[the-old-coach]

AK413–

If you are trying to tune your high-E string UP to the D- (just short of a full octave HIGHER… (tighter)… than its normal “hi-E” tension, it’s goodnight Charlie for that string every single time.

Like Jeff and others say– what you are shooting for is to tune that hi-E string DOWN to the D. (making it LESS tight/ loosening/ “unwinding” it).

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Thanks for responding!

Yeah, I’m not sure they actually changed their policy.

Bright side is—- I am glad for you that you went ahead and got the lifetime and also the Fretboard Wizard! (I did get the FretWiz, too— and loved it !).

So, in my response to you— I am really hoping “THEY” read it also!

I just didn’t have the cash at the time……. so I just kept going, paying the “yearly” amount- for three years. Right at the end of the third year, I inquired about upgrading to a lifetime membership- (seems like it was~$500). Since I had already paid 3 yearly amounts- (seems like ~$200/year)- I simply asked **IF** there was any way they would “apply” some of that $600- (plus the ~$150 for FretWiz)- already spent TOWARDS my upgrading to a “lifetime” membership.

I didn’t think what I was asking was unreasonable. But, they said- (like your situation, I think)- they offered to allow THAT-year’s ~$200 toward the $500 lifetime price.

So, that was enough to make me walk away, sadly disappointed. I realize they owe me nothing– but it just felt like a “hard no”. As I said, it seems/seemed there should be just **some** credit that showed they appreciated me as a loyal TAC member for 3 years, inc. FretWiz, and an active, always-positive contributor to the Forum.

If we could, let’s put this into world of say, owning a car. Imagine I buy a brand new car from, say, Ford. To compare this to my TAC situation, let’s say I want to trade it in for **another** brand new car, after only three years. But instead of giving me a decent trade-in credit towards a new one, they staunchly say they will give me **zero** for it. That alone would make the difference in me staying-on with Ford, right?– or in my case—- staying on with TAC.

Bigger than that— I wondered just HOW MANY OTHERS would buy the lifetime after the usual 2-3 years, but instead……. quit. To that end, and in that case, TAC just walks away from having many/ MANY more members that want to give them money to get the lifetime membership…… And why would they not want that?….

Well….. that 3-year-old car has value. Like being a loyal Ford owner, let’s say, it seems there’s a value in there for TAC to KEEP their members “on”- (the lifetime buy-in money….. the merchandising/ T-shirts, mugs, other….. the sales of the FretWiz to any who hadn’t already purchased it, etc, etc).

To me, this is a huge opportunity…. lost. And a LOT of members…. just…. gone. A lot of names and help and advice here in the Forum….. just…. gone.

It doesn’t make sense.

But….. it is their choice.

THAT is why I hope they are reading this also! And if they simply changed their mind on this ONE thing– I believe there may be many, new/”old” members coming back. And maybe quickly.

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Sorry to all. I did not mean for my previous, rambling post about lifetime membership, to in any way steer this thread away from its original– and important– thought. The feeling of being “Lost and Overwhelmed” when they first enter TAC-world, is quite common, I think.

Please accept my apologies, and let’s keep on helping those of us who have been thru the confusing start when joining TAC.

[the-old-coach]

Hello–

I was in TAC for 3 years, thoroughly enjoyed it, learned a LOT, had lots of fun, and “met” some GREAT folks, indeed!

I would have SURELY converted to a life-membership if there would’ve been some way they would’ve allowed me some financial credit toward that, for the years I was “in”- (total bummer….. but that’s a different story……).

What I realized early-on is that TAC isn’t about teaching you A song- (like many 1:1 instructors, and many YouTube videos do). It’s fast and quickly satisfying, right? I can play a SONG!!!!!

IMHO– TAC’s method is to teach you how to play ANY song.

Being more “spread-out”, you can see how that would certainly take more time……. TAC teaches us thru a much more broad-based method. The “lightbulb moments” come— but slower……. but you REMEMBER them better.

I had a great friend who put months and months— and a LOT of money into 1:1 private lessons. When I asked how he was doing with all of that, he whipped-out his guitar and played a song. I don’t even remember what song it was– but it was pretty good! But when I asked him to show me more…….. he said….. “that’s all I know for now”…..

It was good, but that was likely a thousand-dollar song right there…… that took maybe half a YEAR to learn………. wow……….

Ya gotta be patient with yourself here in TAC-world.

But– the results are DEFINITELY worth it!

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

J-V—–

It’s hardest and most confusing at the very start, because everyone “starts” at a different level- (in TAC).

That said, there is no “one size fits all”. Realize this……. picture that there are 2 new members to TAC– one is just absolutely starting out from ground zero, and another with years and years of playing experience……… yet they “start” with the same “30 Days to Play”, Daily Challenges, etc.

There isn’t a “newbie” course and a “experienced-starting-player” course…… At the start– we all “play by the same rules”— with the same curriculum.

Don’t be discouraged! Expect it to be tough…… want it to be tough…… Without those two things– what’s the point. That “quiet pride” that you know how to play guitar is worth it.

