[the-old-coach]

WOW– that is cool.

I’m right there with ya on the playing ability- (I think…… well, actually…… hope)

But……. I have yet to play in my first VOM.

The middle part of your post scared the beegeebers outta me— but the last part made me feel a bit better………. but I don’t think I have the coconuts for that yet.

But…….. reading your post was a GREAT inspiration indeed!

Thank you- I think playing in front of someone else besides my wifey- (the poor thing)…😕- would be a HUGE thing. I’ll get there……..

Thanks again for sharing.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Thank you for C-G and K-man for the responses!

I know the way I explained it sounded kind-of corny, but it was truly eye-opening to me.

So, C-G, you’re right- I can now just be listening to a song….. but NOW I “hear” it DIFFERENTLY, and that’s kinda cool.

I HEAR the chord changes, whether major or minor- (happy or sad)- in real time/ full speed in songs I listen to. And can work-up a chord matrix fairly quickly- just in my mind- and go from there– it’s all kind-of “clicking”…….

Almost……. (not quite there yet)- able to identify notes/ keys/ chords just by ear- without guitar in hand. Almost……..

Cooler– (with no sound playing)- when I “hear” songs in my head, I can somehow “compare” the keys/ notes/chords, from memory of what those keys/ notes/ chords/ actually sound like. Again– confusing and hard to explain w/o sounding corny. Not perfect yet- but coming along.

It’s funny how TAC can teach a LOT about playing the guitar- without even necessarily having a guitar in my hands– it’s more than doing the physical-exercises and lessons— it’s about training my BRAIN.

Anyway– there’s a glimpse into my guitar journey if you care. The brain-stuff?– it’s a curse, really😜…….

[the-old-coach]

Chuck–

I get these weird contorted-fingers hand cramps in my fretting hand now & again as well.

For me, it seems like they just go away after just a minute or so of shaking and stretching my hands and fingers out……. but………. when I put my fingers back on the fretboard and happen to find that EXACT same weird position, they cramp right back up again. For me, it’s kind-of a “trigger” thing– I’m fine until I find “that ONE” position.

I don’t know if you could look at it like any other muscle-cramp— (charley horse, etc). My good-old cure for leg cramps was– believe it or not– drinking about a half cup of pickle juice……. I don’t know why or how– but it seemed to work….. and quick!

I’ve heard another “old wives’ tale”- (can I say that these days?)- that bananas work also.

Anyway– that’s my crazy advice for charley-horses, but I have my doubts it’d be the same for hand cramps.

There ya go… I’m full of advice– (and something else?)…….

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Stevie

Congratulations!

I’m at about 50 sessions more than you, and think you & I are about the same place in our “guitar-journey”(s).

I feel the same way about TAC as you…….. I started TAC about 25 months ago. It took me from being a “lost”, tab-addicted, overall-low-knowledge hack who thought he was “doing good”……… to being a focused- (and humbled– TAC brought me “down a few pegs”), MUCH more broad-based, “guitar-thinking” person, goal oriented player…… and student.

I’ll be the first person to say I still have a long way to go- (and that’s GOOD, because “the ride” has been a blast!)- but I absolutely agree with you—-

“It HAS been a life-changing experience”.

Congrats!……. Now……. keep goin’!!!!

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

g-vick–

Welcome! This is a great group here. First off- you made a GREAT choice to “come on in” to the Forum! Poke around in here a bit and you’ll see that there are LOTS of caring, encouraging, and helpful folks in here, that’s for sure. NO question is too big, small, or strange. (the only bad question is the one that doesn’t get asked)….. Be a “regular” in here– you’ll see it’s VERY beneficial in your guitar journey— over & above the TAC course itself.

My two cents- For sure, do the “30-day Challenge”. From there you have different options as to which ORDER you want do them. There’s LOTS of suggestions in here. Only you know “where you are” in your guitar journey– and “where you want to go”….

If you didn’t already— go back and GET the Fretboard Wizard Course!!!!!!!!!!

So jump in and remember a few old proverbs that came from others in here– “Always remember to have FUN”, “Give yourself credit for your small wins”, “Love the sound you make”, and (my fave)- “Expectation is where fun goes to die”.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Timbo–

My take is– Each of us has a different STARTING point.

Reading thru others’ profiles is the proof in the pudding.

Sure, there are differences- we’re all different and lead different lives- but (generally speaking of course)- we all have the SAME goal.

I have lots of silly old sayings- here’s one that may apply: You’re standing on the North Pole, looking out toward the horizon– and take off walking…….. NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION you head off to, you are ALWAYS headed South.

As with guitar- no matter what path we take- (we’re all different)- we’re headed towards our goal.

Oh, yeah— don’t worry about the barre chords. That’s small potatoes. When that happens to me, I have a different approach than many I think. I just do more of the TAC’s ***warm-up stretches***, but then start back with the HARDER barres first, and then the easier ones after that. This “order” makes most of the barres a piece of cake. THEN go back after the toughies.

my two cents worth’

theoldcoach

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

[the-old-coach]

C-G–

Well I’ll certainly miss you….. and I certainly must offer “thanks”…….. a hundred times over.

You’ve always been a solid source of information, advice, and perspective as I read thru the Forum threads, whether you are answering questions or commenting on some of MY “out there in the weeds” subjects- (some of which I’m sure made you wonder just what the hell kind of orbit I was in😜)….. or….. others’ more sane questions and points of view🤔.

I, like many others, always liked seeing that you had posted something here in the Forum— always encouraging.

Well…….. CONTINUE offering wisdom wherever you land.

Maybe I’ll peek into JMG myself— (but it is unfamiliar ground)—, and simply follow/read along- (“standing in the back of the room” if you will).

