[the-old-coach]

Bugmeist–

First of…….. Congratulations! This is quite an accomplishment indeed.

As many of the rest of us follow examples like yours, it’s GREAT to hear and see stories of success! And I think it’s cool that you share your milestone(s).

And to both you- and Jeff also– thank you for sharing your thoughts on the “effortless, tension-free playing” process. This is big stuff.

I’m still focusing on all the “learning” and “mechanical-playing” aspects but want to start thinking about that for sure. Maybe that’s something I should be thinking about DURING the time I’m learning guitar- (as a “regular part of it”)- rather than “after the fact”.

It seems like it’s the kind-of unseen but really important factor in overall playing enjoyment. Hard to put it in words. So thanks again to both of you for bringing that up.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

nlsb–

I don’t necessarily think there’s a problem with this. If it works for you- let it be!

[the-old-coach]

Trevor, FreeDan, B-murph, Hove— and all others “new” to TAC.

I’m kind-of late to the party here, but WELCOME TO TAC!

There are LOTS of nooks & crannies within the TAC site– go lookin’ around.

And– continue to use this Forum– it’s great.

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Sarah–

Great words and suggestions here already!

I’ll add– Find the “Stretching Exercises” in the Skills Section of TAC.

They may help.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

ellen-

First off- Welcome to TAC!!!!!

As far as what you’re going thru right now- remember that it WILL get easier! You are making your wrists, hands and fingers do things they likely have never had to do before, and even though it seems like struggle now, stick with it- but NOT (ever) to the point of causing yourself real pain or even injury.

Also, if you haven’t already, make SURE you check out Tony’s “Daily Stretching Exercises” – (I think they are in the “Skills Courses” section of TAC– look around, you’ll find it). They REALLY help- especially where you are now. (Confession– I don’t do ALL of the exercise he mentions- it’s quite extensive- I do the ones that I think work best for the guitar exercises I’m focusing on that day). So… check that out.

The discomfort you’re going through right now is just sort of a down payment on the “total discomfort package” you’re going to be paying into over your years of playing guitar. That’s just the way it is, I think. You put in the pain now, and the “next” exercise(s) will be EASIER….. (and will be much better)- because you have felt the discomfort, and strengthened everything in the process.

Like forming calluses on your fingertips– at the START it hurt a bit, and the strings were “hard” to push down. But after a while the calluses got formed and toughened-up, and it just “became easier”….

You are on the right track….. You’re just kind-of “paying yourself forward” in a sense.

Enjoy the fact that it is difficult to learn to play the guitar….. That difficulty will give you that sense of inner pride……… because you EARNED it!!!!!

And…. you have made a GREAT choice by coming here to the Forum!👏— It’s GREAT in here!!!, and you will get lots of helpful advice, hints, and tips.

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Dirk_R–

Wow, that is awesome.

You must’ve been pretty cool-headed about it DURING the performance to clearly remember how well you did….. a big win just in itself.

Man, I hope someday to be able to muster up that kind of confidence and courage.

Thanks for sharing– it kind-of “pulls the rest of us up” a notch. This is great stuff!!!!

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

We were recently in Tampa, Florida.

While walking around downtown, we came across a big cast-bronze marker commemorating a Jimi Hendrix concert at that exact location in 1968.

Toward the bottom is a Hendrix quote- (in larger letters)-

“Find yourself first

And then your talent

Work hard in your mind

So it can come alive”

Maybe this doesn’t apply to this thread…….. or does it…….?

Go back to the beginning.

The windshield in your car is WAY bigger than the rear-view mirror– but you still need to glance there once in a while.

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

This is great news! Life is the schlitz sometimes, huh?

As PhilB says- Good to see your name back in here😀. You’ve always had an encouraging word. It’ll all “come back fast”, I’m confident.

yer old pal-

theoldcouch– (not necessarily a mis-spelling)🤨

See ya’ “around”……

[the-old-coach]

During my practice session today, I went over into YouTube videos, looking for some actual examples of the point I was trying to explain in the original post in this thread.

Wow…. there are SOOOOO many “How-to-play this song” videos in there!!!- thousands. I couldn’t even begin to pick one out!

It’s amazing to me that even though the videos for any given song can all be different- (and they all sound great)——- It’s the same song! It might be in a different key– (and/or maybe MANY things changed that I mentioned above).

So, I use that to remember that even though I might play a song a bit differently than someone else…… that’s OK. Maybe I like “my version” of it better! And if I change my mind and change it her & there– (experimenting/noodling)…… that’s OK too!………

There isn’t a “you have to play it ONLY this way” requirement🤔.

This is one of the GREAT things about the TAC method. Here- we’re NOT learning how to play one song…. (even though the TAC-way may take longer and is harder)….. we’re learning more broad-based, to be able to play ANY song.

Any way we want to play it……… simply…….. because we KNOW how that song’s music-structure WORKS- (vs just “memorizing” it).

Any thoughts?

Sorry yet again about being so long-winded- (and I promised myself I’d work on that😕).

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Carol— This is a GREAT explanation! I have been thru FBW twice– yet never had a CLEAR “grasp” of what you explained so clearly…….. WOW……… Thank you!!!!

[the-old-coach]

Thanks for responding, K-man!

As I read your post here, I couldn’t help but glance up at my long-winded ramblings.

I promised myself I’d knock it off with the blah-blah-blah….. It appears I have failed miserably at that.

Doing better at learning guitar than learning how to tone it back🙄

[the-old-coach]

Jeff- Your reply means a lot.

Being honest, I have to say I’m having fun…… mostly “in my own way”…….

I’m an investigative, curious, person by nature- (in case you haven’t noticed). I really enjoy the diggin’ into something I’m not necessarily knowledgeable about.

Crazy/goofy example……… My brother & I had lots of minibikes/ dirt bikes/ go-karts, etc, when we were growin’ up, and we used to tear them apart and then just put them back together— just for the fun of it— and…. to see what actually made them work. And we didn’t just take the engine OFF, we took the engine APART. Everything…..

You LEARN A LOT by tearing something apart and seeing – (and thinking about)- how it really works😉…..

So….. even though learning…. and also practicing…. guitar, is “work” in some sense…….. I thoroughly enjoy the “task” part of it.

Am I peein’ all over myself like a puppy as I make my way down the hall to a guitar session???…… no.

Do enjoy the practice sessions???……. absolutely.

I get the fun out of it by—-

1. Discovering “new” things- (guitar light-bulb-moments).

2. Seeing results– that mostly come from studying, and just plain old **thinking** about guitar-stuff…… and LOTS of repetition. (I can MAKE that stretch, or pull off that scale, or clumsy chord transition, that I couldn’t a month ago!!!)😎.

3. Just plain hearing the sounds I’m making that are coming from an instrument that makes NO sound until I play it.

These three things are the dessert!

I like the vegetables, too!

[the-old-coach]

Again……..Nailed it…….

[the-old-coach]

Nailed it…….

[the-old-coach]

Well played, albert_d……… Well played………

And I agree😎