[Loraine]

@dszmakgmail-com I hear ya! Many of us, in the beginning especially, I have unrealistic expectations of 1. how easy it’s going to be, 2. That I should be playing songs shortly after beginning to learn the guitar, 3. Just about anything else you can think of. And I’m not saying any of this put you down or be mean, I’m just saying that many have those same unrealistic expectations because they don’t know better.

Your few savants when it comes to learning to play an instrument, especially the guitar or most stringed instruments. The guitar is a difficult instrument to play there is so many factors at play within hand eye coordination the two hand coordination that placement of fingers on the stretching the Learning not to mute strings Learning to play difficult chords Learning to transition between chords Learning rhythm Learning tempo timing scales unbelievably vast amount of foundational skills which is what Tony teaches. It’s a lot and I’ve left tons out you know the list goes on and on and on.

I agree with both @Skyman911 and @jumpinjeff – they be to back just a tad and the expectations, try to keep it simple, measurable, attainableäpü‘üü, but most of all maintain having fun. Frustration just totally wiped out fun. So the question is what is frustrating you let’s get rid of it. To sum it up it sounds like you’re frustrated that you’re not further ahead and that things are difficult, and transitioning between chords it’s not smooth or fast.

So being frustrated that you’re not further ahead could be solved by developing a realistic three month goal that might incorporate transitioning between chords smoother and faster.

So the goal might be that you’re going to work on transitioning between 3 chords, name the 3 chords (hint, take the 1st 3 chords of an easy 3 chord song – google easy 3 chord songs). When will you practice? For how long? What will be your strategy, to practice and get better? I agree with Jumpin Jeff. Slow it way doown.

Here’s how I do it. I set a metronome at 4:4 beats, and I set the speed to between 20 and 40 bpm. On beat one, through three, I get my fingers placed, and on beat four, I strum. Then I usually beat a 1-3 to transition to the next chord and on beat 4 I strum. Do this for the first two chords until you can do so smoothly at least 10 times in a row without error. Then increase the speed 10 bpm and repeat the process keep repeating with the same two cords and increasing 10 bpm after being able to play 10 times in a row without error up until you reach the BPM of the song. Then take the 2nd and 3rd chord, and do the process all over again. It actually moves quite quickly, and you’ll be surprised that you’re able to transition between two cords quickly and a short amount of time. This process works great anytime you are working on a new song and you need to transition between chords. Just keep taking two chords that are next to each other in the song..

anyway, sorry for the length, which I’m guilty of too often, but I’m trying to be thorough and answering your questions. So ask away, and there’s always plenty of people to help, and many with different processes. Choose the ones that work the best for you.

[Loraine]

@rdeputy I am unable to download or open your attachment. Is there anyway that you could save it in a different format possibly in a word document or PDF?

[Loraine]

I think we all complain at times, so none of us can really be too hard on ourselves, because that’s just being human. After being here for years it does seem sometimes that you’re seeing the same things over and over. But then I’m often surprised that I’m still challenged by many of the lessons, where I have moments of surprise where I learn something or hear something that I don’t remember doing or hearing before.<div>
</div><div>Their times that I don’t do the daily lessons as religiously as before, but it is mainly because I have less time since the world opened back up after Covid, and I have a very demanding job. I still play every day several times a day, and I’m still on the website every day and I look at all the lessons I spend a lot of time actually playing songs now and practicing for open mics, jam club meet ups, experimenting with songs or even goofing around with my own progressions that will probably never see the light a day in the forums here. But I always return to doing the daily challenges or reviewing Fretboard Wizard .</div><div>
</div><div>I think the relationships that I’ve made throughout the years have kept me going as much as the lessons. I’ve often asked questions of people that came before me or even after me for that matter on things I’ve seen them do in some of their videos or I’ve met several people in person that I first met here the chat. I participate in open mics or jams at their houses or if you even traveled to meet with people to jam with them. I’ve learned from all of them, and I think that I learned the most was doing the open mics with them for years via virtual open mics when Covid was at its height. That’s when I first joined and began my guitar journey, so everything was online. </div><div>
</div><div>But the glue that holds us all together is TAC, and for that I am grateful. And I know that Tony and the crew in Montana Will always be trying to improve the program and add new lessons eventually even if it’s not at the pace some of us would like. We have to remember that the program is to teach foundational skills and it’s to reach a very broad base of players, which can’t be an easy feat.</div>

[Loraine]

Welcome to the community! I think overall you will be really surprised at how quickly things to come back to you or how quickly your muscle memory kicks in because you have had experience in the past it may not feel like it right at this moment, but I think that it might help. But I can see how it would feel like it’s a brand new adventure or that your right back to square one starting out that’s the fun part of it though because you’ll be able to see your growth as you move forward I hope you have a lot of fun don’t be a stranger in the chats!

