I am sad almost 40 days in with no music coming out of guitar

[ProbablyBryan]

Maybe this’ll help: 40 days isn’t a smidge in the time to learn anything.

I remember learning the Lindy Hop (a Swing dance)… it took me WEEKS to just “get it,” and it took MONTHS to be “good enough” to dance with other people without looking stupid.

It took YEARS to get to where I’m now: an excellent Lindy Hop dancer.

Like you, I just started — specifically this past January — bought an Eastman and knew nothing.

It took me WEEKS to remember the strings, EAD GBE (I still needed to think about it to type it in).

I’m doing the lessons (this is my second month of the Daily Challenges), and I’m doing it, but I’d admit, nothing is “sticking” yet. And I don’t know one single tune yet.

But I can tell that my fingers are getting stronger, I have nice calluses on my left-hand fingers, my picking is okay (I still pick the wrong string now and then), I’m still slouching when I’m getting tired, my fingers get tired after about 20 – 30 minutes, and my barre chords stink!

But — I’ve only been doing this about 70 days.

In 40 days, you’re doing fine. Just keep going, and don’t quit. This time next year, you can play some real music for your granddaughter!

[JoanneGibson]

Hi Rob,

I joined just over a year ago. I’m 67 years old and I’m not naturally talented as regards learning guitar. To encourage you… I’ve been working on chords for the past year and I can do a G, Em, E, and A. I’m still struggling with getting a D, C, and F without them sounding twangy. I can’t play a song yet, but I’m practicing, and I know that one day I WILL do it! You will too!! Know that you’re not alone. I got a lot of encouragement when I attended the podcast last week. It helped me to feel like getting going again. I had kind of given up for the past month. I was discouraged like you. But we can do it! If you can play five chords already within 40 days… wow!! I’d be ecstatic if I could have done that!!! Keep going guitar buddy!

[tamaracrazywoman]

With humble beginnings I encourage you to not give up. There will be ebbs and flows. Every time you pick up the guitar you will improve. It took about a year to year and a half of playing before I started to enjoy, picking up the guitar every time to play. Before it was very challenging for the first year and a half. Keep playing.

[Moose408]

As a counterpoint to the two previous posts I was playing songs, at least a resemblance of a song, at 3 months. I’m now 9 months in and can play a dozen or so songs and feel like I at least know what I’m doing with the guitar. Everyone is different and everyone learns at there own pace. But it does take time.

I tried guitar 18 months ago and quit after 6 weeks because my ability did not meet my expectations. I restarted last June with the realization that I’m going to suck at guitar, and I’m going to suck for a long time. That lowering of expectations as served me well, although I still have to remind myself periodically that I’m still a long way away from being a decent guitar player and that I’m OK with that.

[Roy-Phils]

Hi Rob, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I’m the same age as you, on my 3rd 5-day challenge, and am noticing the lack of doing music making – an analogy would be my apprenticeship when I left school; we were shown various tools in the workshop, micrometers, hand tools and power tools such as lathes, and maybe once a week or two we’d be given an assignment to actually make something useful, usually a tool or ornamental piece (I’ve still got them!).

The learning curve was steep but steady, and immensely satisfying. Right now I can’t say the same about TAC, so you’re not alone. I’m now supplementing this course with free online instruction via another reputable site; I’m actually playing songs. Very badly I’ll admit, but it is why I came back to the guitar after a long lay-off.

Feel free to private-message me if you’d like info.

[Rob503]

Thank you for your response, I will touch base with you later today if that is okay.

Thanks Rob

[TerriG]

Hi Rob,

Don’t be “sad”. You are where you need to be at this moment in time.

I guess we all expect perfection right out from the gate. The perfect chords, accuracy in fretting the guitar neck and the perfect rhythm and as a beginner, it is not going to happen. And that is where the frustrations come in….

We are on a journey and this journey will bring us with many highs and lows. I’m a little younger than you (not by much) and 70 days into TAC. Your mission right now is just to be introduced to everything – hammer ons, pull offs, scales, various strumming techniques, etc. Some challenges will be exciting and some not so much. Doesn’t matter – just show up to understand the concepts. One day it will click for you – keep at it. You’ll start seeing small successes such as trying to get the C chord right one time after 100 attempts (been there). The chords are the worse since our fingers need the muscle memory to achieve them and 40 days is not enough time. So be gentle with yourself. You are a juncture point in this journey where your mind is telling you to stop while your heart is saying keep moving forward.

And if you play, play for your granddaughter who is loving it. And she’ll remember her grandpa on the guitar making music and that alone is worth the journey going forward. For me, my audience is my cat who runs away. Anyway, good luck to you and do the best you can at this moment in time. The rewards will come later in the journey.

