[the-old-coach]

Kent-

First off- welcome to TAC!- (it was a great choice).

Cadgirl and Loraine have got it right. Re-read their posts. Then read them… again… each sentence…… They are fantastic advisors- find some of their other posts around here in the Forum- you’ll quickly recognize how helpful and caring they are.

Get “this part” right- even if it seems really difficult, confusing, and slow… for now.

Here’s a thought about the tabbed-music and chords. It can maybe be hard to “get” all the tabbed lessons if you have really NO idea what it’s supposed to SOUND like- because the “song” is not something you recognize.

That said- maybe try this- type into your computer the title of a simple song you KNOW- (any song- does not matter)- then add to that, the word “chords”. (Example- “wagon wheel chords”. Then just hit “enter” of course.

It will come up under several different websites. Pick the easiest one- that’ll take some “looking”. Poke around inside a couple of them. Go for the “easiest” one.

The whole goal here is to “see” how all this tab-stuff that you’re looking at– works and sounds IN A SONG THAT YOU KNOW- and how all that tab-symbol-stuff actually sounds.

All the tab symbolism looked like chicken-scratch to me when I first started out- but it became easier when I could HEAR what it meant, while SEE-ing on the page and following along thru the song.

Once you learn how all the symbolism SOUNDS- take your new, very general, knowledge and apply it back to your TAC Daily challenges. Things may look different! Keep monkeying with it Have fun soaking it all up!

Kinda hard for me to put into words- hope you can see what I mean…..

My two cents. And I certainly apologize if you already know all this.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

Ping-

While you’re working on those chords- (I realize it’s been a couple of weeks now since your original post)- here’s something you might try.

So this is a TOTALLY “if-you-want-to” thing—- while you’re in the chord-playing mood- maybe after your lesson, search-up one of the Tabbed-song websites- (like e-chords or Ultimate Guitar), and find yourself an “easier” song- (maybe like something from Creedence Clearwater Revival- maybe “Stuck in Lodi Again”).

Play along in it and SEE, FEEL, and HEAR how the chords that —–you—– are playing, and the sounds you are making, are becoming part of that song.

Notice the difference in the sound as the song changes chords, and how YOUR chord change somehow goes in perfectly. And after a short while, the transitions- (very important)- will be smooth as silk.

All the while- remember that it does NOT matter how “good” you do. Just go with it and have some fun.

My crazy two-cents.

the coach

[the-old-coach]

Philb-

LOVED it!

Watched it twice thru- and the “surprise ending” was really enjoyable– perfect!

The perfect example of “work’s done- have some fun”.

I wouldn’t be surprised if most if not all of us have that same thought about writing our own music when an idea and melody pop into our heads….

You have figured it out!

I am still quite a ways away……

More than you may think- this is a very inspirational post/video…..

Thanks for sharing it.

the old coach

[the-old-coach]

For future reference–

I noticed in today’s “Boogie Barn” comments area, there was another “Mark J”.

So I’m changing my nickname to this new one- “the-old-coach”.

He’s probably a nice guy, and I wouldn’t want anyone to blame him for the stuff I throw out here in the Forum😜

Coach

[the-old-coach]

Kind-of embarrassing….. But, hey, new toys!🙃

[the-old-coach]

Daniel-

That was fantastic. So thaaaaaat’s how it’s supposed to be done…..

I watched the video– twice– in awe. I had the same expression as the big white dog behind you.😉

Congrats on your 4th TAC year!

You have set down a new goal those following you- including myself.

Fantastic.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Reggie-

First off- welcome to TAC!

You are likely to get lots if advice and answers to help you get up & runnin’.

You came to the right place!— your best friend right now might very well be this- (your)- TAC forum! Look around in here a bit and you’ll likely find others who have had the very same questions as to how to get started- along with big welcomes and many answers and helpful advice.

There is kind-of a “Uh-oh…. whuddoo I do now- how do I get started?” confusion-period. Maybe it’s because we are all at a DIFFERENT spot in learning when we first come in the door. What might be the right advice for one person might be way ahead-of or way-behind for another. You’ll find your spot in there naturally.

Poke around in here- it’ll come to you….. And I have a feeling there will be some excellent guidance comin’ your way.

Have fun with all this- and really ENJOY the sounds that YOU are making!

You made a great choice…. Again- welcome to TAC!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

I like droppin’ my pinkie on the B & high E and do an up-strum at the “end” of a chord—- right before the “next” chord—- for a little fun and twang. Sort of — Down…. down…. down- up-up.

[the-old-coach]

That sounds like a GREAT warmup!👍

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

Your comment about not working “on one thing for more than 15 or 20 minutes or I will burn out” reminds me of a few threads that have come along here in the Forum.

