[the-old-coach]

Thank you all for the nice comments!

One of my problems is– I actually have no idea how anybody else learns chords or chord “groups”, so I don’t have any clue if learning them in “groups”- (as in “major, minor, 7, sus4, etc like I mentioned)- is the best way or not- (return-advice welcome here).

I don’t even know if this method is helpful in the long run or not- or if it’s just really a mechanical exercise I use to fill up time.

Maybe the better way is to learn chords from what “key” there from- (again……. return-advice is much welcome on that matter).

I think that’s my next step is learning them by “key”. I’m just not quite “there” musical-knowledge-wise- (but that’s something else I gotta work on!).

Anyway- again- thanks for the nice comments!

PS- no one is “ahead” of anyone else— we’re all on the same team😉👍, and all play our part. More experienced players “pull” younger ones up. Younger ones “push” the more experienced ones to keep going, improving, and providing example and guidance. Boundary-stretchers keep the disciplinarians “fresh” with new ideas, and disciplinarians keep us wild ones in line and on path. Our TAC program– as a whole– keeps our “guitar-world” in balance- and our Forum is the PERFECT playing field. Anyway– that’s my stupid opinion.😃

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Wow that sounds like a fantastic trip!

I’ve been following this thread since the start— thanks for sharing the stories!

As for me– I got the chance to go out there about 15 years ago now- (oldest daughter, her husband, and 2 oldest G-daughters were in the Navy- stationed at Norfolk).

I remember it being actually quite a bit like up here along the mid-Washington coast- (only warmer, and no hills in the background), but along the immediate beach and dunes areas- quite similar- (versus, say, steep, rugged, rocky coastline- like most of Oregon and much of Northern Calif.).

It was beautiful there indeed! I’ll go back someday.

Again- thanks for sharing the enjoyment of getting to play guitar with family!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

I’m thinking I made a big, confusing, non-clarification.

As I re-read all the answers, it seems I may have mistakenly lead you all(?) to believe I meant playing FASTER when I used the term “throttle it up”. And/ or that I’m not payin’ any attention to how it sounds.

If so– I am truly sorry….. I should have seen it and clarified it earlier.

As I mentioned by far the most of my guitar-time is still very regimented and exacting- (oh- those are bad words– maybe “scheduled” or “planned”?). I just do this “extra stuff” at the end—- for the pure fun of it!– (and it is FUN!!!!)

Instead of “faster”– what I meant by that was to just take a song I “know”– and just play it without restraints of any kind. Tryin’ whatever pops into my head….. WHILE I’m playing it . There is no “planning” of any kind. Stayin’ within the song’s chord progression and melody– but swerving all over the road, so to speak. Still in control within the song, of course, but with fingers flyin’, slidin’, and hammerin’ on and pullin’ off, and strings a-bendin’— tryin’ all different kinds of new stuff. I’m “in the zone”😎, baby!!!!

Sort of a “letting go of the edge of the pool” or a “taking your hands off the handlebars” feeling. To me it feels kind-of “liberating”.

Anyway– sorry for the lousy job of making my own thoughts more clear.

I’m pretty think-headed—– sometimes it takes awhile to see the simplest stuff.

Please forgive me— I’m maybe gonna start reading my posts a day or two ahead of time— before I actually post them- (but what the hell fun is THAT?)😜

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

I think maybe this crazy- (and crazy-fun!)- tactic is just my wandering way of incorporating the “sprinkles”- into a song- (riffs, slides, hammers, pull-offs, etc)— while playing it— on the fly.

TAC provides us with FANTASTIC “broad-based-skills”– no question! We are able to use the skills learned in here to play about ANY scale, lick, chord progression, etc, that we want. And THAT is great stuff!!

But in addition to that– isn’t the **ultimate** goal to take all these skills we learn in TAC…… and ALSO use them to play music?

I think– (riffs, slides- etc)- should be treated the same way– to get to the point we’re able to throw ’em in whenever we feel the need? One of MY biggest goals is to **genuinely** have the ability to do that— at will. The ability to throw these into a SONG I’m playing– on the fly– seems to me like it’s a ***completely separate skill***– and THAT’S the reason for the original post in this thread- and what I’m doing.

Most songs have quite a bit of these “extras” in there- snazzed-up by the artists. But when I/we just play the song using tabs- all we play is the main chords— SOOOO much of the “sprinkles” just get left out.

Thank you all for ALL of your help, advice, and encouragement!!!

Sounds like there are others of us who maybe think along the same lines?

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Thank you all for your replies!

Clarification- Of those 15 or so songs- I know about half of them “well”, about a fourth “sort-of” well, and a fourth– just “sort-of” (one is an original- wait-what?). So, I’m FAR from Having them all “down”.

That’s the fun! I’m always adding and dumping songs– always “moving”….. (wife says I’m “like a fart in a skillet”.😜…… where in the hell did THAT saying ever come from????)

As far as ME being one of those with a good memory?……… uh………. no.

(Clarification- and “edit” #2)- I still maintain the “accurate/traditional” method in probably 3/4 of my time in my daily sessions- (if my session is 60 mins, only maybe 15 of it is “throttle-up”). I think of it as like “dessert”, after I’ve eaten my broccoli……

Anyway, I use this “push-it-to-the-limit” tactic quite often- (mostly flatpicking)- and try to include slides- (many times multiple-string slides), riffs, bends, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. Does not matter whether it sounds “good” or not. That’s the point!

