[Loraine]

@Timbothirroul I totally understand, and I’m sure you and I are not alone. Often, we pause after playing a triplet or the end of a bar, and then we pause instead of keeping time with whatever we’re playing, but once you recognize that you can practice and look forward to the next bar or notes and keep going. Nice win recognizing that!

[Loraine]

Hi @Noncenx and welcome to the TAC community!

The chords can be difficult in the beginning. What I always tell others is make sure you are arching your fingers enough and playing on the tips of your fingers. To get more arch, move your palm down towards the floor. It creates a natural arch in the fretting fingers. Also, pay attention to where your thumb is placed on the back of the neck. Keep it aligned with the chords you’re playing. Also, only worry about the strings you should be playing. For instance, the low E isn’t played at all on the C chord, so it’s okay to let your ring finger overlap the A-String and deaden the low E. This creates more room for the D string being fretted.

It just takes a lot of practice. Don’t get hung up on the lesson. Move forward, while incorporating practice of the chords daily.

[Loraine]

Hey @Ping Welcome to the TAC community! The chords can be difficult in the beginning. A smaller bodied and scale length guitar would ease some of the tension and allow for more reach. What I always tell others is make sure you are arching your fingers enough and playing on the tips of your fingers. To get more arch, move your palm down towards the floor. It creates a natural arch in the fretting fingers. Also, pay attention to where your thumb is placed on the back of the neck. Keep it aligned with the chords you’re playing. Also, only worry about the strings you should be playing. For instance, the low E isn’t played at all on the C chord, so it’s okay to let your ring finger overlap the A-String and deaden the low E. This creates more room for the D string being fretted.

As for remaining on the lesson, my suggestion is to move forward, but practice the chords daily to build up strength and muscle memory.

Have fun with it!

[Loraine]

Campfire, there are a few options for continuing to practice when it is not practical to take your guitar with you. You can see if a local music shop has rentals for the time you’re in Phoenix. Another option is to study some music theory during your trip. That is still considered practicing and you can take credit for the minimum 10 minutes per day. You can still watch the videos. Even though you can’t participate by playing, you would still be doing something related to guitar playing. You might want to find other TAC members that live in the Phoenix metro area and meet up with them for some jamming. Many member’s would be happy to let you use one of their guitars.

Have fun on your trip, and your guitar will be happy when you’re able to pick it up again on your return.

[Loraine]

Another thought is to purchase an inexpensive travel guitar. There are some that are extremely compact and very reasonably priced.

[Loraine]

@stickyfingers You are not alone with regard to finger stretching and reaching frets easily. Tony has spider fingers and has been playing a long time. To most of us, it is not possible to imitate what Tony can do so easily. I have to move my hand to reach frets all the time. I will say that with stretching and with lots of practice it does get better, albeit slowly. Hang in there, and keep up on the stretching and practicing.

[Loraine]

@Maydog Wow, to have picked up the bass and then the 6-string guitar and the ability to play solos and accompanyments in such a short time is amazing. It sounds as if you like to take on challenges, and you do well with them. Very inspirational.

[Loraine]

Sounds like you’re doing great @Stickmaker ! Steady and consistent win the race.

[Loraine]

Hi @OldDawg Welcome to the TAC community! I had absolutely no experience when I started 1 1/2 years ago, and I’m very pleased with how far I’ve come in my guitar journey. I’m a slow and steady learner, but I can now play several songs, have a great practice routine, know some guitar theory, know scales, improved significantly at chord transitions, learned fingerpicking, flatpicking, and strumming, am currently learning some rhythm guitar and classical guitar, can read tablature and play off tablature and chord sheets, and I’m Learning to read music, I have played and sang in virtual open mics (albeit not as often as others), and there is so much more I’ve accomplished. I don’t think I’d be as far along in playing had I just taken lessons or tried to learn through YouTube. The forums help a lot, because there’s a lot of support and positivity.

Glad you’re here, and I hope you enjoy the site. Tony’s a great teacher.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by  Loraine.

[Loraine]

@Duane58 That’s what it’s all about!

[Loraine]

And I received notification of your reply. 😊

[Loraine]

You’re being very kind @Bill_Brown , but thank you for the morale boost 😊

[Loraine]

Thanks @Philb – Hoping to eventually move past just the scale, but for now that’s all I’ve got. I enjoyed the backing track.

[Loraine]

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence @Jonathandavid !

[Loraine]

@MikeGaurnier You just did what I got my hand slapped for Mike. You’re not supposed to refer members to other sites in the forums per the conducts of business code of TAC.