[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@NW7 I play classical, so I understand your question very well. Especially since I adopt the same style even when playing my steel string. The reason why is just because of comfort as I have 2 bum shoulders. But another good reason is that with the neck at a 45 degree angle (The classical position) it’s a little easier to fret those difficult chord shapes. So it’s whatever works best, for whatever reason.

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@OhWowMan I would play the B major as an E-shaped barre chord with the barre on the 7th fret. I can’t do those double barre chords very well either 🙂

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Oooh sorry about your fretting finger fruckas, @Linda G!! I hope you heal up quick!!

One thing to consider while you have one fretless finger, is to try some open tunings out. This way you can still give your picking hand a nice workout and with open tuning you have much less fretting (if any) needed at all.

Feel better soon!!

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Hi @LisaH Congrats on graduating from “30 Days to Play”!! That’s awesome 🙂

The next steps are up to you, you could do both the daily challenges and another skill course if you like. (The daily challenge is meant to take up about 10 minutes, so if time allows you can tackle something else as well.) I love to mix it up a bit, but each person is different.

I would highly recommend that you go to the “Guitar Journal” link on the right side banner of the main screen, just after “Fretboard Wizard”, it’s a free downloadable guitar goals worksheet that will help you figure out how to use your guitar time the best for you. Best wishes in your guitar journey!! C

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@Tom000-18 If you have purchased the Fretboard Wizard course, you should be able to access the course at any time, as often as you like. If you can’t access the course I would send an SOS to Tony P and/or Levi in Member Support.

I know that Tony does a “Live” Fretboard Wizard twice a year, where the whole group of students has access to a live chat every week for the 6? weeks to ask live questions and go over the material, but the actual lectures and study materials/quizzes are always accessable to each student at any time.

Hope that helps and, Good luck on your Fretboard Wizard Journey!!

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Hiya @Sungreen I have taken the Fretboard Wizard course (several times) and I can say that it’s meant to be done any time… It’s one of the best nuggets of guitar music theory that I’ve ever digested. But like me, you might need to hear the information more than once before all the lightbulbs are shining…

My best advice for this course (and any music theory) is to jump in, listen to the material and let your brain absorb it. There will ALWAYS be a point in time where your mind goes numb and your brain has its fill and you can progress no more until you have the chance to utilize and process all the information. Then later you can go back to it and start again. It’s great to review the stuff that made it into long term memory and understanding, then you can start picking up new things that just weren’t within your grasp the last time thru.

And that’s the beauty of Tony’s Fretboard Wizard course. You can go back as many times as you want to or need to. It’s alot of information that most people need to take in over time. (I finally “graduated” into my Wizard Cap and Gown after the 5th time thru, and proud to say that I didn’t give up!!)

Good luck with this course- I just know that it will make you a better musician. Let us know how you’re doing with it 🙂

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Hi @IMPBW I am so sorry to hear about your dear sister!!

I send a big hug your way, and I hope you find some comfort with your loved ones and knowing that the angels are in good company.

The other thing I saw in your post is, “I stopped playing daily because it stopped being fun” and, “I want to play guitar”…. The trick is to keep it fun.

Try not to be so hard on yourself and/or rush the process… It’s a journey and sometimes we don’t notice the progress we are making until we look back and see how far we’ve come. If your fingers are sore because you’re still building up your callouses, try shorter more frequent practice sessions (Instead of one 30 minute practice, try three 10 minute practice sessions, or two 15 minute ones)

Also, I looked up the song you mentioned “Jealous of the Angels” and wow it’s beautiful… There’s a few You Tube versions of it that have the chords and lyrics. I’d tell you to just learn the chords in the song and maybe do a simple down strum on the first beat of each measure, as you sing along. It will surely give you motivation and a sense of accomplishment and I know your sister will be looking down along with her angels, and smiling at you.

God bless,

Carol 3M

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@Cadgirl You have my respect and admiration, as it’s all I can do to change my own strings, hahaha! It’s really cool that you are digging in with your own luthier work- there’s nothing like hands on training, and it will help you be less afraid to tackle routine guitar maintenance tasks (like truss rod adjustments, set ups and stuff like that)

Hope everything holds together, and remember to wear eye protection!!!!!

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Hiya @Dirk_R sorry you are having rotator cuff issues!! I can identify with that, unfortunately.

I would see what their return policy is- it might be soon enough that you could return it and/or exchange it? If you’re stuck with it, you could always try selling it…..

Also if you decide to keep it and try to make it work, try placing the guitar on your left knee when you play, like the classical style. That will automatically place the lower bout of the guitar that much lower and will decrease the strain on your shoulder.

Also… Physical Therapy Rocks!!!! Good luck and I hope your shoulder improves!!

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@JeffM.22 Hammer-ons can be tough to master, but keep trying, it will be so worth it!! Great advice mentioned in here so far already, but let me add one tip- if you tune your guitar down either a half step and capo on first fret, or tune down a whole step and capo on second fret, your strings won’t be under as much tension and it’s so much easier to bend strings, and do pull offs and hammer ons. Once your muscle memory has a handle on the technique you can wean yourself off the capo…. Best of luck and don’t give up!!!! These are all really cool techniques that makes your songs sound that much better!!!

Beware: Watch your frets for fret wear, I got some dents in mine from trying to learn a bunch of James Taylor songs, hahahaha

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@Marty69 that was outstanding!! Very nice demonstration of your new style!! I could hear the song in my head as you played. It made me wonder, have you ever tried hybrid picking? This style is almost half way there, I bet you’d do great at that as well!!! Nice song, Marty 🙂

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@AttyTJ Nicely done, I just love Simon & Garfunkel and also love 12 string!!! Thanks for posting 🙂

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@Dirk_R one thing to try if you are having shoulder issues, and are stuck with a large dreadnaught guitar, is to try playing “classical style” with the guitar resting on your left knee instead of your right. The lower bout will automatically be less intrusive onto your right shoulder and so much more comfortable to play if you are having rotator cuff issues.

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

Hiya @NewCreation and welcome to TAC!! So glad you found this community, it’s a great place to learn guitar and there’s tons of awesome people here as well. Best wishes to you as you follow your guitar goals- let us know if you encounter any questions or issues. Hope to hear you play when you’re ready to share a video!!

[Carol-3M-Stillhand]

@albert_d just scrounge around for an empty Amazon shipping box of the appropriate size…. Or a stack of books? I think once you try it you’ll find it quite comfortable.