It’s sort of a no-holds-barred mess actually.

HERE’S the KEY— if I come across something that sounds cool— I’ll focus on that, and go diggin’ after it until it have it down.

Then— maybe I’ll turn right around and play it softly/ slowly- (fingerpicking)……. same song. Just to see what THAT sounds like.

Then I may go back to “regular”, accurate playing, then back (again) to “let ‘er fly” playing. Movin’ all over the place- different speeds, different style- (flatpick, fingerstyle), just chords, put a capo on to change the key, whatever).

This is about “perfecting” nothing… On purpose… Just having fun- creativity running wild!

(This is my “edit”)—- I hope to post a short video soon of me playing- (well, sort-of “along with”)- Jim Croce’s “Roller Derby Queen”- (LOVE that song!- it is SOOOO fun to play if you just “let ‘er rip”!!!).

Took awhile for me to finally post the original post in this thread……. After I re-read it a few times, I thought sure this whole concept was gonna be thought-of as another “What the hell is he thinking NOW” threads🤨.

Anyway- hope you all got/get a chuckle out of 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.

[the-old-coach]

Cadgirl– “Reply in Word, then copy/ paste over to the site”……. (?)

Kitman– “Copy my post and save it in the Notes app in my iPhone”……. (?)

🤨

I live under a rock………. and like it😎!!!!

Have a great day-

toc

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

[the-old-coach]

Wouldn’t it be cool if others were trying to answer your post right now- only to get the “pink screen of death”?

How ironic………

But then, I guess, how would we know?🤔

toc

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

[the-old-coach]

“anything you don’t understand in the chart just PM me”……..

(be careful what you wish for!🙃)

Thanks as always

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

That is cool stuff right there.

I’m going to have to re-read your post a few more times to get a real “handle” on it- given my level of music-knowledge- (my lack-of is pretty obvious🙃)

Again, you have given solid advice- and honest direction- right as– and where– I needed it.

As I mentioned in my original post in this thread– (something like- “I don’t know if this is how anybody else does this, or even if it’s the “right” way”), I’m glad you showed maybe the much better way to “focus” on learning chords.

My approach to many things- (it’s NOT a gift….🤨.)- is to be very mechanical. Before your post here, my thought process was 1. Learn the chords- LOTS of them. 2. Learn to transition FROM ANY one of them TO ANY one of them. Then 3. Really LEARN how they all relate to each other within keys and songs. Kind of a “start at the bottom and work my way up” plan.

I can now see my plan is “OK”, but I maybe at the same time, need to focus equally on how they “go together” as just learning them.

Have I got that right?

Thanks again, Mike!

Always appreciative of help-

Mark

[the-old-coach]

You are too kind, my friend.

We’re all the same, really, and all in this great adventure together… I just blab about it a lot. (too much, at times🙄).

I think it’s just that- (like many of us)- I’m pretty damned pumped and excited about all of it!

I owe ANY AND ALL success(es) that I’ve accomplished here in TAC, to the helpful and sincere mentors here in the Forum– and the Tony’s Acoustic Challenge program itself!!!

Thanks again for the kind words—

Mark– the old coach

[the-old-coach]

It’s great that you mentioned being “in the moment”…….

Jumpinjeff- (one of my super-heroes here in the Forum)- mentioned this in several of his posts a while back, and the importance of it has STUCK with me…….. it is an awesome feeling indeed!

I get to that point in maybe half of my practice sessions.

It takes- (me anyway)- a couple of extra minutes at the start of a session to “set myself”, but there is NOTHING like being “in the zone”!!! I come away from a session where I was “in the moment”- (or “flow”, or “zone– I think it’s the same)-” feeling invigorated and full of energy and guitar-excitement for sure!

If I may- I’d like to go out on a limb here and pass along an inspiring website that I really enjoy going back to now & again. There are several short videos that focus on the “in the moment” concept. I think it works VERY well when/while working thru/within the TAC program– certainly NOT “in place of” by any means, just alongside it.

There’s no direct-guitar playing or lessons- (like TAC)- just the psychological side, and tips for more effective practicing.

I look at it as kind-of a psychological “nudge” that, in tandem with TAC, helps me to learn- (and I need help!😜).

Anyway- if you want- check out (Youtube)- “play in the zone” by Mark Morley-Fletcher.

(I REALLY hope mentioning this doesn’t get me in trouble with Tony and the TAC team🙏, but think this is a great tool in my own learning and improving).

All the best– (and thanks Jeff!)-

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

I didn’t/don’t even know what “improv jams” means for sure.

And I’ll be the first one to say I’m not great at this goofy stuff I’m tryin’– but it sure “feels” fun– and improvement will come! I don’t even know or care whether it’s making me a BETTER OVERALL guitar player somehow. Maybe not!😎

But it DOES somehow feel like it’s moving me towards my goal of being able to just hear a song, pick up a guitar, and start in playin’!

For darn sure– The legend of George Harrison, and the likes and living legends of Keith Urban and Tommy Emmanuel- (to barely scratch the surface)- have got nothin’ to worry about from me.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh—— English!!!!!😃

[the-old-coach]

Awesome response………

Confession—- it took me a while to SEE that…..

But all good now

toc

[the-old-coach]

Another EXCELLENT post!

You nailed it– we all learn a huge amount by reading OTHERS’ posts!

It’s like free money🤨……

the old coach