[the-old-coach]

Said it earlier in this thread, and I’ll say it again……..

(In my un-edumacated opinion)– I think the “10-minutes-per-day” is all fine and good…….. if you NEVER want to actually make serious guitar-learning actually happen….. within your lifetime….

I have never believed you can be a bowl-of-mush, passive, benchwarmer, and still be saying you want to learn how to play guitar…… period. If you actually want to learn and improve– you really DO have to take the bull by the horns, and go after that goal.

Tony is NOT gonna make you a guitar player– so we should get that out of our heads at the very beginning. Only YOU are gonna make that happen.

Ten minutes?……. Yeah, right.

Remember…… It’s called Tony’s Acoustic Challenge for a reason…..

I don’t wanna sound like some a-hole in here… but in everythinhg in life, we all know that improvement ONLY comes from effort-put-in. Some of us may feel that we’re not improving at guitar– so maybe we quit….. I don’t EVER want to see anyone quit…. but I actually do believe that this “10 minutes per day” stuff is NOT gonna make you improve… It’s a mirage.

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

[the-old-coach]

How about forgetting about trying to fit these things into a particular song. Maybe what I mean is: Don’t focus on the song…… focus on the technique….. first. Then maybe break the song down…. tear it apart…. mess with it…. change it some….

While you’re messing with it, THEN think about adding a few cool techniques…. in that order. Maybe don’t focus on the final product; focus on the “messing with things“.

The final product will come, don’t worry, almost on its own. Details come first.

[the-old-coach]

Knick–

I really enjoyed this…… I can tell you have played this tune quite a few times! Thank you for sharing this! (both the song and the message)

[the-old-coach]

Jerry—

Our good friend @Loraine says it as good as anyone— “don’t quit before the magic happens”.

For my own 2-bits— I totally agree. In the meantime, be like the passenger on a long road-trip……. Kick back and enjoy the ride.

[the-old-coach]

Please pass the brown sugar and milk……

[the-old-coach]

Aservire–

I agree about the equipment part— but— it is true that better is better. But I have to look at it as my singing voice and my abilities “are what they are”. I personally don’t need a Porsche if I only drive around town; 25 mph or so.

I have a Scarlett 2i2 interface, 1 good mic, 1 cheap mic, a USB-plug-in camera, my old laptop, some chords, a good pair of headphones, and 2 cheap “tabletop-clamp-on” mic stands. And I keep the whole thing in a DeWalt canvass tool bag. The whole setup. Takes about 10 mins to go from in the bag to fully operational. TOTAL cost if I had to replace it ALL today? (not counting the laptop or the headphones— both of which I had before)….. under $500.

Not a huge investment…….but for me– it’s just about perfect.

[the-old-coach]

In my post(s) about the difference between “learning” and “practicing”—- I must give credit where credit is due. I learned this whole concept from long-time TAC-cer, Mike Gaurnier—- (one of my guitar-heroes!)

[the-old-coach]

Pete–

I agree 100% about what you say here. Believe me– I wasn’t trying to sound like an a-hole here. The goal in my previous post was maybe intended to be an old coach’s “tough love” kinda thing. Learning guitar is tough– and the sooner we accept that fact— the less-often people will give up when the progress is slower and harder than (maybe) they were “told”– (that the “only 10 minutes per day” is somehow gonna make you better). The slower you see improvement- the more chance you have of quitting– and I don’t wanna see anybody quit.

That is, was, and has always been my goal—- in years of coaching, in career-stuff, in guitar/ whatever…… you get out what you put in.

A person who chooses to walk fast will certainly get farther/faster than someone who’s chosen some slow stroll….. and both types deserve the result…… Not rocket science, right?

Repeat— “you get out what you put in”.

Repeat— “I don’t wanna see anybody quit”.

[the-old-coach]

Scram–

PERFECT post!

[the-old-coach]

Repeat…….. Perfect, JM

[the-old-coach]

Perfect.

[the-old-coach]

Moose– The acoustic I use most is not electric— that’s why I use 2 mics (both plugged into Scarlett inputs. Condenser mic out in front of guitar soundhole somewhere; dynamic mic is the one I use for vocals. I’m very sure the condenser mic picks up my singing- and helps with that quite a bit. And I think that’s good because the dynamic mic I have is a pretty cheap one. Hey— this system works OK for my use…….. IT is not the weakest link in my process— (that’d be ME!)

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

[the-old-coach]

Aservire—

It’s no secret that there are MANY……. WAAAY better advisors on this stuff than I. And you already have tons of knowledge/experience. I got all my stuff based on what others said- (and just because I have it doesn’t mean I know how to use it– to anywhere near its full capacity).

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

[the-old-coach]

J-M—

Well, I made it to “different areas of the fretboard” in your post….. and then my brain turned to mush.

I hope to one day…. maybe…. get to the knowledge-level you mention here.

But you continue to help pull us up the ladder, and it’s greatly appreciated!

[the-old-coach]

Pete—- You and Moose have reached the pot of gold. To put it in football terms– TAC teaches you the “cone drills”— (which are really, just a means to an end)……… the REAL key is how and when to use those drills when you are in the game.

Let’s face it…….. this is most likely the “real” goal for many/most of us in here……….. to be able to play and sing a song from memory.

Being able to change the Key (to match your voice) is one of the foundations of Fretboard Wizard…….. being able to do THAT makes any and every song out there, now within your grasp—- to play and sing. You have kicked open the door!

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