[the-old-coach]

Thank you- (all)- for the TAC program and all that it takes to keep it going!

My one-year TACiversary is Jan 12. It has been an amazing first year.

The TAC “family” here inside our Forum is simply the BEST. It’s like a whirlwind of help and advice— kind-of self-sustaining in a way, as more experienced players help us newer ones, and someday we will pass it forward to others in the same way.

Oh, if you are located in Bozeman- you can take back the weather that you loaned us. We are not geared up for it out here on the WA coast area- we have ~11″ of this crazy white stuff in our yard right now😬…….. We are used to mild & wet.

Stay safe and well.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Wanahini

Strange as it may sound, just putting your thoughts into words, right here in this Forum, so that everybody can see them– and reading them yourself– sometimes has a way of “washing away” frustration and expectation. It gives YOU a way of seeing yourself as others can see you.

I wish I had great advice for you, but I’m no stranger to what you’re going thru myself. Many others– probably everybody in fact– have been where you are, “it’s just part of the deal”.

My simple advice- 1. Take your foot off the gas. It’s OK. Let everything catch up with everything. 2. Realize that you HAVE made real progress! 3. Throw some FUN back into your sessions- (something like easy, fun, TAB- (E-chords, etc)- songs of your old favorites- they are a blast and I bet you’ll do great at them). 4. Your own brain will tell when it’s time to get back to work.

These things work for me- maybe you too. Each of us is different.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

So as far as playing a song– or several songs– just off memory, I’ve been wandering/wondering– is there kind-of “a point” where you just remember the general theme of the song, maybe most of the melody, maybe the chorus and maybe some of the verse(s), a few chords……. and then the details just “kick in” so to speak?

Like there’s no way a person could just out of the blue— in just talking to you– recite every word, or know every chord in order, of say 4-5 songs in a row…….. but if a melody and/or a few chords are added- does it kind-of “all just come back to you” somehow?…. sort-of “on the fly”?

Does the music just sort-of “pick you up”, and carry you thru?

And to be able to anticipate and “hear” the NEXT few chords or bass-walks or percussive parts or whatever it is— as it’s all just “rushing back”?- (I would LOVE to be able to do that!).

Kind-of hard to put into words- yes. I hope you- (all)- get my “jist”. I’m thinking this is what happens- the brain just sort-of gets “caught-up” in the music, and that– by itself– helps those thousands of bits of memory come flowing back.

Paul and many others– My opinion— what you have done is one of the most inspirational things EVER for those of us a little behind you on the guitar journey! THAT is what we all want to be able to do!

Much thank you for sharing– more help appreciated.

And please tell me if I’m all wet on my little thought- I’m just tryin’ to figure out the best way to reach that next level.

Mark J

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

[the-old-coach]

Paul-

This is a GREAT story! Very inspiring to many, many of us following in your footsteps- me for sure. What you have done is one of my MAIN goals! Cool stuff!

How were you able to get all of those parts– of all of those songs– to the point where you could play them easily just from memory????

I have been rasslin’ with how to best “memorize” a song—- for months and months—- to be able to do something like what you have accomplished here. If it’s a thousand reps, so be it. If there are addn’l hints- please share if you can.

Thanks-

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Ricc-

To me– keeping the daily lessons around somehow is a good plan. Remember, they go away at the end of each month- unless you have “favoritized” them, or printed them out, or saved them some other way.

For what it’s worth, I print out all of the daily lessons and keep them in order, in a big 3-ring binder. I just write the month and year on the top of each.

I don’t re-print or keep the “Speed Challenge” version of previous lessons. And also I don’t re-print dailies that have came around before- (I’ve heard people say many of them come “back around” every 8-10 months), so in that case, I already have ’em.

Guess the main reason is that I can just occasionally- (once or twice a week)- open it to a completely random lesson, and give it 10-15 minutes just for the heck of it. It’s kinda fun actually- keeps thing “light”. Sometimes I “hit” on a lesson that have to change tuning- and this keeps me rehearsed on doing that.

And I can use the book to practice without a computer if I’m somewhere without one.

