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Help please…
Hi, I finished the 30 day challenge months ago and started some of the jump start courses to get a feel for playing. However, I never was only skilled enough to do about 3 lessons in of each or half of each jumpstart course I played with before it was beyond me. I then started trying the daily challenges thinking it might be a better idea because they came up every day and I felt like I was not learning fast enough. I became very overwhelmed and felt everything was beyond my skill level. I often had to play not but sometimes an hour to just keep up. My finger became blistered and painful. I stopped playing because daily it stopped being fun. How do I get back to having fun and continuing at my level? without feeling, I am not progressing well. I just don’t know what to tackle it all and if I only have 10 min. to 30 min a day what to always do first, next, etc…
Are there suggestion guidelines somewhere when you are new to following step-by-step professions so as not to become overwhelmed? I have been on 2 (90-day reflections) and journaled as well hoping to have everything click. I want to play guitar.
My sister went into palliative care after receiving 2nd covid injection. I joined TAC to become good enough to play “Jealous of the Angels”, for my family at the time of my sister passing over to the angels and to our Lord. They do not know I am doing this. My oldest son lives in China and cannot come home because of COVID. He is an incredible singer and has sent me two-voice versions of the song. I want to play guitar very much for this. It will be my son’s way of being there for all of us. When I sing to my sister she loves it. We are and have always been very close. The song relates to how I feel about her. SHE is truly an angel.
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25 Replies
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Hi, here is some advice from a fellow beginner. I’ve posted this idea elsewhere on the forums and it got some good reception. It is:
“Don’t think.”
In other words, don’t try to master the challenge, don’t WORRY about your present inability to master the challenge or even come close.
Your ONE job is to SHOW UP, 🙂 work on the challenge for 10 minutes (use a kitchen timer), mark complete, and walk away. Critical part: show up the NEXT day, put in the 10 minutes. And so on.
The point of Tony’s method is simply to get a guitar in your hands every day and play it, while learning some little snippet of technique and/or theory almost automatically. Competency, much less mastery, is entirely beside the point.
Over time, it adds up, and you improve almost as if by magic. Just by showing up for a few minutes!
And, soon you might be encouraged to spend more time at it, or tackle specific things, which is great, but be careful never to let the “just showing up” fall by the wayside. It is the indispensable core of your progress.
Prayers and best wishes to you and your beautiful sister.
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Hi @IMPBW I am so sorry to hear about your dear sister!!
I send a big hug your way, and I hope you find some comfort with your loved ones and knowing that the angels are in good company.
The other thing I saw in your post is, “I stopped playing daily because it stopped being fun” and, “I want to play guitar”…. The trick is to keep it fun.
Try not to be so hard on yourself and/or rush the process… It’s a journey and sometimes we don’t notice the progress we are making until we look back and see how far we’ve come. If your fingers are sore because you’re still building up your callouses, try shorter more frequent practice sessions (Instead of one 30 minute practice, try three 10 minute practice sessions, or two 15 minute ones)
Also, I looked up the song you mentioned “Jealous of the Angels” and wow it’s beautiful… There’s a few You Tube versions of it that have the chords and lyrics. I’d tell you to just learn the chords in the song and maybe do a simple down strum on the first beat of each measure, as you sing along. It will surely give you motivation and a sense of accomplishment and I know your sister will be looking down along with her angels, and smiling at you.
God bless,
Carol 3M
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Hi @IMPBW , I was touched and saddened by your story. My sincere condolences. You have raised several issues about your process of learning to play. You are not alone in your early experience, in fact much of my early journey was just as you describe. The most important is not to give up ever. EVER. No matter what. Let go of what you believe is your timeline. Time is not as important as effort. When you find the joy in the effort, time disappears. Punder nailed it talking about “Don’t think” just do. Spend the time, enjoy the time spent and try (and it is try) to let go of outcomes for now. You will be able to play that song Jealous Of The Angels but you may not be physically or mentally ready to do it yet. The big word is YET. If you are picking up guitar for the first time you have some prep to attend to. When I began, my expectations exceeded my ability and caused me many months of sucky days. I discounted the time and effort of the people who had spent years learning how to play (Tony P. is one of those people) thinking I could get it just because I thought I could. In the process I learned I was only gifted with slightly below average musical abilities. Fortunately I was at the front of the line when they were handing out determination. It was my gift and without it I would have stopped long ago. Carol Stillhand also nailed it when she said “Try not to be so hard on yourself and/or rush the process… It’s a journey and sometimes we don’t notice the progress we are making until we look back and see how far we’ve come”. Every bit my experience and she taught me much here. This is long, may have been better in conversation but here we are. I wish you peace and close contact with the things that motivate you and connect you to your inner determination. Play for joy, find the joy in play.
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Hi @IMPBW Ive been trying to post several times but had technical difficu lites. Hoping they’re straightened out.
First, your sister and you are beautiful, and I’m so sorry to hear of how sick she is. That must be so difficult for the family.
You’ve received some great advice above, so I won’t repeat it. I did print out the tablature for the song. Suggestion is to learn the chords and th e strum one time per chord. It won’t be as full as the original, but you’ll be playing a song and vocals can be added.
Keep the faith. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thank you, everyone, I honestly appreciate everything that was shared. Thank you for sharing your understanding and relating to my guitar journey. I was wondering if it was this normal to go so slow. I also have the gift of determination, that is why I am back at it! (I feel normal again. 🙂 ) Just so many losses going on and most are overwhelmed with COVID. I am sure this has a lot to do with how I am feeling these days. I want playing the guitar to be a positive in my life and I need that right now.
