome, it puts you in the role of teacher as you decided what you need to get better. This bogged me down and yes I did what you are contemplating. I will suggest that you get better by doing things you don’t think you can do. It is why I do finger style exercises even today…I am a flat picker through and through but the mental stretch makes me better at the thing I love doing. Why does this work? I dunno, but it does, admittedly I am a sucker for triumph over adversity stories.
These are all things to consider. None of it is set in any stone and truly I think the only wrong a person can do is by stopping playing. Every thing else is a matter of trial and error. Keeping on TACs schedule of stuff to learn is an easy way to go on auto pilot for the plan of guitar growth. My motive for staying on a consistant track comes from being first year guitar player for 45 years as I was my own teacher and I never got past year 1. That memory still burns. : ) Now I take my medicine not because I like it but because it keeps me healthy (the resulting skill bump surfacing in surprising ways over and over again). And I have to admit that even the worst tasting, leaves me walking taller and stronger.
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Your words are very encouraging, thank you for that. The only thing I might question is your statement to stop thinking of doing only “the things I have a real chance of improving on.” Having been through the TAC program for over 2.5 years, I’ve done everything at least twice, and the benchmarks a bunch of times. By now, I think I have an idea of what I physically cannot do, and so cannot improve on. The various techniques, however, are presented in more than one challenge, so I have a chance to work on them in formats that I *can* do, So why pound my head against a wall attempting them in lessons where I simply cannot form the chords or whatever, when there are other places where I can practice those techniques? OK, that was a long way of saying that, but I couldn’t think how to shorten it and still be clear in what I meant.
That said, I will take your advice on playing what I may merely just not like (Rock & Roll Hoochie Coo comes to mind–ugh) as long as I can physically do it. AND, I will go through FW more times. 🙂
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What @jumpinjeff says makes sense. I tell my hard of hearing friends that hearing loss is not something one can self-assess. (I don’t need hearing aids. I hear just fine. BUT ask your grandkids if you need hearing aids.) I likewise dabbled around guitar for decades with occasional lessons or a workshop here and there. But the consistency of TAC is where I became a guitar player. And FBW is where I got to stop using my memory for random facts, licks, chord progressions and keys and started to actually visualize what is going on with the music. (Now if I could just remember the lyrics!). I recommend staying with the challenges as presented by the teacher even if it isn’t my favorite curriculum. It’s only 10 minutes less time spent on Netflix.
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Bingo!!! You have a great way of saying what I mean but in 1/3 the space!! This is the crux of my success, finding, using, participating, in TAC’s systemic method for guitar progress. It is not the end but it will take you 90% there. I can almost see that 90th percentile horizon…or at least I know where it lies,…I think…
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Hello @BarbaraM , great to hear your opinions as I have read almost all of your posts from the “Daily Challenges” since you have joined TAC. For this one, I would suggest that you do what you’re able to do and forgo the things that you’re physically unable to do. That being said, I hope you would try to understand the concepts being presented in FW, because IMHO they’ll help you down the road. My experience with FW has helped me with my guitar journey in a way that I never imagined. It piqued my curiosity with music theory enough that I went outside of TAC to learn more. It allowed me to understand more than I can fathom – I’m not a great guitar player (I stink), but I understand what I can do with it, and I’m having FUN trying!
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Hi @Bill_Brown, I’m glad you appreciate my comments! I tend to be a bit negative, though I’m working on that. That said, I would be interested to know the other fretboard class or whatever you have found. If you don’t want to say in open comment here you can reply privately, on my profile.
What you suggested is what I plan on doing. Alternate tunings I will probably skip, as, while open D sounds nice, I can’t find any songs I know or like that use it. Plus, the guitar I had dedicated to open D crapped out on me and is probably not worth fixing. I don’t want to keep changing tunings on my main (“good”) guitar as I don’t think it’s good for it. Other challenges that use chord fingerings I cannot do I will also skip, as the techniques such as bends, hammers etc that my be included are found in other challenges.
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