Practice? What works? What Doesn’t?

[N-lightMike]

This is a constant theme here on the TAC forum @Skyman .

First, let me say that you have a really great routine at present. Very complete and well rounded.

Second, your progress is probably much faster than you realize. I started when I was 44 but only learned the basics from a book. I played on and mostly off over 20 years and then joined TAC at 63. It turns out, even people who start at a young age take way longer than you would think. But when you start in your 60s, you’re doing well if you can see progress over a 2 or 3 month period. Which is exactly what TAC gives us and what you will get as long as you stick to this routine.

Third, you’re gonna burn out. You’ll get bored of what you are doing. As you get better at those chord transitions, they won’t be challenging and therefore exciting anymore. But there will still be a lot to learn. That’s where TAC comes in. Those daily lessons will be a challenge for at least 3 years, but probably more like 5 or 6 years. They cover the whole range of guitar skills and they change constantly. Everyone here has experienced the magic of simply doing a minimum of 10 minutes or more every day on the daily lessons and seeing progress in their guitar skills. There is no starting point or ending point. The lessons will come around again in 10 months or so. When they do, you will notice that you are playing a certain lesson better even though you forgot all about it after the one day you did it several months ago.

For now, you are doing wonderfully. Keep it up and seek help from the community every time you have another question or some win you want to share with us. We love to hear about your victories.

MG 😀

[crarod]

@Skyman

First of all, welcome to TAC!

You definitely have an absolutely fantastic routine! I definitely wish I could spend that much time!

You are on the right track. It does take time to develop the muscle memory in your fretting hand for the make the chords without looking at the fretboard. I have been playing on/off for almost 40 years now and I still have trouble with some chords but they are a work in progress as is everything else.

Keep what you are doing and I guarantee you that in a few months at this pace YOU WILL SEE an improvement.

As for me, I practice Su-Th, with TAC for about 15 minutes, then put on a blues backing track (in whatever key, say Am) from youtube and using that Am key, I play solos with the Am scale for maybe another 10 minutes.

I then try and play a few songs. Maybe some that I know and some that I want to learn for about 15 minutes.

Other days, I manage to only do the TAC segment and nothing else.

I have a group of friends that I play in a garage band. I have been playing those songs for about 15 years so it is mostly about drinking beer!!!

I hope this helps. Please keep playing and you will find success sooner than later.

Cheers

crarod

[Skyman]

I appreciate the words of encouragement! What I am really liking about TAC, is the variety. I’ve mostly just done strumming songs, and now see the limitations of just strumming. The flat picking and finger picking has been a challenge. I hope to be able to just sit down and play some blues licks someday. With a beer of course. 🙂 I’ve only done a couple of the daily challenges, and some have been a little over my head.

[jumpinjeff]

Hey There @Skyman I wonder how you know you should be further along than you are. From what you are saying it sounds like you are further along than most at your stage of the journey. Point is we just don’t know…we are where we are. As far as practice goes….I make play my practice. When ever I pick up the guitar I am playing with it and even when I am executing drills in order to get to where I want to go I am still playing around with the drills. It is a mindset thing that has kept me super engaged in the journey for the last 7 years…I think I will keep it up. The only thing that doesn’t work is setting the guitar down. Many things lead to that but I have so far been able to avoid falling into the pits that lead to putting it in the corner and not playing. I love the daily exercises/lessons and still do these every day. It is the finger gymnasium that has led me to progress beyond what i could have imagined and the best is I don’t ever have to think about what is next…I log on and do it. More time playing less time contemplating. Keep it light and keep it fun. I wish you continued fast progress toward your goals!

[Moonhare]

The stalwarts of TAC have already spoken so not much to add really. Tony really does try to instill in us the mantra that there is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ on where you should be. Your routine sounds awesome but you may decide to change it at some stage and that’s fine. I try the daily challenges in the week (get about 50% of them at at least .5 speed), dip into some skills and then I try to write a new tune each weekend putting into practice what I’ve learnt during the week. It’s just me and my guitar at weekends, no routine, no scales just playing for the fun of it which is the whole point of all the practice after all.

I’ve played on and off (more off than on) since my teens but never got past a few cowboy chords. I wasn’t even going nowhere fast – it was nowhere slow – until I joined TAC last April at age 55 and I just haven’t looked back. I am so pleased with my progress not only because of the official TAC lessons, but also the family of encouraging people here like @MikeGaurnier and @jumpinjeff who you’ve already heard from. I check in at the 90 Day Progress Parties to meet other TAC members face to face and also set goals and learn news from Tony. And (I can’t quite believe it) next week I will be playing my first live guitar to an audience at the SCONES Virtual Open Mic. Nervous? Hell yeah – but also really excited about it. You are right where you should be and I’m sure looking forward to hearing some of your playing at some stage. Keep on Rockin! 🤟😎🎸

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by  Moonhare.