[Rob503]

Very kind words thank you

[TerriG]

You’re welcome. And if you know the G, C, D & Am chords, try the Daily Challenge today. Tony is teaching the rhythm section of Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil”. You don’t have to do Mon-Wed lessons (unless you want to). This will ease you in combining chords and you’ll learn that these chords are found in other songs as well (with different strumming techniques & patterns). Once you can transition between these chords, you’ll be making music in no time. Good luck!

[Moose408]

If you want to make music come from your guitar, search for Horse With No Name tutorial on YouTube. It’s a common first song, it only has two chords and can be played with a simple strumming pattern. I tried it when I was 4 weeks in and my wife could recognize what I was playing so I considered that a success.

It wasn’t until the 8 month mark that I got the proper strumming pattern down for it, but it sounds good even with just strumming once per measure.

[BrandonK]

Thanks Rob for sharing, I know how you feel. I just finished the 30 Days to Play and tried to do the 5 Day Routine videos, which were way to advance for me. I was not able to keep up at all, I found the training was too quick for my current skill level.

So I decided to go back through the 30 Days to Play again because I am still having challenges with a lot of what Tony taught in this program. I figure the next 90 days to 6 months I will be going back through the 30 Days to Play videos over and over again until I can get the skill level to even attempt the fretting and strumming Tony is asking for in the 5 Day Routine.

Which is disappointing because I assumed at the end of the 30 Days to Play videos I would be able to do what Tony taught. That is not the case. I understand having stretch goals that are just out of reach, I personally feel having too many stretch goals can cause frustration because I found I was just watching the videos and not even attempting what Tony was teaching because I couldn’t keep up.

[Moose408]

I would recommend not going back to the 30 days to play course but instead jump into the daily challenges. The philosophy of Tony’s teaching method is that you often will be unable able to play what he is teaching initially but through repeated exposure and repetition you will eventually learn it. You’ll often see people here refer to progress over perfection. The 30 Days to Play was just your first exposure to the various skills and techniques that will be repeated over and over again in the daily challenges. Each time you are exposed to them you get a little bit better.

Some challenges will seem impossible, just try them for 10 mins, mark them as complete and move on to the next challenge. The next time that challenge comes around you’ll find it a little easier, and eventually you will be able to replicate what Tony is teaching.

[BrandonK]

Hi Moose,

I appreciate what you are saying. I not even able to keep up in the first few minutes of the training video in the 5 Day Routine, let alone 10 minutes.

That is why I am going back to the start of the 30 Days to Play

[Kristin1]

Hello @BrandonK,

you CAN do the Daily Challenges. Just simplify. Example this week – so you get the idea:

Set out running:

try only the first two notes of the TAB: hammer on low e-string 4>5.

10 minutes. NOTHING ELSE. MARK COMPLETE!

Home before Daylight:

try only the first two notes on the TAB: hammer on d-string 4>5.

10 minutes. NOTHING ELSE. MARK COMPLETE!

Twenty Bills:

measures 4, 5 and 6. Choose the notes on the D-string: 5>7>9>12>9>7>5>2>0>2>5>5. Take your time searching the right spot/measure and play note after note.

10 minutes. NOTHING ELSE . MARK COMPLETE!

Devil`s Friend:

quick draw exercise counting yourself! 10 minutes. Maybe 10 minutes either G , C or D chord. Maybe 5 minutes G and 5 minutes C?

10 minutes NOTHING ELSE. MARK COMPLETE!

American Beauty:

Maybe try to place your fingers: G chord > C chord > G chord > C chord… and strum each chord (1 down stroke). Take your time doing it! It is not a race!

10 minutes. NOTIHNG ELSE. MARK COMPLETE!

And believe me: those babysteps add up ;-). I was once where you are now.

Greetings from Germany!

[BrandonK]

Hi Kristin,

Thank you for the response. I know you are trying to help and I appreciate it.

What you might not understand is most of what you wrote, I have no clue what it is. Remember I am a true beginner who just went through the 30 Day to Play and I did exactly what Tony said 10 minutes a day. Which means I did not master a thing, fretting, the chords, strumming…etc. A lot of the training was extremely challenging to me.

1. I still do not know how to read a TAB sheet and what it means. The lines I am figuring they are the strings just not sure which one as of yet. The numbers I think are the position on the fret board which I am not sure what finger to use for each number. I am also not sure is the lines like the guitar top to bottom of the strings which it appears from what I am seeing it might be opposite. The high E is at the bottom of the lines and the low E string is at the top of the lines on the TAB. Which is still confusing to me.

