[the-old-coach]

Guy H– congrats on completing that course!👍

Wow- sort-of coincidentally- yesterday, I just started the Foundations course.

I went thru my 15 mins on lesson 1 “musical alphabet” and things went good as I very-mechanically played along from the tabs, actually with pretty-good- (at least for me)- accuracy & movement.

And then– after I was finished— I read the comments! I realized that I had done it all wrong…… After reading and taking in all the comments and advice, I realized I had missed the boat as far as “seeing” all the patterns and connections🤔.

So today, instead of moving on to lesson 2, I’m going to re-take lesson 1 with an emphasis on “seeing” those patterns and connections that I missed.

Maybe the takeaway for me, anyway, is to start being less “robotic/mechanical” in my lesson-playing, read the comments first, and pay more attention to the real meaning part…..

Learning every day- thank you for your post, and would appreciate any hints you can pass along as I begin this course.

Thanks again– MJ

[the-old-coach]

Mike- Thanks- (I think!😜)

Gonna give them a try.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Wow- CeeCubed- Please accept my apologies for “horning in”😧 on your original post! I think I just took up on your feelings because I get them too.

Believe me- I get the “thought I wasn’t going to get it ” feelings.

Anyway- I am glad- (like many others)- that you are rejuvenated from all the great advice and encouragement!

This is why I read this thread- twice! It’s close to home.

Again- (all)- very sorry for getting caught up the moment and jumping all in like that………

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Hello, all.

Maybe everybody learning guitar must have those times when either things just seem too tough, or when you don’t know what to do next. Weirdly– I hope so, I guess.

KInda hate to admit it, but I sometimes feel like- “where’s all this going?”- and that bothers me. It’s vague. I feel like I’ve got my foot on the gas, driving into a dense fog bank, and I can’t see 50 feet……

I remember a post a couple of months back, where the “poster” was actually an athlete and football coach- and I think I remember him say he was kind-of in a “OK- what’s next” mood. I remember his post because he compared all the TAC’s lessons with doing lots and lots of “practice drills” – (or cone drills?- something along that line), and I think he was wondering how all that works directly into playing…. I am sure this isn’t the exact wording- but it’s the jist of it that’s important.

This is a great thread(!)- and I have read every word of it- twice….(yes EVERY word- twice), and wow there is some great advice in here!- (from some great people).

OK- my question- (note- I do OK at the “nuts and bolts” of the lessons- not great , and not “Tony-speed”, but OK). Following this thread, I see in here quite a few times- the phrases “play a song”, and “learn a song”. I’ll come back to that….

My own problem/worry/issue is that I have been workin’ on Freight Train for 2 1/2 weeks now, every day, at least 10 mins per day, and I still have trouble with that thing! I canNOT get thru that- even slow- without several mistakes and pauses. Kind-of discouraging…..

So when some of you folks say “play a song/ learn a song” are you meaning play along with a song- (as in “tabbed songs” on say e-chords?- while watching a You-Tube video of it?)— or are you meaning play a song– as in every note– like as in “Freight Train”?

Even with my limited musical knowledge- I know there is a he**uva big difference between the two.

I know the real joy is in the trip- but the goal is the carrot- (and I know there will always be a “next” stage of learning something like guitar as I learn). More carrots.

Anyway— maybe it’s some sort of combination of the two/ maybe it’s something I don’t know about yet- (bring on Fretboard Wizard!)- but I don’t know if me taking a month- (or more)- to learn a really short/easy tune like Freight Train is a good sign…….. at all……

I wanna (at least) start building that bridge between the cone drills and playing songs.

Help!

Still pushin’ that boulder up the hill (Jeff)–

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

John-

Cement Mixer is a real bugger to me. I’ve worked on that one for 5, 10-minute sessions, and it’s just somehow confusing to me- even when I slow it way down.

I just can not seem to consistently get those pinches- (on two adjacent strings)- to sound even between the two- and then there are the hammer-ons—- and offs.

I can play it, but it’s inconsistent, bad, and there is no speed that slow.

I’m gonna give it maybe 3 more sessions then say the heck with it regardless. If I move on without mastering it, it would only be the second time in over 4 months. However– I hardly ever get to “Tony-speed”………🤨

Anyway– great job on the wins— both of them!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Nice work!

Sounds like I’m right where you are on that one.

I have tried all kinds of different finger combinations on these three chords and moving between them.

For me at least, it seems easier to fret the Em with my ring finger and pinky. Then the move down to Am is easy, using middle, ring, and pinky. From there just a slide up to the Bm, adding the index finger to barre. I’m sometimes a little clumsy going from Em to Bm- but I’m improving on that one.

