[ProbablyBryan]

Learning the guitar is learning anything.

I know how to Swing dance, but it took me about a YEAR to just “get” it. You need to lead another dancer and dance to the music; there is rhythm, the floor, other dancers, the temperature in the room, your muscles, and a bit more!

At least, with a guitar, it’s not moving around, and you’re just sitting there.

My point is: It’ll take time. Like anything. Learn to crawl, then stand, then walk.

Really, it’s that easy.

How do I know this? I began this past January. It took a while to learn the chord changes (there is still trouble from D to C, but it’s “getting there”).

After “failing” the F-chord (the Barre F), one day, it “just worked”!

So: Take. Your. Time. (That’s it.)

[ProbablyBryan]

Do the 30 Days to Play first. You’ll get an idea of how the lessons work, Tony’s teaching style, and more.

[ProbablyBryan]

Thank you everyone! I truly appreciate the help.

[ProbablyBryan]

Great answers. While I do play, it’s not enough; I will play for at least 10 minutes every day, but I get lost with older lessons.

I could find a song somewhere and play it, but I’m surprised that the list of songs to play (or suggestions) is the missing piece, at least for me.

That said, I do love TAC. It’s solid training. Realize, I’m a 100 percent beginner and have only played/learned since mid-January this year (2024).

==> If anyone is a longtime TAC member who started at Zero, how did you start playing songs?

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks… for some reason, even on the lowest level, it’s “too high.”

I’m using it for my RIGHT leg… am I using it wrong, because it’s not really comfortable.

The Classical guitar players use it on their LEFT leg. I’m 5’5″, so maybe it’s for taller people..?

==========

This is the one I got from Donner. They all look the same:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HRLX97K

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  ProbablyBryan.

[ProbablyBryan]

Okay, I’m not trying to be a wise guy… two days ago, I tried to play the F-chord that Tony showed us, barring the B&E and fingers on the D&G.

Usually, it was a real clunky chord, but this time — maybe because I started with the F-chord before my fingers were tired… I played the perfect F-chord! Over and over!

The big difference was that my left index finger was *almost* on its left side. It just worked — and the odd thing was that I really wasn’t trying to play the perfect chord; it just happened.

So, I guess we’ll all “get” it when it happens..?

[ProbablyBryan]

Here are a few:

https://tonypolecastro.com/courses/finger-stretch-5-day-challenge/

https://www.fretjam.com/finger-stretching-exercises.html

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  ProbablyBryan.

[ProbablyBryan]

Maybe this’ll help: 40 days isn’t a smidge in the time to learn anything.

I remember learning the Lindy Hop (a Swing dance)… it took me WEEKS to just “get it,” and it took MONTHS to be “good enough” to dance with other people without looking stupid.

It took YEARS to get to where I’m now: an excellent Lindy Hop dancer.

Like you, I just started — specifically this past January — bought an Eastman and knew nothing.

It took me WEEKS to remember the strings, EAD GBE (I still needed to think about it to type it in).

I’m doing the lessons (this is my second month of the Daily Challenges), and I’m doing it, but I’d admit, nothing is “sticking” yet. And I don’t know one single tune yet.

But I can tell that my fingers are getting stronger, I have nice calluses on my left-hand fingers, my picking is okay (I still pick the wrong string now and then), I’m still slouching when I’m getting tired, my fingers get tired after about 20 – 30 minutes, and my barre chords stink!

But — I’ve only been doing this about 70 days.

In 40 days, you’re doing fine. Just keep going, and don’t quit. This time next year, you can play some real music for your granddaughter!

[ProbablyBryan]

Outstanding. Truly.

[ProbablyBryan]

That is how we learn. Slowly, deliberately, and slowly. (It’s there twice.)

Remember riding a bicycle as a kid? I was a real mess — on my first try, I crashed into the neighbor’s new car. It took weeks to be able to ride a bike around without the training wheels.

The guitar is like that, but MUCH more complicated. We have to do a LOT to learn just to practice a new tune:

Learn the chords, changing the chords, strumming, timing, rhythm, hitting the right strings, the right frets, holding the guitar upright, not leaning/slouching, using a pick, relaxing the arms/fingers, tired fingers, hurting fingertips…

…this is almost like learning another language, but with all the physical stuff, too!

The guitar journey will take a while.

It’ll take at least a year to “get it,” I think.

I just started in TAC in January, but I’m learning the chords, changing the chords, etc., and realized that this isn’t a race.

It’s a lifelong journey.

[ProbablyBryan]

Wow, that’s excellent! How long have you been playing?

[ProbablyBryan]

Excellent! Great job!

[ProbablyBryan]

You can, but they’ll come around again.

You’ll have your hands full with the Daily Challenges after the “30 Days”. It’s not like you’re “missing” anything.

Just start the Monday after your “30 Days” and practice.

[ProbablyBryan]

Right… it’s under my right foot (I’m right-handed), but my knee is too high.

*sigh* I’m wondering if I need the stool.

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks, Charlie.

While I’m a total beginner (I’ve been doing TAC since this past January) and not in any hurry, it’s good to know that — perhaps — in 2-3 years, I’ll (hopefully) play as you are now.