I am on day “2” of my comeback and stopped once my fingers got sore which was about 15 min. It was fun again (even with sore fingers.) I have taken the pressure off myself with TAC. Only going to go until I get stuck or sore for now, every day. 👍 I want my guitar time to be a “me time” to destress and let my creative side shine. Great, great advice!! I am working on Flatpicking right now. I am ssssoooo slow-playing the G major and C scale exercises. (I have to look at each string pick.) I am slowly learning the mixed note values, and again I am always having to look down at each flat pick, and my G chord sounds good until I have to fingerpick each string because it shows I am not able to hold the chord in tune! LOL…
Loraine you mentioned, “tablature for the song”, what is that, and where can I find and learn about that?
Carol, you mentioned, “learn the chords in the song and maybe do a simple down strum on the first beat of each measure,”. I did find a couple of versions on youtube and downloaded a music sheet I found online as well with guitar chords. I change my chord position when & where it shows on the sheet and strum at the same time. (It sounds pretty good.) Is that what you mean. I don’t know if it is the first beat of the measure, to be honest. I do understand, 3, 4 time, 1/4 note, 1/8th note, etc, but not sure what the song has. I’m just doing it along with the youtube version I like.
Again super grateful to all. Any advice to smooth out the journey is much appreciated.
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Hi there. Reading through the various exchanges I thought I’d rattle off a quick video reply to your query for @Carol-3M-Stillhand because sometimes it is easier to see something demonstrated than to describe it in words. Hope this helps out. 🤘😎🎸
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@Moonhare This was excellent!
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It may not be intended to be a lesson, but that was excellent, effective teaching @Moonhare .
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Great advice Moonhare. Thanks for the video from one of the fellow beginners.
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No problem. I find it easier to learn from the videos on TAC because I’m hopeless at reading TAB so I’m sure there are others that learn better that way too. We all need to help each other out where we can. Good luck with your playing. Hope to see you on Play for Us! 🤟😎🎸
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You can go to ultimate-guitar and search for the song title. This will bring up the chords you need. This is a beautiful song that I wasn’t familiar with before. You’ll do great. Just take your time.
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I have never heard of the song before and had to google it. It’s beautiful and I also want to learn how to play this song now (with dry eyes if possible). You are just thinking too hard about playing. It takes a while to get your fingers conditioned and not hurt. It’s natural for the blisters and pain. If it was easy, everyone would be a guitar player. I think everyone gave good advice. Practice everyday to get those fingers conditioned. Good luck with your journey. I am sure I am speaking for everyone that we would love to hear you play this song. 🙂
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Wow! that was so perfect Moonhare. I got it! thank you. I am much more a visual person. I will practice that this weekend. I have just done 30 min. and my fingers can’t take any more at this moment. 👌💖
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Thank you, I will do that Loraine. When you play songs do you use paper sheets or a tablet when you play? I have been printing out all the lessons and songs and putting them in a binder while following along on my surface pro on TAC or YouTube. I have about 3 binders now with favorite easy songs. I guess at some point I won’t need the binders. 😁
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I print out some and save others to my laptop or tablet (iPad Pro). At the beginning I printed everything, but then I started to be lazy about putting tabs and chord sheets in my binders, and so much loose paper was floating around and getting trashy looking. So, now I print out only what I’m currently, actively working on. I do ‘favorite’ all the daily challenges, because they don’t come around again for about 8-9 months, and I do goof around with some of them occasionally.
Your sister only being 40+ pounds just really tears my heart up. I’m so sorry for her and for the family having to experience that. If you ever want to talk about anything, please feel free to IM me through the messaging found in the drop down next to your profile at the top of the page.
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I know Cadgirl, I have shed many tears singing and playing this song. I found it on YouTube and it struck my heart hard. I have researched the artist Jenn Bostic and the story about the song and also listened to the song in many versions. The one my son in China sang and sent to me was my favorite version which is Donna Taggart’s version.
Funny you should mention hearing me play this song. I have been fearing not doing a good enough job at the funeral. I spoke with our pastor and he said it would be wonderful for me to do this and play the recording with my eldest son from China singing it while I play the guitar in person. I know my parents would love and cherish this memory. So now I have committed myself and I think that is why I am feeling (In a good way) a little overwhelmed. It might be a good incentive to do that for all of you as practice. My sister is now down to 47 lbs so I am not sure how much time I have left to be ready. 🙏
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@IMPBW You have received a lot of great advice that I do not need to add to. I will just say, keep going. 😀
There are times I seemed to work on something for soooooo long. Then, it starts to click, become smoother, better. I am impatient. I have learned to just let it come when it does. Enjoy it, don’t fret about it. Yes, that was intentional. 😁
This is a great community. @Moonhare That was an excellent way to help.
@IMPBW Thank you for sharing. My heart and prayers are with your sister and the family. -
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Hi, I am late to this thread, but I want to throw my 2-cents in also.
First, so sorry to read about your sister. But, your wanting to learn this song for her is a wonderful thing.
I agree with what others have said, learn the song. Go slow, just play the chords, don’t expect it to be perfect at first. You will get better at it a little at a time.
As for TAC, try to do the daily lessons. 10 minutes at a time. Do the best you can, then move on to practicing your song. One of the things that I like best from the daily challenges is learning the little things. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, triplets, etc. And I have found myself using those techniques when trying to learn a song.
As Tony says, keep it fun!
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Thank you darcelle. 👍
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Everyone before me has given so many wonderful ideas. I will leave you with one thought I had. Will you have any other live musicians at the service? If so, you may consider asking the pianist to accompany you. It would take a little bit of pressure off of you and I think you would enjoy playing with another musician. I send this idea with love and many virtual hugs to you and your family.
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