[the-old-coach]

To all–

Again— THANK YOU for all your generous advice, help, hints, tips, and encouragement!

As I said earlier- I’m going slow on this. Thanks to you all- I think I’m starting get a handle on this part of it. More testing and repetition will help clarify things for sure.

We ALL see things better when others contribute.

Thanks again, all!

the old coach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach. Reason: had to cut out a goofy story once told to me

[the-old-coach]

Caddie, Gerry, Fred, and Jeff—

Thank you ALL for your replies- they have helped!

I’m taking my time with this particular issue- and your replies- sorting thru all the different suggestions and help- I want to get this RIGHT.😎

It’s not ***completely*** clear in my mind yet, though……

I have all the nuts-&-bolts-y stuff down- 1. the 5 patterns for finding chords on up the neck, 2. the identifying the (major- anyway)- Key by going up the low-E string- (I get it right **most** of the time on the first try)- and 3. the “recipes” for both the Major and Minor Keys, (and can chase those up the neck from any starting note). So far so good.

But, if I may, I still have questions about– determining the Key if it’s a MINOR-sounding song. Like my first post- I don’t even really know if I’m **asking** the right thing. I can go up & down the fretboard pretty easily with all the notes in the scale- (major and minor)—- ONCE I HAVE THE PLACE TO START.

I’m not clear on this whole “relative minor” thing- what it means, and how to use it. I know(?) the relative minor of C Major scale is A Minor scale. Does this mean that if I go up the Low-E string to find the key-note– Let’s say it turns out that it’s a “C”– (—BUT— the song sounds “sad” or “down” or “dark”)– does that mean that the key is/could be actually “A Minor”???? Is this what the whole “relative minor” is about??

Really sorry I’m having sooooo much trouble with this😜- and wonder if I’m the “only one” stuck on this point😳…..

I just want to know how to find/determine the- (minor)- key if the song is sad/ dark/ etc…

Major– no prob…… Minor– I’ve got some sort of mental block- or maybe I’m just not “there” yet.

Thanks again to all for your help…… I hope I’m asking things the “right way”……

theoldcoach

[the-old-coach]

Marty69-

No worries about guitar-stuff. It will be there when you get back!

To me anyway, guitar is small potatoes when held up next to health issues.

Speedy and complete recovery to you!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Thanks to all. Miss Victoria has —-once again —- saved the day!!! The problem. Not surprisingly. Can be traced back to ME. Thanks for all the advice!!! Gotta go. Gotta give my wife her phone back…..

TOC

[the-old-coach]

WOW— this is fantastic stuff!

Congrats-

-the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Mike–

I’m going to be following this thread closely……….

I am not able to offer any advice whatsoever on how to play along with a metronome, as I and my metro are still not on speaking terms since the accident that sent it across the room into the wall, after which I had to tape it back together. 😒

-coach

[the-old-coach]

Sorry– I took a smart*ss pill this morning.

I agree with Cadgirl- this is ridiculous.

I am sorry, but I think I’m done waiting.

There’s no way for me to verify this– (maybe some new TAC’ers can verify?)– but– if a “new” person just joining can purchase FBW when they join— why in the hell can’t a PRESENT member just buy it?

Keeping it away from existing members- (even the old version), while at the same time having it available to NEW members is just wrong.

Common sense has to show up at the party pretty soon here…….

Again- I’m sorry to say……… I think I’m done waiting.

Contemplating letting my membership “go” upon my Jan 12 anniversary, then re-joining- (and—- maybe—- adding the FBW course at that time— as a NEW member).

….Or not… How stupid……

Agree with Cadgirl– “this is ridiculous”-

Sadly– I’m at the point where I don’t really give a hoot….. I’m not gonna beg for it.

-coach

[the-old-coach]

Mike—–

“Stop worrying about your goals and find your reason”

Maybe these are my reasons……… (I’m not really sure🤔)- in no particular order.

A. I REALLY love the sounds that come out of my guitar. I really love just the simple pleasure of realizing that I AM CREATING THAT SOUND……. right then……. just me……..right then….. just ME. I know that may sound dumb, but it’s that real-time, “I am doing this… right NOW” feeling that keeps me coming back. That is THE **excitement** for me.

B. I also consider myself a bit of a “worker”, that is, I kind of like a challenge. I think I like “pushin’ that boulder up that mountain”. Or at least I used to— maybe a bit less lately🤔- not sure. Seems like since I started trying to find, play and memorize my 5-10 “favorite” songs, and also since I started writing and playing my own stuff– I think I’m getting a little lazy on the Dailies and Skills courses in TAC. I’m doing them- just with quite a bit less enthusiasm.

C. As far as my own songs goes, some or most of the songs I am working on are about things I’ve done in my life. Some of the time they are things I wish I could take back, but of course can’t. Or things I just wish I had done differently.

Writing, finding lyrics and chord progressions, changing, re-working musically, re-working again, playing, changing again, and singing and playing— is all kind of a therapy for me.

Is that what you mean by “process your emotions?”

