N-lightMike
Forum Replies Created
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Hi @LisaH , and I will include @Akabbbb in this comment.
The best way to learn to transition to a new chord is slowly. No, I’m not kidding, but let me explain.
So, start by making a chord that you will play just before the chord you are learning. Turns out, to make a Bm moving from a D is different than making a Bm moving from an A7.
Now, move slowly to the chord you are trying to learn. Do not try to do this in any kind of rhythm, but do try to do it as smoothly as you can. Really pay attention to the position of your arm, wrist and fingers and how they have to change to make the next chord. Then practice over and over again moving slowly and smoothly to the new chord trying to get all the necessary changes in fingers, arm and wrist to happen in one motion.
Do this for just a few minutes or you will over work your muscles and risk straining your hands. But, do this for a few minutes everyday for a few weeks. After several days, you should notice some improvement. After a couple of weeks, you should be able to play this chord cleanly at a slow rhythm. Now, I must say again, do this slowly and smoothly and cleanly. The most important thing is to make the motion from one chord to the other “perfect”, not fast. Because if you will do that, then you will get the results. Resist the urge to “try out” your skill for at least a week. You will be practicing doing the wrong motion. That’s why new chords seem to take so long, because we keep practicing sloppy motions.
I know, sometimes it’s just too much to ask. But the more years that pass and I’m still struggling with some of the same issues the more I’m willing to GO SLOW and STOP practicing bad movement.
MG 😀
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Hello @ironpat , and welcome to TAC, the best learning site on the web (in my not so humble opinion 😁).
So, I totally respect where you are coming from. In spite of the fact that much of the fairly minor differences between guitars is “personal preference” and that for the most part we don’t get guitars “fitted to us” but we adjust to the guitar, I completely understand and agree with your basic premise here.
“There must be distinct, generally agreed-upon pros and cons to going with one nut width & scale length versus the other… Any constructive thoughts?”
Absolutely, I have some “constructive thoughts”. First, I would like to say you got some very good input from @Akabbbb . He started with the standard “go play a bunch” but then shared some of his personal experience, which is what you are actually asking for. And he brought up a very good point. He likes the 1 3/4″ nut width because that’s what he started with. I like the standard 1 11/16″ because that’s what I have always played… until recently. So here is my experience which I’m sure will help you in your decision making process.
One of our TAC members who comes to the VOMs frequently and really is at the “pro” level, @RealKurt , has owned and played a number of guitars with different nut widths, and I asked him about that. After playing the different guitars he finds himself leaning toward one size (that’s the important part, I’m not for sure I remember which size he said, but I think it was the 1 3/4″).
I bought a nylon string guitar with a 1 13/16″ nut which is wider than the 1 3/4 but narrower than the typical 2″ classical guitar or the 1 7/8″ classical, which has become fairly common. It is my opinion, and dare I say experience?, that the 1 3/4 or the 1 13/16 gives enough extra width that picking, as opposed to strumming, becomes easier, and yet you can still play your chord shapes just about as easily. And by picking, I mean either finger picking or flat picking. So it does depend on the type of music you wish to play and where you are leaning as to the style you would like to develop. True rhythm playing, yes, it can include some specific string picking, chords are all important and the standard 1 11/16″ gives you the best “fit” for making chords.
That having been said, there is a whole other factor about the neck: the shape and thickness. I have little to no experience with the different neck shapes. I have played the “normal” neck, which I’m not even sure what it is. I think it is the C style neck. That’s another topic that @RealKurt could address if he comes by and shares his experience.
<font face=”inherit”>Now, moving on to the scale length. Be careful here. It’s not simply the length of the scale, but also the length and shape of the body that determines how a guitar fits into your lap. If you stand up with a strap, this makes almost no difference. The parlor guitar has the most comfortable feel for me. The scale length isn’t that much different. What is really different is that the neck meets the body at the 12th fret instead of the 14th fret. This makes the neck seem closer to you when you play open chords (well, actually, it is). Now, one parlor has a 24″ scale length and a 1 3/4″ nut and a “standard” parlor body shape, and it is the most comfortable guitar for me. The other parlor that I own has a 24 3/4″ scale length and the standard 1 11/16″ nut and a classic “concert” shaped body though it is a little smaller. I love this guitar but it’s </font>noticeably<font face=”inherit”> less comfortable and more challenging for finger picking. Now both of these “parlor” </font>guitars<font face=”inherit”> have a 12 fret neck.</font>
<font face=”inherit”>I recently got my nylon string with the 1 13/16″ nut. I love this guitar. Though the body is a little bigger, it is a thin line body and actually fits differently but just as comfortably as the little Alvarez parlor. The nut width and the nylon strings makes this ideal for finger picking, which is my primary choice and stylistic direction. However, just to show you how difficult this can be, the scale length is the full 25 1/2″ which gives you the maximum fret width and ease of making barre chords. So in spite of the scale length and nut width, the narrow body (I’m taking under 3″, it’s 2 7/8″ at the widest) makes up for these factors and it fits wonderfully and is perfect for finger picking (in my opinion). However, I can finger pick just fine on some of my other steel string guitars. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>The one guitar I would never own is a dreadnaught. I owned one once and sold it not long after. The body is just too big and the sound is just too loud for me. I don’t want to bring the house down every time I pick up my guitar to noodle around. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>Those are my thoughts. I hope they help you Pat. I hope that Kurt comes by and shares some of his experience. The more insights you get the better prepared you will be to make a decision that works for you. Good luck and let us know when you do make a decision. But the way, a Martin with a small-ish body would be a pretty safe bet. </font>
<font face=”inherit”>MG 😀</font>
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It is surprisingly easy to put a photo on the site Dirk. But hey, it’s also easy for us to go online and see what a Martin Dreadnaught Jr with Spruce top looks like.
