-
1st TACiversary
Hello Friends
I recently had my 1st TACiversary, and what a year it has been.
I always wanted to learn to play the acoustic guitar, and the Pandemic gave me the opportunity to try. I had never played before, and I even called the strings “keys” when I first started. I owned a 1973 Guild F30 that was given to me by my stepfather approximately 20 years earlier, but I’d never learned to play. I had to have some work done on the guitar before I could use it, so I took the time to jump headfirst into the site and the community. I asked questions over and over to learn, and I was like a sponge absorbing all the knowledge that member’s so graciously provided.
I was surfing the web trying to find something that might help me learn the guitar, and Tony’s marketing kept popping up and I found myself mesmerized watching the infomercial. I decided the cost was minimal and if the site could measure up to what it promised, then great, and if not, then I would be out a small fee. It was less expensive than going to a guitar teacher, and that wasn’t an option at the time due to COVID.
I started with the 30 days to play and then the next 6 chords, and I had so much fun learning and was amazed at what I so quickly could do. While my journey has been long and I was dealing with some pretty serious challenges at home (caregiver for my 88-89 year old mother with dementia and other medical issues). I was in a deep depression when I started, but picking up the guitar helped lift me out of my severe depression and gave me something to look forward to.
The TAC community pulled me in and lifted me up. I was accepted from the beginning and have made some great friendships through it. COVID caused creative outlets, such as the virtual VOM’s, which I look forward to every week. I’ve actually played several times at all the VOM’s, and while I’m still very much a beginner, I have received nothing short of the highest regard and acceptance at the VOM’S. I’ve also made friends with several people and have exchanged personal messages and emails and have done friendship Zooms. The community is what pulled me in and kept me moving forward, and I am forever grateful to other TAC members. I’ve learned more than I would have by taking individual lessons.
I did sign up for individual lessons to accentuate what I learn on TAC, and my instructor does not interfere with my lessons on TAC. They compliment each other, and I’ve been able to work on some great songs and to continue my guitar theory training in addition to Fretboard Wizard. I initially cringed at the thought of Fretboard Wizard, because I am not a theory person at all. I typically find these type of courses very boring and my brain doesn’t wrap itself around theory. I was pleasantly surprised at how the course was laid out, and I actually had fun with it and understood what I was learning. I need to continue to retake the course to immerse myself in learning theory. It still comes slowly to me and I find it difficult to remember, so I need to keep at it.
The daily/weekly format of the lessons is great, and I find them to be challenging but fun. I love Tony’s goofy intro into the lessons and the naming of the lessons. I can attest that 10 minutes per day at a minimum will allow you to learn the guitar, although I tend to spend much more than 10 minutes per day on the lessons and practicing.
I owned a 1973 Guild guitar when I joined, and it is my all time favorite guitar, but I’ve since purchased an additional 7 guitar (some used and some new), and I try to play them all. I have guitars in every room of my home, and I find that I reach for them often, even for 5-10 minutes at a time.
Am I as far as I’d like to be? Not quite, but I’m extremely proud of how far I’ve come. I plan to continue the daily lessons, the skills section, the old song vault, and individual songs, but I would like to continue to improve my strumming techniques and my finger and flatpicking. I find them all very challenging, and I’d like to become more comfortable with them all. I would like to continue to improve on my chord vocabulary and skills and transitioning faster and more smoothly between chords. I would like to play a song all the way through at the speed it was intended and moving quickly and smoothly between chords. I would like to attend some in-person Jams when local restrictions permit. I feel that I learn so much from others and I think that would benefit me.
Guitar geeks unite!!
-
40 Replies
-
Happy 1st TACiversary @Loraine 🍾🎂🍾 What a great story that you’ve told😱 I’m sorry to learn about your depression. I know that it never really goes away, but hopefully it has subsided enough that life and music matters again to you. I just want you to know that I’m honored to have made your (virtual) acquaintance here at TAC and that I consider you one of my best TAC friends🤩
-
Thank you @Bill_Brown , and I also appreciate your great friendship. Looking forward to another year and yes, the guitar makes the depression better most days.
