I have also finished part 1 of fundamentals, but am nowhere close to being able to play the beginner songs proficiently at more than about half speed - as chord progressions are hard! Do I master those songs or do I keep moving on with lessons to mix it up? Thanks
How to Practice Part 2
Originally Posted by: kenmiller8128[p]There's your answer in the statement of your question.I have also finished part 1 of fundamentals, but am nowhere close to being able to play the beginner songs proficiently at more than about half speed
You could "mix it up" with F2 if you want to, but the objective of the courses are acquisition of a reasonable demonstrated proficiency at the skill taught. If you're struggling with simple chord progressions at easy tempo, it's rather pointless proceeding to Fundamentals 2.
[br]Time to pick some songs you like and just play to develop a [u]basic[/u] proficiency.
Watching lessons and ticking the completion progress boxes even if the knowledge is assimilated isn't [u]demonstrated skill of the competency. That's the objective[/u]. Watching lessons without practising until you can perform the skill reasonably yourself won't get you anywhere you want to go in such a hurry. It's the fast road to disappointment.
If you aren't proficient at beginner level songs (rated 1 or 2 guitars) in particular at 100% tempo, that's where your focus should be now until you are. They're quite easy, so are the skills taught in Fundamentals 1. You've been at this less than a month if your join date is indicative? If you've ticked all the completion boxes of F1 in a month, you're racing through it. Hey, I could watch them all in less than a week if I put my mind to it, but I'd be oversaturated, and it would achieve little.
I'd suggest you're only cheating yourself by rushing through without completing the most important part, [u]achieving a reasonable level of demonstrated proficiency at the skill taught[/u] before moving on. The basics are important, like foundations of a building, being competent at arithmetic before tackling algebra or calculus.
If you don't [u]slow down and focus upon developing reasonable competency at the basics[/u], you'll hit a virtual wall when you come to more complex competencies.
Thanks. I appreciate your insights. I think my plan is to stick with the very beginner songs and get better. That makes sense.
It does mate. Not intended to demoralise, but from what you've said, if you don't you'll rush headlong into disappointment where [u]expectation won't coincide with capability[/u], and that'll hit enthusiasm hard when the initial novelty and excitement of everything new about learning guitar wears off.
You're the driver of your learning curve. Be in control.
If I might suggest, find a couple of songs which [u]you[/u] really really like using the chords you've learned so far in progressions, and learn them until you can perform them acceptably at tempo [u]consistently[/u]. Not only is that fun, but you will quickly develop competency with them and the success will refresh enthusiasm. By the time you're ready to move on, a song with a tempo of 120BPM should feel easy and not present a challenge IMV.
Some of the best advice I've seen on 'when can I move on..?'
Good on you, manXcat. I think your posts here should be referenced everytime this common problem/question pops up.
john
-- Chet Atkins
Thank you for the compliment john of MT.
If it can assist others to make progress whilst deriving as much joy as I am from the journey, I am handsomely repaid.