So, I’m happy that you got your new guitar. I hope you love it. I look forward to seeing and hearing it on an upcoming VOM. See you then.
MG 😀
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Thank you @ted_h for coming by and checking out my post. I sincerely appreciate it.
I did want to add something Ted , and I need to say this to @Cherie also. Attending a VOM is not a hurdle. You are welcome to just come and observe. There are actually quite a few people who simply come to watch and have never played. We welcome everyone who comes and we include them in our chit chat between performances. And quite a few people who now play started out watching before they realized how supportive and encouraging the environment is and how many of our players are still learning and not able to sound like some kind of pro. In fact, that would include myself. I frequently have a few “stumbles” during my songs.
Please, just come on over to justmusicgeeks.com, sign up and check out the discussions. See how supportive we are. Then grab a VOM link and watch how much fun we have even when we “mess up”.
MG 😀
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Thank you so much @Cherie for checking out my post and for your kind words.
We would love to have you at one of the VOMs. They happen every other Thursday at 2:30 pm EST, every 2nd and 4th Friday at 8 pm EST, every Saturday at 8 pm EST and every Sunday at 2 pm EST.
All the pertinent information can be found at justmusicgeeks.com. It is a very fun forum for any and all of us guitar geeks and covers everything related to our guitar journeys. But along with all the wonderful conversations about playing guitar or writing songs or home recording equipment or current artists or guitar maintenance, etc., the VOMs post their weekly themes and links.
We would love to have you join in on the fun.
MG 😀
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😄👍
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LOL Mark ( @mkjohnsons ), that was so funny I had to share it with my wife.
MG 😀
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🤣😅😄
Yeah, well, @jumpinjeff , that’s exactly why (you beat yourself up mercilessly; you were your own worst roadblock) you have helped me (and a lot of others but they’re gonna have to cop to it on their own) so much. Slowly but surely, I am learning to stop trying and just play music for the sheer joy of it and no other reason.
MG 😀
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Great advice Mark ( @mkjohnsons ). I agree that learning is just beyond the comfort line, but it is inside the damage line. So I don’t think you did contradict yourself. It simply takes a fine balance, especially when we are older and have these difficulties. But I love the part about “work” and “fun” not having any letters in common. Nice one. 😄
MG 😀
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Hi @Sheryl14 ;
I hadn’t visited this thread since I left my comment. I think that is one of the things that dampens this forum, it is not as easy to follow up on comments and threads.
Anyway, yes, carpal tunnel is a drag, but it can be managed in different ways. I think you have gotten a lot of good advice. I have one also. I was told to massage the big thumb muscle at the base of your palm. I have found that massaging the big muscle at the base of the little finger on the other side of the palm also helps. I would never have thought of doing that had I not been told about it (the advise was third hand, but was given by an MD).
I am happy to see that you have gotten more support and that the cheerleaders are still here. I am still not as active as I used to be, but I try to show up as often as I can because I think it’s really important that we support each other. It’s a big part of why my guitar journey continues on so reliably.
MG 😀
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Oh, I totally agree Mark ( @mkjohnsons ), this is one of his gems. It is so good, that it bears repeating: “Play is my practice, rather than practice to play”. But if you think this one is the best, you’ve never heard the one that made him famous. 😉
“Expectation is where fun goes to die” – @jumpinjeff
That quote is worth of frames and walls. 😄
MG 😀
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Thanks @SoCal_Ian for clarifying that. I was under that mistaken belief. Oh, and by the by, I do have an inkling about why you know a lot about this, but I won’t let the cat out of the bag. 😁
MG 😀
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👍🙏😊
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I hope that you are having fun and making progress @OhWowMan . I can add nothing to @Bill_Brown ‘s explanation. It is a little confusing, but the extra videos was redundant and didn’t really add anything. Let us know how you are progressing with your chord transitions and be sure to post all you small wins, that way we can be a part of your guitar journey and share your joy.
MG 😀
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Hello @Johan , it is totally ok to start a new topic to ask any question you have. Even though the question may have been asked and answered many times, there is no archiving system for old threads.
That having been said, here is a current thread that has been discussing your question about “mastering” the daily lessons:
https://tonypolecastro.com/family-forums/topic/falling-behind/
In short, no, don’t master the lessons. Do the best you can for a minimum of 10 minutes and move on. You can spend more time than 10 minutes. You can revisit the lesson that day, through out the week, or over a long period of time. But the idea is simply to attempt the lessons and in so doing you will be growing your guitar skills. That’s all.
MG 😀