Found the Wall

[GraceX]

You absolutely will hit a wall: this would be natural occurrence for ANY skill you’d try to learn as you are not only learning theory but also dealing with muscle memory and, potentially for some, physical limitations,

Don’t doubt the process just stick to your plan and speak gently to yourself as you would a friend or family member who is trying to learn a new skill.

Mix up your practice session times to split them across shorter times during the day if that works for you…for example this morning I drilled moving from D to Bm then practiced D to D7, F#m, G, A and also practised A7, Dsus, Dm, D, Dsus4…I’m about to practice now and expect that for – some of those chord changes – it is going to feel like starting brand new but I also know if I keep chipping away at it I’ll get there.

Don’t worry about your Mrs hearing mistakes but if you really feel self-conscious just try to practice when she is out of the house or go to a spot far enough away to give you some privacy.

Best wishes, persevere and KEEP GOING!

[Mychael]

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I know I need to stay with it but this has been a long streak of frustration. I like your idea of mixing up the routine and especially need to remember to self-talk as I would to others. Sometimes we are harder on ourselves than people we care about.

Great advice and push forward.

[Fly]

Patience and trusting In the process always seems to be my answer when I start to feel like I’m hitting the wall think if it as a mantra and whatever playing your doing is all money in the bank.

Also maybe it’s time to mix it up a bit find new stimuli athletes seem to train and work in 3 month cycles then work on some something else. Learning music and coordination might be different from training muscles but thinking like this helps me from stagnating.

[Mychael]

Fly, thanks for the advice. I think your idea of trust and maintaining a positive mantra is something I forget and need to remember during each practice session. Also, maybe it is time to spend more time on learning songs that are easily mastered. I think I have been taking on difficult tasks and not seeing the results as quickly.

Thank you for the input and have a safe new year!

Michael

[Bill_Brown]

Hi @Wanahini , I just want to give my 2 cents here. You can’t expect to play like a Rock Star after a few lessons. If that’s what your expecting from yourself and TAC, then you’re setting yourself up for failure. You must learn to crawl before walking, and learn to walk before running. You need to trust the TAC process (play everyday for 10 minutes) and look for the good in what you’re doing with the guitar, not the negative! I wish you the best on your journey here, and know that there will be some bumps on the path – we’ve all experienced them – but the TAC Community is here to help. Don’t be hard on yourself, look for the good!

[Mychael]

Thanks Bill. Great advice. Now that I am significantly older ( golden years?), and I am returning to playing guitar after decades away from the instrument, my expectation is not reasonable any longer. I need to slow down and focus on the process and as Fly said, “trust the process” and focus on the investment.

Thanks for the support and encouraging words.

Michael

[stevieblues]

Congratulations on making progress. About how long to play, if 30 to 60 minutes is frustrating try the 10 minute session. Then anything past 10 minutes is another win. Remember to have fun!

[Loraine]

@Wanahini – Try not to be too hard on yourself. Like any new skill, it is typically a journey with many hills and plateaus. You might be on the cusp of a plateau with a little backwards momentum, but keep putting one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll crest the plateau and eventually find another hill to climb and advance upwards. It is difficult not to worry about what others think, but try to stay focused on your small wins and successes. This will keep it fun for all.

[Mychael]

Thank you for the meaningful analogy regarding hills and plateaus. The support here in incredibly valuable and has likely prevented me from hanging it up for awhile.

As often as Tony says to keep it fun, I think I have been forgetting that this is the main purpose for playing to begin with.

Thank you for the support and kind words.

Have a safe and healthy new year!

[the-old-coach]

Wanahini

Strange as it may sound, just putting your thoughts into words, right here in this Forum, so that everybody can see them– and reading them yourself– sometimes has a way of “washing away” frustration and expectation. It gives YOU a way of seeing yourself as others can see you.

I wish I had great advice for you, but I’m no stranger to what you’re going thru myself. Many others– probably everybody in fact– have been where you are, “it’s just part of the deal”.

My simple advice- 1. Take your foot off the gas. It’s OK. Let everything catch up with everything. 2. Realize that you HAVE made real progress! 3. Throw some FUN back into your sessions- (something like easy, fun, TAB- (E-chords, etc)- songs of your old favorites- they are a blast and I bet you’ll do great at them). 4. Your own brain will tell when it’s time to get back to work.

These things work for me- maybe you too. Each of us is different.

Mark J

[Mychael]

You are right Mark, each of your advice points are the recipe for success however, the interaction and support in this forum makes a significant difference as It provides a third person perspective and has a deeper meaning than just working on the tasks.

Your words and the input from others has already helped me realize that I need to trust in the process, maintain a positive perspective, and be patient with myself.

Thanks for being a positive influence and helping me and others in our journey.

Michael