[Kristin1]

Thank you for the update. The slow speed actually helped me to install a rock solid warming up routine. The waiting time was not wasted but turned into something very valuable to me. I hope I will be able to keep up the routine, when the anchor moment (waiting time) will be missing in the future. And a second thought: I definitly don´t want to start a political discussion. But I want to mention that propably most TAC menbers, me included, live in fortunate circumstances. When I watch the news and see all the crazy stuff happening in other parts of the world, most of my concerns and “problems”, like a slow website, are put into perspective and become very trivial.

[Kristin1]

What a performance! Is there a chance of a second serving of porridge?

[Kristin1]

Or we stick with Tony ;-). “<yt-formatted-string force-default-style=”” title=”The BEST Way to Change Acoustic Guitar Strings” style=””>The BEST Way to Change Acoustic Guitar Strings” by a very young Tony Polecastro on youtube. I really like that video. And when to change strings? Just do it when you look at your strings and think A) that they show wear AND B) have not been changed a long time (few month to a year) AND C) you have time to play the guitar a few minutes before and a few minutes after changing the strings. Almost allways you will hear a difference and you might feel a difference (fingering). After that estimate price, time played and calendary time passed since the string change before. Than you can decide when you want to change the strings the next time. Earlier, later or at almost the same interval.</yt-formatted-string>

[Kristin1]

In Germany there are combined thermometer/hygrometer for refrigerators for sale. I placed one of these cheap but surprinsingly good working instruments in almost every room. When humidity changes I put all guitars exept my favourite into their hardshell cases and the cases in the wardrobe. My favourite guitar changes to the room with a better fitting humidity once in a while. The humidity differs in the rooms because of the sunlight oder shadier side side of the room and the possibility to keep the rooms door closed (almost) all the time. If it gets to dry I use a venta humidifier, put all guitars from the wardrobe back on the wallhangers in my homeoffice/guitar romm and my guitars are happy. The venta humidifier is easy to program and very low maintenance. Just change the water once a month and add a liquid. And fill it up in between if needed

[Kristin1]

What a big win! Congratulations! And playing outside can be quite nice… Greetings from Germany !

[Kristin1]

Im my opinion the “complete” button is misleading. It should be a “I did my best for 10 minutes (or more)” button.

So do the challenges best you can, click on the button after 10 minutes and be proud of your small daily achievements. Celebrate them. They add up!

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Kristin1.

[Kristin1]

Over the years I collected app. 30 different pics. Once in a while I play the same chord progression / song once with each pick as good as I can. It´s a really good training to adapt my playing. And very motivating to see all those picks moving from the left side of my desk to the right side after I used them.

Next day I return to my standard pick – and what a surprise – I can play much more fluently.

[Kristin1]

My advice is to optimize the position of your left THUMB. It´s so important. You need the presure at the right spot. Also watch Tonys indexfinger and try to position your indexfinger simular to his. Let the strings ring one after the other and optimize the ankle of the indexfinger and how far it reaches over the second string and the position of the thumb until all strings ring clearly one after the other.

Last not least: learn a song with a lot of F chords. I chose “Let the pony run”. Strum through he chords / the song every day once. A simple downstroke on the one beat Slow down for the Mini Fs. Take all the time you need to form the Mini Fs. Strum the strings one after the other in slow motion to check if every string is ringing clearly. If a string doesn´t, don´t worry. Try one or two adjustments not more! Tehn continue through the song.If the mini F strings ring clearly strum all the strings fluently once. Then continue through the song to give the next appearing Mini F a try. Good Luck!

[Kristin1]

What a great performance! You have a fantastic voice for this song and made really good use of it and played a Martin – just as Jimmie Rodgers did. I could hear several signiture elements of Jimmie Rodgers in your playing. And your timing was so good. I guess I will be listening to some more Jimmie Rodgers songs during the weekend and your performance as well. Thank you for sharing!

[Kristin1]

Well the C-Chord can be tough when you are starting to play guitar, but I´m sure you will get it! Just practice every day a few minutes:

Do the C-Chord placing the ringfinger first (5 times).

Do the C-Chord placing the indexfinger first (5 times).

Do the C-Chord placing the middlefinger first (5 times).

Do the C-Chord placing the ringfinger first (5 times)

…

I guess in a few month the C-Chord will be one of your favourite chords.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  Kristin1.

[Kristin1]

It is a rotating system. Just start at the beginning of a week. And if you don´t want to wait until next monday: If I were you I would do the first challenges of this week in the right order and skip the last days. If you start on the “right weekday”: just try a little chunk. Otherwise it might be overwhelming. AND MARK THE CHALLENGE AS COMPLETED AFTER 10 MINUTES OF FOCUSED PRACTICE.

[Kristin1]

Hello @petelanger,I would only buy the first part/book (Paperback or kindle reader). In case you don´t know much theory allready, it is definitly enough for the beginning. A lot of topics are covered. The context needs time to sink in. Several Chapters might need to be read several times in order to understand everything completely and to transfer from shorttime memory to longtime memory. And you need time to lookout for the concepts and try those concepts in “reel musican life”.

If you decide sometime next year to continue further it might be a good idea NOT to skip the second part/book. I guess that the knowledge will be needed to fully understand the third part/book.

[Kristin1]

The books are great – and the context is easy to understand. Even including a little test at the end of each chapter. And instructions to play some chords or other bits in order to better understand what is taught in the chapters.

[Kristin1]

Hello SCGobbler, you are bilding “looking>muscle movement connections” in your neutral network while your son ist building “hearin>muscle movement connections”. I´m very sure that he will be the more advanced player in the future when it comes to jams and memorizing more than maybe 10 to maximum 20 songs. I played the daily challenges several years, app. 350 every year looking at the TAB. Until I didn´t get any better. Then I found out, that TAC is great, BUT that I had to get more TAB/looking independent while doing the daily challenges. So I do them now without looking at the TAB. Even if it means doing just a part. If I were yout I would try to get TAB-independend. And I wish that my inperson teacher 15 years ago would have taught me exactly the way your son is taught.

• This reply was modified 5 months ago by  Kristin1. Reason: printing mistake

[Kristin1]

I totally agree with @albert_d. Focus regarding the quarterly goals is easlily lost. Expecially since there are no more quarterly progress partys. I always enjoyed them a lot because they made me think much more intensly and longer about my (flight) journey and the next goal compared to the new goal setting after the Daily Challenges at the end of each quarter. It helped me to stay on track for a quarter much more.