BarbaraM
Forum Replies Created
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For all of you who say ten minutes a day is too little–I am not in disagreement with that. I am simply presenting an alternate viewpoint.
I also have read the book The Laws of Brainjo, so I understand the learning value of shorter sessions, at *least* once daily. More often is obviously going to bring greater returns. Now in my own case, I have not so much a struggle learning but in execution, as my fingers are short and puffy and I cannot do certain things, no matter how much I practice. Plus after about 10-15 minutes of steady practice, my fingers get tired and I start stumbling over simple passages. More is not always better, at least when not broken up. I don’t want it to stop being fun. Now, Braden says he takes 5-10 minute breaks in his hour-long practice; guess what, that’s several non-continuous 10 minute sessions.
I have noticed from various comments in different challenges that many of us are older, and extended practice sessions may not be entirely comfortable. Sure, daily practice will keep your calluses in shape, and that is definitely recommended! But if you are hoping to become a rock star, you should have started at age 12 and never stopped. I only play for myself and maybe a friend or two from time to time. Your mileage (and needs) may vary!
So maybe it’s a marketing strategy, maybe it’s brain science, maybe it’s a way to get more people having fun making music, maybe all of the above. You do you, as they say!
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That is exactly what I do, though I do it on all of the chords in that song. It slows me way down, but if I played it that way enough I’d get better at it. I have always had trouble muting the D string on the C chord, and the F, well…
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Thanks, Pete. That is very interesting and easy to understand. My Zager came with a truss rod wrench but has never needed any adjustment. The Baby Taylor has a adjustment hole inside the body as Tony described. It looks like it would take a set screw wrench, but I can’t tell what size just now.
That said, according to Tony’s diagnostic description, this puppy needs more relief/bow, but that would give it a higher action, and it’s high enough that I have to press harder than on my Zager parlor. What it looks like to me is that the saddle/bridge was set too high so the strings go from a next to nothing point at the nut to 4-5mm at the 12th fret. What would happen if I filed down the lower fret bars (they stick up a fair amount) just enough to give more relief at the nut end? Or is that a no-no?
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Arggg! That particular finger arrangement is impossible for me!
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Yeah, when people in my age range (70s) mention such and such a song, how great it was or whatever, I am clueless! (The Grateful Dead? who are they?) Don’t worry, I have picked up a little! 😀
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Wow, excellent suggestions, all of you! I don’t know all that many songs, as I wasn’t allowed to listen to rock growing up, aside from the radio on the school bus. So I’ll have to peruse my “simple” guitar songbooks, then listen to them on YouTube.
I do throw in a hammer on this week’s Ain’t No Sunshine Tuesday lick, it just sounds better. I don’t know about modifying a D chord; I can’t make it normally, though I do manage Old Man fairly well. Might try something there in The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Lots of things to think about and try! Thanks, guys!
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Very helpful! Thanks, Pete!
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Bill, thank you for that explanation! Makes so much more sense to me now.
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At first your explanation seemed very confusing so I tried it on the guitar. But if I fret the 3rd fret on the A string for example (C note), one fret toward the body on the G string is B, not C. and going down one fret to the B string is a C#. So now it’s more confusing?! What am I not understanding?
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This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by BarbaraM.
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This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by
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OK, I tried it, the “old” way of tuning starting with the low E string… I had just previously tuned it with my headstock tuner, plucking the 12th fret as previously mentioned. Every string was totally in tune with the previous, no “wah-wah” just “wahhhhh”! So the accuracy of the tuner is good. I could totally get into guitar nerddom, though I still have trouble with some of Fretboard Wizard. My tinnitus prevents me from being able to guess the key of a song.
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Yes I have seen that video! Some serious harmonics going on there! And my brother lives not far from there, in Puyallup, WA…
Anyway, I usually use my fingernail over the sound hole, never thought about using the middle of the string at the 12th fret, makes sense. The tuner I use came with my guitar (Zager); I had another el cheapo I got from Amazon that I sold with my dreadnought.
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I just ordered a sampler set of Dunlops! 6 different thicknesses. Can’t wait to try them!
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Not sure what you mean by using less of your index finger when holding between the index and thumb? I hold the pick with my index curled, and held mostly level, with the thumb’s last joint held across it, at the last joint of the index.
I checked out my collection of random picks and found one that was slightly thinner than the one I use most often, and it does sound better. I have no idea of the thickness; I’d have to dig out my late husband’s micrometer gauge (he was a toolmaker).
So, thinner is softer sounding? What is the number I should look for, and what does it signify? I’m not terribly concerned with having perfect tone, just to have it not sound like a chain saw on a metal fence post! 😀
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LOL!
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Yes! The contortions! I can’t play anything at a reasonable speed because of that.