[the-old-coach]

Cool stuff

[the-old-coach]

Lisa — I agree with Mike all the way on this.

Months ago I bought a book titled “First, Learn to Practice”, by Tom Heany.

It leans toward focusing on the MOVEMENT BETWEEN CHORDS as the most important thing.

Learning the finger positions on all the individual chords is important, yes, but a chord just sitting there alone isn’t worth much. Playing one single chord over and over isn’t gonna be much of a song……

Can’t speak for anyone else, but I try to concentrate on efficient and accurate movement BETWEEN them.

And like Mike says– try to learn those slowly, smoothly, and correctly!

Take it from me!- it is hard to un-learn bad patterns and correct them. Do it right the first time.

Keep goin’, keep it fun, do the stretches, and don’t play long enough to hurt your hands.

Just my two bits.

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses to my goofy-ass stories.

It was indeed an experience that I will never forget as long as live- it was so damn much FUN!

I felt like a kid again while walking back across the street home- and it’s been years since I had an excitement-kind-of-smile like that.

MOST importantly- it wasn’t how “good” I did- it was that I did it- period!

Kinda anxious/nervous today- but man I wanna do that again!

Thanks again, you-all, for all the responses and help–

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Oh, yeah. I think it’s normal, but then again, it happens to me, too….

[the-old-coach]

Cheryl-

Here’s something I’ve tried when decades-old hand issues come to haunt me. Maybe it also helps my brain “catch up” or “keep up”.

I know not everybody has the time- but…..

Maybe try this– limit the TIME you practice in one session– but have 2-3 shorter practice sessions in a day. I used to- (OK, sometimes I still do)- pound away for maybe an hour and a half in one practice session. My hands and brain were both pretty tired at the end- even when I was “in the zone”. I nowadays find that my brain— and playing-accuracy— is much better during the earlier segments of my daily practice(s). Hands, too. Maybe they- (brain and hands both)- just plain kind of get “tired” from extended periods of hard brain-concentration(?). Shorter sessions work great for me, anyway.

However, to contradict my own point🙄, I’ve read that “just beyond the point where you are comfortable is where to learn the most”.

Remember– the words “work” and “fun” don’t have any of the same letters. Keep it fun.

Anyway- maybe try something like this? I’ll go back under my rock now.

Go get ’em–

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Guy-

There are some really great, thoughtful responses already here, for sure.

As for me, one of my best/worst traits is that I’m an overthinker.

And I think I’m at almost the same spot as you in your wonderings.

So- (not to steer the conversation)- is there some sort of “normal progression” to follow? Is that what “drives us” to practice and learn, practice and learn, repeat…..?

I know in my remaining lifetime, I certainly will never learn all I want to know about— or be as skilled as I want to be— when it comes to guitar/playing/singing and playing. And I’m good with that. I’ll settle for getting- (more slowly)- better at BOTH.

And it sure seems like there has to be some sort of goal line out there somewhere.

I know there’s no magic “line” out there, that once you cross it, you’re now “good at guitar”, and likely also that even once you reach that “where you want to go” place, there will always be the “next”.

So…. doesn’t there HAVE to be some kind of big goal of some kind out there that we are ALL, actually, striving for?- (the reason we all joined TAC?). Granted, it is different for each of us. But if there is no “goal”, aren’t we just practicing just to enjoy the practicing?- (which is fine by me, by the way).

So I guess- (after all my worthless ramblings)- that my thought is that I think you aren’t hurting anything at all by working on DIFFERENT parts of your entire guitar-music-learning-enjoyment as you travel your path.

So for me, I guess, it makes the most sense to continue on BOTH the “skills-stuff” and the “music/fun stuff”.

Remember when I said I was an overthinker?…….. there ya go.

Mark

[the-old-coach]

To all- Many thanks for the help and advice.

The first line- of my first post- in this thread was- “Full disclosure- my inexperience is on full display here🙃”.

So now—– pretty-damned embarrassed—– I must admit that it is all completely “operator-error”.

I had to do a little digging to find out the solution was ridiculously simple😳

Upside- after all your help and advice, I will be buying a different tuner!

Thank you all again- (now I’ll go back under my rock)

Mark

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

It remains my favorite.

Thought about writing it on my forehead- ((sdrawkcab))- so I could read it in the mirror each morning, but I think my wife would fail to see the humor in it.

Among others here, jumpinjeff is surely in the “Oh, Wise One” circle of honor, whereas I dwell in the “What the hell is he thinking” group😜

Mark

[the-old-coach]

“Focus on play as my practice– rather than practice to play”

Jeff- You- (along with many others!)- have given us plenty of simple yet insightful and brilliant thoughts to chew on since I’ve “known” you here on the Forum- (over my ~10 months in TAC).

This is one of the best.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

You hit it right on the head……..👍

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

I’m one of those who have had— and sort-of-played— and sort-of-learned— some things- (or at least we thought)- because we could play along with the guitar tabs to a couple of Creedence songs. Oh the memories….

As bad as that sounds- it was damn FUN!- and we were really somethin’ cool- especially when there were buddies, and their guitars, and maybe beer involved. And actually, we were LEARNING guitar stuff- (basic chords, transitions, and maybe even a sense of rhythm).

For quite a few of us- (me for sure)- it’s now “fast-forward” to today- (30-40 years later)—– and TAC. Like you said, Tony’s method and philosophy- (to me anyway)- steadily and subconsciously teaches us NOT how to play — “A” — song, but rather, gives us the tools to play ANY song- (of course with some song-specific practice).

Not to mention teaching me how to RE-LEARN things I learned WRONG- (and there were a few of them!)

My two cents—- This program– and this Community– are great…… period.

Mark

[the-old-coach]

Tails-

Sounds like that’s it– Thanks!

Mark