[the-old-coach]

Omar-

Congrats on your one-year anniversary! I’m about 7-months behind you in “TAC-time” but way-way behind you in guitar-career-time and knowledge.

Thank you for posting the questions/answers also– good stuff.

To me, posts like yours lay down a “path” for those of us who come after you, and that’s very important and helpful.

I really enjoy the TAC program, but it sometimes has all seemed a little “vague” to me- practice-practice-practice, not really knowing where I’m headed other than improving skills- (which by itself I’m really OK with😃). Skill-improvement has to come with some learning, and that’s where I know I need improvement.

Bright side– Your post gives me a glimpse into what can happen as- (or maybe after?)- I put in the time & effort on the Daily Lessons/ Skills courses, along with some thinking and reflecting.

Again- thanks.

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

First off, I’m not a computer person so I don’t have any idea of the scope of work in re-building the TAC website- but imagine it was a tremendous undertaking.

I think the new version seems easier to get where you want to go, maybe somehow “cleaner”. Don’t ask me to explain that- just seems that way to me.

I do think there are quite a few of the Forum “regulars”- (from when I joined TAC all of 5 months ago)- who just don’t seem to be around in the “new” Forum. The threads from before seemed more personal somehow.

Sure, the conversations kind-of wandered around a bit, but they also maybe had a friendly feel- and- to me anyway, that “personal feel” was great because the help, advice, and encouragement that passed from one to another seemed friendlier, and because of that- maybe more effective.

Not complaining- and I really like the new site- but, again, I kind-of miss “seeing” some of the regulars from when I joined.

MJ

[the-old-coach]

Andy–

Well— as you have already seen— the Community here is absolutely the best!

I have found that- 1. No question is too small- 2. You’ll find that this “family” is a fantastic asset and source of help and information- and 3. They/we genuinely care and want to help each other. It’s great.

Welcome to TAC!- onward and upward!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Thanks Mike for your detailed description and insight.

Sometimes I think our minds work kind-of the same🤨- (don’t know how you’re gonna take that- but it’s meant in a good way!).

This AM, I’m gonna try this “short-chunks-of-slow-video” method for this transition- (with your “index-first” thoughts in mind). I have trouble with a clean/fast transition between these two. But to me there is just something about this particular transition that sounds awesome- (love that Bm chord!)

Loraine & Moonhare- you right on the money!

Thanks- MJ

[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]

Jeff-

Wow. I read through your response three times, and got something new out of it each time. Thank you for it.

I hope you left crumbs as you went thru your guitar journey- for me to follow…….

Man- I’ve got some work ahead’a me. There’s a boulder and a mountain waitin’.

Always- thanks-

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

Mike-

Always good to hear your thoughts. Again……. again……. you have provided an encouraging answer- (and that is way more important than you may realize….).

(Maybe like you?)- I’m kind-of a “grinder”. I’m at a point where I actually do add a little bit of zing to some of the Daily Lessons- maybe bending strings or “double-picking” the licks- (although slower). Stuff like that. I’m not that good at it (yet), but that kinda stuff seems fun to me. I’m hopin’ that this is the start of the “going off on a tangent from the drill” you mention. It isn’t any kind of “musicality” (yet), but I get a kick out of that kinda stuff. To me, it’s playing….

I’ll take your encouragement and keep on grindin’.

I’m gonna have to re-read your second paragraph a couple more times- it seems over my head- but I’ll think it out and get the message.

I miss and love discussions and odd side trips like this. They are what gives our Forum that good-old friendly feeling.

We’re all learning guitar- the “little bit off topic” stuff sometimes makes it easier— warts ‘n all. Last I heard, we’re all humans. To me, it’s about “the connection”.

Analogy— Workers learn just as much about their jobs— sittin’ around AFTER work— BS’ing ABOUT work— as they do when they’re actually AT work.

My dumb opinions……….. and asking for others’…..

Thanks again-

Mark

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

[the-old-coach]

👍

[the-old-coach]

Thanks- Mike.

I think folks’ll start to wander back in time. Could also be the time of year- people are outside more– it’s NICE outside!– there’s stuff to do and people to maybe go see after a long pandemic- and then Winter….. It’s even startin’ to dry out a bit up here on the Washington coast– where Summer starts sometime after July 5th😜………

I’ve spent less time in the Forum myself… just workin’ my way thru a few of the Skills Courses- (Foundations of Fretboard Navigation, and the 5-day Finger Stretching Challenge most lately), grindin’ away at the Daily Lessons, and tryin’ to figure out all these “cone drills” will someday magically fit together to make music.

Great to hear from ya!

Mark J

[the-old-coach]

🤔

[the-old-coach]

Yeah– talk about a “tough crowd”! Tried it…… once….. walked out way humbled…….

[the-old-coach]

Mike- but what if I play harshly?😃

Sorry- I took a smart-aleck pill this morning– couldn’t pass it up!

MJ

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

[the-old-coach]

Guy- Yeah, I guess “wrong” was the wrong word there. I must say that today’s run-thru of that lesson was really cool! Didn’t even open the tab- but watched the video- (this time😜). WOW what a difference…….

As far as the lesson goes– I just kinda “played around with it”- (locating the same note all over the fretboard). Man, that was fun! 30 minutes seemed like 3.

I hope the next step in this will be learning how all this works and fits in with where I’m at in my own journey- and how I can actually use this knowledge.

Cool stuff, though!- and as things become more “clear”, I’ll really realize just how much of a breakthrough/ lightbulb moment it is.

Keep the advice coming if you have the time and will. Thanks again.

Pushin’ that boulder- MJ

[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…..