[the-old-coach]

Mitch–

If you feel you’re not going to really have a lesson “down”- (with the next lesson bearing down you)- is to do just as Pete says…. give it a decent go, and then just move on.

BUT— if you’re only gonna give it a short few minutes…. the work you do do on the lesson needs to be very deliberate, accurate, and attentive….. and SLOW.

Your brain will pick it up and store it quite well— if you learn it slowly and accurately.

[the-old-coach]

Maybe many people focus too much on memorizing where each note is located all throughout the fretboard— as their way of learning. To me— much better to just learn the method…. the formula….

Like others have said, the 12 notes are: A-A#-B-C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#. Period. It is as simple as that.

Whatever string you are trying to figure-out the notes on– just “start” from the open string. (Example- D string…… the fourth fret up the (D) string is F#). (Example 2- G string……. the second fret up the (G) string is A).

You don’t need to memorize every single note everywhere on the fretboard!– you just need to know how to find them….. the method….. the formula.

• This reply was modified 3 days, 16 hours ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Jeff nailed it……. slow down, then work back up.

Two other things you may try:

Concentrate on “landing” the initial finger first— then having the others “follow”. (I know this all happens in the blink of an eye, but there’s an “anchor finger-location” for every chord). In the case of a “C” chord, my anchor of course is the B string/2nd fret. It lands there “first”… the others will follow.

Close your eyes as you practice— this makes your brain “see” the chords; you will memorize them faster.

[the-old-coach]

JILLC–

My two cents:

1. Forget the “full F” entirely for now– focus on the mini

2. DO YOUR STRETCHING EXERCISES– both before– and occasionally during– your practice session(s)

3. Work on “going TO” the mini (from another chord) instead of just going to it from nowhere- (try the C to mini-F).

4. The first fret is hard to fret (especially barre) at first because it is right next to the nut. Put a capo on 1 and try the mini-F, now one fret higher. Or, you can just always practice that same shape as the full-F, just higher up the neck– and slowly “work it down”…. (just to get the “full-F shape” into your brain).

It will all come with time– main thing is…… be cool/ no worries.

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 4 days ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

md–

Now……… don’t just “forget it (by) tomorrow”. Put it into a Word document or some-such.

Go back into it…… keep adding-onto it…… keep messing with it……. make a copy of the Circle of Fifths and tape it to your desk- (so that it’s easy to see while you are messing with this progression– so you can see the other chords that go “with”)…….. Throw some words onto it somehow………. Just keep adding to it!

[the-old-coach]

Wow, Pete! Yours is quite a story also. A story of love and dedication.

And real priorities.

But I bet it makes your guitar journey that much better. Maybe your “built-in dedication” is also a driving-force in learning and playing guitar. And maybe also– your “escape” to your own little world of enjoyment-sounds from your guitar.

• This reply was modified 1 day, 18 hours ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

That’s one thing about TAC— it sometimes seems like it’s “bang-bang-bang-bang”— and maybe easy to feel like you’re “falling behind”.

But actually…….. you’re not.

I think it’s the “10-minutes-a-day” philosophy that makes it so. But I think the main thing is that the 10 minutes must be very focused. It’s commonly thought that our brain “likes” learning things in short chunks- (i.e.- 6, 10-minute chunks is better than 1, 60-minute session). The TAC method is certainly well thought-out and time-tested.

But again– my own thought is that your short, 10-minute sessions need to be well-planned and very accurate in nature (vs emphasizing “speed”).

Of course you can go longer, but don’t let your own expectations upon yourself make you think you are ever “behind”……. again….. you’re not.

[the-old-coach]

Easy-peasy to find Circle of Fifths diagrams online. I just drew one out (with ONLY the major and minor (inner) circle. Taped it to my desk top so that it is ALWAYS directly visible when I’m playing. Easy to see what goes with what, and where they are in the chord family. Good stuff.

[the-old-coach]

Jorge–

Downright awesome advice there, my friend. A person’s own expectations is sometimes like a mirage– the goal keeps moving even as you make progress toward it.

You have stated a great perspective….. to lighten up! In fact, I’m going to write it onto paper and tape it to the top of the desk in my practice space so I can see it every practice. (It’s going right next to my hand-drawn Circle of Fifths diagram).

[the-old-coach]

GMH–

Indeed, there are a few “tricks” to easily find note-locations (relative to each other).

(example– you don’t need to memorize exactly where every, say, G note is— as you suggest— you just need to know the formula(s) to get from to the other). There are plenty of little tips and hints- (they are all good– and they ALL work!).

I didn’t want to “go there” in my post– because I would have phrased things badly and maybe made them more confusing.

I still have waaay more to learn, but the key (on this subject) was just to spend some serious time messing-around with this on my own. We’re all gonna learn this a little differently from others.

Your explanation is good.

(my “landmark” is at the fifth fret— where the notes are A-D-G-C-E-A—- (I remember it as “All- Dogs- Go- Crap- Everywhere- Always)

• This reply was modified 3 days, 15 hours ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

JC– Tons of info on capos out there (youtube or amazon vids, etc). Also lots of places to get one- or two!- (amazon, any guitar/music store). Most are ~$5-10- (some are higher, though).

Once you find out more about what they are and what they do– you’ll see they are a pretty useful tool…….

One “main purpose” I guess, is that you can change the Key of a song to fit your voice range. (that’s kind of a simplistic explanation there– but that’s pretty clear in general).

• This reply was modified 1 week, 4 days ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

MrKimm— Yup— thanks….. I’m as sharp as a marble some days!

[the-old-coach]

And it seems so simple just looking at it! Uh-huh.

[the-old-coach]

If you aren’t familiar with the Circle of Fifths….. get familiar with it!

It is SO full of information once you start to see what’s really in there.

I think of it as a giant music multi-tool; So many different functions!

[the-old-coach]

Yup, that.

Why do golfers pay the most money to play the courses that are the most challenging….. it’s simply because of the “inner” satisfaction gained. What special thing have you accomplished if the task was easy? Nobody brags to their friends that they have, say, climbed a small mountain.

There’s a reason TAC’s daily lessons are called challenges.