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Small Win – Knowing I’m Not Ready to Move on.
I should be on week 3 of the 30 Days to Play, but I’m not really ready to move on from week 2 practice. My fret fingers don’t have the “G,” “D,” or “C” chords down yet where my transitions are smooth. I’m still hesitating but getting better each day. I’m ok and consider it a small win because I know consistency will develop the muscle memory I need to move on. I’m getting closer every day and can almost play along with Tony at 1X speed most of the time between “G” and “D” but not so much between “G” and “C” or between “C” and “D.”
My first month in the Navy after Boot Camp in 1984, I was required to learn how to type – We had two weeks to learn to type 20 words a minute, or we would flunk out of school and head out to the fleet as a non-rate Sailor until we could strike for another school/rating. The keys on the typewriter were painted over with nail polish, and we had to learn by repetition, and I did it before the two weeks were up – I’ve heard it said many times; repetition is the mother of all skill. So I know my fingers will eventually develop the muscle memory to allow me to transition between chords smoothly. I consider it a small win to see and know I’m making progress and developing muscle memory that will not fail once I’ve got it. I’m hoping I’ll be able to fret the chords without looking once I’ve got them down pat.
Celebrating a second week two but I’m ok with that.
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15 Replies
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nice win there @Terry6422000 . Repetition has worked in my favor and is an integral part of my learning process. Say, just outta curiosity did you find and remark the letters on your typing keys?
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HAHAHA…I wasn’t that smart… but the good thing about learning that way is you don’t really think about it. The only time I need to look at the keyboard now is to find an upper case symbol. My typing speeds are upwards of 80 WPM now without trying.
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Yes @Terry6422000 , good win. But keep in mind that you can always go back to each individual lesson in the 30 Days to Play course, any time you want and as many times as you want!
Sounds like the 80 WPM is a good win also – I’m a hunt and peck kind of guy (lol)
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Thank you for the encouragement – and nothing wrong with hunt and peck..that’s how I do it on the phone 🙂
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Really smart to realize where you are at and move accordingly. Muscle memory is such an amazing gift. But they remember what they repeatedly do so if it’s mistakes that are repeated then that’s what they know! Also smart to relate this to previous success. You got this!! 👍
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Thank you for the encouragement – I definitely can relate to getting good at a mistake thinking I had it right :)…so trying to be consistent and still looking ahead a bit too.
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Congrats on your discovery Terry! Foundational skills are key! I took almost 90 days to finish the beginner course, and others take a while as well. And I took the 30-Days after I’d finished a beginner’s course elsewhere.
Go at your own pace. And go back to refresh. I’m planning to do that soon. 🙂
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I’m planning on revisiting week one for sure. I loved the blues sound Tony introduced in each lesson.
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@Terry6422000 Great win – There really is no time limit on the challenge. However long you need, you should take. Remember though, you’re not striving for perfection … keep moving and learning. You can always go back to a lesson if you want to.
Funny story about bootcamp. When I went in the Marines many, many moons ago, I was promised an engineering job based on my AFEES score. In basic, they learned I could type over 100 words per minute, and thus I became the chaplain’s secretary. I still haven’t forgiven them for that. Put a real dent in my wanting to be there.
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Thank you for the encouragement – and a great story about boot camp. A friend of mine was a recruiter and he put a young guy in the Navy who wanted to be a Missile Specialist but really didn’t have the ASVAB score – my friend told him he would make him an MS – assuming MS meant Missile Specialist :)…it was Mess Specialist AKA the Cook…the young Sailor came back to visit after he finished school and was thrilled to be a MS…never looked back.
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Haha – great story – Thanks and have a great day @Terry6422000
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You’ve got the right idea for sure. You’re your own boss so take as much time as you need. Like Guy H said remarked about Reinforcing poor habits, finish your exercise with some good playing to reinforce correct technique. Good luck.
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Thank you – I kind of like Mr. Miyagi’s advice…wax on – wax off…very simple…keep it simple…do it right the first time for sure!
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Hi Terry if it makes you feel better I have been in the beginner 30 days since August! I tend to make sure I got it. I am also taking the fingerpicking jumpstart simultaneously. I’m okay with all this but sometimes I think I’m nuts taking so long! I was in the Air Force and in basic training I hated those picky inspections. Inside vest buttoned one way only, and lining up those towels. Your story is hysterical. Congrats on that and good luck with your guitar journey.👏
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Thank you for the encouragement – fingerpicking is the real reason I picked up the guitar in the first place – I can’t wait to start working on fingerpicking with the goal of learning “Classical Gas”. Oh..and agree…inspections in boot camp were never fun 🙂
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