-
-
Congrats @Loraine 😁 Thanks you for all the support you have provided so many fellow TAC’ers. Keep Rocking! 🎸
-
👍
-
Really appreciate it @lange22
-
-
Congratz on your first TACiversay, @loraine, and your progress 😀
How time flies.-
Thanks @Niels . It is amazing how quickly time flies. I was shocked to learn that a year had passed. Looking forward to continuing growing in my playing. Thanks for all your support over this past year.
-
-
Happy 1st TACiversary @Loraine Here’s to another year. 😊🧙♂️😎
-
👍
-
Thanks so much @Marty69 . You’re a great inspiration.
-
-
You have been nothing but supportive of my efforts and I’m so pleased you have found guitar and got to your TACiversary now. Music is a great comfort in times of adversity. I cannot imagine my life without it and I’m glad if has supported you through such challenging times too. Congratulations and guitar geeks unite!
-
👍
-
It’s been great getting to know you and see your progress @Moonhare . Looking forward to another year.
-
-
Congratulations @loraine! 🥂Happy 1st TACiversary. Enjoy year two!!!
-
You’ve been a great friend @Michelle-PSL . Here’s to another year to play and work hard!
-
-
Congrats, Loraine! I’m happy that Guitar has improved your life!
-
Really appreciate it @JoeW , and I’ve watched your improvement since joining, and I look forward to the next leg of our journies.
-
-
Loraine, congrats. I have watched your progress from the beginning and have enjoyed your playing at the VOMs.
I find the most interesting thing about TACiversary posts is the personal back stories of the members that lets us know more about the person than the guitar playing progression or the related “wins”.
Keep pickin’ Loraine and I’ll keep grinnin’.
-
It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you this past year @Omar_A.H. , and you’ve been nothing but supportive and a true inspiration. Thank you.
-
-
Congratulations Loraine. You should be proud of how far you’ve come in such a short time. Nothing heals like music, so onward to year two. Best of luck.
-
I’m amazed at how far I’ve come in a short time, and I’m looking forward to improving more over the next year. Thanks for your kind words @MoochasPoochas .
-
-
My apologies to the group as a whole for the delay in responding to replies. I was dealing with the illness, hospitalization and subsequent passing of my mother the last 3 weeks, and I’ve been preoccupied. I’ll try to respond to each individual reply, but overall thank you to those that did respond and to TAC as a whole. If it weren’t for the awesome community, I don’t know where I’d be on my guitar journey. I look forward to continuing to build relationships and friendships and meeting new people in the forums over the next year, and in continuing the great journey.
-
Loraine, very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. Hang in there! You are a beacon of truth and inspiration. I always search out your posts because I know you write from the heart. Congrats on your TACiversary.
-
Thank you very much @Ron-N
-
-
no, need to reply. Work through your issues and take some comfort that the community is behind you.
-
-
Congratulations Loraine on your first TACiversary!
So sorry to hear about your mom.
You are a great part of this community.
Take good care of yourself!
-
Much appreciated @Philb , and I appreciate the condolences for the passing of my mother.
-
-
Happy TACiversary @Loraine , Sorry to hear about you mother’s passing. I wish you peace.
-
Thank you so much @jumpinjeff . It’s been a difficult road lately, but I’m doing okay. Ups and downs are to be expected.
-
-
Congratulations on your TACiversary!! Great job. and welcome back from your “issues at home”. I hope returning to the family helps you. Rock on!
-
Thank you @Cadgirl . Good to hear from you.
-
-
Happy TACiversary Loraine! Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I’m glad that playing guitar is helping you with depression. I have depression also, and playing the guitar has helped allot. I hope you’ll have plenty of progress in the coming year.
🎶🙂🎸👏
-
Truly appreciate it @stevieblues
-
-
Congratulations @Loraine! Your doing great and also great ideas. 7 guitars!!! WOW, yes, good idea to stash them around the house. Easy to pick up for some scales or a quick riff. I’m excited to see how your 2nd Anniversary will be. again…. CONGRATS!!
-
Thank you @Cadgirl , and looking forward to the next year and continuing to get to know you more!
-
Log in to reply.