Enough said. Isn’t that why we’re all here?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Hang in there.

If learning guitar was easy, everyone would be doing it, and it wouldn’t be special.

If learning guitar was easy, you would NOT get that fantastic feeling of accomplishment every time you (finally) get whatever you are struggling with….. done successfully!

If learning guitar was easy, you would NOT get to “see” all the places along the way in your journey. Focus on the TRIP, not the destination- (which, by the way, does not really exist—— there is no end to how much you can learn).

My two cents— EXPECT it to be difficult. WANT it to be difficult. Plan on it, and enjoy that.

Give yourself the credit you have earned with each and every “small win”. This is soooooo important!

DON’T compare yourself with anyone else.

[the-old-coach]

MrFred–

I just LOVE your post here! And, wow, it is very true! I think that’s one of the reasons that so many folks give-up when picking up the guitar; is that the results they expect are NOT instant. Many times, you don’t even realize your brain IS actually picking this stuff up…. but it takes some time— like you said— and then, out of the blue— there it is!

Again– (like always)– your post is right on. Thanks for posting it!

[the-old-coach]

Welcome!

PhilB and Loraine have nailed it….. again.

To me, one cool thing about TAC’s philosophy of teaching is that you will be learning from the ground up. It will stick with you, and build upon itself.

You’ll find that– the more you learn, the more there is to learn! It will open up new doors of guitar-learning.

[the-old-coach]

This may be a little easier to understand. This simple, short, video, shows you how to find any note you want, everywhere it is located on the fretboard. That in itself may not be all that useful to you right now, but it is a very important step. A LOT of guitar-learning starts right here- (building on this simple concept of finding your root-notes…. all the way up the fretboard). Hope this helps a little.

https://youtu.be/PL93vtHIBx4

[the-old-coach]

Just remember, you don’t have to memorize every note on every string. Yes there are 6 strings and each string has ~20-whatever frets……. 120 different notes, oh no!

To make things seem WAY less overwhelming, remember, there are only 12 notes, period.

Decide on whatever note you want. Just pick one. Find that note on whatever string you want. Any note, any where, any string. Now focus on the FIVE pattern-shapes in the video. They show you where every location of the note you chose is located on the entire fretboard.

And remember- they are all moveable.

Any note you choose, on any string, any where. Whichever note you chose doesn’t even matter……… Just learn he patterns in the video……. That’s all you need!

[the-old-coach]

My two-cents goes along with others already here.

Pick a song you like- (any song you can think of- doesn’t matter).

On your computer, type in (your song’ s title), and also the word “chords”.

Various “TAB” song sites will come up. (My fave is probably “e-chords”).

Click on whichever site you want.

Your song— in TAB version, will come up. All the chords in your song are now right there in front of you! Many/most also have an audio track button which allows you to hear the song and play along with as you read and play your chords.

While you may not be playing the songs as much as playing along with the songs– it is a great start! And it makes you know the chords, improve on chord transitions, and be “in time” and “in tempo”. And it’s FUN!

And you have endless songs to choose from.

[the-old-coach]

Yeah– it soooooo great to hear from you, too! I still cruise in & out of the TAC forum here every other day or so- (apparently I can still get “in here” even though I let my membership go earlier this year (Jan). It is great that you are back in full swing– still helping others– as you always have been!

As far as this string-breaking-thread- (and IF I understood it correctly)- I hope you don’t think that it may have been ME who was trying to tune the hi-E string to a D—- by going UP—- because that is gonna be string-break every time.

It sounded they may have been trying to tune UP to the next D, WAAAAAY tighter/higher pitch—– rather than by going DOWN to the D- (2 notes lower).

Anyway— It is great to hear from you….. You will always have a soft spot in my heart for all you’ve done to help me along the journey- (and many others, too).

(Always)– yer-old-pal—

mark- (theoldcoach)

[the-old-coach]

Skyman911– In my opinion, you have nailed with your post. I had always heard that TAC’s method is NOT to teach you a song…… but to slowly build your all-around skills and knowledge…… to the point where you can play (almost) ANY song. There is a HUGE difference between the two. But it takes patience….. and perseverance….. and time.

[the-old-coach]

ENVH–

This is such a COOL response and post you have made here! Perfectly right on the money!

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Brandon–

I really like this response of yours. As I was reading down the responses in this thread, I was thinking of a response that would help. I was gonna mention “landing one finger at a time”…….. but then I read your response……… and yours nailed it perfectly.

I think a person’s hand and brain “find” the first note automatically, with the other fingers just finding their “order” also automatically– (after lots of repetition, of course!).

To PJ—— Remember that your fretting-fingers have to come from somewhere to get to their “G-chord positions”. Most of the time they will be coming FROM another chord TO that G-chord. If I were to offer one suggestion– it would be for you to consider learning your G-chord by transitioning TO it from another chord. Any other chord– it doesn’t matter.

There is no song with just one chord. Learning the transitions is equally as important as learning the chords just by themselves.

One possible second suggestion?…….. close your eyes.

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.