[the-old-coach]

Mike-F

No expert here, but I do remember reading something long ago about transitions between chords– that “stuck” in my mind.

No matter which chord you are “going to”, you always have to “land” one finger ahead of the others. Only from there will muscle memory take over and put the others where they go.

Seemed/seems to work for me, I guess. Seems like in most cases it’s, of course, it’s my index finger- (whether it’s a barre-chord or not).

Practice is the only thing that makes it “automatic”.

Do your stretches– that’ll help things just be more “free” to move around easier.

Maybe this helps?

[the-old-coach]

Ed-

I can’t remember who it was in here- (maybe Jumpin’Jeff?)- that once used the phrase “get lost in the music”. The rhythm may(?) come once you learn to STOP being mechanical, and learn to just play— and be— “within the song”. (I’m still workin’ on that myself, btw, still a long way to go).

Thanks for starting this thread!

TOC

[the-old-coach]

Ed–

That is no small win! Many/most of us can play the materials OK enough after enough goofing around/ working on it. But many times, being able to play it “easily” and “in rhythm” is a different story altogether.

My limited-knowledge tells me that if you can play something “in rhythm”— you’re beyond just the mechanical-part……… you’re actually playing the music.

This is a BIG win.

[the-old-coach]

I had a nice reply- but went to edit it…. and POOF…. gone.

Here’s my “entry” into this post. I’m pretty sure I am well-behind you (all) in the guitar-learning world, so there’s that. So, take my opinions with that in mind.

My suggestion is not from guitar, but from coaching. But maybe some of the same things apply.

Individually—

You know the chords and transitions by heart.

You know the lyrics by heart.

You know the strumming patterns by heart.

We used to pound individual skills into our players’ heads…. for months…. until they had each skill built into their brain- to the point where it was almost automatic.

After all that work learning each skill– by heart– “inside”- (like your skills)- OUR coaching-part was to then tell them to forget all about all of that come game-time—- and JUST GO PLAY. To deliberately put all of these mechanical skills out of their minds, and just “let the whole thing happen”.

I (used to) know quite a bit about that coaching-stuff, but now, (with my guitar-level on full display, I’ll ask)- do you (all) think that something like that work in guitar? Can you/we/I somehow turn our mechanical brain off, and then maybe just take off and play intuitively?

Forget about exactly what chord, and what lyric, and what kind of strum at that exact moment—- and just sort-of let yourself “get lost in the music”, and GO PLAY!

Don’t be afraid to say my thoughts here are all wet. Because I want to figure this out also! I struggle with the same issue.

[the-old-coach]

“I wish someone would’ve told me a while ago”…….

To get courses like Fretboard Wizard- (and others similar)- and use them along with other sources. Every creator of these programs and these workbook courses and the like- has a little different perspective—- their guitar-philosophies, what’s important, what’s not so important, the “order” of things and how they’re presented- (“easy-going” or “dry and strict”), the terminology used- (what gets called what), and on and on…..

My point is that overall, while they all contain a lot if similar information and even presentation…. not all authors and program-creators think alike. So…….

“I wish someone would’ve told me a while ago”– to gather-up several different sources of learning—- go thru them all ……. maybe a couple at the same time. Compare them. Note the qualities and ideas they ALL have in common- and also explore the differences.

Don’t “put all your eggs in one basket”.

Maybe one of them will be the “right one” that will fit your “guitar-journey-plan” the best.

Your own personality, available time, and individual goals, will tell you the right one. But…. remember……. as you change…. so will your needs and goals.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

There was a short thread a week or so ago about somehow “petitioning” the TAC team to bring back the saving of the Dailies for the duration of the following month- so that members could have a chance to “finish-up” or even just revisit those lessons that go POOF-gone right at the start of the “new month”.

Sometimes life gets in the way, and you just can’t get to them in time. Or maybe you are half-way thru learning that skill a particular Daily is teaching us……. but……. POOF-gone.

Since the change-over to the “new” TAC website, there have actually been quite a few threads- (and most likely also discussions within OTHER threads)- that deal with this very issue alone.

Well, whuddya say, Tony and TAC team? Keeping them around for 30 days after would create a “positive”. To many, it seems, the way it is now, is a “negative”.

