[ProbablyBryan]

So far, yes… it’s working for me. Here’s my today’s “Win” post:

https://tonypolecastro.com/family-forums/topic/the-first-day-i-felt-as-if-i-was-really-playing-the-guitar/

Realize you’re rewiring your brain, using muscle memory, time, patience, calluses, and more… and it’s not easy.

So far, TAC is rather good, and I’ve progressed further than I thought I’d be in any course — in just 50 days. Maybe TAC had “changed,” but I wasn’t here before.

I looked at other courses (I bought another one, too, for some reason), but TAC has real potential, and — if I stick TO it, I believe I’ll be able to get to the next level, whatever that is.

[ProbablyBryan]

In the beginning, you’ll hit the wrong notes, strings, and fret. Then, somehow, you can “get” it.

Then, there will be another obstacle… but you’ll “get ” it somehow in a few days.

You’re rewiring your brain, and it’ll take time.

I’m on Day 50, and I can “get” things I couldn’t even get close to doing it. Today, I got the F Chord correctly several times (missed it a lot, too), but a few weeks ago, it was almost impossible.

Practice, Time, Patience. You’ll “get” it.

[ProbablyBryan]

Okay, that’s even better!

I began my TAC journey in January this year and started the Daily Challenge at the beginning of this month (March).

I thought it was a shame that since I only somewhat “get” some of each Daily Challenges, it would be nice if, after I learned more techniques and practiced for months, I could revisit the previous Challenges and see how much better I got.

…and the songs would make a lot more sense.

So, good… they do come around!

[ProbablyBryan]

I have a Mac, too, and the Space Bar doesn’t stop/start the video. You’ll need to click on the video itself or the icons below it.

It could be worse.

[ProbablyBryan]

I get it; it’s not easy. I’m on the end of the 2nd week and it’s slow, but consistent.

Yesterday was a mess. Nothing went right and I stopped many times just to refocus.

I knew it was my mood, which got worse when my playing was not “working”. 🫤

After 20 minutes, I stopped and watched a movie.

Today, I started at 5:10 pm and finished the last lesson on the 2nd week after 45 mins…

…but compared to yesterday, mostly things worked. I was moving the cords G-C-D back & forth, up & down and backwards!

Sometimes, your brain will need to learn, sleep on it, try again, refocus, sleep… and — look!! — it’s working!

[ProbablyBryan]

I started using some hand stretching exercises on YouTube.

One was Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist. That one is easy to do, and it seems to work well.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by  ProbablyBryan.

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks, @Moose408 and @atroutcatcher — that helped a lot!

Question about the Monthly Challenges: Do they vanish after that month, or are all the challenges on the TAC site?

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks @Loraine @atroutcatcher @Ddtediejm

— From Support:

We have a tech team that is working to fix it and it’s actually quite a delicate more time intensive process than we originally thought. We don’t want any current data prior to the log in counter malfunction to be affected, hence a higher level of care to this.

So, they’re on it. 🙂

[ProbablyBryan]

Great questions!

1. Are you just using TAC as your main guitar training?

Yes. If you do more than one at a time, it’s making things difficult for you. (See below #3.)

2. How many minutes do you practice per day?

I’m using an app called Andante to track my times.

So far:

• I’ve only missed a few days (I had the flu, a busy day and lost track of time, etc.), but I’ve been on track almost DAILY.

I started with the “30 Days to Play,” I listened and did the exercises and lessons — even if I couldn’t learn much that day. I did it anyway, the next day and the next… until the end.

“30 Days to Play” isn’t to learn the guitar; it’s just a kickoff. But I’ve read that SO many people get upset that they couldn’t “do” much in the first 30 days.

Just get through it.

Afterward, I did the “Your Next Chord” and the “5-Day Routine”. I think one video said to do it that way, and the others say go straight to the “5-Day Routine”. Doesn’t matter. 🙂

>> How many minutes daily? On the average, 30. Sometimes, 10 minutes if it’s late, I’m tired, etc. On other days, like yesterday’s session, it was about 90 minutes (!!), and I needed to stop because my fingers got tired.

In the beginning, since my callouses hadn’t formed yet, my practice sessions were 10 to 20 minutes. (I only stopped because my fingertips hurt.)

3. Are you using the other course you purchased with TAC, or are you just using TAC?

Well, I did buy “GoodGuitarist” because he seems like a good guy… BUT I decided to hold off on it until I “tackle” the guitar in the TAC program first.

Two courses at once — especially at the beginning — is a bad idea, in my opinion.

Okay, I hope that helps. The mindset needs to be:

Just play (not work), you’re not in a hurry, don’t compare to anyone else (!!!!!!), and you only fail when you give up.

Have fun!!

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks!

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks, @Moose408 … I just got Andante.

[ProbablyBryan]

Okay, thanks.

[ProbablyBryan]

🙂

[ProbablyBryan]

Thanks! I plan to keep it in the case so I don’t accidentally knock it over. 🤷‍♂️