How Long?
Will Parr
the acoustic guitar. I'm learning on my own with the Hal Leonard method
books and think I'm making reasonable progress. There is so much to
learn. My question: How long should I expect it to take before I can
change chords (basic open chords) smoothly and competently while
strumming? I know it probably varies considerably, based on practice
time, etc., so I would welcome any general comments.
Will
Nil
news:A8bzg.7764$Bd....@bignews6.bellsouth.net:
If you had been taking lessons from a human being, you'd be there
already. Trying to teach yourself from a book with no outside help is
about the most inefficient and tedious way to go about it. It's not too
late, though. Go get a tutor, and I bet you'll be changing chords
within a couple of weeks.
Dan
especially F took longer to learn. I knew how to make the chords based on
the diagrams, but my fingers just had trouble doing what I wanted them to
do. I wanted to quit many, many times, my friend. I remember feeling like
I just couldn't do it. How frustrating. For me, it took about 1 to 1 1/2
years to learn open chords and change chords smoothly. I still don't like
the F chord. I play it the barre chord way. I think it's easier. I'm 44
now and still learning. Just keep practicing. You don't see it, but a lot
of connections are being made between your fingers and your brain. Your
fingers and hands will get stronger. Coordination will improve as muscle
memory sets in. Speed, rhythm...everything improves over time. This sounds
very redundant, but just keep practicing. It will happen. You will
improve.
"Will Parr" <Sky...@mailinator.net> wrote in message
news:A8bzg.7764$Bd....@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
Jeff
wrote:
I personally think changing between a lot of different chords is one
of the most underrated difficulties of playing the guitar. I can play
the pentatonic scale in any key up and down the neck at this point,
but some days, especially if I'm not warmed up, my chord changes just
aren't clean or fast. I guess my answer would have to be that it
takes a long time to really be able to smoothly change between a wide
variety of chords with some significant consistency. There is
definitely more dexterity involved with some tough chord changes than
there is with many different scale patterns. I guess the point of my
post is that if you are finding it difficult to always have smooth
chord changes, don't beat yourself up: it is definitely a continuous
pursuit of perfection.
Jailhouse Bones Dupree
That's a fair question, I remember having the same thoughts when I was in
your shoes. The problem with it is that "smoothly and competently" is a
moving target. The better you get the more you want to get to that next
level. It never ends. The trick is to learn to enjoy where you are right
now. Learn to love slow ballads until you can play something faster :)
The true answer is that it's directly related to the amount of quality
practice time you put in. Even when it seems like you're not making any
progress you have to believe that you are, it's just so small that it's
hard to notice from day to day. Then one day you'll pick up your guitar
and start playing and you'll wonder why it seemed so hard before.
Dwight
Jailhouse Bones Dupree wrote:
I agree. It never seems like I'm making much progress, but when I go
back and try songs that I gave up on a few years ago because they were
too difficult, I find that they are surprisingly easy now. Find some
slow songs that you like and practice them. Before you know it you'll be
able to make the chord changes smoothly without even thinking about
them. BTW, the barre F chord still doesn't come that easy for me. Have
fun along the way, don't be in too much of a hurry, you need a good
foundation to build on.
Dwight
Razordance
It took me months of choppy strumming and slow chord changes before I
suddenly seemed to improve overnight. I was playing and I literally
stopped and thought, damn, it didnt' sound anywhere near that good
yesterday. Since then, it's constant progress. My standard response
when people ask me how good I am is, I'm not Eric Clapton, but even he
isn't perfect and I'm sure he's still improving every day. It never
ends, but it's a lot of fun...
Lumpy
> ...I'm not Eric Clapton...
I'm not Tina Turner.
Lumpy
--
Can you do that FM disc jockey voice?
Yes, but it doesn't translate well in ascii.
www.lumpyvoice.net
H20RIDER
Will, I pretty much managed my own instruction. I say manage because
you have to do more than get a Hal Leonard Book...or any other single
book for that matter. Get some other books and switch around,
otherwise you'll bore yourself into quitting. Most books are 80% (at
least) full of unnecessary crap. Get some instructional CDs and DVDs
too. Even with that, you're going to need some intermittent lessons.
There are things that you can't learn from books, CDs, and DVDs...and
some bad things you will learn if you don't get some instruction. Find
a teacher that will meet with you as needed. Good luck....and keep it
up...it is more than worth the struggles.
Derek
Lumpy wrote:
> Razordance wrote:
> > ...I'm not Eric Clapton...
>
> I'm not Tina Turner.