Why not?

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

I’d like to throw in my two-cents.

I WOULD LOVE IT.

I personally save the lessons by printing them out and keeping them in a big 3-ring binder, so that I can go back and play them. Without needing a computer– I can just go outside or whatever and just crack open the binder and start playin’ away.

As mentioned already, many times some of the most important advice/hint/tips/help/etc—- is in the COMMENTS.

I really hope this gains some traction, and they save them for just ONE MONTH.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Another quick reminder……… June’s “TAC-month” ends this Sunday, July 2, at midnight, when July’s TAC-month starts, and we get all of July’s Dailies.

So if you want to save- (favoritze, print, whatever)- any of June’s Daily Challenges for future-use, do it before then, because they go bye-bye- (they may come back around in maybe a year or so).

[the-old-coach]

JM–

As you get- and go thru- the Daily Challenges (as they show up)– they can indeed seem like there is “just too much to take in”. Don’t sweat it! Some will come “easy” to you, some more difficult, and some you may just wonder– “why?—- what is this and why do I need it at all”.

I think Tony is just trying to give us a “broad-based” guitar-background, which, as time goes by, will pay big benefits, as we each, and all, “make our own path”.

Some of the Dailies will “just feel right”, some you won’t care about at all.

Save somehow any that you want to come back to- (“favoritize” them, or print them and keep them in a binder, whatever works best for you)- so you can come back to them whenever you want– and/because– the disappear upon the start of the “new month’s schedule of lessons”……

Above all– remember to have fun with it all!

Over time, YOUR OWN guitar-journey’s path will begin to become more clear to you. And I bet it will also change a few times as you become better and more knowledgeable in all the different skills and paths headed your way.

(IMHO— this is exactly WHY Tony’s “broad-based” program works sooooooo well!— he gives us lots of info on many different “directions”– including all the Skills Courses!– and we’ll choose our own “right path”).

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Hey– Jerry CAN.

I know you have already gotten a few great suggestions– from a few of the great folks here in the TAC family– including coming HERE to the Forum!— (that in itself is a GREAT move!).

My suggestions-

Remember that- (as others have said)- learning guitar isn’t easy– or “quick”. Be patient and nice to yourself on this….. Don’t EVER “compare” where you are with anyone else— or— with your own expectations of where you “think YOU should be”.

You never said “where” you are in your guitar journey, how long you’ve been playing, if you have a particular style that you like the sound of, etc.

Do the stretches if your hands hurt, realize that your fingertips will get tougher- (and not hurt at all)- after a week or two of good learning/playing.

Stay with it!– and welcome to TAC!

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Stryder–

Hey— Welcome to TAC!!! (-good move👏!!!).

Great move also to come into our Forum- you’ll find LOTS of nice people, excellent, encouraging advice, hint, tips, tricks, etc.

Where and how to start?……… What Loraine said……… word for word.👍

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Albert_d–

That sounds really cool! We were actually down in that area about 3 years ago– we stayed at the Worldmark Hunt-Stablewood Springs resort right near there, along with staying at Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Austin, and San Antonio. Great trip— we drove all the way from the Washington Coast. That whole area is indeed beeeeaaaauuuuutifullll!

We loved it- actually ended up going BACK down there this last Summer- stayed back at New Braunfels (at the Worldmark– just down the hill from Gruene– great music at Gruene Hall for sure- had a blast!!!)- and also back in Austin. Got to go to the Valero Texas Open golf tournament for a day to see how the PROS do it, and then saw Jason Aldean and Darius Rucker- (up pretty CLOSE!- maybe 50 feet from the stage)- at a huge concert on the TPC grounds- (near San Antonio- you probably know where that is!). The whole trip was fantastic– again!!!! Great time— beautiful country— good food(!!!!!!)— and wonderful people!

The Kerrville festival sounds like a blast- thanks for sharing that.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Right on, Moose!

[the-old-coach]

Loraine– you have made a GREAT post here!!!! (not surprising!😀)-

yer old friend

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

In my opinion—— EXACTLY!!!!!!😀 jmwood…… what Loraine says…… is IT. Proceed.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.