Tony P. – How I TAC – 4/6/2021

[Bill_Brown]

@Tpolecastro 😎 “Like”

[Bill_Brown]

💙

[Dom_T]

I can’t say that I play guitar or practice at a particular time each day. Is everyone knows life causes you to do things around all the other things. But if I don’t get to play at all one day, it leaves me feeling empty somehow. I have been around TAC from the beginning, so I have seen some of these lessons before. That doesn’t mean that I don’t look at them as they come around, because just a quick review of them might set me in a direction that I can have fun with, like re-learning a riff, or doing a speed challenge because we all want to be able to play faster and more accurate right? Or maybe when I hear a particular riff it might inspire me to write a song. It can happen. Yes I can play guitar fairly well at this point having been at it for 10 years, five of it before I found Tony, and he changed everything. And this site is the reason I can now play a decent guitar song. So my routine isn’t necessarily so routine, but Music is now my life and if I have not had a day looking through the TAC website, I have for sure missed an opportunity. An opportunity to improve myself, and opportunity to see how my friends have improved, and opportunity to cheer on newcomers who have always wanted to play guitar and never could get the time.

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by  Dom_T.

[Marty73]

👍

[Loraine]

In a perfect week

1. How many times will you play? In a perfect week, I’ll play daily (7xweek)

2. When will you play? I do my daily lessons every weekday at 11:30 a.m. I typically practice scales, finger exercises while sitting on my couch in the evenings (during commercials on t.v.). I practice a fingerpicking or flatpicking song that I’m working on around 12:00 p.m. every weekday, and several times throughout the day when I pick up the guitar for 10-15 minute stretches. I’m also working on a few songs, and I’ll practice them right after practice during the lunch hour and throughout the day/evening during 10-15 minute stretches. I spend more time on these songs on the weekends.

3. Where will you play? I always practice on my lunch hour during the week in my bedroom (that’s where my laptop typically is). I practice during the 10-15 minute breaks typically in my livingroom. I’m in the process of converting a space in an upstairs vacant bedroom to a music room, but I have guitars in several rooms of the house and I can reach for one wherever I am.

[Ddtediejm]

1.) How many days per week do you play?

I try to play my guitar every day, 7 days a week. I can usually pick it up for at least 10 min even on hectic days.

2.) What time of day do you play?

I play around 6pm. I get home from work around 5ish, then I come in to play after dishes are done.

3.) Where do you play?

My “guitar den” is my office where the computer is. I plop in front of it and load up TAC. I open the tab, and I open a online timer to do at least 5 min of warm up before I begin the lesson.

4.) How has implementing a consistent guitar routine helped you? (if possible name 3 ways).

–I am stealing some of Tony’s, as I too, think Regular routine leads to building that muscle memory into a life long habit.

Technique: I honestly believe I am getting better at things. I used to be just a straight strummer, didn’t like to finger pick much. I still prefer my picks, but I can get through a lesson of banjo triple rolls without the stress I felt when I first started.

Fun has never been an issue with me an the guitar…but I am far less frustrated trying to learn songs I love anymore. Barre chords don’t scare me off like they used too, and songs I would struggle with when I first started are much easier and better sounding now.

5.) Bonus Question: What is one non-guitar item that is a must have in your guitar routine? On the weekends it is coffee for me as well…but on my main week nights, I usually go for a cold ice tea-so caffeine is definitely something that fuels the guitar hero in me.

[Deleted User]

Make sure to create your own post following this format in the “Show off Your Routine” forum to be entered into the giveaway! 🙂

[Marky]

1.) How many days per week do you play?

I have committed to playing 7 days per week and have been able to accomplish that goal since March 2020. I will continue to practice/play daily because the progress I am making concrete. Also, I just love to play.

2.) What time of day do you play?

I start my sessions in the early mornings, usually between 7:00 and 8:00 am. I usually play several times again throughout the day. The evenings are my creative time, usually 2 hours of learning a new song, strumming pattern, scales, arpeggios etc.

