[Moose408]

I am 7 months in and have the same experience. I often don’t realize it until much later, but even the challenges I don’t successfully do are teaching me something.

I recently attended a local jam that also had an instruction component. They were teaching improv and how to play a solo and I was able to jump right in and do it no problem thanks to TAC. Maybe step back and really realize how much I’m learning even when I’m not able to do the daily challenge perfectly.

[Moose408]

I started my guitar journey at 61 as well. I’m 7 months in and am just now feeling like I can play the guitar.

I had tried a year ago and lasted about 30 days because I was frustrated. This time around I’ve changed my mindset. I am going to suck, I’m going to suck for a long time. It might be years before I can play the guitar like I want to and that is OK.

It took me 6 months to feel like I “got” the C chord and even then there are days where I struggle with it. Don’t feel like you have to perfect anything. Just give it a good try and then move on, to the next thing. It’s also OK that you aren’t retaining what you learned as it will come around again and it will come a little bit quicker the next time.

Most important, don’t get frustrated.

[Moose408]

Congrats on week 2!

The recommended flow is to do just the 30 day challenge, then do the 5 day challenge which mimics the format of the daily challenges and then start the daily challenges.

When you do get the daily challenges, the goal is not to perfect the daily lesson but just give it a good try. Some will be easy, some seem impossible the first time you try it. Just give it at least 10 minutes, mark it complete, and move on. The daily challenges come back around every 8-10 months so you will get another chance and hopefully see progress the next time around.

[Moose408]

Here is the link to that lesson. I save links to all the lessons in a spreadsheet. Much easier to track than using favorites.

Jimi’s Chord

[Moose408]

That was fantastic. I really liked the slides right before the fingerpicking and the fingerpicking was awesome. The triads were a nice touch. Great job!

[Moose408]

I maintain a spreadsheet with links to every challenge since I started. Here are the Mississippi John Hurt Challenges

Technique – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/mississippi-timing-2/

Lick – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/drive-the-spike-2/

Improv – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/railroad-tracks-2/

Rhythm Guitar – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/spike-driver-2/

Chord Progressions – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/catch-and-release-2/

[Moose408]

The thinking is that you give it a good try, and then move on to the next. Over time your skills will improve and you will get further with each week’s challenge.

Some people mark their favorites and go back to them (like on the weekends).

I supplement the TAC routine with other classes and practice routines that are a little more structured. I found that while I am definitely improving with TAC I am not getting to the point where I could play any of the songs from the weekly challenge at the end of the week. So I learn other songs that are better suited for my skill level. I assume that over time I will be able to play the songs here at TAC by the end of a week, but that is probably a year away and I want a few songs before then.

[Moose408]

Here are last week’s challenges

Nov 27 Boogie – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/day-1-boogie-2/

Nov 28 Bassman Bobby – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/day-3-high-and-lonesome-2/

Nov 29 High and Lonesome – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/day-3-high-and-lonesome-2/

Nov 30 Hammer the Hurt – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/day-4-hammer-the-hurt-2/

Dec 1 Jimi’s Chord – https://tonypolecastro.com/lessons/day-5-jimis-chord-2/

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[Moose408]

This was a tough week for me and I’ve been here 7 months. I tried them all but there were some I couldn’t really do, so like you said, just mark them complete and move on.

Momentum is important but also recognize that all weeks won’t be like this one.

[Moose408]

In the left menu if you click on Skill Courses it will show the 5-Day challenge.

Here is the link

https://tonypolecastro.com/five-days/

[Moose408]

You’ve only been playing for a couple weeks. I’m 6 months in and still struggle with strumming and rhythms. So don’t worry too much about it, have patience, it will come.

A thin pick will definitely help in the beginning. Something around .45, you should be able to almost bend it in half without much effort.

[Moose408]

I didn’t know this even existed. I found 26 in my city, although only 5 have been active in the past 2 months. Need to start exploring surrounding cities.

[Moose408]

The singing was fantastic. It’s obvious that you have a lot of practice singing.

Did not mean to imply anything about the singing just because I omitted it in my original praise. 😀

[Moose408]

Nothing wrong with that, if I recall the 5 day was just get you used to the Daily Challenge format. So you are good.

[Moose408]

Yes, you should start doing the Daily Challenge have the 30-day and 5-day.

If you have more time to practice then as suggested above checked out the skills courses.