[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, 10 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, 10 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]

Mike, Jeff, Owen, Moochas–

I can’t offer enough thanks for these in-depth, caring, thought-out responses. This stuff- helping others when they need it- is the HEART and soul of TAC.

You have helped me hit the reset button in my head- especially along the lines of “keeping my eyes on the prize” as far as where I want to “end up”- (although I know there is always “more”, and I won’t quit even when I finally do “end up” there). I will certainly continue all the Dailies like always- but try to pick them apart a little more, and take out and emphasize any parts and pieces I really like.

Taking a few steps back, to get a bigger perspective, that’s probably what Tony wants us ALL to do- because we’re all/each at a different point in the journey, and have different like, dislikes, skills, and eventual goals. You guys have just unlocked the door for me. I know what I want to do- and now you have pointed the way, and told me what to watch out for– and what to just “let go”.

Hey– I’m Scandinavian and it sometimes takes me a bit longer to “catch on”😉

Between you (all), you have written the basis for a book that may be titled something like “Ups & Downs of Learning to Play Guitar– the First Year”

Here are a few of my favorite phrase/nuggets you all have thrown out there- (just in this thread)–

“Find a way to enjoy the lesson- or don’t do the lesson”

“Lose yourself in the sound”

“Enjoy my sound…. don’t just practice/learn”

“My future does not create my present- but my present creates my future”

“Revel in the bliss of the new sound a 1000 or so times”

Love this stuff! Thanks again for kickin’ this wayward rock back toward the pile.

Any more thoughts?- throw ’em out there.

In appreciation-

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Wow– Thank you all for those great responses!

So I re-read my original post, and I’m sorry if it sounded kind-of “all-over-the-place”, without a defined, clear, purpose– just sort-of whining. That’s about 180 from what I intended in my head.

I’ll try to go thru each reply and cherry-pick– and respond to– your phrases (they are great, by the way!)- and ideas, as I think them thru- and as time allows.

I’d love to be able to re-write my original post- clarifying things better.

I’m sort-of a “mechanical” player. I get thru 98% of the Dailies without too much problem overall- some do take a couple more, 10 minute sessions though.

I’m sorry if it sounded otherwise, but I really like Barre chords- they are cool and versatile- and I find them relatively easy!

I realize “ya don’t know what ya don’t know”, and one thing I DON’T know is why I need to learn those chords— or find these notes—- 5-7-9-12 frets up the neck. (Another- sort of similar example- the “Fundamentals of Fretboard Navigation” course in the Skills Courses. I’ve completed it just fine and found it interesting for sure. But the question to me is– WHY do I need to find that C note at 8 or 10 different spots up the fretboard. Again- it wasn’t a matter of DOING it- (it’s cool stuff!- and I was pretty good at finding those notes easily using the patterns)- but more so, it’s a matter of “why”?

I’m not generally a “take the easy way out” person- more like the opposite of that. But I feel like I’m collecting a huge toolbox full of tools- quite a few of them I’ll never use- (I actually have that).

Is it better to have a few less tools– but know how to use the ones I do have- extremely well?

I’m not really interested in comparing myself to any other players- (but I do LOVE—- really love—- to read their perspectives of “all-things-guitar”).

Boiling it all down– I think that all I really want to end up with is the ability to be able to pick up a guitar and be able to competently “play along” quickly and easily, by ear. Maybe be able to transfer the music I hear in my head instantly to my guitar- that’d be a cool skill too. Maybe dabble in writing my own songs?

MJ

[the-old-coach]

Punder-

I had lightweight rotator-cuff issues myself about 25 years ago, and there is one thing I remember. The pain. “Inside”-feeling. Always there- and seemed WAY worse at night trying to sleep.

Really REALLY glad you’re gettin’ thru it– and are still able to play.

No small win, my friend……BIG win.

Mark J

[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

[the-old-coach]

Thanks Mike-

For me, I gave it another 10-minute shot yesterday. Ugh. If anything, it was worse.

The rest of the lesson seems to go fine.

Mooovin’ on.

Have a good weekend- MJ