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Brain games
Fretboard Wizard has energized my brain!
Completed the first time thru about three weeks ago– and learned an AMAZING amount. WOW- great stuff!!!
Waited two weeks on purpose to let all of that sink in a bit, and am now going thru it again– now in Week 2. Going slower….. leaving NO stone unturned/ no concept “fuzzy”.
My brain is in overdrive with guitar-excitement and learning!!!! 😜
It’s weird- (I hope it’s “good”)…..
It’s AMAZING how much MORE I’m learning the second time thru!!!
So maybe I’m lying in bed in the dark, or even out during the day– my mind will jump over into guitar-brain games🤨.
Examples– (and remember there is no guitar here- only my brain).
Out of the blue I’ll ask myself what note is on the 6th fret of the G string- and then the 4th fret of the A, and then the 10th fret of the D, etc, etc— (on and on– totally random strings and frets- dozens and dozens). I feel that that I’m starting to “see”- (note-wise)- the entire fretboard- any string– any fret. And I’m getting “faster” at it……..
Then maybe I’ll go and ask myself to find EVERY single B note on the fretboard- (using Tony’s patterns)- then every A, then every C#, then every G#…… on and on– again totally randomly.
Then I go to matrices- In the same manner– I “build” them in my mind- (no pen/paper). Then I test myself- “what notes are in the 4th column in the C major chord matrix…. then the 3rd column in the Em matrix, then the 6th column in the B major matrix…. again, on and on….. totally random columns and matrixes. And I get them RIGHT– (that’s really kind-of surprising!!!).
Then, I go on to the NOTES inside of individual chords…. (different chords– just picked randomly– every string, every fret, every note). I think I’m starting to “see” them🤨.
From there I’ll go on to changing those chords from major to minor- (or the other way around)— again— “seeing” in my mind’s eye— those individual notes being flattened or sharpened, and then changing the matrix in my mind to show the change.
Along with all the “tonalities”.
It seems like it’s too much……
Trouble is—- for me anyway—- it’s really fun!!!
Anyway– these are my “small wins”.
And now you know what goes on in my brain and why I am how I am🙄
And it ain’t pretty, folks😎
theoldcoach
PS– please don’t be afraid to say if I need to “take my foot off the gas” here….
🤨
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
the-old-coach.
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This discussion was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
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10 Replies
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WOW @the-old-coach 😱 you’re inspiring me to try those brain games for myself – I don’t sleep too well at night and maybe that’s just what I need😎🎸🤘
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This is a good idea to go through this stuff at night while trying to get some shut eye. Sure beats counting sheep.
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Well that’s just amazing and full of all sizes of wins @the-old-coach ! I’m inspired by your enthusiasm and commitment. But I feel like I have so much on my plate right now between the dailies, the lessons and homework and practices that my guitar teacher assigns, and the extraneous songs aim working on, like taking a ukelele class and songs I’m working on. I’m finding it difficult to carve out time for Fretboard Wizard. I could have my guitar teacher switch gears to the fretboard, theory, modes, etc. that way I’d be aligned with TAC and I could add FBW to my lesson plan.
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@Loraine, If you can add the newest FBW to your game plan, I think you’ll like it. I still have to finish up with it. I’m just starting week4.
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I agree with Cadgirl.
Never had any lessons, but I have done quite a bit of studying- (along with “hands-on”)- thru some different book sources, and also different websites. In lots of ways, much of the information seems similar to what’s in FBW.
But that’s where the similarities ends…… In my opinion, the big difference is the way the entire course– including the way individual lessons are laid-out and planned in week-long groups– is presented by Tony.
Make no mistake– there is a TON information inside this FBW course, with enough “lightbulb moments”- (for me at least)- to light up a small town.
It’s not easy- (again, at least for me)- but the casual, easy-going manner Tony has makes it FAR easier than the other sources I have used before. Not even close……..
Anyway, Loraine, Cadgirl is right on…….. FBW is a great investment……. and fun!!!!!
yer old friend-
theoldcoach
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by the-old-coach.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by
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Thank you all for your encouragement and kind words.
I was actually wondering if this wasn’t more of a curse- my brain taking off on this stuff when other- (normal)- people are doing actual, normal-people stuff. Like sleeping…..
My latest brain trip—— sometime early this AM- I was going over “notes inside of chords” in my brain, and was a bit confused on the changing of, say, a C major (open) chord to a C minor chord. Flattening the third is NOT as easy as flattening the third on, say, an A or D chord.
That’s when I stumbled across the magic of the E-shaped barre chord.
I realized I could play any major chord just by using the low-E as my rootnote, and moving the barre on up the neck. Example- If I barred the 5th fret across all 6 strings, then applied the E shape above that- that is an E-shaped A chord- (a la CAGED system). Two frets up, an E-shaped B chord, one more up, an E-shaped C, etc, etc…..
Then– more magic– I realized all I have to do is lift my ring finger off the G string, and that chord is now the Minor of that original chord. Same as changing an E to an E-minor.
But it works all the way up the neck…….
For ME anyway- this was a big, lightbulb, moment.
And then I went back to sleep……..
theoldcoach
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Wow @the-old-coach , the FW spirit has definitely gotten hold of you! That is super. It sounds like you are having fun all the while. Great wins! 👏👍😎🎶🎸
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Actually– (now that I have a guitar in my hands)- it should be “lift my middle finger off the G string….” Oops….
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Take your foot off the gas? Take your foot off the GAS? Heck no. My only advise is buckle your seat belt and hold on. The ride is super exciting from here on out. : )
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