[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 4 years, 3 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 4 years, 3 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 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 4 years, 3 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[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 4 years, 3 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