jorgemac
Forum Replies Created
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I think electric’s are easier than acoustics. Just my opinion. But I learned hammer on’s on an electric also and did wonder why they were quieter than the instruction video. I finally figured out that it was my striking of the string that was the issue.
You need to pick the string and strike straight down with the finger tip, not the finger pad and you need to use the same force that you would use to kill a fly busing around your head- you got to hit it HARD and fast and it needs to be right next to the fret , not in the middle of the fret.
Over time it will become natural but those 1st few 200 or 400 try’s are discouraging. After you finally start hearing “that” clean sound you then start work on vibrato. For me it is fun and the rewards worth all of the cussing and moaning. And they “how come it isn’t sounding right” stuff that goes with learning to play the guitar.
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I’m going to start aa discussion regarding all of the easy chord transitions you can make out of the 4 string F chord shape.
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I sense frustration but you haven’t stated one area that you need help with. You say you don’t understand what Tony is explaining in a lesson. Give an example so we can offer advise.
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In a month or two you will be comfortable barring the 4 string F. It took me years to actually stop avoiding the F chord. Wish I had worked on it a few times a week way back when.
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yep, that is always a work in progress for most folks.
i suggest starting,5 minutes a day, with the 3 treble strings.
middle finger on E/1, index finger on B/1 and ringer finger on G/2.
Walk that finger position to the 3rd, 5th, 8th and 10th frets, G, A, C, D chords. get comfortable with moving the 3 fingers in those positions.
Do this for a week then
We start with the Index finger covering 2 strings. that is all you need to do for this week. just move the index finger down the neck in the same fretted positions you practice last week. Just the index finger for a whole week until you feel comfortable holding down the 2 treble strings. make sure your thumb stays behind the fret your index finger is holding down.
the following week, if you feel comfortable holding down the the E and B treble strings with index finger add the middle finger to the g string 1st fret up from the index finger position. Walk these 2 fingers down the neck to 10th fret D chord. Remember the thumb position behind the E and B strings position. This helps develop strength when barring chords.
After this becomes comfortable for you add the ring finger to the D string 3rd fret and practice this every day for a few minutes before practice. You will feel much more comfortable playing the 4 finger barre chord and will not avoid the dreaded F chord . The f chord is a very welcome part of my picking. Also the G, A and C chord using the 4 string form. All of these positions can be jumping off points for minor chords and the major 7th chord, that would be the the B flat M7th which is the IV Chord in the key of F.
I suggest using the 3 treble strings as a basic method to form all of the Major and Minor chords. and do practice both of these chord forms a few times a week.
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Too true Matt and Pete. I can learn a song in an afternoon when it used to take me a week or so. I’ve learned how to take all of the separate guitar knowledge areas and with the TAC lessons we practice I can combine everything. It is nice to learn and know how to actually play a guitar. Songs come to me much easier than before tac.
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I’ve been a TAcer for about 9 1/2 months. In that time I have used the tools that I have developed in the daily lesson to put together about 6 songs that I’ve written and play pretty much every day. My song writing skills are growing daily. For me that is priceless. Yes, I have taken the skills learned here to work on my version of Hotel California, Brown Eyed, Girl, Angel From Montgomery, Ain’t no sunshine, Friend of the Devil, Fast Car, on an on and on. i Could play these tunes before TAC but now They sound like me, not a copy of a song but a personal interpretation of those songs. Again priceless and personal. I did not develop those skills on other sites, I just copied what was taught and didn’t copy it very well.
This teaching method works for me. I also belong to Songster and K.O. stringworks and they are much easier than they were before I began practicing with this group of helpful and resourceful characters.
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Pete what is that email address for all of the past lessons? Also you can save/heart any lesson by clicking on the heart below the daily lesson and save it to your home page.
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Same as coach with a huge binder. Just us old folks being.. Old folks. I do bring up the lessons daily but just flip to that days lesson in the binder. I have another binder with most of the Skills lessons in it.
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As Pete said Hotel California is a good one to practice chord progressions on.
I use this song all of the time for chord practice but also change it up. Both strumming and arpeggio style or just use the treble strings for the chords, then do it backwards. then 4 strings , then 5 strings. This exercise has really helped me with improvisations and simple blues style answer and response riff lines that I have incorporated into my every day playing. Doing it backwards really burns it into you memory.
