N-lightMike
Forum Replies Created
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Wow, that’s very cool, @Cadgirl . It must have a very bluesy sound to it, playing the notes of a G major chord with the chords of the key of B major. Very, very cool. I’d love to hear you play it. I’m gonna have to give it a go just to hear what it sounds like.
MG 😀
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Wow, you are my hero. I’ve been with TAC for 3 years and the longest run I’ve had is 87. I always forget to login on one of the weekend days eventually. That’s wonderful.
MG 😀
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Hello @speckpgh ,
For myself, I have been playing a song for a long time, 3 years in fact, where I trasition from a D to a Bm (same finger positions moved toward the floor one string). I finger pick it, so I can’t cheat and hit a partial strum, which you could do in the scenario you are talking about. Just change you stronger, fuller strum to the 2nd beat, which would give you a neat rhythmic change.
Anyway, I have experimented with what Tony shows in one of his lessons. He moves his index to the bass note first, and then moves his other fingers in place. I simply can not do that. Yeah, yeah; practice, time, more time, practice slowly, be patient, practice some more, give it more time. I’ve been trying to do this for 3 years. I can’t do it.
What I have learned is that I can play my last few notes or strums open. You hardly hear the difference in the notes, it’s the rhythm that’s important. So I start my hand movement, or chord transition, whenever is necessary to get to the chord. I focus on the one beat. My hand knows when it needs to move to get there on time. And my strumming/picking hand just keeps going. It doesn’t care that my other hand has bailed and isn’t holding the chord anymore.
Now one more thing: make sure you are holding only the strings necessary with your index barre. For years, I have been barring all 6 or 5 strings even though I have 3 strings fretted by my other fingers. Now I am able to change my hand position because my index only has the 5th string and the 1st string on some chords. And 6 string chords, there are different options when you use the thumb over technique. So there are lots of different options. Use an open mind and experiment.
MG 😀
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This is excellent @GerryB56 . First, it’s really wonderful that you made a start and attended a VOM. Second, it’s great that you found out it’s just not that big a deal technically. Zoom is really easy. Third, you found out how welcoming the VOMs are. Put all that together and it’s easy for you to see yourself joining in again and even playing. That’s just wonderful for you and your guitar journey. But it’s also wonderful for others because you have shared your experience and that may well inspire someone else to give the VOMs a try.
Thanks for posting, Gerry. And congratulations.
P.S. I’m one of the hosts for the Sunday afternoon VOM. 2pm EST. I’d love to see you there sometime.
MG 😀
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This is really good, @Loraine . Your strumming is lighter, which is a good thing. Better touch. It is surprisingly hard to learn. And your vocals may be soft, but you are doing a great job with the melody. Finally, I thought your sense of timing showed improvement in this recording. All in all, I think you did an excellent job and I see a lot of improvement. Keep it up. Keep posting.
MG 😀
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hello @Namarran ,
I like the replies you’ve already gotten. And it seems you have already accepted the situation with determination to continue your journey without any major changes.
But, I wanted to add one thing: an explanation. Tony’s method is completely different from most approaches. He has the skills courses where you are trying to do one specific skill. But they are kinda limiting. Yeah, yeah, they are necessary at the beginning. But if all you ever do is learn one skill after another, you never really break free of the beginner learning phase.
Tony’s approach gives you something to work on that will hone your guitar skills across the board while having fun. Yeah, I know, some of the lessons, like barre chords, it’s kinda hard to have fun at first. But let me stick to the point.
Each day of the week is dedicated to some aspect of guitar playing. None of them are like a skills lesson. There is no starting point and no ending point. You don’t have to master any lesson. If you just “try” for a few minutes, you gradually but surely get better. In fact, you get better faster than if you do skills lessons. And it’s subtle. So subtle that you will miss it if you don’t look for the improvement.
Ok, so I’ve been here for 3 years. I’ve improved so much it’s more than I thought possible for me. Yet, I still can’t do everything. I can get frustrated with my guitar journey and my progress. I am still learning that crazy A shaped barre chord that we had in this Friday’s lesson. I have always avoided it because it’s so tough for me. But, I’m working on another original song and I’m wanting to put one of those chords in so I can learn it… finally.
But back to the point about I can still get frustrated. It turns out, playing and learning the guitar is really more about attitude than physical skill. It just doesn’t take much guitar skill to make pleasing “noise” and have fun while doing it.
And that’s what Tony covers frequently, our attitude toward our playing and practicing. That’s why this forum is as important as the lessons themselves. So I will reinforce the suggestion made by @Cadgirl , go check out the “5 Day Guitar Routine Challenge”. A lot of what is contained in those videos is about the how not the what. How do we approach the lessons. Also, check out “TAC Quick Start” even if you have already done it.
I hope this helps.
MG 😀
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Thanks @Marty69
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Maybe you’ve only done one, but that one is extra credit. 😅
But seriously, working on stuff like this is how you understand more and get more skill in making the sounds you want to make. And posting is really cool. I appreciate it.
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Hey @Namarran , I used a pick for the first 1 1/2 to 2 years. I have now gone a years without using a pick for any of the lessons. I think I’m going to start using a pick again just for variety. It’s a journey and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Besides which, if I don’t use a pick how can I “keep pickin’?” 😅
MG 😀
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Wow, @Kitman , you sure figured out how to use TAC to your best advantage awfully quickly. This is a great comment.
MG 😀
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I’m glad you see this. I allows you to do what ever you can and focus on the main thing: have fun.
MG 😀
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OMG, @jumpinjeff , if someone bought me a pick that expensive I wouldn’t know what to do. I’d be terrified of losing it. And I’d have to start using a pick. .😮
MG 😀
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One of the most difficult things for me is to see my progress, @Loraine . So it’s really important to me that others mention the progress they see. I feel it is a helpful thing for others as well.
And you should feel good about this recording. It’s one of your best.
MG 😀
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Yeah, @Cadgirl and @the-old-coach , taking deep breaths is as helpful as anything else. It’s more about attitude than physical skill. The physical skill will come if we don’t get up tight. And the best thing to make sure we don’t get up tight is to “have fun”. Such seemingly simple suggestions can appear silly or overly optimistic. But they are really key.
MG 😀
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“At .25 each I never worry about losing them.” LOL, @jumpinjeff , that’s the comment that got me. I wanted to say, that’s the way I look at things usually.
So, I never bought a Blue Chip pick, and I’ll never buy a pick that costs more than $1 simply because I’m too much of a tight wad to pay a lot for a pick to sit in the little pick bowl I have. I don’t use them except for a couple minutes every few months just to try them out… again.
I seem to be able to play with a pick just fine. And they are definitely different feel and different sound. I just don’t want to use anything but my fingers. Oh, and no long nails. That’s definitely out.
But I’m glad you’re having fun with your new picks. Way to go.
MG 😀