[the-old-coach]

Please pass the brown sugar and milk……

[the-old-coach]

Aservire–

I agree about the equipment part— but— it is true that better is better. But I have to look at it as my singing voice and my abilities “are what they are”. I personally don’t need a Porsche if I only drive around town; 25 mph or so.

I have a Scarlett 2i2 interface, 1 good mic, 1 cheap mic, a USB-plug-in camera, my old laptop, some chords, a good pair of headphones, and 2 cheap “tabletop-clamp-on” mic stands. And I keep the whole thing in a DeWalt canvass tool bag. The whole setup. Takes about 10 mins to go from in the bag to fully operational. TOTAL cost if I had to replace it ALL today? (not counting the laptop or the headphones— both of which I had before)….. under $500.

Not a huge investment…….but for me– it’s just about perfect.

[the-old-coach]

In my post(s) about the difference between “learning” and “practicing”—- I must give credit where credit is due. I learned this whole concept from long-time TAC-cer, Mike Gaurnier—- (one of my guitar-heroes!)

[the-old-coach]

My silly piece of advice isn’t about your question of “all at the same time– but slowly”…. versus…. “one at a time– mastering the one you’re working on”— (if I understood what you were asking)’

My opinion is more about one of the steps– regardless of which way you do it.

1. Monkey around with the song- (I mean REALLY mess with it!)- AS you are practicing it. Change a chord/ change the key/ changes the strumming pattern…… etc, etc. You will really learn a song IF you mess with it some. Your brain is gathering ALL that info as you go– even if you don’t use anything you changed or messed with.

2. Learning and Practice. They are two different things. Recognize the difference between the two.

3. One trick I use: Most people start practicing/playing a song at the beginning– but then get hung up somewhere; they then go back and start again…. back at the start. (so…. the end of the song gets waaaay less reps than the beginning). Practice the song from the back to the front— this way the end-part of the song gets the same amount of— and you are just as confident about the END of the song– as the beginning.

Anyway– just my two cents

[the-old-coach]

Been through both the first and second versions of FBW a total of four times now; by no means an expert on it– (I don’t think you’ll find one); and it’s been a year or two since my last time thru, so my memory of it isn’t recent- (but still pretty-good….. because the program itself IS that good)

My takeaway from FBW is that it is much more about learning… than actually playing. It teaches a lot about “background” knowledge- (hard to put into words– but kind-of “how to find things/ how to figure-things-out/ how to find what key you are in– by ear– and what goes with what”…. etc…. etc….. etc….. there’s a LOT in there!).

It’s not so much a course about playing something; it’s a course about learning how to play anything- (if that makes any sense).

It will definitely advance your guitar journey, and will make you a better player, but in a more indirect-manner—- by making you a “better-guitar-thinker”; by definitely making you “fretboard-smarter” …….. while you are playing……

Hope this doesn’t sound TOO confusing- (I’m gettin’ more confused as I write this!).

FBW is about learning…… not (directly) about playing.

Expensive?- maybe…….. worth it?- absolutely.

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

[the-old-coach]

Braden—

I loved your “ten minutes sure isn’t gonna get you there” line…. and could not agree more.

I surely have no actual qualifications of any kind on this subject— so all I can offer is an opinion.

But I always thought that ten-minute-thing was a bunch of hooey; always sounded to me like a “bait” thing—– “”””Yes!!!… YOU can become an excellent guitar player in only TEN MINUTES A DAY!!!!”””

Takes me more than that just to figure-out what I want to work on that day- (I just don’t have the time to have this stuff all planned/mapped-out ahead of time).

What can you really gain in ten minutes???

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

This is a really great thread! I agree that no matter where you are in your guitar journey– you always want to be “better”. It’s natural to put pressure on yourself to get there- (wherever “there” is)……

But……… “there” is a mirage. You can see it from a distance, but once you get closer… you realize that it isn’t real- (and never was).

I’m thinking that maybe I need to hit the big giant “reset” button every now and again when it comes to keeping my own expectations in check. It’s easy to get “too far out over your skis” without doing the work needed to be there.

Focus on the trip much more than just the destination.

[the-old-coach]

MrK–

Remember this about the Daily Challenges— especially when just starting out here in TAC.

No two people are at the very same exact “starting point” when they join TAC. Some are very experienced; some are absolute beginners. There is no way that the TAC crew can design a daily program (the challenges) that fits everyone. Not possible.