[Loraine]

Welcome to the TAC community! I’m not really sure of the exact answer to your question. Over the years there have been times where it’s dropped off completely and then they fix it, and they say that they are showing the true numbers but I stopped looking at it a long time ago. I think it is too easy to become distracted by the number. If you’re true to yourself, and you know in your heart that you’ve played more, then you’re in a good place. But if you would like an answer to your question my suggestion is to click the link at the bottom that says contact support and you’ll send message, and Victoria will get back to you very quickly with an answer to that question

[Loraine]

Well done all of it!! And I like the fact that you’re trying different tunings and genres of music. That adds a lot of fun to the mix.

I had learned some open tunings when I had hurt my arm and wrist and gotten Tennis elbow and tendonitis throughout the arm, from trying to stretch too far with my fingers, without me, having the flexibility and without warming up, and that’s extremely important. So that you avoid getting hurt. I wasn’t able to play guitar for 4 to 6 months. I forget what it was because of the issues with the arm. It was too painful, and you should never play through pain like that. So I learned a few songs, and open tuning is easier because I didn’t have to stretch my fingers at all. It was typically the open strings, and then A note here and a note there.

it can be a big hassle to have to retune a guitar constantly. There are tons of alternate tunings out there, but not everyone has the extra guitar, unfortunately. As a suggestion to others, if you can pick up one at auction or a garage sale, resale shop etc, I highly suggest it. Just so that you have a guitar that you can practice on in an alternate tuning.

Anyway keep up the great work!

[Loraine]

HAPPY 1ST TACIVERSARY PETE!!

THE FIRST IS DEFINITELY A BIG ONE!! I LOVE READING TO TACIVERSARY STORIES (anniversary for those newer or who refuse to use the terminology that’s been around longer than me).

I do believe this is probably the most important anniversary that people can have playing guitar, because so many quit before getting to the one year mark period I think that if you hit this particular one, you have a much better chance at continuing on your journey and becoming a good guitar player.

I practice on an old takamini in my office. I bought it at auction and only paid about $60 for it. But it’s privately valued about 700 if I bought it. No, so it’s, you know, not cheap, but not very expensive either. In terms of guitars. You don’t have to have a really expensive guitar too.Learn on or to become a better player.

Keep up the great work. Youre definitely a valuable member of TAC and in the forums. Look forward to your next milestone.

[Loraine]

Love it Bill. You got smmoother and faster as you played. Keep on rocking.

[Loraine]

Welcome to TAC! You’re off to a fantastic start! It sounded great you were fluid and who can’t have fun with Hotel California, right?

[Loraine]

@KnottyJim That’s a great question. They’re actually the same. The pentatonic scale plus one is what you’re referring to ans the blues scale and the plus one I think is a chromatic note that is called a blue note.

[Loraine]

Hey, welcome @Anawnnymoose (Awesome screen name btw). I always suggest going through the 30 days, as a refresher, but also an intro to Tony’s teaching style, but there’s nothing limiting you to spreading it out 30 days. Some go through it quickly as just a fun intro, and others take the suggested 30 days, but can take even longer. This is your program and journey. Jump into the daily challenges and skills courses as you like.

You’ve already realized the fun part of the equation, so you’re well on your way.

[Loraine]

Hi @AnnieI ! Welcome to the TAC community, and I’m glad you introduced yourself. The first intro/post is always the hardest.

Sounds like you’re speeding right along and having lots of fun. Your background is interesting, in that you started with banjo. That’s not the easiest intro to strings, but then again, what really is – lol. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

[Loraine]

Thanks Fletchie-poo. I did learn from the best and the likes of you!

[Loraine]

Hi Albert – thank you. I did the story more for myself, because it was inside me and I needed to get it out and on paper. I had absolutely no expectation it would be chosen. I panicked when the contacted me.

[Loraine]

If only … I think and say things like that about so many things. But, sometimes I can be discouraged when I do that. My immediate thoughts will always go to the negative, and I beat myself up for not having stuck with something. I have to force myself to try to stay in the moment and just enjoy the now. In hindsight, I’m not sure I would have stuck with trying to learn the guitar when I was younger. I was too busy running to where I thought the grass would be greener, but my sorry ass always went with me, so I was doomed. It wasn’t until the last few years that I decided to do things for me and simply be content in the moment (hopefully).