3.) Where do you play?

I have a dedicated corner of my listening room set up for everything guitar.

4.) How has implementing a consistent guitar routine helped you? (if possible name 3 ways).

– daily practice equals daily progress, the more I practice the better I get, it’s a no brainer win win situation. It also makes me realize that I can accomplish anything I set out to do if I put in the time.

– being consistent with my routine allows me to gauge my progress and inspires me to keep playing.

– I know what I am trying to accomplish each day. Here’s my schedule:

Mon-warm up, daily challenge and scales

Tue-warm up, daily challenge and arpeggios

Wed-warm up, daily challenge and finger picking

Thur-warm up, daily challenge and soloing

Fri-warm up, daily challenge and chord transitions, keys

Sat-Sun new techniques and week in review.

5.) Bonus Question: What is one non-guitar item that is a must have in your guitar routine?

Coffee is my go to beverage and my lucky thumb ring🙂

[Slyro]

4/07/21- Thank you Tony for sharing! Your an inspiration man. And for setting all of this up. This is really a good/ Great!..courses that we can learn from, and all of the content that we have access to, and how structured and organized this is. It’s making me want to learn, and look forward to learning the guitar. Thank you very much!..

Rob Sliger, US Air Force Wounded Warrior Decorated, TAC Student

[Casey_M]

Help. I’ve tried posting in this forum 3 times now, and your system says it’s “detecting a duplicate discussion” (i.e. that I already posted), but my post doesn’t show up anywhere on the thread, or in my profile. Not sure what’s going on here, and if it’s human or computer error, but not sure what to do now…

[Layton_Lange]

Thanks for sharing Tony! Really enjoyed hearing what your guitar routine consists of.

Very inspiring and I’m glad to say we share similar aspects, I too cannot go with out coffee and the momentum from a solid routine is changing my guitar playing!

Cheers ☕️

[SandyM]

Hi Tony,

Look at all that vinyl! and I’m really glad to hear you can still carve out time to play with a new baby and working in the field every day. Good work!!!!

[Pstover]

1) I have committed to practice at least 5 days a week. I try to make every session fun and reward my self with an extra 5 minutes of fretting or cord practice.

2) I play in the morning after coffee and breakfast. This is a good time before I go practice golf in the afternoons.

3) I play and practice in my office -I have the computer there to go over the daily lessons and can go back and forth to review older sessions.

4) I am new to the guitar. I am retired. This routine has given me a new challenge

– It has given me something to look forward to everyday. Even on days I don’t practice It continue to think about it

– It is a challenge – So I like having to work at new things –

– It is fun to slowing get better and learn something everyday

5) The one thing I need for every session is my guitar tuner. I like to start off by tuning the old girl and doing some finger warm up.

[Deki]

“HOW I TAC” by DEKI aka Fred Mandryk

1.) How many days per week do you play?

I am committed to practising 5 days per week. On weekends, I relax a little, but play a song or two throughout the day, during breaks around my chores, housework, if I’m watching a game baseBall/hockey I play during the ‘yakking’ or commercials; I have discovered my love for playing has increased over the last year tenfold. End result is I am becoming a daily player…and passionate about moving forward incrementally

2.) What time of day do you play?

I get my 10 minutes of practise in the mornings between 8:30 to 9:30 am. They always stretch into more time than 10. Coffee, make the bed, fire up the computer after reading the Tony’s mail is next. I play throughout the day as the opportunity arises. The routine augments my playing. In this case, I must add Covid-lock downs et al has made my music the perfect activity to fill in the time as there is plenty of it to play. No rush! No pressure!

3.) Where do you play?

In my corner of the family room. I check humidifier; read Tony’s email. There, are located my two treasures “Alfredo” my beloved acoustic and “Blackie” Fender Electric. A rug on the floor, music stand, guitar seat, my Peavey Amp, music books,,“TAC Binder” and table for my Lap top. I’m all set. Great spot.