In the same way that you may have troubles with a tough lesson; yet another may find it too easy! You get my drift here….

TAC’s program kind-of “bounces around” in this respect—– some Dailies are more advanced; some less. To make it perfect for everyone, they would have to custom-build hundreds of different curriculums.

So my advice is….

1. Don’t sweat the toughies. Just give them an honest try….. and move on- (you will see them again– with a year’s-worth of new skills under your belt!).

2. Make sure to do the warm-ups/stretches- (at least somewhat…)

3. DON’T compare yourself to anyone else- (even Tony)- and especially to some mental image of “where you THINK you should be”.

4. Focus on those beautiful sounds you are making….. the rest will follow!

[the-old-coach]

Perfect!

I do this all the time– I’ll maybe be working on a couple new things; then I’ll go into E-Chords- (or some other TAB website); dig-up one of my old favorite tunes……. and bring my new skills to the party– (at least somewhat– while I figure things out a bit).

To me– this is a blast! Some of the most fun stuff, right there.

Great strides with not-too-much effort, “breaks things up” a bit, and it’s loads of fun!

[the-old-coach]

TAC gives you the tools. After you collect a few new tools into your toolbox, you can open-up the drawers and admire how great they look there, all perfectly in order………. or ………. you can take them out and build something.

Old saying— “You can’t make an omelet without breakin’ some eggs”.

Take your new knowledge and use it/ mess with it/ experiment with it……. otherwise it’s just for looks- (like those all perfect tools in the toolbox).

[the-old-coach]

Hate to reply to myself… but as I thought more about this— I guess what I was trying to say is that there is a “bigger picture” here.

Years ago, there was a person having trouble staying motivated. He must have had some sports background; one time he said– “I’m tired of just doing “cone drills”— I want to get out there and PLAY”. He had good intentions– but I think he was just a little impatient. His desires were ahead of his abilities— trying to build something but didn’t yet have the tools. This never works……..

TAC-challenges are the tools. Every one of these little skills you pick up in the challenges- (months and months worth)— whether it’s mastering a certain transition, some cool picking or strumming pattern, maybe muting, some scale, learning about Keys or modes, maybe hammer-ons or pull-offs or slides or whatever……. (hundreds of little mini-skills).

These are just a bunch of little parts and pieces (tools) that don’t really mean that much when looked-at individually. But “the bigger picture”– over time– starts to show you how they all fit together.

Your brain may well just do this automatically for you— without you even noticing!

THEN, you take all these hundreds of individual little parts and pieces and put them to use— as your own skills allow.

Maybe I just made it more confusing…. I hope not….

[the-old-coach]

Yup……. what Loraine said!

When I went thru the whole rotator-cuff process– (and yes, it is a process)– one of the things I remember most is just how hard it was to find a comfortable position to try to SLEEP.

[the-old-coach]

J-M—

Well, I made it to “different areas of the fretboard” in your post….. and then my brain turned to mush.

I hope to one day…. maybe…. get to the knowledge-level you mention here.

But you continue to help pull us up the ladder, and it’s greatly appreciated!

[the-old-coach]

Pete—- You and Moose have reached the pot of gold. To put it in football terms– TAC teaches you the “cone drills”— (which are really, just a means to an end)……… the REAL key is how and when to use those drills when you are in the game.

Let’s face it…….. this is most likely the “real” goal for many/most of us in here……….. to be able to play and sing a song from memory.

Being able to change the Key (to match your voice) is one of the foundations of Fretboard Wizard…….. being able to do THAT makes any and every song out there, now within your grasp—- to play and sing. You have kicked open the door!

• This reply was modified 2 days, 3 hours ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Bill- (old pal!)–

Your explanation here is quite interesting indeed. Thru our “guitar-travels”- (some together)- I have never seen this. It’s pretty cool! I have memorized the pattern-shapes into my brain– but this is a really easy way to accomplish the same thing, for sure.

In my own brain, I had to put some kind-of “space” after the B starting point.. just to tell my brain that (in your example) the B is the starting point– (not really a “step” in itself).

I’ll keep monkeying with this as far as different root-notes, different starting points within the 5 letters- (starting, say, at the third letter “G” instead of the B), and also going both directions– (working up…. and down….. the fretboard).

Anyway– hope all is well in your world– good to “see” ya!