2. The list of numbers you shared, I am not sure what those are. Are those the strings or position on the fret board of the guitar…etc.

3. …etc.

I am sharing you so you can see I am still a beginner and a most of this information is still over my head.

[TerriG]

Hi Brandon,

Not able to read the TAB is definitely frustrating and once you understand it, it will help you to navigate the FRET board more easily (and understand the notes). Before the 30 Day challenge, there might be an introductory video on the Guitar strings & TAB. A quick reader digest version on how I remember everything:

1. The strings are from Low to High: (E)ddie (A)te (D)ynomite, (G)ood, (B)ye, (E)ddie. (EADGBE). Once you get that acrynom under your fingers, move on to the TAB.

2. The TAB is broken down into two sections. The top section are the signature notes are the notes based on the musical scale (forget about those at this moment). Concentrate in the section where you see the numbers. This section will guide you where to put your fingers on the fretboard.

3. The TAB works as the following matrix. The bottom line starts with the LOW E and each line corresponds to a string moving upwards to the top line which is the HIGH E. The numbers are the fret numbers. So if you see the Bottom Line with a number “3”, it means to put your finger on the LOW E string at the 3rd FRET. If you see a bunch of numbers vertical to each other, that usually means a Chord. After a while, you’ll start to recognize the chord based on the numbers. The TAB is very, very useful so definitely spend time understanding it.

4. The top portion of the TAB (where you see the notes) will tell you how long to hold a particular note. Each note has its own length of sound to hold. I bet someone can post a YT video to go over this. If not, a great book to have on hand is called, “How to Read Music” by Roger Evans. Old book, but it is a dictionary on the fundementals of music notations. It is more for the keyboard, but you can use it for the guitar too. It will give you the basics to move forward.

Once you understand the above, then dive into the Daily challenges especially Monday & Tuesdays. Monday’s will give you some techniques and Tuesdays are short licks to play to build your confidence. Some are easy and some are not – depends on the lesson for the week. Also, hunt around the Skills section on the website, there are some lessons there that will aid you going forward. As Moose mentioned, don’t worry about getting it perfect – just understand it enough and it will repeat itself in the future. Good luck and I do hope the above helps you.

[BrandonK]

Hi Terri,

Thank you so much for the response

1. When you are referring to the string on the guitar being low to high. Are you referring to the top string closes to me is the low one and the one further away from me is the high string?

2. For the Fret board it appears the Low string (string closes to me) is the line at the bottom of a TAB and the High string (string further way from me) is the top line. Is that correct? I am repeating what you said just so I can make sure I understand it correctly

3. I am starting to better understand the numbers and fret position. How do I know which figure to use?

Once I better understand what you sharing and be able to some what apply it, I agree I will move on to the Daily Challenge.

[TerriG]

Hi Brandon,

When I mentioned the Low/High E, I was talking about the sound pitch. The thicker string makes the low E sound and the thinnest string has the high E sound. So, EADGBE I am going from the thickest to the thinnest strings. In the TAB, the bottom line is the thick string and each line going up is getting thinner.

As for using which fingers, it depends on the chord and what feels the most comfortable for you. In the beginning, your fingers will not be flexible for some of the chords (my nemensis is the C chord/F Barr), so try but don’t get discourage and work around them when you get more familiar with the FRET board. Some Chord diagrams will give you which fingers to use. You’ll see numbers from 1-4 underneath the Chord diagram. The “1” is the Index finger, “2” Middle finger, “3” Ring finger and “4” pinky. I don’t know if Tony chord diagrams have them, but you’ll see them on other YT video instructions. When you see a CHORD diagram, remember a few things – “X” – don’t play that string, “O” – open string, just strike it, “# (number)” refers to the fret number and what string to play it on.

Tony has the “play” videos in the lessons. Definitely analyze them to see what fingers he is using. He usually tells you. I’ve been printing out the TAB and writing which finger to use underneath the numbers (I,M,R,P) so I know. Also, you have the option to slow down those videos. There is a speed option, so I HIGHLY recommend slowing down the videos to grasp what is happening (a .5x instead of a 1x). Sometimes they go so fast, you can’t see the nuisances.

Also, you’ll find that a lot of people hang out at the Daily Challenges. So if you have questions, just ask over there. Tony has a “Skill Courses” section on the website, usually you can find some answers in the “Skill” or “Technique” section. I would highly recommend trying some finger exercises since those chords will give you grief. Gather small wins in the beginning…there is a lot to take in and the learning curve is steep at the start. But keep at it and you’ll be accumulating the wins in no time.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  TerriG.

