Kitman
Forum Replies Created
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Hey there @the-old-coach . First off yes, I do know the feeling. I feel disappointed and things don’t seem to be going right (or at least the way I’d like them to go 😉). It can be frustrating.
It sounds like you are doing what I do at this point – take a step back and re- assess.
As far as missing playing seasons, don’t beat yourself up. As you said, life happens. The past is the past and can’t be changed. We can learn from the past though. Looking back to reflect on possible alternatives may be helpful. Then get back in the horse!
Re barre chords – these are tough on my hands as well. I took the skills course “better barre chords” and it does contain some good guidance and techniques to at least understand the mechanics of making a good barre chord. From there I have found it takes consistent practice (surprise!) and time (surprise again!) to improve them.
I have to take my barre chord practice in small doses – using short intervals, playing something else for a bit and then coming back to another short interval. Also, I put a day or two in between barre chord work to give my hand a break and recover. Finally, I do hand and forearm stretches every day that help. There are quite a number of YT videos on the topic (search for guitar hand stretches).
One thing I have found that helps me improve my barre chord playing is angling the neck up at between a 30 to 45 degree angle. Don’t know if this will help in your case.
Sorry for rambling on a bit. Hope some of this helps. Hang in there!
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Great improv using the pentatonic scales @CaliBob ! Thanks for sharing with us! 😎🎸🎶
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Hi @Hebak and welcome to TAC. There are many very accomplished guitarists that do not use a pick. Nothing wrong with using your thumb and other fingers to get the job done.
Like the others in this thread I would encourage you to use the TAC opportunity to at least explore using a pick as this offers you yet another set of tools you can use to vary and impact the sound of your guitar playing. And yes, it takes some time and patience. There are some great tips on how to hold and use the pick that is part of the “30 Days to Play” course.
All that said, if playing sans pick is your default, nothing wrong with that! 😎🎸🎶
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Great win @Mrfredsporty ! I have had a similar experience. Our ears continue to get tuned and our brains begin to connect the dots as we continue our guitar routines in TAC. It is a surprising and great feeling when that all gels and suddenly material from another site begins to make sense! 😎🎸🎶
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Hi @Loraine . This is the first I had heard of essential tremors so I looked it up and read about it. I am so sorry to hear about your hands having this condition. Like @stevieblues I don’t have any experience here – that said I would offer ideas for your consideration and discussion it others with more experience. One, I am wondering if having a guitar set up that provides very low action would be helpful (less fretting pressure require). Second, perhaps exploring an alternative guitar tuning (like an open chord) might allow you play and reduce the amount of fretting that is required. Third, would a classical guitar with nylon strings help – ie. Are they easier to fret (again, I do not have experience here). Finally I am wondering if some light hand stretching and strengthening would help – an orthopedic doctor and/or therapist may I hope others here at TAC have some ideas and ideas @Loraine .
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Wow, @KayMesser , your story and wins are super inspiring! I loved reading your story…thanks for sharing! Glad that you found the guitar and TAC and that you are learning and having fun! Congratulations! 😎🎶🎸👏
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Welcome @Hebak ! We are glad yo Joined us here at TAC!
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Hi Ursula ( @campfire ) . I think the the chords that Tony used in last week’s challenges represent the 7 notes in the scale in the key of E.
A chord consists the 3 note: the root note (which provides us with the chord name) plus the 3rd note in the scale plus the 5th in the scale. For the A chord these are : A, C# and E.
Because of the way the guitar is designed these notes repeat themselves at numerous places on the fretboard. This allows is to play the A chord at different positions in the neck. Hence the A chord may be played at the second fret and then using a a barre chord at the 5th fret. Fingering these notes on the fretboard requires us to make different chord shapes with your fingers on different strings to produce the chord. The barre chords use the index finger to simulate the nut and then the remaining fingers are placed in the strings and fret positions to play the three notes necessary to make the chord.
Hang in there! I encourage you to return to Fretboard Wizard when you feel you are ready. It helps explain quite a bit.
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Congrats @Mrfredsporty ! Having a taped or videoed performance of then and now is a great way to gauge progress.
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Congrats @stevieblues !
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Awesome job @charlie_d ! 👏👏. That backing track, while cool, was a stumper for me regarding improv and you did it well! I particularly liked the improv in the middle of the chord sequence that had a jazz or bluesy (at least to my ears) sound to it. Loved it! Thanks for posting and sharing! 😎🎶🎸👏👍
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There is a wealth of information out there! Great strategy @Mrfredsporty and @Cadgirl . I do the same. If I find a particular person or site that repeatedly helps me understand – I subscribe (YouTube) or bookmark it so I won’t forget it thaw next time.
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Excellent @Gere C ! Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for sharing this chart @Cadgirl . While watching a band and some guitarists perform a week or so ago at a concert, it struck me how much time they must have put into their craft to deliver the performance that they delivered. I was able to more readily recognize what they were doing and why having spent 4 months with TAC. Having been practicing the guitar techniques and gaining more understanding of the guitar and music theory here at TAC, I did a mental check of the time I would need to invest to become more proficient and perform the music I would like to perform. The chart you shared helps give some perspective for that.
Let’s have some fun while we are putting in the time to reach whatever level to which we might aspire! 😎🎶🎸