[the-old-coach]

Incredible accomplishment!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for sharing your well-earned and inspiring perspective, and well thought-out post👏

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Stevie-

Congats, man, that is nothing short of amazing!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Cadgirl and Skyman–

Wow– both GREAT responses!

I’m also myself reminded that I need to go back thru the “5-Day Guitar Routine” course- (again).

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Namarran-

Please—- please—– please….. Take a deep breath……………

Then…… Take another deep breath.

You did good by joining TAC— as long as you are ***able to realize*** just that- and give it a chance. Get “inside it”…. Dig deep. There’s a LOT here!

And you also did good by bringing to HERE in the Forum! (our Forum is AWESOME!!!!)

I have a feeling you will get some responses! You can bet that there will be some genuine advice, help, and suggestions coming your way(!)- from some knowledgeable, helpful, wonderful folks farther “along” in their guitar journey. Great stuff indeed!

Welcome to TAC, above all else!

(Pssst– You are on THE RIGHT TRACK)….

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

I think I’m getting closer to “narrowin’ it all down”— but I need to put my lack of knowledge back on full display, and toss in a couple more dumb questions – (please excuse me🙃- I’m just— still— in the “finding-out” part of my mini-studio project).

So……. in some bundles I see speakers- (“monitors”? is the term).

Do I need these? – (some/ most bundles don’t have them- and they are also sold separately).

What do they do?

Do they serve the same purpose as headphones– but out in the “open air?”– (to let you HEAR what you are singing- ***as you are singing it***—- so you can adjust your voice on the fly?). I know that’s a goofy-sounding sentence- but I hope you get my drift.

I think I’ve seen them onstage- (facing the singer), but never could figure out why.

If headphones and the monitors serve the same purpose- which is better– and why?

Is using headphones-(only)- just quieter?

Lastly- Can anyone give a SIMPLE explanation of these things like Garageband, Audacity, etc……. What are they? What do they do? Do I ***need*** them? Is this a monthly/yearly “subscription thing? Are they hard to “set up”?

Again– sorry about more questions. I just need easy to understand help and advice- I want to do his “right”.

Private messages work also…..

Thanks-

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Lately– there’s been a few Forum conversations discussing playing and singing.

So…. (sort-of related🤨)… I thought I’d dredge this old thread up!

There are plenty of NEW faces around in our TAC Forum. This old thread is— again— very relevant.

Plus– this is just a GREAT thread!!!!- (as evidenced by how many posts are in it— there are 52 POSTS!!!). And the information, advice, and experience-based viewpoints are wide-ranging, and nothin’ short of fantastic.

It’s quite a “read”- (it’ll take a few minutes for sure, to get all the way thru it)- but I highly recommend reading EVERY viewpoint if this is an area you’re interested in. There is a huge amount of info inside!

Amazing how these conversations “come back around”!

Great stuff…….. enjoy- (again?)……. Please add new viewpoints!!! Your advice- (or questions)- helps others.

To me, it’s great to “re-live” and recall threads like this. Remind and re-learn.

the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

Fred-

AT LEAST one very wise person in here has said that being right on the edge of your ability is where the most learning happens- (or something close to that).

Only practice stuff that’s too tough and risk discouragement(?)— or practice only what you know and risk boredom.

I see it as a thin line I have to walk every day— but I love it. I try to strive for balance of some kind, and hope my “overall guitar-learning” is getting better– in trusting the TAC process.

Yes- it is sometimes difficult to see progress. The same very wise people have said to record and/or video yourself every month or three– to SEE and HEAR your improvement over time.

All that blubber said- my opinion is —— keep pushing and stretching.

Reading your posts is inspiring.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Fred/Gerry- (and anybody else reading)-

Right off the bat here— PLEASE remember that this post is from someone who knows NOTHING about how to sing- let alone play and sing.

I seem to sound the worst when I kind-of “half-sing”. Hard to put into words- but you know what I mean.

For me, that’s when I’m in between singing high and low, chest and head, loud and soft, whatever— just kind-of lightly half-singing. There’s nothing good about it: weak, weird, soft….. bad.

So I “asked around”– and was told one thing consistently– “”stop half-assing it- go all out. Not necessarily LOUDER, just “all-in”. THAT is the important part””.

“”The weakness and inconsistency comes directly from “messing with it” as you’re singing””.

He also said- “focus on clear pronunciation. Keeps things cleaner”.

Again– these are not MY thoughts- but they come from someone I think knows what they’re talking about. Just passing them on…..

When I tried singing and recording it the other day- it seemed to give me better results- (a little less bad😉)

Maybe this helps?

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Hello-

Been thinking about this stuff lately.

The goal is of course to record myself — with much better sound quality than playing and singing into my laptop. I wanted to dredge this thread up and bring it back into view…. Maybe others are interested too(?)

At this point what I need is a “dumb-guy” plan, complete with descriptions of the various parts and what they do—- (in simple language)—- for those of us who DON’T know what all those abbreviations are or mean. Something I can hook up to my laptop.

Plan is to be able to learn about all of its available functions over time- pretty sure most of them are WAY too far ahead of me now.

From what I’ve seen- (amazon)- it looks like something fairly decent can be had for ~$300 or so(?).

Please keep in mind my “computer-thingie / tweeter-hooter / electronics knowledge level”🙄 is low. Think LOW.

Soooo….. If just buying a “pre-bundled” setup for around $300 is the best way- so be it……… as long as it can be set up and operated by the likes of me.

So PLEASE feel free to just throw me ***your own personal thoughts*** on what you “think” I need….. THAT’S what I want!!!

Anyway- please post back- or even private message me- if you have any advice or suggestions… Anything is greatly appreciated.

PS— I know there is TONS of advice in this thread, and thanks for all that. I’ve read it all.

the old coach

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

Albert-

Wow. Way-to-go🙂. You just reminded (at least ME specifically😃) of another thing I’m not great at (yet). But it’s all good.

Yours is yet ANOTHER great perspective on this! I think- (again at least ME)- don’t realize the importance of what you mention.

Many months ago, I remember reading a thread about how some guitar instructors will work like crazy teaching/perfecting “one song”.

The TAC method of teaching ALL different parts of playing guitar– so that over time you can play ANY song– to me is much better. Seems like it would provide for a much broader “base” in guitar.

Sorry about sounding like some-sort-of cheerleader-type– but the information and help you all put in here is nothing short of solid gold for those following behind you👏- (me included!).

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

🤣

[the-old-coach]

Feedback, baby!

It’s how performers REALLY find out how they are doing- (and sounding).

It’s the ONLY way athletes can tweak their skills for improvement’s- (or correction’s… sake). Because they can’t see what they’re doing……… while they’re DOING it.

my opinions only-

the old coach

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

[the-old-coach]

This morning I saw your new post😀- and it is yet another very insightful one in a ***GREAT*** thread.

I read thru the entire thread again- (done that quite a few times now– not counting following all the new responses as they were added in the first place- when the thread was “new”).

For me, now, again, this thread is VERY relevant—- (some 8 months after it originally aired). As my own abilities change over time- (improve🤨?), a re-visit to a thread like this is PERFECT.

Love this TAC forum👏!!!!!!…… It is like a GIANT vault- (or bucketful)- of experience, way different perspectives, thoughtful advice, and generous help– on most everything that we guitar-learners face at one time or another- (or— at one time AND another).

It all comes back around, right? Everything old is new again!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Better yet— albert_d could tell his wife he wants to buy a boat……..

(then “fall back” to a new guitar😉).