Here are two more interesting emails I have got lately. I hope you find the emails and my thoughts useful…
Email #1…
“Hi Dan,
I am loving your DTAA.
It is jammed packed with useful core information that is already sending me toward my goal.
I am a 64-year-old busy practicing paediatrician in North Carolina.
I have been dabbling with guitar since I was 32, but I have never had the luxury of the time commitment necessary to become the player I want to be.
Now that I am an empty nester (my youngest son is now in college) I have some more time to make that necessary commitment.
Your words are useful and encouraging. I always had the will, but now I have some time.
Thank you and I will keep you posted as to my progress.”
Don
Pleased to hear it.
It must be a strange feeling when the “nest” gets empty.
I am hearing from more and more new students telling me about this and how the guitar helps to fill the gap.
While I don’t know this feeling, I can only imagine what it must be like when children grow up and leave.
Archie is only six, but one day, this will happen to me too.
The great thing is though, the guitar can be an amazing friend when you need it most.
It can bring comfort, joy, happiness, laughter (if you don’t take practice too seriously), companionship, and it can help bring you closer to loved ones as well in a variety of ways.
It is the friend that will always be there for you.
This is a bit philosophical, I know, but it is nice to remember this, especially during the times the guitar feels like a tough challenge!
Anyway, onto the next one…
Onto Email #2
In regard to using a click/metronome, this is what Nancy said…
“Ugh, I dread doing these exercises … only because I never do them, which makes me not very good at it.
So, my new monthly goal…. practice using a metronome at least five minutes per day!
I will test myself at the end of the month to see if I improve. My goal is to not dread the click!”
Nancy
I totally 100% get this.
I also know many of you feel the same way.
If you look in medical journals, you will see it under the name “click anxiety”.
Or maybe “metronomeitits”.
I’ve said it before, many people are scarred from using a click/metronome.
Most teachers start students off with a click using a big scale exercise.
This is terrible!
…And to make matters worse, the teachers who love using clicks often get their students using one within a few weeks of starting out on guitar.
Imagine being on lesson 3 and being told to play a scale with a click!
I mean, at this stage, your fingers would be struggling to play without any buzzing, let alone keep in time with the click.
Each time a note is out of time, it is like a kick in the teeth from the gods of guitar, and then the frustration builds up.
After a few minutes of this, it is no wonder a student throws their hands up in despair and vows never to use a click again.
So, what is the solution?
Start off super simply in a very slow, controlled, and methodical way.
Last week I released a new two-minute challenge that will help you get started using a click.
The idea is you do this ultra-short challenge each day until you totally get it.
…And the good news is, for those who want extra help and support using one, there is a link from that lesson to a more in-depth one.
It is all available inside the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy.
Remember, everyone can play with a click, it just requires a specific method for most, especially when starting out.
You can get these lessons and find out more about the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy here:
The Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy
Have a fab day!
Dan Thorpe
Guitar Domination
P.S. This post was originally taken from Dan Thorpe’s private email list. To get blog posts like this sent to you which are full of great tips to make fingerpicking, strumming, and learning guitar more enjoyable (especially if you are over 40) join Dan’s list. It’s 100% free, HERE.
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