[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 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Hey David-D!

Loraine has nailed it– read thru her post………. at least twice more.

Important— FOCUS on her last sentence.

If I was to add anything- I would say:

Be kind– and patient– with yourself; allow- (actually- expect)- yourself to struggle at times. Remember that if it was “too easy”, you wouldn’t get to enjoy that “inner”/quiet feeling of satisfaction inside of you when you complete something tough, or start to see real, noticeable, improvement(s)– (and, you WILL see improvements!)

Don’t compare yourself with anyone else- and also don’t compare yourself….. with your OWN expectations.

Welcome- have fun— “See ya around”-

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Wow- Loraine!! Congrats!

I’m “behind” you by about 250 or so. One of my best memories was when I first joined the TAC family- (~2 1/2 years ago)- I didn’t really know what I was doing, even after about 40+ years of off-&-on playing. I finally had direction!!!!!

Well, when I “jumped-both-feet” into the world of TAC— you were the first person to welcome me in!

Many might say “wow…. big deal….”, but it was important to have that- I was entering uncharted territory for sure! I will never forget that– and I/we also have enjoyed your always-encouraging and helpful advice.

Rock-on, miss!

Again— congrats!

yer old friend—

theoldcoach- (mark)

[the-old-coach]

Thanks, Albert and D-S-LA!

It has been fun!!! (and challenging at times, and frustrating at times, but also very rewarding at times also). I love that “inner-satisfaction-feeling” I get when I’ve figured something out……. or finally nailed something that’s been tough…… or made progress on something and can see and hear it!

I canNOT forget to mention…. that I wouldNOT…. have gotten as far as I have without the friendships and support I/we get right here in our TAC Forum!!!

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

That’s a huge number of minutes! When you throw in there that my average session is probably an hour long…….. yikes!

Unrelated side-question—– has anyone heard from Fred- (“mrfredsporty”). Among many others— I loved reading his posts- always enthusiastic and helpful– (like yourself).

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Ben–

My quick recommendation is to go into TAC’s “Skills Courses” section, and from there, go into the “Getting Started” section. You’ll find a “Daily Stretch” lesson there.

Go thru it. Period.

I do some stretching EVERY practice session, but I don’t go to the extent that Tony goes thru in his lesson– but– even if you just do part of his stretching routine– it will help a lot. And not just at the start of a session– stretch your hands out once or twice during the session.

Another trick is to deliberately “overstretch” and extend that C chord by an additional fret. Work up to this- don’t hurt yourself- (don’t laugh– it can happen!). You’re not caring what it sounds like if you do this– you are only trying to make it seem easy when you go back to the C chord.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Absolutely LOVED it! THIS is where I want to go…….

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

DSLA–

Wow, this is FUN!!!!- (but not easy for me!)

Thanks for sharing this.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

My two cents–

I just print them off when I have the TAB for the lesson open and am working on that.

I keep them in a big 3-ring binder notebook, and label them for month & year, and also scribble any notes about the challenge itself somewhere on there.

Some have said this seems like sort a pain in the #ss, but if I need to practice, and don’t have access to a computer/internet, I can still practice any challenge any time directly from the notebook.

Hey— works for me.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

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

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Jeff–

Thanks, bro’, for all the encouragement and advice for over two years now!!!

And playing the ol’ “warm-warm-warm-cold-cold-cold-warm-warm-warm—er” game to get me headed back in the right direction when I am off the trail- (and boy-howdy could I ever end up in the weeds!!!). I was/am always the wayward student……….

Always great when you chime in to a thread.

yer ol’ friend-

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

I “get it”!!!!😉