Carry on, miss!😢 It has been a pleasure for sure……..

Yer old friend-

Mark- “theoldcoach”

[the-old-coach]

Gerry and others-

Thanks for the reply(s)! And sorry about THIS long-winded thing…….

So, the Looper—- One part of me- (that’s just the way I am- always wanting to be “real”)- thinks that it’s somehow “cheating” to use a pre-recorded soundtrack to play music; that it somehow makes it less authentic- (even though **I** had just made the mini-recordings myself, right then and there).

Like you (maybe?), I would use it only as a TOOL.

1. A tool to improve my timing consistency as far as BPM goes- (never realized that FOOT-TAPPING is soooooo important!). I admit I have been waaaaay too lazy using a metronome.

2. A tool to learn and realize how recorded music is REALLY made these days- and help me when I do get around to building my own “home studio”. I’ll have SOME knowledge…..

3. A tool to separately identify all the “layers” within a song I hear- (you CAN hear them if you really listen for them!).

4. A tool for BRINGING ACTUAL SOUND TO SOME OF MY OWN TUNES- (this is the coolest part for me– the number 1 reason– it would bring my own songs to LIFE!!!!!).

5. A tool to improve my “ear” and my timing– within a song as it’s playing– with regards to improvising little licks, riffs, and solos. I think it would unlock a whole new level of creativity! It would “fit” PERFECTLY with the entire last section of Fretboard Wizard 2!!!!!

and 6. A tool to help me learn to add VOCALS to my own songs- (I can sing along with MY OWN music!—- (now, if I could just sing…… yeah, there is that…..)).

In another thread I mentioned seeing Vince Gill at the Grand Ol’ Opry recently- (fairly close-up)- and I was quite focused on just WATCHING him play guitar. With an unbelievable amount of creativity and expertise I might add)- he mainly just played little licks, riffs, and solos within a song that was mostly being carried by the Grand Ol’ Opry Band. It was AMAZING how small little chunks thrown on top of a song already being played by others can add sounds soooooo full and rich! And he was havin’ a blast– he wasn’t workin’— he was PLAYIN’!!!!

So—– that’s what has got me all jacked-up on this “Looper” thing.

While I don’t necessarily think it would make me a better PLAYER by itself, I think it WOULD
“open-up” my mind and my music world to new levels of knowledge and creativity.

Thanks, discostew, for the VIDEOS!!!!! They are spot-on!!!!

Back home- along the Washington Coast- and lovin it!- (forecast for today—- high of 40, rain, windy, gusts to maybe ~55😀).

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

For me, anyway, it’s hard to stay focused when there are soooooo many different ways to go….

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

[the-old-coach]

It was all started & stopped with his foot. Each layer. Start/stop……. on/off.

It was cool watching him. He’s start out with just a simple chord progression. Then add a layer of percussion- (hitting his guitar with his hand or thumb, tamborine, maraca, whatever), then play a bassline, then some short solo-sections scattered thru, then “back-up singing” in short sections where needed.

After EACH layer/addition, the recording would then have ALL the layers in there. He’d just listen to each layer he had just added for a few seconds, and see if it sounded OK. Then when all that sounded good— he’d take off actually performing the song.

When he actually was playing/performing the song, I think basically he was really just playing more chords and really cool solos– ALONG WITH a backing track– one that he had just created!

It didn’t hurt that he was an excellent guitar all by itself– but adding in the depth of other sounds really changed things.

Some songs took only a few “layers”- (2-3, maybe 30 seconds)- some “bigger” songs too a little longer. It was really fun to watch.

I think it would a great TOOL to work on your own music.

I really wanna find out more.

theoldcoach

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

[the-old-coach]

An ant can eat an elephant— one bite at a time

[the-old-coach]

Thank you ALL for your replies!

As far as the dailies goes, I think I’m gonna give a quick “once-over” during the usual warmup-part of a practice session- (maybe ~5 mins), mostly because they are “progressive”.

I think I’ve seen all but maybe the last week’s worth– from their last time thru.

And then do as you all say– just move on and grab onto what’s new, peek back into FBW2- to refresh my memory a little, and then also grab onto a couple of songs I can play- to put the “music-y” back into my head.

Full disclosure- part of our time was four days in Nashville watching and listening to music— some up-close— and got to see one of my all-time favorites at the Grand Ol’ Opry— Vince Gill!!! And THEN four more in New Orleans….

Mexican Strat- That whole damn thing has been sort-of a disappointment for sure. I think it’s all just a mirage…….. or a unicorn……… something…….. It’s there but isn’t. Frustrating for sure. I’m not countin’ on it happening anymore. One day “yes”, one day “maybe”, one day “we’re working on it”. I’ve all but given up- because I just don’t want to be that person who says “where’s the d*mn guitar”.

Anyway– thanks to all for your responses. I’m thinkin’ that “significant time away” from playing guitar happens to a LOT of people- (for various reasons)- and just needed advice on the right way to crank it back up…….

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

“like a 45 record on a 33 speed”. 🤣🙄😔

(my thoughts were— 🤣 “that’s funny!”…….. 🙄”wait a minute”…….. (then)…….. 😔”that’s ME”…….)

toc

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

[the-old-coach]

C_G–

Per your “who knows what he future holds….” sentence.

Well, I- (and I’m not alone)– KNOW your future is bright!

Thank you for mentioning JMGs to me– and I may just do it, but I worry I’m a– LOT– too wordy on the Forum HERE- (so there’s that), and don’t want to be that way in that place too. I have a bad trait of overexplaining everything.

So anyway– go get ’em!!!….. keep learning, keep playing, and keep havin’ FUN at it!

And maybe you’ll see me poking my head in “there” once in a while….

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Like a cruise-ship buffet!