N-lightMike
Forum Replies Created
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Hello @DrB ;
Let’s start with a simple reality. There are many guitar players, including professionals, who DO NOT play barre chords. There are several options.
The first and most obvious it to avoid barre chord heavy keys like “Bm” (it’s really the minor mode of the key of D). The minor mode of the key of C is Am, Dm and Em, none of which are barre chords. Is it limiting? Well, look at the songs of Tom Petty. His songs are usually not that hard, but he still found ways to make unique and interesting sounding chord progressions.
And you have several keys without any barre chord in the 1, 4, 5 progression. G, C, D; D, G, A; A, D, E.
Now, more options open up when you learn the partial chord shapes, the most common being the mini barre F. There are an awful lot of guitar players that use that and never make the full barre F. You just use the high 4 strings like the D chord. All of the barre chords can be played using a partial shape rather than all 5 or 6 strings.
If you’re older and have arthritis are you going to improve? Maybe, but there is a good chance you will never do well with barre chords. That is not important.
There are 2 things that are all important in guitar:
1) Have Fun
2) Do What You Can
Ok, 3 things.
3) Have Fun.
That’s the exhaustive list of what’s important in guitar.
MG 😀
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Yaaaaaah! You go, Denise @Cadgirl . It took me over 3 years to do that. My longest was 87 for most of the time I’ve been a TAC member. Then, over 3 years of membership, I made it to 112. Now I’m back up to 27 I think. It is important to me to try. But it’s not important when I miss a day and start over. That’s what I’ve learned from TAC. Celebrate what you do right, forget about the mistakes; or learn from the mistakes. But either way, don’t make a big deal over them. I’m still getting better at that simple outlook in life. But I do it way more often in more situations. I didn’t used to do it at all. Progress… not perfection. 😎
MG 😀
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What a great job on this song, @Jim_Krozz . And the sound of that new guitar is superb. You must be loving it. 😍
MG 😀
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LOL @Omar_A.H. ;
My TACiversary is June 19, so I guess I’m not so late I can’t post it. I have enjoyed seeing your progress. Heck, you started out better than I am still. So if TAC can give you that much push, there’s no question it can help others. I have gained to much and I need to post and let others know that.
Thank you for posting your TACiversary. Just putting it out there that TAC has helped you a lot is an inspiration to others. Way to go Omar.
MG 😀
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Yeah, @Mrfredsporty , that’s what makes TAC so special and worth every penny. Heck, we keep paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for new guitars becuase we think a new guitar will make us better. But the few hundred for TAC really does make us better. And yeah, just by showing up. No big effort trying to take some college level course with study and homework and tests and semester projects. JUST SHOW UP! How cool it that? 😎
MG 😀
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Hey @Kitman , it took me about 3 years to break my streak. My longest streak was at 87 for most of that time. Now it’s at 112. Yipey. But obviously, I tripped again and I’ve started over. Whatever. I’m actually proud of the 112. My wife asked me why I was trying to go for a streak record when I slip so often and it really doesn’t make any difference. I told her that’s what I learned from Tony about my guitar routine. You do it because you want to. You don’t need some profound reason beyond that. And you don’t give up. You look at the small wins, not the loses. I used to have trouble making it past 10. Now, I regularly go weeks in stead of days without stopping the count.
Does it matter? Yeah, to me it does. Does it matter that I miss and the count starts over? Yeah, it does. It helps me to be resilient and helps me learn the persistence I need. I don’t feel any great disappointment when it happens anymore. It’s not a deal breaker. And yet I still want to go for another streak. Just that simple exercise in having a good attitude and being persistent is new for me and therefore is helping me to learn.
MG 😀
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Wow, @jumpinjeff , this is some really deep experience. I had never gotten to the point of thinking about changing beats within the beat. Yeah, that gives me something to look forward to. It actually sounds like fun. Fun with a metronome, who woulda thought?
Now I actually have motivation. I want to break out the metronome and begin my journey. Perspective is such an amazing thing.
Thank you so much.
MG 😀
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👍😊
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🤣😂😅😶🤔
I’m gonna have to take that as great encouragement. Your experience tells me I’m doing well. I did play for over a 1/2 hour with the metronome after writing this post. 😄
MG 😀
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👍🙏😊
Thanks @Cadgirl , I’m going to check it out as well. I can play barre chords, but I’ve never gotten as good as I’d like. Alternate chord shapes might help me play better even though I can do barre chords. 😎
MG 😀
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👍😊
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I’m not sure you could pick a better mentor than Billy Strings. Melodies jump started your progress? Well, I think trying to figure out his tunes is going to do the same. And he’s a really down to earth kid. He gave a bunch of guitars to the elementary kids at the school he went to. Why? Because he started then and felt that was what kept him from going in a bad direction. And he certainly plays with joy. It’s fun to watch him
MG 😀
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Hey @Guitargeezer-Jack , I guess this summer got away from us as far as getting together again. I sounds like both of us have a full acoustic life and family life, so no worries. But it’s something on my back burner.
I’m glad to hear you’re progressing in your guitar journey. Me too. 😎
MG 😀
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Hey Mark @the-old-coach , that’s the beauty of music. You can go in a door or move on down the hallway. The important thing is you are in the hallway and you have options.
MG 😀
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HaHaHa, @Cadgirl , I love your rambling. You are on the right path for sure. I’m not a fan of bluegrass, but it has a definite technique and sound so that you can hear that and develop that. And there’s so many genres you could play if you can play bluegrass.
Anyway, figuring out melodies is a great thing to do for your musicality and guitar journey. But figuring them out by ear is the best way to do it. @jumpinjeff talked about repetition above, and I think that’s one of the 2 most important things. The other is training your ear to hear the music. So I love what you are doing.
And on top of all that, trying to figure out bluegrass by ear will supercharge your knowledge of the fretboard. And playing 10 songs from memory? You got it, Denise. It won’t take as long as you might think. Great goals.
MG 😀