[the-old-coach]

Fred-

DAMN— Sounds like you’ve thrown-down the challenge!😀

Maybe we’ll all catch a little of your adventurous attitude and try the same.

I’m “IN”……… and will start the process maybe beginning tomorrow.

Might also take me a month.

I get a bellyache just thinkin’ about it😎

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

AlbertD-

This is BIG stuff!! Congratulations!!

You have always given me/us a kind word here in the Forum, and also provided encouragement, help, hints, tips, advice, and guidance- to keep us on track- (or in my case— **attempt** to keep us on track).

Thank you for all you have shared with us……..

Congrats!!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Thank you all for the nice comments!

The dollar value of this guitar means nothing compared to real value to me.

And— the guitar SOUNDS incredible!

Cadgirl- this is a wonderful thing that you have said here. and it will happen.

GerryB- Nailed it.

the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

I am sooooo glad this thread has re-surfaced!

It’s awesome.

[the-old-coach]

Bill-

Awesome! You are “in the zone” right there- and lovin’ it!

Inspirational.

Thanks for sharing!

[the-old-coach]

JoeT–

“Opinions are like ***holes- everybody’s got one”. Here’s mine.

Re-read YOUR post and also Fred’s. Then re-read them both…… again.

You have completed the ***very important first step*** of realizing that learning to play the guitar is NOT an easy thing to accomplish. When first starting-out here in TAC, the difficult-ness of some of these lessons may kind-of have the effect of removing any pre-conceived notion that you will become a great player in a short amount of time- (the “expectation” factor).

We’ve ALL been right where you are!!! May not seem like it right now- but you are on the right path. Have faith in the TAC program- your improvement will come over time- but almost automatically, and likely un-noticed- (make a video of your playing NOW– and another in, say, 1- or 2- or 3 months, playing the same thing—- you’ll SEE the difference!!!).

Finally—– Read Fred’s post AGAIN. (I know, I know…….). It’s gold.

Congrats- and welcome to TAC- (BTW- you made ANOTHER great move by coming to the Forum for answers)

the ola coach

[the-old-coach]

Al.E–

SUPER!!!!! Congrats. I’m startin’ to feel that addiction a bit myself. Kinda scares me in a way…..

the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

To your video suggestion– Wow– that’s good stuff. Seemed it was really “FAST” for me- meaning the guy is a really fast talker! (I had to watch it twice- and stop it a few times- just to understand it, it was so fast).

Reminded me of a small paperback book someone recommended in here months ago- (I bought it)- called “First, Learn to Practice”- (or something like that).

Lots of info in your video- and useful to re-align my perspectives and maybe priorities.

I really LOVE the distinction and clarity between “practicing” and “learning”- and the need for a difference between the two. That is now embedded in my brain.

As far as your “balance” point— I was probably a little loose when I said “we ALL have to find that “balance” in there….”. As for me personally– I do believe that I have to have a point where, say, “too much”, or “too fast”– (or, conversely- “too slow” and /or “too easy”). Kind of like bowling with the big padding-things in the gutters to keep the ball in the lane.

As always- thanks for your insight and perspective. Golden. And thanks for the vid.

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Please forgive me.

I made the mistake of posting-back- ****answering directly to Fred****, instead of just “replying to the entire thread”. Wow that sounds confusing…………..

The end result is that the posts are no longer in chronological order. A post that actually came earlier appears farther down in the thread. It kind of makes a mess of things, really.

Example- MY post that refers to Guy’s Matthew McConaughy video actually now appears in the thread AHEAD of Guy’s post and the video link. You read comments about a video you haven’t seen yet.

From now on I’m just gonna “Reply” to the entire thread.

Again- please forgive me.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Fred-

Nailed it.

You make a great point about “paying attention”.

But I think it’s more than that. I think it’s an issue EVERY ONE of us faces at some point.

For me personally– kind of a gut-punch reminder.

Earlier on in my TAC-career, very generally, I focused more on “doing LESS, but doing it “better”. Pretty-much perfect was the only option before I moved to the next step. But— I think I felt like I just wasn’t progressing “fast enough” or something….. So I pretty-much abandoned that general philosophy.

More recently, I’ve gone the other way– “doing MORE, with less attention to being perfect” as I go. I guess the hope is that the whole mess would, at some time, spit out the other end and all be OK. A bigger pile of learning- over a longer time……….. Should work, right?

(Dumb analogy— Nibblin’ away on a giant cookie versus stuffing the whole thing in your mouth at once and chewing forever). Takes the same amount of time either way, right?

Trouble is, for me anyway, trying to learn TOO much— trying to cover too many areas— at one time— has been leaving me with the scenario you maybe faced. Leaving me feeling like– 1. The quality may not be there- (yet)— and 2. I’m “spreading myself too thin”.

I’m gonna keep going the way I am now- with the hope that the ****broader**** learning will make me a better guitar player overall— over time.

I’ve loaded myself down here lately— working on a few various things— (chords and transitions, expanding creativity, singing, PLAYING and singing, memorizing, and dabbling with 2-3 original songwriting(s)).

I’m hoping the “cream will come to the surface” in a sense, and I am able to work on each one of these MUCH more— “as they rise to the top”, one at a time— over time. (Again– should work right?)……..

Time will tell.

(This is the edit– I added)- “The way I’m doing it now seems like MUCH more fun!!!!!”

Thing is—— we ALL will have to find that “balance” in there………

Thanks for your post- great reminder……

Oh, and sorry about that peek into my brain😜………. it’s not a pretty sight.

And I promised I’d stay away……

the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

Wow–

BethL, that was fantastic!

THAT is what I want to end up being able to accomplish.

I know it shows that I don’t know the right terminology and whatever, but I absolutely LOVE your “style” of playing!

I love that “simple and clean” sound, and it appears effortless!😎

Again- fantastic- THAT’s the direction I want to head for.

There are lots of great videos in the “Play for Us” Forum– and I think this is one of my favorites. They help all of us put the work in, and get the courage to post one

Bravo!👏👏👏. Thanks for sharing!!!

Mark- the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

Great thought— I’ll ask him today- back over there all day again🙂

[the-old-coach]

Fred–

I- (we)- have been reading your posts, and I think that more than a LITTLE is getting thru!

Like McConaughey- (and many of us in here)- say— “don’t half-ass it”

Little side-detour- but applicable(?). This ****perfectly**** applies to SINGING😳. A few discussions ago, I mentioned a talk I had with a very experienced musician in our local area- (a sort-of friend/ acquaintance). It was about singing- or rather- learning how to sing. That’s what he said- “DON’T half-ass it!!! Bad singing comes from being stuck in between quiet and loud, full air/half air, high and low, head and chest voice”. He said- “Try ’em all, PICK ONE and GO FOR IT. If it doesn’t work- pick something else”. And, “You’re never gonna be any good at singing until you accept the fact that you have to be willing to make a total fool of yourself”.

Anyway- didn’t mean to side-track the discussion….. but it kinda-sorta fits(?)

Thanks for that clip, Guy. Perfect for this discussion.

[the-old-coach]

Agree- love that!

[the-old-coach]

Mike–

As usual. Your words are golden.

Wise old saying– “you don’t get ahead by keeping the person behind you down, you get ahead by pulling them up with you”.

That’s TAC, baby! We are all sharing gifts as we all go along. It’s a guitar potluck.

the old coach

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