I know that —- I—- seem to learn something easier if I have a few 10-15 minute shots at it, MUCH better than trying to learn something in one, say hour-and-a-half grinder- (that for me- also- becomes the “more of an exercise in frustration” that you mention. I know that I personally, seem much “sharper” in the FIRST 10-20 minutes than the LAST 20 minutes of a practice session. I think my brain just gets tired.

And I love the way you put it- “going slow until it speeds itself up automatically”. How true that is!

I think the “automatically” is the result from all the seeds planted along the way. While each lesson in itself day-in-day-out may not have seemed all that important by themselves, over time and effort– the bigger broader picture starts to show. And the result is a wide base of skills—- all of a sudden, we are able to play things we couldn’t!

In my weird way of seeing things— this is the essence of TAC.

Anyway, I’m just rambling-on now. But I think these kinds of discussions play a VITAL role in learning here in TAC. Learning guitar is NOT easy! People have questions as they hit chuckholes in their search for the “path” that suits them best.

In my way of thinking, LEARNING HOW TO LEARN is as important as the actual hands-on.

Always appreciative of your insight-

MJ

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

Absolutely we can “be on both sides at once”.

I actually kind-of “float around” on this issue- depending on what I’m working on– or trying to learn. For me it varies mostly on how difficult the task is.

I can usually whip thru the Chord-Progression-Friday lessons without much problem, so I give them the 10 mins and if I’ve “got” them- I mark ’em done, and move on. Most all the other Dailies I need to go back several times and re-visit them.

Most of the Skills Courses- I take my time on the lessons inside there. I try to get those “right”– as I see them as “building-block” kind-of lessons. They are not going to “come back around” like the Dailies will. I revisit some of those lessons once in a while- if a particular Daily is giving me fits.

So I guess what I’m thinking is that- (if I understand your question)- yes- both methods work, absolutely.

Everybody is different in their approach, their “plan” for getting to their desired goal(s), and their own abilities to handle the lesson. I think everybody is better at some parts of this than others, and not as good at some parts as others.

That’s what makes it great- we can pick and choose from all the great info, help, and advice within the Forum here, and use it directly and immediately to get past our own “hurdles” as they come along.

Always great to hear from you!

MJ

[the-old-coach]

I’ll be like a new puppy jumpin’ around peein’ all over the floor😜

[the-old-coach]

Giving yourself an occasional pat on the back is great advice indeed!👍

[the-old-coach]

Ron–

My two-bits about these finger-stretching exercises: when you are doing all those finger-stretches—- try to keep your- (fretting-hand)- arm fairly straight- (like in many of the pics). If your arm is bent you lose a LOT of effectiveness.

But— be careful with these, especially at the start. Kind-of “ease into it”. Believe it or not, you can mess yourself up if you just start reefin’ on things.

As far as a “warmup routine”- there are some great suggestions already here in your thread! I agree with Moochas Poochas that the 5-day Finger-stretch Challenge is great- (my favorite is the “Vertical Stretch” exercise. In my own “warmup” I go thru a half-dozen or so various lessons that “get everything movin'”, and the Vertical Stretch is one I do EVERY day.

Mark J

• This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Ping- (and Mike?)-

In the light of the great responses so far in this thread– and then re-reading my own post– I feel like I may “have some ‘splaining to do”.

When I said “slow down and get these basic chords right……..”, I may have sounded like I meant to halt all progression until you have those “mastered”. If that’s the way it sounded, I’m sorry- that’s not what I meant at all.

I should have phrased it to come across more like “Slow down, because you WILL need to get these basic chords right”. “Realize that it may take time- you’ll know when you NEED to have these perfected- because when doing the Dailies– even getting any kind of effort together will REQUIRE you to have these “down””.

Frustration will settle in– either in struggling with learning the chords themselves inside & out now– or when NOT being able to enjoy doing the Dailies because you don’t know the chords needed in them. As I said– don’t necessarily hold everything up while trying to be perfect at one thing– but if I had to choose, I tend to lean toward climbing the ladder one step at a time.

A very wise man once said- “expectation is where fun goes to die”. Remember that this is “Tony’s Acoustic Challenge“. How boring would it all be if it was all just too “easy”- (like, say, a straight, flat, boring, golf course– yawn). Enjoy the challenge, and that “difficult, edgy, stretch/exercise for your brain”, that comes with a good challenge. It makes the successes- (large and small)- taste that much sweeter!

That said– Seems like in here there are sometimes two different trains of thought on how to “learn” things- and even how to approach the Daily lessons.

(Very generally paraphrasing here)- I’ve seen posts that advise going slow with an emphasis on being VERY accurate; others feel more that the best way is to “give it your 10 minutes and move on”.

I personally REALLY respect the viewpoints of the great people here in the Forum- regardless of where they stand on either side of this issue.

Sometimes one “method” works better, for whatever, than the other way. I think I try to have some kind-of balance.

But my own brain whispers to me to crawl…… Then walk…… Then run.

Anyway- I hope my earlier post didn’t confuse you. You will find your own path.

Mark J