I hope someone- (maybe you?)- chimes in and tells me that’s an OK way of doing this exercise– or not. Either way- it’s all good.

Anyway– congrats on your nice win!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Michelle–

You are one of the very first folks to welcome me to this Community some four months ago…. and you’re also one of <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>my most inspirational heroes within it.

Not tryin’ to be all mushy, but I admire your spunk to learn and do new things, not take the easy way out, — show us the progress– and lead by example. You make me realize the value is not always only what you accomplish– but what you overcome along the way. Quiet, inner pride– based on <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”> that👍– is where real cool-ness comes from in my book. You’re the definition of leader-stuff.

To me- the real deal isn’t ONLY how good I may get at guitar- it’s the calluses I’ve earned, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the fun I’ve had along the way that matters most.

Part of the reason for this post is that I have yet to post a video- but I’ll someday do it maybe because I can see– by your example– to just “do It!”.

So, from me, thank you for your “100 day Project” and letting us follow along.

Many- me included- are watching and enjoying—- we’ll get there someday.

Thank you for letting me– (us all)– watch and learn…..

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Trav—

You are NOT alone!

As for me– even though I try to work it in with some of my practicing- (repeat– some…), most of the time it sits quietly…… staring at me😠.

There have been a few threads in our Community on the dreaded metronome- include a couple I have been part of.

Maybe you have have the same kind of metro that Jumpin’ Jeff and I have- it’s always “off” a little bit……

There are many folks here who can offer way better advice than myself, but my 2 cents is to NOT let it “get in the way” of your overall learning, progress, or enjoyment of your journey.

I hope others chime in on this– I bet there will be quite a few.

Carry-on without it for now,

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Mike- does this mean I have to start thinking “nice” about my metronome?😃

Thanks for the great advice- as always…..

MJ

[the-old-coach]

M-P-

I’ve been playin’ chord-tab songs on e-chords, cowboylyrics, etc for a few years now, and actually think I got pretty good transitioning between chords- (barre chords included)- at music-speed. Probably have a “playlist” I like to go from, of about 40 songs. I certainly don’t have them memorized by any means, but I can play along off the tabs no problem on the great majority of them.

Maybe that is a logical path in the learning process. I know I need to learn about finding the key to a song and learning the chords- and scales- within that key.

I can’t wait till the next opportunity to enroll in the Fretboard Wizard course! I’ve been able to get some FANTASTIC advice here in our TAC community- and time & again I’ve heard that that course will open my eyes, open doors, and solve many of my mysteries about this Guitar-journey-stuff.

Thanks again…..

[the-old-coach]

I agree– Michelle’s advice is right on!

I’m still struggling with tryin’ to figure out how to take those skills I’m learning in the Daily lessons and the Skills courses- (Barre and Jumpstart courses)- and begin to learn how to apply them to playing actual songs. When you- (and several others in this thread)- say, “play the simplest 2 or 3- chord songs”- (sorry- I’m still a relative beginner)- what do you mean by that?

Do you mean playing chords along with songs- (like tabbed-songs on, say, echords?). Or are you meaning learn to play songs like Freight Train where you are playing all the music– every note- just you and your guitar- that’s it.

There’s a big difference between those two. And if either of those is what you mean– great!

Again- can anyone offer advice on what’s the normal progression from going from skills, scales, and licks– to learning to play music?

A couple months back- (on the recommendation of one of our TAC Community’s most knowledgable)- I ordered Tom Heany’s book- “First- Learn to Practice” and it clearly defines the difference between practicing and playing. (great book by the way).

I am really sorry if this just sounds dumb- but I just wanna know how to start to build that bridge between the two.

Always searching– sorry to be a pain…….

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Roger that!

[the-old-coach]

Hard to explain, but what I try to do is keep my brain- (and eyes, if I’m using the tabs or lookin’ at either hand)- just a hair ahead of what I’m actually playing – regardless if it’s individual notes- (picking)- or chords. Constantly moving…….

That said- I was just wonderin’ if maybe my brain gets “tired” after an hour or so into a practice- (I try to go about 1 hour & 20 minutes each day). Hence- sharper at the start of practice vs. at the end.

To your thoughts on working on the “tough parts” first- I totally agree! I try to put extra time on those. Even if I think I have most of the kinks out, many times when I start all the way from the beginning- (thinking I’ll get thru the “crux” just fine– I still manage to butcher it up.😜

Good thing is- I think I do it just a little better each time- (even though it doesn’t always feel or sound that way……).

Every attempt puts me one closer to correct! (wow- how corny is that……)

Mark J

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Wow!– This helps me also. Thanks!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

👍👍👍