May not be perfect, but it works for me. Hope this helps.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get some responses!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Well—

An update- (if anyone cares….🙃)

I- (with my wife there)- stopped-in and talked with the gentleman who owned it a few days after my second post, over a cold beer. He said he had in fact changed his mind about selling it after all. He had whittled his collection over the years “down to like 13 guitars already” and liked this one, and wanted to keep it after all.

I don’t really know if I was more disappointed— or relieved!

Anyway, a couple of weeks went by, and I had just kind-of forgotten about it.

And just when I thought the whole 12-string experiment was going to fade away- on Christmas morning, my wife brought out Dave’s 12 string and said “Merry Christmas”.

I couldn’t believe it.

So, I have since been cleaning, wiping, inspecting, re-tuning it “down” a whole step, and I took out the clip-in Lawrence soundhole pickup and sound-cord jack where the strap button was.

It’s kind-of been- (a mix of)- admiring it and being scared of it– working on simple, clear, notes and chords. Plenty for now. Its sound is full, bright, and clear. Reminds me of being “harpsicordy”(?).

So, is there any easy advice here in the first stages of learning his beauty. My plan is to start s-l-o-w, continue with easy exercises and chords, and get it right, right off the bat. Any extra advice, tips, and hints are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading my seemingly endless babble……😉.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Update– upon further searching I ran across an “Acoustic Life” video made by Tony that goes into great detail. It’s called “3 Surprising Ways to Clean Your Acoustic Guitar”. Good stuff, there.

MJ

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

[the-old-coach]

Danny-

What you’re experiencing now- (yes….. temporarily🙃)- is perfectly NORMAL.

I’ve been thru it more times than I care to say– including very recently- and I’m working back thru it BECAUSE of the help from friends here in your/our TAC family!

Give yourself some credit. “Learning to play guitar” period is not an easy task, and it’s also impossible to define, because we all have different starting points….. and end goals. As time goes by, your own personal playing habits and style and sound will lead you where you want to go– almost automatically.

My dumb-guy analogy: If you are a golfer, you know that EVERY golfer’s swing is just a little different from others– but the end result over time is that they get the ball down the fairway however works best for them. Remember– there are FAR more similarities than differences in their swings- but each IS just a little bit different, based on their own abilities and goals. To me– just like guitar. Those shots “right down the middle” may have been only once in a while at the start, but over time, they come more often. And when they DO– man it feels great!

Again— just like guitar….

You have some very wise and detailed advice already here from some VERY caring and experienced sources; I certainly cannot offer any better.

My own tip— Read thru the posts here TWO OR THREE TIMES. Pick them apart. There is wise, experienced, help– both on the surface— and between the lines- (as things apply to your own journey).

And just keep playin’!!!!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

That would be awesome. You- (ALL)- would remember that for the rest of your lives- (even the little ones!)

[the-old-coach]

My fingers are crossed!

However, teens seem to change their minds “as often as I change my shirt”.

She’s a bright girl and a hard worker.

Parallel(?)– She had never swung a golf club until 2 years ago, but worked hard at learning all the swing mechanics, rhythm, and movement, had a blast doing it, and made the varsity team as a freshman at one of the biggest high schools in the Seattle area.

I really hope she wants to learn guitar. I’m gonna give her a “light” call in a week or two to see.

[the-old-coach]

Paul–

Thank you. That is cool stuff right there, indeed.

Those tidbits of knowledge you have shared come from decades of you playing and figuring-out the best way.

I’m gonna re-read this- (your)- latest post dozens of times as I fumble thru future practice sessions, trying to apply something here/ something there, to where I’m at. It’s kind-of a new vantage-point maybe.

You have shared important pieces of the treasure map.

Indeed, thanks-

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

The best!

[the-old-coach]

I know I definitely have a long ways to go on this kind of thing- but it really was fun to just mess with it- playing from my head.

Disclosure- I martymusic’d it the next day and found out I was FAIRLY close to having all the right notes/chords/progressions. Plenty of room for improvement– absolutely, but it sure was neat just realizing I can maybe accomplish this kind of thing!

Thanks, all, and hope you all had a great, safe, Christmas.

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Thank you. I feel like I kind-of “got a glimpse” of something.

MJ