petelanger
Forum Replies Created
-
That’s remarkable! Huge win, isn’t it! I can tell you it didn’t go that well for me first time. It’s the fourth time for me and I’m still challenged, but far less now. I was a absolute beginner and now I’m a novice player, but growing daily.
-
I started several other guitar courses before joining TAC and I got to a point where I was overly challenged and eventually just stopped. This never happens in the TAC program because completing the exercise is nice but not essential to be be successful and progress. Besides those courses, I also have several guitar books on my shelf where I started and kind of got stuck as well.
-
Another way to make those reaches less extreme is to move them towards the body. You can use a capo, but sometimes that’s not even necessary, depending on the drill. And “Yes” it’s totally ok to modify it by using your pinky instead of ring finger.
-
Why would you not be ready? There is no test to progress to week 2. Do your best and move on. Unlike school and most learning programs, TAC is not about being perfect before you can move on to the next. You might want to identify areas where you seem to be lacking the most and address those in the skills courses but I can’t emphasize enough to keep moving.
-
So thankful for this community for good advice like this. I just restrung my favorite guitar with some D’Addarios, not even a top of the line but just the EJ11s and wow! It’s like a completely different instrument. The strings feel just wonderful and the chords sound so much better. I think I’m going to switch to these now, I’ve got several sets of Ernie Balls that I might just give away if the same thing happens when I restring my old Takamine. I’m so happy right now, it feels like a NGD!
-
@robarov am I understanding the question what fingers should you strum with? In my 16 months with TAC I have not seen Tony ever strum with his fingers.
We are either
1. Fingerpicking and he is quite specific with the fingering or pinching technique
2. Strumming with a plectrum
Sometimes he will tell us to do what works for us.
I hope this answers your question. Other teachers may teach how to strum using your fingers but TAC does not. There are so many different ways to use your fingers on a guitar and many people develop their own styles, I think Tony probably avoids this topic on purpose as it would be quite the rabbit hole.
-
I just want to add:
Try to do at least 10 minutes every day that you possibly can! Not playing for 3 months will make it seem like starting over. Missing a day or 2 here and there is no big deal but long breaks will definitely begin to regress your learning.
It’s less important where you pick up in TAC than that you actually play your guitar. The “curriculum” is circular in multiple ways so you can step in any time and never need to catch up as you have to do in most learning programs
-
That’s a pretty song, Phil! I actually recognize it, thanks for posting and good job!
-
It’s awkward when you are starting out, you will get more and more comfortable as you hold and play the guitar in the coming years. It’s never too early to take it to the TV room with you. Even if you just hold it and fondle the strings a bit, but I take it and noodle with it while I’m watching my favorite shows. I’ll go through some of the challenges or parts thereof, play through some chord changes of songs I am working on, etc.
Another thing you might try, this specifically to the problem mentioned: I think you are trying to play only the A and D strings, right? See if you can mute any string you are not wanting to play, such as the E string. If you can just rest a finger on it it will quietly thud and not ring. -
@Ang that’s huge! I still waiting for that reaction from my wife! lol! At least I’m less conscientious about playing around her so it has a chance of happening!
-
I put it out there because it’s missing and people are actually asking for it. I can’t make the chord shapes appear on the TAB sheet, but I can do this.
-
You’re welcome!
-
No stressing necessary, whatever you didn’t get will come back around soon!
-
Yup, unbelievable song writing chops there between Joni, Neil, Cohen and Gordon and some world class voices with vary few who can match them: Mitchell, Cummings and Clayton-Thomas….
-
My bad! When I first saw your question I thought you were Barb, but then I checked out your profile and saw very little, except that your name was Jim. My brain made Bar Band Jim rather than Barb and Jim. 🙂