Lost – need advice

[Skyman]

Have you already been through the 30 days to play, 5 day guitar routine, etc.? Best advice is to go through those. That will build a foundation for the daily challenges. There are also a bunch of very useful skill courses to work on as well.

[Loraine]

Hi and welcome to the TAC community @J.Dubs !

Great question. The daily challenge is a tool for learning different aspects of guitar playing. Monday”s focus is on technique, Tuesday is guitar licks, Wednesday is improvisation based on scales and a backing track, Thursday focuses on rhythm (the backing track from Weds. improv), and Friday is chord transitions. So, you’re learning foundational skills through the daily challenge, and the skills will assist you as you navigate your guitar journey. You’ll be able to apply the skills learned when you go to learn songs.

Is that all there is? No. Have you taken the 30 days to play course? If not, I’d start there, followed by the next six chords. Have you gone through any of the skills courses yet? If not, look through them and choose one that interests you. I began with the Jumpstart courses in fingerpicking, flatpicking and strumming. If you purchased Fretboard Wizard when you initially signed up for TAC, then you could take that. If not, it is typically offered twice a year (for a fee) and you own the course for life. TAC is revamping the course right now, so we’re just waiting for the new version to become available.

[J.Dubs]

Thank you Loraine and Skyman for your replies. Yes, I’ve done the 30 days to play, then the 5 days then the six chords….I’ve followed mostly along to the program as it’s designed. So, it’s me trying to navigate this correctly.

As I spend time working out the various challenges, I don’t spend any time with anything else, so I think that’s why I ask, what else should I be doing?!

The good news I’m playing the guitar almost everyday. I changed my time in which I do play, as recommended by Tony. So there has been accomplishments. Thanks again!

[Loraine]

@J.Dubs For the daily challenges don’t spend an exhorbitant amount of time on tHem. Spend a minimum of 10 minutes on a lesson and then mark it complete. You can continue working it if you like or move onto something else (a song you’re trying to learn, a skills course, scales, etc.). As Bill mentioned, all the daily challenge lessons cycle back around about every 8-9 months, and you’ll be able to see your progress then by how much easier some of them can be played. You’ll have so many foundational skills built up that you’re able to work the challenges more accurately and faster. THe goal of the daily challenges is progression, not perfection. Just give them your best shot during the 10-20 minutes you might spend on them.

[Bill_Brown]

Well said @Loraine 👍

[Bill_Brown]

Hi @J.Dubs , welcome to TAC👍 After reading the comments to your post, (my 2 cents), I think it would help you to do more of the “Skills” courses (they’re included with your TAC membership) and see how they can help you navigate through your journey here, before worrying about the daily challenges. The “Daily’s” will repeat through time, so it’s not an essential part of the program for new members, until they feel ready for the “challenge” IMHOP.👍

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Bill_Brown.

[jumpinjeff]

Hi @J.Dubs , have you decided what you would like to play? TAC is great preperation for what you want to play. The big picture is everything you do here will give you more bandwidth, more skill, more ability to play what you want to play. When you start playing what you want to play the lessons learned here will start weaving their way into your playing. Think of this as the gymnasium of guitar but not the field of play. That is as “big picture” as I can come up with.

[N-lightMike]

Hey @J.Dubs ;

So, the “big picture”. The big picture is so simple that we adults miss it all the time. Think like a kid. Just jamming away, with no thought of how good they are or are not. No thought of comparison with someone else, or how fast they should learn. Nothing. Nothing but jamming away with intense joy.

So, how do you get adults to do that? Well, you spoon feed them some skills exercises and tell them the only rule is to have fun. There is no end goal. The skills courses can help, but they are rather limited. You won’t get where you’re trying to get by working on mastering any technique. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you don’t even know where you’re going. You just want to play guitar.

Everyone who’s been here 2 or 3 months can look back and tell you that somehow, seemingly magically, their guitar skills have improved. Put in the effort and a little bit of time and these dailies will make you a better guitar player. And the less you understand how they can do that the better they seem to work.

So, the “big picture” is to keep doing exactly what you’re doing. What did you say? You’re playing everyday? I guess it’s working. Having fun? That’s enough. Turn the brain off. Go jam on your guitar. If you are playing everyday and having fun, you will get better. That’s all there is to the big picture. And trust me, everyone one of us wondered the same at the beginning. Is this all? Aren’t I supposed to do something… harder, more complicated… shouldn’t I be able to feel my guitar muscles growing by the day? It’s easy to look back and laugh at myself now. Enjoy the journey. It’s a fun ride. I have improved in under 3 years more than I used think was possible for me.

MG 😀

[Jammin_Chuck]

I appreciate all the advice here for J.Dubs because I’m in the same mind frame as him. Did the 30 Days, 5 Chords, a couple jumpstarts… guess I just gotta turn the brain off like you suggest, put it in cruise control, and show up every day. Thanks all!

[Mrfredsporty]

As one of the most “mature” (78) members and one of the newer members my 3 cents worth is do what the other folks have so rightly recommend PLUS do ALL the skills courses. At the end of each session work on a song and play a few DAILY. So endeth todays minisermon. Can I get an amen,

[N-lightMike]

Amen, @Mrfredsporty , Amen. 🤣

MG 😀

[Mrfredsporty]

Ty, M.G.

[J.Dubs]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. I have been playing most every day for almost 2 months, only missing a day here or there when life gets in the way! Life should understand I’m playing guitar for goodness sake! I’ve just switched to the 12 bar blues skills yesterday, loved the first one and felt like I accomplished something already. Pretty cool. I think I will proceed with the Skills, then pop into a daily challenge once in awhile instead of thinking that’s the only thing. Honestly I thought I should be doing all the daily challenges first, and when I’m through that, move onto the Skill Courses. Like moving from point a to point b, in order!

Thanks again everyone!

[OhWowMan]

@J.Dubs I totally understand where you’re coming from! I’ve been a TAC member since October 2021. After 210 playing sessions, I’m feeling like a jack of all trades but master of none.

[Cadgirl]

hi @OhWowMan , I completely understand what you are saying. Tony doesn’t really teach you how to play a song, he teaches methods to play your own songs. I like Tony’s site. I’ll keep using the daily challenges. If you did the 5 day Guitar Routine Challenge it helps explain what he wants you to do with the challenges. Good Luck.

[Cherie]

@J.Dubs

All the best to you in your guitar journey. It’s wonderful that you are playing daily. I play daily, too and love every note.

I agree with others’ helpful recommendations. The Skills courses are great and Tony is an excellent teacher. Right now, I am reviewing the Foundations of Fretboard Navigation.

@OhWowMan Yes, I also understand where you’re coming from.

At this point, I’m going back to the Skills courses and will check in to Daily Challenges when I have time.

My first year at TAC has been very positive.

Happy playing everyone,

Cherie

🙂