-
30 days to play in 30 days?
Hi I just started in the beginning of January, and Ive checked off the first week’s lesson, but I am no where near being able to do it. So I am doing the chord practice from week 2 along with the blues practice from week one, which I cannot do yet. How do you figure out which string to fret/pick without looking? I understand the tab charts and all that but unless I look at the fretboard I could be anywhere. Same with picking. So If I look at the fret hand to see where to place my fingers, then over to the sound hole to see what string to pick I can’t do anything in any kind of recognizable rhythm. At this rate it will be 30 weeks, not 30 days! I know, I know, practice. But is there a way to practice to speed up my accuracy?
-
4 Replies
-
Barbara, it takes time. For now look at your fretting hand and keep practicing. The muscle memory will kick in and you’ll get to the point that you dont have to look. It doesnt have to be perfect, just keep going. Sometimes “good is good enough”.
-
Don’t beat yourself up. It took me months to be able to not look at my hands and I still occasionally mess up.
It’s ok if you can’t do it, just keep moving forward. Progress over perfection. It will come.
-
@BarbaraM Welcome to TAC! I feel your frustration, and I agree with the others. Be kind to yourself. Learning to play the guitar or any instrument requires practice. It does get easier over time. Be gentle with yourself. My suggestion is to work through the lessons to the best of your ability, but don’t get caught up on perfecting it. As Moose mentioned, we strive footprint progression rather than perfection. You will get better just by attempting the lessons for the minimum 10 minutes per day. Mark them complete after giving them a good try but keep moving forward. You can always revisit a lesson, just don’t get caught up on it. In fact, by taking a break, you’ll probably find that you can return to a lesson a later time and it comes more easily to you.
-
Thank you Barbara for bringing this issue up-as I am having the same issue(to mark a lession complete or not)-except mine has to do with pain in my index finger from the blister that is trying to heal. I brought this issue up in an earlier post and others pointed out a blister should not exist-which I am sure developed from practicing an hour + a day ‘right out of the gate’ for the 30day lessons. I have since backed off, but also struggling with marking a lession complete, even though I don’t feel I can truly say I have ‘completed’ it. I know the chords, G, C and D fairly well (I am always looking @ the fret board) but when practicing these chords and the assoicated transitions, it is a painful experience. I am not giving up of course, and will start marking these lessons complete so I can continue on schedule(finishing my 2nd week) Thanks for listening 😉
Log in to reply.