[the-old-coach]

Loraine– (as always)– nailed it!

[the-old-coach]

I have taken an old, cheap, no-name, “smaller” guitar along on some trips- (but they were “road-trips– no flying involved). Never taken one on a plane, and wouldn’t, unless I had one of those really cool, “folding” kind.

Maybe another variable is- “what KIND” of adventure are you going on? A cruise? Hotel/condo-ing it? Hiking in the mountains for two weeks? Taking a computer? Will you actually have enough time and opportunity to justify taking it along?

Even if you DON’T take your guitar along, you can still pack along a couple of guitar-workbooks- (or whatever), check-in w/TAC- (laptop or however), and stay up-to-speed with the “learning-parts”, and/or play learning-mind-games in your head, etc, etc.

Whatever you decide/ whatever your adventure…… have a fun, safe trip.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

OK- I’ll jump in and throw my two-cents in.

Since I/we don’t know where you are in your guitar journey, it’s a little iffy to say…. and …. since everyone is different, this adds even more fog to your question.

My own thoughts are that as long as you have a good grasp on the 30-days-to-Play- (and the 5-day Skills course?), go for it. FBW is YOURS. You own it and can access any part of it whenever you want.

Further– it is a “ladder” learning system for the most part— (once you grasp “this”— THEN move on to “that”). You have to understand each step before moving to the next.

You can also, of course, go back and revisit any previously-completed part– to re-clarify things– when you come to a part that is more challenging.

And of course, remember you can- (and should)- go completely back thru the entire course again, from time to time— you WILL learn something new each time.

It is a great course!- (and well-worth the investment).

Try to “be” just a little bit beyond where you are comfortable.

DON’T hurry thru it, but also don’t go so slow that you are bored with it.

My two-cents…..

theoldcoach

PS- Don’t ignore the “Skills Courses”….. Poke around in there….. They are GREAT.

[the-old-coach]

Reading Loraine’s excellent post here made me think of something along the lines of this thread that someone mentioned earlier- (maybe a couple of years ago?).

The “jist” of it was…. to allow yourself to “get lost in the music”.

Now– learning is learning. Exactness is needed when LEARNING. That’s easy to see.

But, I believe there’s a big difference between learning and PLAYING. So, when your “learning” is done for the day or whatever……. go PLAY.

Pay attention to the chords themselves, of course, but beyond that…… deliberately DON’T focus on all the eye-confusing diagram-y stuff that tells you exactly when to strum- (and how.. either up or down). Dial it out.

And just…. PLAY…. within the music…. from your ears and heart…… just for the FUN of it. Play it the way that SOUNDS great to YOU, regardless of how “technically correct” it is. You will gravitate towards what SOUNDS good to your ears! If it isn’t exactly like the lesson’s version– oh well. You have played YOUR version of it!

Hope this perspective doesn’t sound tooooooo dumb. And I hope you get the “jist” of what I said.

(Note- I hate using all these “caps”- but sometimes if I want to “bold” or “italicize” something- it turns out showing all these weird characters in the post’s text once it is posted in the thread). Promise– I’m NOT shouting…..)😀

[the-old-coach]

Nick–

(Tried twice to respond….. POOF/gone…..twice….. in case they turn up- you’ll know why there are THREE responses!)

Anyway- my suggestion is simple, quick, and easy- (hah-hah).

Practice your transitions…….. with your eyes closed………

(be ready for some instant humbling- but MAN, you brain is building bridges!).

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Hey– it made it thru!!

[the-old-coach]

PHC-

Welcome to TAC!

I have a couple of thoughts and suggestions for ya……

First off- Read, and re-read, and re-read again- the last sentence in Moose’s first paragraph- (about being patient with yourself). He nailed it.

ESPECIALLY— (being a natural “leftie-playing-righty”)…….. Make sure to do at least SOME stretching/warmup exercises before EACH session. You can find a course for these in the “Skills Courses” area.

(Don’t know “where you are” in your guitar-journey)- but I’ll maybe suggest this— what gauge are your strings(?). Maybe/possibly, it will seem “easier” to play with a set of “light” or even “extra-light” strings(?)…..