[Guitargeezer]

I suspect, @Moonhare (Darren) you will play splendidly for your first VOM based on what I have witnessed you do on Play for Us. Expect to be nervous but also expect the jitters to vanish soon after you start playing. I found those involved in VOMs, like MG, are very kind and supportive. I’ve only done one so far but am looking forward to my next VOM.

[Moonhare]

Been writing and rehearsing like mad since attending last week’s SCONES VOM where I just wanted to listen and get a feel for what it was all about. Definitely looking forward to getting one under my belt then I think it’ll be easier from that point on.

[docteny]

Docteny here

how do you get on Scones Virtual open mic

I could really use some advice on how to put licks into songs

I can play most chords including bar chords but still am not sure how to integrate the licks

? any advice

[Cadgirl]

Good for you to be taking ‘person to person’ lessons at the same time. You didn’t say what type of things you are learning in your classes? I would just suggest to toss in something to make a song sound a little fun. Practice some chord transition runs between chords. A run from G chord to D chord just brightens up a song a little. I’m attaching a youtube to give you an idea what I’m talking about, incase you don’t know. Just copy and paste into your browser. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWZ4FQj41to

It takes time to learn the ins and outs of playing the guitar. One day it will all fall in place. You sound like you are on the right track.

[Moonhare]

That’s a great video @Cadgirl – must try out some of those transitions. I think a lot of the licks Tony teaches us can be used like this and I’m enjoying the sections on some of the latest Tuesday dailies where he puts them into context.

[Cadgirl]

Hi @Moonhare I was just looking for something online that would make learning songs more fun and I came across this video. I, myself want to jazz up my playing a little bit. Just adding in some note transitions helps a lot. @Skyman is taking ‘in-person’ lessons also, that’s a big WOW in my book. I was using Johnny Cash’s ‘I walk the line’ and practicing all the transitions between the verses and the intro. Just sort of made a light bulb moment for me.

[docteny]

Thanks, I tried the first 3 versions, much slower than Brandon did, but was able to do it and it sounds pretty good

cheers

[Cadgirl]

Thanks @docteny , I really liked the video myself. I am pretty slow myself, but speed takes time. I found quite a few videos that looked interesting. One was on learning bluegrass music. I really would like to learn bluegrass music. I don’t know if my fingers can go that fast? Rock on good buddy.

[Kristin1]

Hello @Skyman,

Tony recommends to take the “5 Day Guitar Routine Challenge” course in the skill section before starting do do the Daily Challenges. I pretty sure after you´ve finished the “5 Day Guitar Routine Challenge” – which won´t take very long – you will enjoy doing the Daily Challenges.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by  Kristin1.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by  Kristin1.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by  Kristin1.

[Skyman]

Thank you all for the supportive advice!

[N-lightMike]

Gosh, I love this community and TAC.

First, thank you to @Skyman for asking the question and starting this thread.

Second, thank you to @crarod @jumpinjeff @Moonhare @Guitargeezer-Jack @Cadgirl and @Kristin1 for you contributions to this awesome thread.

I had to laugh, crarod, when you said your garage band was more about drinking beer. Rock on… well, or drink on… whatever works. 😂

I always get something out of your comments jumpin’ jeff. Thanks for leading the way.

I appreciate hearing your progress and learning about your approach Moonhare. I look forward to seeing you at another VOM. You bring so much to share with us from your music background.

I am honored to be a part of your guitar journey Jack and see your progress. We all learn from each other regardless of being ahead or behind because we all proceed through this musical adventure in our own way.

I definitely want to watch this video, Cadgirl. I am finally at the point where I can start incorporating this stuff. And thanks for your encouraging words.

And finally, I wanted to thank you, Kristin, for this great advice. I think I will go through that class again. It amazes me how I can get more out of Tony’s basic videos when I go back through them.

MG 😀

[Moonhare]

Hi there. I’ve put SCONES on the calendar for next week and whatever happens I will attempt a song this time.

[Cadgirl]

You know @MikeGaurnier, I think the first year with TAC I was in a hurry to learn songs. So the daily challenges weren’t really what I was expecting. I was always in the ….. when do we learn a song??? Now, I realize that we are learning much more than a song. We are learning how the music works. So we can pour ourselves into a song we made and shared with others. Anyway, that’s my take on it all. This year, i’m going to pay a little more attention to the challenges and the courses.

[jumpinjeff]

@Cadgirl astute observations there! Tony’s canon continues to reveal it’s usefulness and brilliance even years down the road. I can still find theory gold nuggets and I have been at this a while. I still have physical breakthroughs in speed and accuracy. I will do a lesson and accomplish something I have never been able to do before. The more I learn and bring to a lesson it seems like the lesson reveals more to me. It is one of reasons I stick around.

[Cadgirl]

Hey @jumpinjeff ,I really like that Tony is pulling in one of the challenges into his Acoustic Tuesday show. Takes it a step further to explain the what is and why. I’m going to spend this year paying a little more attention. 🙂