[RiverRooo]

I am a right-handed player, and used to focus on where my pick struck the strings as well, including the fact that I also rest my pinky on the pick guard allowing my hand to pivot while picking strings rather than my picking hand “free floating” (I know, weird right?? but it works for me). If I strum, then my picking hand IS free floating. I battled with what might be considered more of a “correct” position–middle of sound hole, edge of sound hole, etc., but then it was all about how my arm rested on the top of the guitar–which dictated a natural placement of my picking hand—and as luck would have it, I end up over the sound hole. Size of the guitar makes a difference too. I never stand to play, I am always sitting….so that may play an importance on where my picking hand naturally falls too.

[RiverRooo]

We are very similar creatures Barbara. I too am logging on every day, practice 10-30min and sometimes even over an hour—time flies when you are having fun! I am finally wiggling past the power chords after becoming a member in early January as a New Year’s Resolution to myself to finally learn to play my beautiful Cherry wood Montana cut-away acoustical electric guitar that has been collecting dust in my closet since 2004 (purchased at a local pawn shop after hearing one of the store attendants play beautifully on it—had to have it, and have wanted to find the time to play ever since!!) Now’s MY time 20yrs later.

I personally cannot just fly threw the lessons to keep things new and interesting like some other members are suggesting. I need to feel an accomplishment before I can move on to the next lesson, maybe even perfection…that’s just me. The great thing about the TAC program is THERE IS NO RUSH. Another great thing about the TAC program is that IT IS FUN. No questions asked….totally am thrilled to finally be part of a FUN program that makes me want to envelope myself into it EVERY DAY….or as close to every day as seemingly possible now that all my kids are grown and have families of their own.

I find that when I complete a lesson, move on to the next, and complete that lesson as well—I find myself looking back for a brush up from the lessons I’ve completed. It may take me more than the “suggested week” for each lesson…..but so what. No pressure to do that……GO AT YOUR OWN SPEED. And I also save every daily challenge into my favorites without even playing them, so I can refer back to them AFTER I feel I have learned enough to play them. They will not be available after each month they are posted, so I get greedy and save them for future playing.

So tell yourself…..NO RUSH, NO PRESSURE, and GO AT YOUR OWN PACE. Most of all……tell yourself to HAVE FUN. I know I do, and I love reading about every one else’s journeys too. Sometimes by just browsing thru the Community Support you will eventually stumble upon someone who is struggling with something similar to what you are, and by merely reading about it will make you feel warm & fuzzy knowing you are just like all the rest of us. Enjoy your own journey, no matter how long it takes you 🦋

[RiverRooo]

Me with the C chord as well. And the D chord — OMG —it’s like my middle finger is too long and won’t arch properly thus compromising my ring finger’s arch to buzz the low E that the middle finger is trying to fret. ARRRGGHHH !!!

[RiverRooo]

Honestly folks, come on…..be patient and understand all the possible things that can glitch on online program as large and popular as TAC. The ease with which one can learn guitar from not knowing ANYTHING at all and have FUN while doing it, is reason enough to be patient and absorb what you can when it’s available. Of course they are aware of the lag time, and of course they are working on it—that’s what responsible business owners do. I also am a business owner and some folks that aren’t just don’t quite understand what goes on behind the scenes for making a business run smoothly on the outside. I am thankful I have the opportunity to learn from TAC’s program–and you all should too 🌻

[RiverRooo]

I too just started the TAC course (last week Jan 16, 2024) after trying umpteen times to teach myself the last 10yrs from an overwhelming collection of DVD lessons from 3 different instructors; an assortment of tablature songbooks; 2 cheap guitars. I work 12hr days and it is tough to find time when I am not mentally exhausted from work, but now that football season is here and my husband is preoccupied watching that—I sneak off to our spare bedroom (aka the “studio”) and try my best to plunk around but would lose interest rather quickly. I needed guidance to help motivate me better, and I am thrilled to have purchased the TAC course as a birthday gift to myself.

When it came to deciding to use a strap or not, I was finding out 2 things: 1) using a strap took the weight of the neck out of my fretting hand so I could focus on finger placement. I find it better to attach by the nut vs the heel, otherwise my guitar has serious neck dive! 2) And this isn’t a great thing, but….using a strap was making the guitar more perpendicular and not allowing me to see the strings very well for being a beginner, so then I took the strap off. Now I am faced with the dilemma of the neck weight interfering with my ability learn fret finger placement while holding up the neck.

I am frustrated and tempted to go have my guitar looked at and maybe have lighter tuning pegs installed ??

I don’t know if this helped you or not, but I thought I would share my dilemma

[RiverRooo]

Sounds like a great idea, thank you !!!

[RiverRooo]

Holy Cow—I am super jealous at your organization…..and I have OCD and didn’t think of doing it this way. Thank you for sharing your spreadsheets with me Moose, very helpful!

[RiverRooo]

Very good advice….however, I have OCD and struggle with leaving things unfinished, hence collecting a stack of tab print outs that I intend on doing eventually

[RiverRooo]

I randomly see references to “emails” that Tony sends. I singed up in Jan 2024 and have never seen any emails. Did I not check a box when signing up for TAC?

[RiverRooo]

Ooooops…..I overlook that every time because I automatically skip right down to the Community Discussions too see what y’all are talking about…every day, so I stay “in tune” (ha ha)—I feel silly knowing that’s been there the whole time! Thank you Moose408 😜

[RiverRooo]

Funny you said that—I just tried it too and that finger position works much better on me as well….thanks Barbara !!

[RiverRooo]

albert_d (member) mentioned using a mirror to see yourself fretting the strings—I will be trying that tonight! Great idea Albert

[RiverRooo]

I was tossed about using a strap because I found myself focusing on how the strap felt and the fact that it didn’t really allow me to slightly turn the guitar towards me to see the strings/fret easier. I too am a beginner. Most times it’s easier to just leave the strap off for ease of moving the guitar–however, as Loraine mentions—it does help to keep it from falling. I still go back and forth and inevitably leave the strap off because I am wasting too much of my focus on it.

As far as a chair? I was using a simple folding chair like you see with a card table, but then I found myself sitting at the edge too much to get a better position for my guitar to sit on my right thigh just right. Then I bought an adjustable foot rest to help elevate my right leg. I went back and forth trying to figure out which position was most comfortable—setting guitar on right or left leg. Left leg seemed comfortable at first (the “classical” position) but then while watching Tony on the 30-Day Lessons and him setting the guitar on his right leg,….I then tried that so it would encourage me NOT to always rely on the ease of being able to see the strings more buy utilizing the left leg support–plus the left leg support makes my left hand further away and slightly more difficult to properly arch my fingers when fretting. I gave up on the folding chair and found a “doctor’s” exam stool with a very comfortable cushioned top, with the top able to spin, and then the bottom legs are extended out which allows for me to put my heel on to slightly raise my right leg. I did look at a guitarist stool at our local music store, but it sat way to high which makes you have to use the foot rest but I still felt too tall. I like being eye level with my laptop as I am doing the lessons on TAC.

Hope all this babble helps.

[RiverRooo]

Hey Moose408 — with regard to finger placement on tablature, do we determine which fingers to use on the frets? I haven’t had the opportunity to “get to know tablature” yet, only saw it briefly when I started the 30-day course and at that point Tony really doesn’t say which fingers to use, just finger the string on the fret. Just curious.