Anyway– Thanks again for answer/post(s)…

To Jeff and Cadgirl—- thank you for your responses as well– and I will respond– but my brain is tired😜.

the old coach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

Thank you for your well-thought-out answer- I loved it!

As always- reading others’ viewpoints gives ME a different viewpoint.

Your analogy about Lewis & Clark is great stuff when you consider that the only actual “land-knowledge” they had was areas they had already been. Maybe the only “constants” they had- (speaking simply)- were possibly the directions which rivers flowed, the different elevations they were at, mountains and such to reference to & from, the changing seasons, and the sunrise and sunset… (note– they hit the Pacific Ocean near Astoria, Oregon, which is about an hour due South of where we live). I agree that they weren’t “lost”, but didn’t know where they were going either.

Maybe that’s where I am with guitar.

I have thought that it seems when I “discover” something new-to-me guitar-wise……. I also realize there is now another completely new, huge, area of stuff to learn.

The more I learn— the more I realize I don’t know.

Like a long— never-ending— hallway with many doors on both sides, all partially open. Do I just walk on by, do I “peek” in but keep walking, or do I walk right in and explore/ stay awhile.

I agree that I need to focus more on my “reason” for playing guitar in the first place, and also maybe that my vague- (that wasn’t a very clear description)- goals reflect my level of overall guitar knowledge.

Hell, maybe I’m just lazy in the area of pursuing the actual l-e-a-r-n-i-n-g of guitar and music theory. I can see that. And I am amazed at some of the comments it here about how easy it is to do this or that—- while I don’t have any idea of it.

Like you- me writing this stuff out helps me, too. Lets me see myself in the mirror as I re-read it back to myself.

Mike– as always– thanks for responding.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Thank you ALL for your generous and thoughtful responses!

My wife is very supportive of me learning/playing guitar. She thinks it’s great!

Even though I carefully picked the right time—- I casually mentioned buying a “travel guitar” and/or also maybe buying or even renting one- (uke included)- once we got there.

😒

Hard to describe “the look” I got, but the message was very easy to understand.

So, it looks like I’ll be focusing along the lines of what MikeG suggests, and that’ll be just fine I think.

I figure as long as I can keep my brain “in the game”, the hands will come back without too much time catching up.

Again– thanks to ALL for the advice and encouragement– our TAC “family” is great indeed!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Not sure I’d take my story as encouragement😜

Jeff and C-G’s are MUCH better……

I have read Jeff’s post 3 times thru- (so far)- and I like it a LOT. Help and explanations like that are extremely helpful. This is the stuff that can’t be “taught”.

Thanks Mike for starting this thread- and thanks to those who answer!

-coach

[the-old-coach]

Cadgirl-

Thank you, as well, for your thoughtful reply!

Your first two paragraphs are really interesting to me!- (kinda lost me in the “Billy Strings stuff, though…).

Anyway, the second paragraph especially…… I read that maybe about ten times!

To me, it is perfect. You have shared a simple and effective– step by step– method. Cool stuff.

I tried to cut back on the long-winded response here.

During my life I have actually owned two different Ramblers- maybe that’s where I get it😉.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Jeff-

As always, thank you for your insights….. interesting.

I am also a believer that repetition is one of the main building blocks. I don’t know if I get to the point of “seeking the boredom that makes you go crazy”, but I do certainly believe it plays a HUGE role in learning and memorizing- no question.

I do, probably showing some laziness, work MUCH more repetition-wise on songs or riffs or licks, etc, that I LIKE the sound of, and not so much on “everyday-type” nuts-and-boltsy lesson stuff. I still like that kind of work, of course, but I guess I play the stuff I like- more.

The earlier part of your answer/post fascinates me also. “I don’t even need someone to tell me the key as long as I can hear it for a verse and chorus”, and also “trust the process and follow the teacher”.

THIS is a skill I want to learn.

IS this a skill- (figuring out what key a song is in)- something that is inside the elusive/ (mythical?) Fretboard Wizard course?– (seems like I read something about how to find the key by going up & down the low E string to a note that “sounds OK”, and then go from there into the chords, etc).

I know that’s a lousy explanantion/question, and I know there’s much more to it than that….

Anyway– what you have there- (ability to just hear a song, monkey with it for a bit, and then take off playin’ it– is a skill I really WANT).

For my part, I think I’m headed that way, but still working on “background/prep” stuff- (chord groups, progressions, transitions, etc)- that will make learning the “play-by-ear” skill easi-ER once I’m ready.

Learning to take off playing by ear is one of my MAIN goals in playing guitar.

Anyway- as always- again- thank you for your insights. This is GREAT stuff to chew on!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

This is funny stuff—- (after 44 years— finally—)- we are in fact going to Hawaii 😎.

I was hopin’ to hear from you!

Sounds like a good idea- but my wifey might have a differing opinion🤨…….

-coach

[the-old-coach]

No prob!

I print them ALL off and keep them in a big 3-ring binder.

But– when they “come back around” I don’t print them again. So, these days there only about 5 “new” lessons each month. That’s good- because the book is gettin’ kinda thick!

From the big book- sometimes I just open to a random page and start playin’ away– no computer needed!.

-coach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by  the-old-coach.