>
>
Most people don't want to put in the work, as it is tedious, but if you
do this, it will work. Pick a song you want to learn, and focus on
just one change at a time. That is, changing from the 1st chord listed
to the 2nd. Do it 25 time w/o making a mistake. If you do it fine 16
times and screw up #17, start over. Then move to the change between
2nd & 3rd chord, etc. The good news about this method, other than it
works, is you will start finding the same changes over and over again
in songs. I still do this with new songs. Good luck
M.Butzin
"Will Parr" <Sky...@mailinator.net> wrote in message
news:A8bzg.7764$Bd....@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
Will,
For me the hardest part was tuning, being deaf on one side I couldn't hear
the string unless I bent my neck way over the body, fortunately the deaf
side is on the left side, and I bought a electronic tuner (Korg CA-30) to
help and now I hardly use it because after a while I could learned how to
"hear" when my guitar was out of tune. After that I just started strumming
and bought a metronome (tick~tock)for timing. I bought the Hal Leonard and
the eMedia method used them both, but what really helped me was playing (or
attempting, to play along with my mp3 player). I set it on loop and tried to
match the sound in my headphone (Slightly off my right ear) trying to match
the strum patterns of the songs by (Jimmy Buffett & James Taylor among
others). Then I bought Acoustic Electric guitars and a small amp so I could
place it at head level even better for me) they also make an little gadget
to plug directly into the guitar for the headphone. The eMedia method shows
you witch strings to strum and placement of fingers for strings on said song
(House of the Rising Sun, Animals version) now everybody don't jump me I
know a lot of players who hate this song, but really you can speed it up and
slow it down, to show which string is first, second & next ((the slider lets
you back it up and start from the top)(disable screen saver)and it still
works and it is picking of the individual strings (which can help you with
your timing), there are many other songs on this CD and you can do the same
with them (slow down, backup & stop). I intend on buying the same method
(eMedia) for my electric, but I will take at least two lessons a month (to
help eliminate the bad habits) to bring me up to speed faster because it is
frustrating.
Everything at this time in our lives (52yrs) is slowing down and you are
wanting to speed up the learning curve, lots of practice and determination
will get you there. warm up and lots of breaks to help with hand soreness.
Some nights I play my guitar till it draws blood and it still won't let me
be. Now I am working on the song "The Dance" by Garth Brooks (two versions
Acoustic and Studio version). I paid $25.00us on eBay for eMedia, store
price was $40.00us plus tax and $49.00 for Hal Leonard (Guitar Center). I
then made me some open chord "flash cards" on index cards to flip through
while doing other things, when I can't have my guitar to practice on, named
the chords then a flow chart on the back of the cards for the song to learn.
But an instructor to start you off should be considered, about $25/35.00us
per hour. Frustration lead me to give up playing in my late twenties for
around $150.00 total depending on where you live should get you a real good
jump start, I'd get some TAB books for the songs you like GC or Sam Ash or
Google the tunes then look for the TAB books online should do it.
MB
Lumpy
> > I'm not Tina Turner.
Derek wrote:
> There is a sure fire, tried and true method for making changes smooth.
> Most people don't want to put in the work, as it is tedious, but if
> you do this, it will work. Pick a song you want to learn, and focus
> on just one change at a time. That is, changing from the 1st chord
> listed to the 2nd. Do it 25 time w/o making a mistake. If you do it
> fine 16 times and screw up #17, start over. Then move to the change
> between 2nd & 3rd chord, etc. The good news about this method, other
> than it works, is you will start finding the same changes over and
> over again in songs. I still do this with new songs. Good luck
I'm still not Tina Turner.
I'm Hulk Hogan.
Lumpy
--
You were the Tidy Bowl Guy?
Yes. I'm cleaning your bathroom bowl.
www.lumpyvoice.org
Charmed Snark
> Lumpy wrote:
>>> I'm not Tina Turner.
>
> Derek wrote:
>> There is a sure fire, tried and true method for making changes smooth.
>> Most people don't want to put in the work, as it is tedious, but if
>> you do this, it will work. Pick a song you want to learn, and focus
>> on just one change at a time. That is, changing from the 1st chord
>> listed to the 2nd. Do it 25 time w/o making a mistake. If you do it
>> fine 16 times and screw up #17, start over. Then move to the change
>> between 2nd & 3rd chord, etc. The good news about this method, other
>> than it works, is you will start finding the same changes over and
>> over again in songs. I still do this with new songs. Good luck
>
> I'm still not Tina Turner.
>
> I'm Hulk Hogan.
>
> Lumpy
I thought you were Todd LaRock
Warren.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
EF in FLA
> I'm still not Tina Turner.
>
Oprah