[the-old-coach]

I really LOVE Loraine’s line— “Don’t give up before the miracle happens”…. How sweet that line is…. and soooooo true.

[the-old-coach]

As you can see, miss……. you have an entire team and rooting section behind you!

If I lived a little closer, I’d be bringing over dinners or something, or over to your place mowing your lawn or doing some other odd chores while you get better.

yop

[the-old-coach]

Stilltrying–

Please take a minute and read “tholdcoach”s post in the “Starting TAC” thread. Maybe it will help.

toc

[the-old-coach]

(To all— before I posted this— I proof-read it and realized it is REALLY long……. Please accept my apologies for that. But I hope it makes some sense and maybe helps someone).

BDU–

Since this thread is entitled “Starting TAC”, I had to throw in my two-cents. This entire post is likely my opinion only, but here goes.

The Daily Challenges are all these various tasks, nowadays kind-of lumped together in “week-long chunks”. Sometimes it may feel like they don’t really show you any consistency or direction as far as “learning guitar” goes. One week you’re doing this; the next week you’re doing that; the next week it’s something completely different from either—- it doesn’t seem to make much sense. It’s easy to get lost in all these miscellaneous, small, tasks; so much that that starts to maybe seem to be a never-ending bunch of “why-the-hell-do-I-need-to-learn-that?“‘s. It’s like a constant swim underwater against the current.

So, this may take you to…….“Tony’s not really showing me anything about playing guitar and playing songs– and that’s what I wanna learn, right?……. isn’t that why I’m here?”

The point of this opinion and post is that…….. sometimes maybe we need to “take a few steps backwards– so that we have a bigger, more-broad, view of the whole thing/ the whole process/ the “reason why”……..the real goal.

(Side opinion here– totally my own– TAC does not do a great job of giving you a big “road map” when you start out. There is no “you have to do this, then do that, then this, then that”. This is why the subject of “what do I do next” is always coming up. And I think it’s because we all are at different levels when we start, and also have different overall goals).

Anyway– I think the TAC program is GREAT. But we have to remember that it is a bottom-up process.

When you build a house, the foundation work is tedious, difficult, slow, and messy. There’s nothin’ fun about working in a muddy ditch, and putting-in concrete forms and rebar. Then, there’s a LOT of hard, slow, repetitive work in framing and erecting the structure itself. There’s nothing pretty here….. yet……. But you have to remember…. every one of those tedious, difficult, boring/slow, steps HAS TO happen….. in that order…… at the start…… for that beautiful new home to be finished. It is- (again)- a “bottom-up” process.

Now, take a second and re-read the third paragraph here where it says- we sometimes “need to take a few steps backward- so that we have a bigger, more-broad view of the whole thing…… the “real goal”.

As you/we all get farther along the trail in our journey(s), certain things will start to appear. The “direction” to go- (there are plenty— writing songs, becoming a skilled-excellent guitar in its own right, becoming a “theory junkie”, singing/performing for others, starting a band of your own, being able to play/sing “by ear”, etc, etc…). You will gravitate to the direction you want to go– as your skills develop.

So, it seems I’ve blabbed on and on quite enough for today. Don’t be put off by these Challenges that seem to mostly be “why the h*ll do I need this?”. Just do them/ remember that they are just “challenges”, not life or death/ and always….. ALWAYS….. try to see the fun in this journey– because it IS about the journey….. not the destination.

From the construction-example above– you are “building a beautiful, new, home”……. you just don’t know it (yet), when you’re shoveling mud in a ditch.

Again– sorry this is sooooo long!

theoldcoach

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Wow……. Loraine……… This is horrible news. I don’t have much to say, here, except that I know that you will come thru this. You are as strong as anyone I know, whether in actual real life, or on any guitar-Forum website. You already know this won’t a piece of cake– but you will be back!

Y-O-P—– theoldcoach (mark)

[the-old-coach]

This is AWESOME. I’ve thought about how to do something just like this- (before & after’s of the same song)- but just don’t have the “electronics-computer-skills” to pull it off. Now, Tony and the TAC team are making this possible. This is cool stuff, indeed! As Tony says- it will be fun seeing our own progress as well as others’- and cheering each other on.

[the-old-coach]

Hey JumpinJeff– Congrats, man. While I’m (temporarily?) no longer in TAC, I still swing by and check things out, saw your post, and couldn’t pass up a chance at congratulating you. I’ve always been thankful to you for being maybe the one who (most) drug me from the weeds and back onto the road. I remember well our funny/strange conversations and perspectives and always took your advice as golden. I’m still playin’ and learnin’, and I guess I can partly blame that on you. Without the guidance and advice of “the Wise Man” over the three years I spent in TAC, I don’t know if I’d still be playing.

yer old friend– theoldcoach- (mark)

• This reply was modified 1 year, 6 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

I’ve been working on figuring out how to use different modes to change the sound and/or mood of a couple of my original songs. They say it’s easy when you finally “see” it. Right now, it’s still a little blurry, but I think I’m getting it.

[the-old-coach]

I really don’t know anything about how serious- (medically speaking)- that your injuries are. I (we) can only focus on how strong you are, and the kind of person you are. Sounds like you really messed things up there, but, you are the same kind of really strong. So that would make it an even match…… but………. you are a really good person, which tilts the scale in your favor. But my guess is that it will take some time, but you already know this.

Lean on me … lean on us… whatever it takes. We are ALL here for you— for the long haul.

Like a loyal, old, dog—

theoldcoach- mark

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

“…….. positive gains with your hand and fingers…….”

AND her spirit!- (always helpful and encouraging– always “pulling us UP”)

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Good news……. good thoughts.

You are stronger than these injuries.

Thanks for the update!

[the-old-coach]

Thanks a million for the update! (and thanks Jeff for the “nudge”).

Just so’s ya know, Loraine, there are likely quite few folks “watchin’ and worryin'” on your behalf in all of this. And we ALL wish you the best!

[the-old-coach]

Loraine–

You were the very first to welcome me into TAC– just under 4 years ago now. I’ve never forgotten that– and never will. All the best to you; you will crush this recovery.

yop

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

I read your response to Langerking. I feel a little better for you now– you are at peace with the process so far- (except for the pain of course). I think you having faith and confidence in things so far is gonna be a big factor in your recovery. By the way, in a lot of ways……. you are a Wonderwoman.

YOP

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  the-old-coach.

[the-old-coach]

Jeff– You have done it yet again. Your way of explaining complicated things simply and clearly- (and in the right order)- is really great. In my limited experience and ability, I agree with those who think that focusing on learning songs when you’re just starting-out, is a BAD plan. In some cases, as you follow-along with the TABS- (Ultimate Guitar, E-Chords, etc)- you’re not really playing the song……… you’re more-like playing along with the song. However, I do think there is value in this- (I do it still– heck– we ALL do it). We get a sense of rhythm— and— a feeling of “wow- this is fun!”, and it IS fun. But…. you aren’t really LEARNING anything doing this. “Playing a song”- (or playing along with a song)- shouldn’t be “the main focus”. I’m out of TAC right now, but likely gonna re-join— simply because of the “foundational, building from the ground up” philosophy TAC offers. It purposefully does not teach us how to play a song, but rather- (albeit much slower)- it teaches us how to play any song.