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Right corner of the video frame, Click settings and you can change the lesson speed.
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This question comes up a lot. Here is my answer on the subject a week ago.
First a better guitar will not make you a better player if your aren’t going put in an honest effort to improve.
I play D’ardarrio XL string – 12/53 and 13/56 usually tuned down. i can afford them and they fit my needs. Every guitar player develops their own personal string choice. Cheap strings don’t hold their tone very long. If that is all you can afford then expect to change strings quite often to keep a good tone.
When 1st starting out 10’s were fine. As you start to develop your chops you will probably start playing a heaver gauge string as you will learn you can pick with more “character” to your tone with them.
OK Story time. When I bought my 1st grand daughter a guitar, in her junior high school year, I tried out all of the inexpensive guitars in the guitar Store. To my surprise I kept coming back to one of the cheapest guitars offered because it has, to my ears, the best tone for a starter guitar. The action was good and the tone was as good as guitars way more expensive. I finally bought it for her and she loved it for many years.
The point being buying a guitar is it has to fit you. Before you go to a music store to purchase another guitar learn to play one simple 3 chord song. Doesn’t matter what the song is just something you can kind of play for at least 1 verse. then you have something to compare different sounds coming from the instruments you are going to try out. Try to not be embarrassed by your lack of skill as people all around you are blowing your mind with their guitar picking. Just explain you are new to this and trying to find a first guitar that you feel comfortable with. Most real players will offer you all kinds of advise but take it with a grain of salt as you are your own individual and need to pleae you, not anyone else with this guitar choice.
Research online for different “best guitars” in your price range. If you can play 1 verse in a song or a lick such as Tuesday’s “Gone to long” lesson challenge you can repeat that over on all of the guitars you try out and you will find a guitar that grabs your ear and heart. Do not buy on your first day of checking. Salemen might try to pressure you but do not make any commitment until you have thought about it for awhile. This could be a lifetime commitment. It is important to you if you are really going to learn to play guitar.
I have huge expensive dreadnoughts, some simple parlor and medium folk style guitars. They all have a different sound and I will rotate between most of the smaller and folk size guitars on a weekly or sometimes a daily basis. I haven’t touched a large bodies guitar in a long time, except for my Gibson 200 that is just a magical guitar but isn’t as comfortable as the smaller bodies.
All guitar woods sound different also. Guitars made with all solid wood will age and over time and develop there unique sound.
Layered body wood guitars will sound the same 5 years from now as they do today. layered bodied guitar with a solid top will develop a little bit of character but not like a solid wood body guitar. I have a Taylor mini that is a solid top guitar/ply body guitar and does sound good but the sound has not evolved much from the day I bought it.
Again research online “best acoustic Guitars” online in your price range and see if you can find something that will help you learn to play and is also fun and easy to play.
I agree for playability You can’t beat a Taylor. I too have had and 70’s Takamine as my 1st guitar and wasn’t worthy of it’s great tone.
For the body size I prefer the Guild OM 140Ce and the Yamaha FS-TA stand out to me as a good starter investment.
A new guitar does have to grab hold of your ear and make your heart happy. There are great starter guitar under $1,000.00 that will age well and mature into good friends who won’t let you down.
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1st take 3 deep breaths, aww now that’s better. Rule #1
THERE IS NO HURRY, all of the challenges will repeat through out the year. Each daily lesson is short and compact Monday thru Wednesday and you will repeat it again in a couple of months, so don’t expect to spend hours and hours on each lesson. Just get what you can, out of each lesson a then move onto the next day’s lesson No pressure just have fun and remember if it seems difficult you will see it again and will be surprised at how much you have improved since last seeing that lesson. Just remember that if a lesson seems challenging that means it is something that you will improve on and develop as a skill in your guitar journey.
Thursday and Friday will be actual chord progressions can take much longer to master, but you will see that lesson again and will seem much easier if you put in a good few minutes the 1st time through that lesson. You will be surprised at how much easier each time thorough that song will become. Good luck in your guitar journey.
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James Taylor has a finger nail maintenance video for guitar players.