Maybe(?) also have your guitar “looked at” to see if the “action” is too high. This can make a HUGE difference in the instrument’s playability– and your enjoyment of it😀.

Alright, now, go back and re-read Moose’s post- (yes– again).

Remember-

“Progress over perfection”

“Expectation is where fun goes to die”- (my all-time favorite quote/saying)

“It’s about the journey- not the destination”

Don’t be a stranger here in this Forum….. There is an incredible group of people in here!

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Loofer-

This is a legit question…… because it ISN’T obvious. There have been a few threads about this exact topic- “OK- where do I go next?”- once you/we have finished the “30-Days-To Play” segment.

Moose nailed it. That’s a GREAT next/first step…… here in TAC.

Don’t know “where you are” in your guitar-journey so if you are “beyond” all my goofy suggestions here, then just ignore this……….

But while you’re roaming around within the TAC site– poke around on your own all thru those Skills Courses! There is some REALLY cool stuff in there. Pick one- (or two!)- and just go for it—- ALONG WITH the 5-day course. Watch the introductory video(s) and see if they interest you, and then just give them a try….. the various courses are fun- and challenging- (some, “very”).

DO do the “dailies” but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t “master” them. Give them a decent effort, learn what you can- (or want)- from them, “Favoritize” any you want to come back to, and move on. It’s been said many times here- the real goals are “progress over perfection”- and have fun while doing it……..

DO check out the “stretching/warmup” course- and do a couple of minutes of those before EVERY session. Don’t get carried away with that– but it really helps to do SOME.

Last thing- investigate for yourself the Fretboard Wizard Course. It’s NOT a “free” course- (there is an investment in great guitar-knowledge here). IMHO- you get what you pay for with this course. There is some great stuff to learn that you likely never even thought about. (Hint— Maybe start your own thread in here just asking what others think about it!).

Glad you’re “back”!- (maybe me just writing THIS response to you will help ME get “back” too!).

Now— get to work!😀👍

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Nils-

Right on! You maybe came back even stronger than before.

It’s likely happened before, and will likely happen again.

I’m going thru some sort of funk last couple of weeks myself. Kind-of “too-busy” feeling, and that seems to make my guitar-sessions feel hurried and un-enjoyable. Hard to explain.

Glad you are “back”- (that’s a great feeling!)

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Chord matrices are the coolest! Combine those with a bit of Circle of Fifths info and you’ve got a LOT of good stuff there!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

On a recent episode of “The Voice” TV show– one of the judges- (Niall Horan)- said something like, “You’re not learnin’ anything if things are goin’ great….. nothing”.

Someone else- (I’ll just call him “Jeff”)- is known for the oft-used, famous, quote “Expectation is where fun goes to die”.

I figure if learning guitar was EASY, it wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying in the long run….

Nobody brags about climbing a small mountain.

Enjoy “the trip”….. what do you really have when you reach the destination except the memories of what you experienced along the way.

[the-old-coach]

Congrats—- this is a BIG win!

[the-old-coach]

This sounds like an interesting style or technique! I have heard it, but never really even thought about it– but it’s pretty cool!

If I understand your post correctly—- I also find it difficult to maintain an even and consistent volume-level when I’m playing—- maybe especially when recording/video-ing a song.

I also seem to always find myself creeping “up” in volume; I don’t even notice it or pay any attention to it during recording…. (too focused on other things— like actually playing and singing)…. but then I can sometimes hear it clearly when playing the video/audio BACK.

And I don’t have the recording-equipment-knowledge to “level” that out thru some sort of digital-audio-workstation setup.

This is a great and useful thread you have started here, Jeff, and I hope that I “took it the right way” in that being consistent in playing at the same volume-level is important.

mark- (theoldcoach)

[the-old-coach]

I give up.

[the-old-coach]

Maybe check out some videos about “playing in the “zone” ” or “playing in the “flow” “.

(youtube)- Classical Guitar Shed/ Allen Mathews may be a good place to start.

Stuff like this is great- it reminds us to see things right under our noses all along!