[the-old-coach]

Please indulge me for a minute.

This thread and this TAC family here reminds me of a time a lotta years ago.

I had one old line crew foreman back in the 70’s-80’s who was pretty damn great. Ornery, but great. And tough?- oh, yeah, tough as they come.

I was probably pretty hot-headed and “full of p#ss & vinegar” at the time- (you had to be at that time- to survive in that trade). Anyway, I remember he sat me down one day and said “Kid, you don’t get ahead by keepin’ everybody else down– you get ahead by pullin’ everybody below you on up.”

I never forgot that moment. I remember it like it was yesterday.

6 months ago I stumbled upon TAC- and this “family”, and there it is!

To me, that’s what our TAC family does BEST- they help the ones behind them in the journey. And you/we all really get nothin’ for it except knowing we’ve helped.

If that ain’t the definition of cool- nothin’ is.

I’ve been to put this into words for awhile- and suddenly– out it came.

Thanks for readin’ it– Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Please excuse me if this is a dumb question….

Are these “Acoustic Life” videos available “inside” our TAC program, or do I go thru a separate- (maybe)- “Acoustic Life” website? Looks like there are quite a lot of them, and they look interesting!

Ooops- my computer skills are showing.

Thanks- Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Andy-

I also had trouble with this Daily.

Actually, in the comments below the Daily Lesson itself, I posted a comment that I didn’t care for this lesson and just didn’t “get” it. Must have been tired that day from work or whatever, but upon re-reading my post, I thought I sounded like a bit of a whiner. Felt bad about it………

My own post kind of kicked my own-self in the butt. It set my mind to working thru my personal feelings on it- and suck it up and get it learned. And I did…..

Now actually, I think I can play it pretty well, and I actually like it.

Maybe our small wins are a little bit similar?

Anyway- congrats on your win!

MJ

[the-old-coach]

Very sorry to hear of your loss. There aren’t any words better than the condolences shared here from our TAC family.

But I hope the time comes soon when you’re ready to pick up your guitar and play- even just a little. Thru the tears may come a smile somehow, because in your heart you will know he is still right there alongside you- and smiling.

This TAC community/family is indeed wonderful!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Edith–

I’ll throw in my two cents–

1. Most importantly— Go s – l – o – w at first, to learn it muscle-memory-wise…..

2. Mechanically-speaking, anchor your index finger first. (To me, the “C” is one of those chords where my fingers just kind-of “lay-in-there” perfectly– once the index finger has landed).

3. Pay attention to your pinky. Keep it “up” & out of trouble on this one….

4. Get your transition reps in— lots of them. in 1 or 2 minute spurts.

5. Work on another 2 or 3 chord transitions at the same time. That might some counter-productive, but planting that seed for “the next one” will pay benefits up ahead. Working and focusing too hard on just ONE transition that’s giving you trouble can freeze you up…… (believe me– I know).

6. Have the confidence that it will very soon come easily to you!- no worries, have fun with it!

Carry-on, all good.

Long-winded two cents-

Mark J

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

[the-old-coach]

Thanks- I’ll check it out!

M

[the-old-coach]

Alisa-

Thank you for this video- it is great stuff!

Maybe more importantly- are your own insights and suggestions. Like SO MANY posts in the TAC forums, from so many great folks, it is that kind of information that helps….. instantly. For me, it takes away some of my own “paralysis-by-analysis” problem🤔.

Reading your post made me smile….. At least 10 years ago, I started a 3-ring notebook of favorite songs. Coincidentally- (per your suggestion)- I typed the lyrics to a couple-dozen songs, each one its own Word document- with the properly-located chord- (in red-bold)- directly above each chord change. It worked- and still to this day– works great for me. It’s easy on my eyes- (not “cluttery”), and easy to follow. I still use that old notebook!- now even more that I’m in TAC.

This playing and singing stuff is gonna be tough for me- probably like most folks, I guess. Not so bad in private. So, I’m gonna GO FOR IT- (in private for now), though, because I think it’s a normal progression thing. Partly just for the challenge and fun of it. Partly because I want to be able to play guitar kind-of “automatically”- (while my brain is focusing on lyrics and melody). Playing thru distractions.

I really think THAT SKILL IN ITSELF is a huge part of learning the guitar. Watch real entertainers– they can probably play those songs while eating breakfast and reading the paper! (sorry about the caps- this forum does weird things when you put something in italics).

Anyway, it took me years to even play guitar anywhere anyone could hear me. Don’t know if it was embarrassment somehow, or what. Maybe I felt like I couldn’t keep up with our old arch-enemy– “expectation”- because I couldn’t play it like on TV. Maybe small steps on this playing-singing stuff…. Playing and singing in front of others scares the crap out of me!

I might be able to stumble thru it with several brewskis in me😜– and joining in with others- (certainly not alone😳)- but I suppose that would certainly affect my guitar playing!

Anyway- Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions!

Long-winded me- (makin’ Mike proud)-

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

JumpinJeff–

WOW– that’s cool stuff. My response to Mike’s post- (earlier)- is the very same…. here! (I don’t want to sound more like a dork than usual and repeat it).

One of my favorite songs of all time is Neil Young’s- “Old Man”. It was one of the ones I banged-away on, playing tabs– (shallow-ly like that method is)– for years. I could actually play that pretty well. You have now “peeled back a layer” on that song for me. I will dig in, pay much more attention to the workings of it, and attempt to actually learn it. I love that song- it will be nothing resembling work.

Thanks again- and as always- don’t hesitate to add more when it comes to you.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Awesome- thanks👍 I can see how those kinds of tips really work.

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

[the-old-coach]

Mike– Thanks for this well-thought-out answer. It’s perfect.

There’s a lot in there- I’ve already read it three times, and picked out something new each time. It’s gonna take me a bit to take these pieces of knowledge, one or two at a time, and start putting them in motion.

Wow- my guitar-excitement level just went waaaay up!

Please don’t hesitate to toss some more gold out there- I think there are MANY of us wondering about this same subject.

PS- your answer in the other thread is also right on.

Appreciative- Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Great stuff Mike

[the-old-coach]

🥁🎸👍

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

[the-old-coach]

Dave- Your last sentence is wonderful and powerful👍 M

[the-old-coach]

I don’t know any different than how it is on my laptop.

I type in “Tony Polecastro”, and hit enter. “Tony Polecastro TAC” shows up in a list that pops up. I click on it. The TAC sign-in page shows up. I sign in- (username and password)- and then always check the box that says “remember me”. It then takes me into the TAC site. I have to do all the same steps again the next time- it does not “remember me”. Never has.

Sounds like I may be doing something wrong- but maybe don’t realize it- (does NOT surprise me if that is the case).

If it’s not obvious- my computer skills and knowledge are limited- (and I’m OK with that actually). I just want the “remember me” to work, so that the sign-in to TAC would be faster.

Thanks

[the-old-coach]

Maybe they will get the “Remember me” button to “remember me”. I hit it every time and it still doesn’t do like other sites that have that feature. Hopefully it’s not just me😳

MJ