petelanger
Forum Replies Created
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The benchmarks repeat 3 times per year, since there are 4 and you have 1 benchmark week per month. The rest repeats annually. I like the format, it’s the perfect amount of repetition. Don’t forget each themed week really represents a whole bunch of songs and not just the one used as an example. TAC is really about teaching you to be a guitar player, not teaching songs.
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All you can do is try to do it the best you can. I am almost 2 years in this program and I can’t do this hammer without muting the lower string. I am a closer to hitting it if I use my pinky. It’s not that consequential since we are following up with another double stop. I’ll keep trying to do this, I know eventually I’ll get it like so many other moves that seemed impossible early on but now are totally in my wheelhouse!
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Amazing @Braden
You’re ready to tackle Alice’s Restaurant now!
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To maintain consistency I make sure I bring up the daily challenge learn video every day and at least start watching it. While that starts playing I go to my OneNote app on my laptop where I have all the TAB sheets for every challenge and bring up the lesson of the day. I grab one of my guitars and attempt the beginning of the challenge. I go as far as I can get in 10 -15 minutes then I mark complete.
I typically don’t watch the entire learn video since I am keeping my session short and just focused on doing as much as possible during those first 10 minutes. Later on if I am free to continue or if I am coming back later I will relax and take time to watch closely if necessary and maybe rehearse parts of today’s or another day’s lessons. I do more than one daily session on most days and I just do whatever song or exercise that interests me.
I just try to be very intentional at first. Some videos are more than 10 minutes long, if you watch all that you probably haven’t played very much.
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Yes, slowing it down helps so much. Sometimes the pace is very intimidating and we feel we must match Tony’s pace and if we go slower we’re not doing it right! Nothing could be further from the truth! When we go slow, our brains can soak it in better and continue learning after we’ve stopped playing….Yes, your brain is even learning guitar while you are sleeping!
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@Mitch123 you are correct, this question comes up frequently. There is no need to “fall behind” as the program is not linear. It is cyclical in structure. Sometimes they are more challenging than other times. You are not required to achieve a certain level of proficiency before moving on either; just do your best and mark complete. Tony does address this in the challenges, not every week but multiple times throughout the year he speaks to this topic.
Progress before perfection! Always keep moving onto the next challenge. It’s ok if you are only able to do a portion of it, perhaps only one measure. That is fine, still mark it complete all the same. There will be another take on the same skill and you might take it further on the next go! -
Sounds great! Well done, @albert_d
I don’t think you need to worry much about playing in time. If it’s a little off, it still seems to be working!
I’m like you, possibly even more cavalier about timing. Many times I don’t even start the PLAY video, just play through challenges from the TAB. I have the intention but often run out of opportunity. -
Very impressive! Everything is there: presence, timing, rhythm, chord changes, voice with good pitch (even appears to know all the words, I didn’t notice you reading).
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Thanks for posting @LittleGene.and.Casey
I like your setup!
The “Show off Your Routine” forum is very prominently placed on the Forums mainpage, yet 99% of members never post there. You are in the exceptional crowd!
Welcome to TAC, it’s an excellent program that gives you the motivation to play and the WHAT to play. Both are so key to your guitar journey! Have fun!
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I know it’s tempting but try not to compare yourself to other players. You will have a unique guitar journey, unlike anybody else’s! We come in with different pre-learned skills and aptitude. Some are able to devote more time and some people pick things up faster than others.
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@the-old-coach thanks! I am not deserving. I really could be serving her with a lot more joy and compassion. I’ve really got to dig deep to keep doing this. You are right, the guitar is very much a release and distraction from the life of being a caretaker.
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That’s quite a story! Mine is similar in some ways, but no heart attack. In fact I am enjoying fabulous health in my senior years which is a tremendous gift from the Lord! Also wanted to play at age 11 or so but simply didn’t ask my parents for lessons. I didn’t start until I was 63! I am also taking care of my aging mother (93) who has been under my roof for almost 20 years. The last few years have been rough as her health has been deteriorating. I’ve been to the ER with her about a dozen times.
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I suggest trying to not overthink things. Keep it simple. This program works if you just show up and play the challenge to the best of your ability. That’s actually what makes it so great, you do what’s been set before you without having to plan out a “practice schedule”. Most programs will require you to do this, but Tony has it set up so you touch on the 5 essential skills every week.
You may not be doing the daily challenges yet if you are in 30 Days to play still, but give it some time and it will make more sense. Best of luck and enjoy your journey! Oh and don’t worry if you feel you are missing things, it will get covered as you move on, even if you miss a week, there is not need to play catch up because the skills you might have missed will come around again in short order.
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And the video that @Pinski posted contains the explanation for that 1st Formula:
The natural musical alphabet consists of whole steps and half Steps
A w B h C w D w E h F w G (B&C, E&F are critical pairs, only 1/2 step apart)
In those intervals with the ‘w’ you find your “accidentals” or sharps/flats resulting in the 12 notes of the musical alphabet or chromatic scale.
A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F # – G – G#
I put dashes in there so that they remained spaced after posting)
Note that A# is also Bb C# is also Db, etc.What naturally flows from all this is the second Fretboard Formula:
“The octave of each note is 12 frets higher on the same string,
A appears again, after the G# the next fret is an A, one octave higher than the open string.
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Great info, thanks @jorgemac !