4.) How has implementing a consistent guitar routine helped you? (if possible name 3 ways).

It certainly has. My commitment has increased 100%; it’s easy to keep when Tony’s Rationale is applied and even more so now that my wife has distinctly noticed a significant difference my playing. She’s an accomplished pianist as is our daughter.

* I use a timer to make sure I’m not cheating myself. I have noticed I’ve increased the time to 20 minutes over the last couple of months. Small win, eh?

* I like to have a paper copy of the daily challenge; as well I often read the comments at the end of sessions and pick up tips from others – then go back and try them out! I make notations on the printed version

* I continue to mark the X when completing the job. I love the longest streak feature. I see my progress and consider each session as a small win. I was overwhelmed in the beginning, but now I simply proceed and complete the challenge. I also go back and review and plan to continue doing this as part of my practise routine.

* Lastly, I don’t cry when I play many of my songs as I was so used to doing. I remember my former teacher and the fun we had playing as a duet before he passed away. He was my inspiration then…now Tony, you have taken his place.

5.) Bonus Question: What is one non-guitar item that is a must have in your guitar routine?

SOLITUDE:

Phone off, no distractions, staying focussed;…THIS TOO IS MEASURED…. I USE MY PHONE SET TO “ALARM” AND INSTEAD OF A RING, Johnny Cash breaks the silence with his version of “The Cat’s In The Cradle”! If I jump when it comes on, I have been focussed. If not, I may repeat that section or occasionally even the entire 10 minute session. Another small win.

PS

Tony, I am grateful to have the opportunity of learning your techniques and methods of playing the guitar. It’s a bonus meeting the group of like minded people and have access to the entire comment section. It adds to the package and reaffirms my belief in the acronym TEAM ..says it best Together Everyone Achieves More

GUITAR GEEKS UNITE



[[email protected]]

im retired so 7 days a week

in the after noon when ive read my paper

in my bedroom come studio

it makes my life more rewarding

[tlovesnewfies]

1.) How many days per week do you play?

I try to play at least 5 days a week but many times I play over the weekends also, especially if we’re staying at our camper for the weekend. Love playing by the campfire!

2.) What time of day do you play?

Between 2 and 2:15 in the afternoon is my time. If I can play then I can get quite a bit of playing in before I meet my dog-walking friend for our daily spin around the neighborhood. I can usually get at least an hour in this way. If I don’t, sometimes I feel a bit cheated. LOL

3.) Where do you play?

I have a little spot set up in our family room downstairs that’s mine. I can go down there and not bother anyone if they are watching tv or reading or whatever. Close the door and the world kinda melts away.

4.) What was your guitar life like before having a guitar routine & how has implementing a consistent guitar routine helped you? (if possible name 3 ways).
Hit and miss as to playing every day.
It’s so easy to let the guitar playing slide when you don’t have it in your routine. I hate missing a lot, but I do know it will happen from time to time. I do my best not to let it happen for more that one day though. I have lunch and then head downstairs to play. Don’t even have to think about it.

It’s so easy to see progress when you focus for that little bit of time every day. Some friends heard me play awhile back and were so supportive. They said I had come a very long way. Hopefully, they weren’t just being nice! LOL

No matter what I’ve been working on during my lesson time, I always take a few minutes and play a couple of things I know I play well. Nothing like ending on a high note. I feel good about the time spent and I’m smiling when I’m done. All’s right with the world!

5.) Bonus Question: What is one non-guitar item that is a must have in your guitar routine?

I have a beverage of some sort. Be it water, tea or iced coffee. Gotta keep hydrated!

[NW-NJ-Guitar-Dave]

Tony,

I think you make a great point when you talk about your “routine” as being a “habit”. By establishing good habits, it becomes automatic without thinking. My goal is to create that habit that allows me not to have to look for time. It becomes second nature.

-Dave