[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, 10 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, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Nice work Fred!

This may be another form of spreading your wings/ trying new stuff.

“Going out of your way” to learn something new and/or different— or— overcoming an obstacle along your guitar-journey path……… is really awesome.

IMHO this is a subtle sort-of “by product” of the TAC program.

Our TAC program “spreads the learning and skills” all over the place, rather than pidgeon-holing us into specializing in just one area—— and all of this, over the long haul. An example of this is the 5 different areas of the “Daily Lessons”.

We’ll all find our own “lane” MUCH easier if we have a well rounded “base” to jump off from.

To me, anyways, your post is just this.

Again- nice work!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Right on Fred!

I’ve (also?) been monkeying with learning to play and sing at the same time. It has not been easy or pretty (believe me)- but at the point I’m at– I really don’t/can’t expect it to be.

I too have seen myself be “monotone-y” and “rigid” as I concentrate WAY hard on ***just getting thru*** a song. That’s when I chuckle at me, and remind myself try to ***remember… that I’m PLAYING the song***. Emphasis- “PLAYING”……

It’s not supposed to be easy, but at my (our?) stage of the game– it’s not supposed to be “work” either🤔.

When I do get the “monotone-ys”, I revert back to the tabs for the song, and crank up a YouTube video or I just “ask Alexa” to play it– and play and sing along with the artist playing and singing. That brings me back to how the ARTIST played it- (with all the cool inflections, tones, runs, etc). Like a giant re-set button, this kind-of “sets me straight” so to speak, with the song. And off I go on it again- with the “original directions” fresh in my mind.

My hope is that automatic memory will finally/eventually kick in.

Anyway- seems I’ve turned into the Allman Brothers- “Lord I was born a Ramblin’ Man”……🙄

Go get ’em!

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😉).

[the-old-coach]

There’s a local band around where we live. They don’t play anywhere else but right around our area. They have played the EXACT same sets and songs– for decades.

(Here’s where I’m going with this, and how it relates to this thread)……

Over the years, after playing them probably thousands of times, they have CHANGED the old songs they play (probably without even noticing it themselves)- to the point that they sound different from the original versions- (mostly 80’s and 90’s music)- sometimes portions are WAAAY different. As I said- I don’t think they even realize it.

That’s why at my level- (WAY down the ladder still)- I have to listen to the original version(s) occasionally- to keep things “real”.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Thanks Stevie. It was deep fun!

[the-old-coach]

Guess I’m “aging” myself………

[the-old-coach]

👍 Thanks for responding!

TOC

[the-old-coach]

Cadgirl-

New at this standing-thing.

I’ll keep working trying to find a comfortable “way” to stand.

A couple decades of climbing power poles- (the old-fashioned way)- it’s “easier” somehow to keep moving around instead of standing still.

But, sitting is the best way for me overall.

Thanks for responding!

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Albert-

TOTALLY agree.

I read once somewhere one trick to improved guitar playing (only?) was to practice and play with the TV on- (or some other noise going on). Guess it’s supposed to help your brain be able to “see through” the distraction and focus on the execution and technique at hand- (playing).

I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but isn’t that kinda what’s going on when performing a song? The- (deliberate at this point)- distractions for me were– 1. Standing, 2. Remembering the lyrics and chords, and, 3. Actually singing.

This was all just really sort of a big, deliberate, experiment.

The goals?– Do new stuff, test myself, and get feedback……..

The result?– a new perspective– “performing” a song!!!

Your post is RIGHT ON, and I’ll of course keep guitar-improvement as a major part of the picture- (because I just LOVE the sounds that come from that inanimate wooden box with strings).

Thanks again for answering!- (means a LOT).

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Kitman–

Maybe you remember a group called “The New Christy Minstrels”?

Well, I guess I’d be “the old crusty minstrel”?😏……..

the old coach