[BrandonK]

Thanks Terri for your response.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  BrandonK.

[BarbaraM]

Brandon, Rob, I agree Tony sometimes goes too fast and tends to gloss over some of the techniques. I got very frustrated at times. But I found taking some of the Skills courses helped a lot for me to understand how a thing was done. And someone here (Moose?) recommended a book, BrainJo, written by a neurophysiologist, about how the brain learns, and how to help that process along. An interesting read!

[BrandonK]

Thanks Barbara, I am going to look up the book today.

[BrandonK]

Thanks Barbara, I grab the book BrainJo yesterday and I am reading through it this week.

[JohnWP]

A couple weeks ago I was going to take my guitar back to the store I bought it from and ask them to prove to me it could actually make music. LOL.

I am now 46 days in and sometimes I hear something coming out that almost resembles music. I rarely get past a couple measures of the day’s challenge, but I mark it complete after 10 minutes and then play longer. Scales are by far my favorite and I am up to about 6 cords I can do easily and 2 ( C & D) that I struggle with almost every time. But I know one day I will get them.

Btw…l did find another video of how to play along with America’s Horse with No Name with only 2 cords. I felt like I was rocking along with them the first time I got my fingers to cooperate. Very glad no one else was in the house that day. LOL. Way more fun than playing the air guitar as a teenager!!

64 years young and I “play” the guitar every day now.

Kept at it and remember to celebrate the small steps!!

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  JohnWP.

[the-old-coach]

Rob503–

An often-overlooked thought is that there is only one TAC “program”. Everyone enters TAC starting with the same lessons/whatever. Trouble is– there are certainly HUGE differences in our own abilities “going in”. It would be impossible for the TAC program to accommodate all new members with a starting-lesson-plan tailored to each person’s unique abilities at the time. So– with “one plan”, it is easy to see that the “starting-point” here in TAC can be “easy” for some but maybe difficult for another… especially at the start. You can easily see how this can create problems, and maybe make some think- “I’m not getting it“, or “I’m slower that the others at this“, or even “I can’t do this“…..

Don’t be bummed, and don’t EVER compare “where you are” with “where you think you should be”. A quote from the Great Master Jumpin Jeff- “Expectation is where fun goes to die”.

My added personal opinion only- if you are “just starting out” on learning guitar… do NOT worry about “playing a song” or “being able to play a song” for now. Do the “learning-part” and the “getting-your-hands-and-wrists-in shape” parts for now. Ramp up to the “playing part”…….. and be patient.

Focus on:

Playing slowly at the start.

Playing accurately at the start.

Be kind to yourself at the start- guitar is NOT easy,

Give yourself some credit– always.

Recognize every little thing you accomplish and improve on. (Small wins!)

Realize that this is a lifelong trip– a marathon/ not a sprint.

Focus on the TRIP, not the destination. You’ll get there……..

Expect difficulty and frustration…. and EMBRACE it. Overcoming the hard parts is what will give you THE most “quiet pride” of self-accomplishment.

Lastly– (sometimes the hardest)- is- focus on the FUN of the journey.

There ya go– Sorry if I have likely bored the sh*t out of you……

theoldcoach

[Rob503]

no all good advice my friend.

[Rob503]

Well that song has come up 3 or 4 times as something to start out on. And my mantra is if they are in the house let them suffer with me 🙂

[BWild]

I feel your pain Rob, however learning to play guitar is not easy. I took lessons for about a year before joining TAC, and I’m still taking private lessons, plus TAC. The good thing about taking lessons is we focus on playing songs. However, after a year of playing I’m still not able to play more than 1 song. (Horse with no name) it only has 2 chords. Still can’t play ‘Wish You Where Here’ by Pink Floyd or ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Skynard. My C,D,G chords still suck, and scales are not bad forwards, having difficult play backwards.

Like you, I practice every day, 20-40 minutes. If I get board, or I am having a bad day with the acoustic, I switch to the electric.

When I started playing guitar, I told myself I’d do it for a year, well, 6 months in I changed that to 2 years. Now that I’m in my second year, I’ve changed that to 5 years.

I often think to myself, no stick with 6 strings is going to beat me. It’s all mind over matter, no mind, no matter

Remember when you were a kid, and played sports. You just went and played. Well as a young adult I played hockey, however I’d spend hours running and working out at the gym to stay in shape to play hockey once a week. It’s the same with guitar: years of practice to get it right and then onto playing songs.

Well, that’s my thoughts about learning to play, not sure if it has given you any encouragement. But at least you know I’m in the same place.

…Bob