Robert Buck Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 My second breakthrough since starting BTG came in working in the grid mastery course when I came up against what Jonathan calls 'the big stretch'. In the 20 year period when I played regularly, I was able to get by without stretching my fingers much. When I encountered the big stretch in scale pattern 1, it looked a bit daunting. After working on patterns 1 and 2 for a few weeks and being careful to keep my left hand positioned correctly, I was surprised that with some effort I was able to do the stretch. This is after not playing for decades! It's still not 100% comfortable, but I think in a few more months it will be better. So to anyone having an issue with that, try not to be discouraged. If these 74 year old fingers can manage this, then most people should be able to as well. BTW, my first breakthrough was getting the guitar out of it's case after 30 plus years of neglect. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted April 6, 2022 Share Posted April 6, 2022 Awesome! Keep up the great work. Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vance gillespie Kuntry Boy Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 On 4/6/2022 at 12:18 PM, Robert Buck said: My second breakthrough since starting BTG came in working in the grid mastery course when I came up against what Jonathan calls 'the big stretch'. In the 20 year period when I played regularly, I was able to get by without stretching my fingers much. When I encountered the big stretch in scale pattern 1, it looked a bit daunting. After working on patterns 1 and 2 for a few weeks and being careful to keep my left hand positioned correctly, I was surprised that with some effort I was able to do the stretch. This is after not playing for decades! It's still not 100% comfortable, but I think in a few more months it will be better. So to anyone having an issue with that, try not to be discouraged. If these 74 year old fingers can manage this, then most people should be able to as well. BTW, my first breakthrough was getting the guitar out of it's case after 30 plus years of neglect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vance gillespie Kuntry Boy Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 I'm getting better at the stretch also I kinda cheated I bought a finger stretcher and a finger stringther for each indoor finger and thumb off of Amazon and they have really helped me out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 That is not cheating that is a very good idea! As long as you do not hurt yourself doing them! Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shavey Posted November 29, 2022 Share Posted November 29, 2022 I've had so many breakthrough moments in the past couple weeks that I don't know where to start... 1. The guitar and music in general is NOT something to fear...... 2. These lessons fit my personality and learning style....ie make it simple and straightforward.. answering the what, why when, how, etc.... in bite sized pieces 3. Learning and practicing is FUN when #2 is a fit..... 4. I can at least stretch enough for the BIG Stretches... More practice, but a feeling of accomplishment none-the-less. That's even for now... I'm enjoying the lessons and playing more than just a pocket full of chords..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Fantastic keep going! Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 Good grief. Long time BTG subscriber. Why is a the Big stretch such a deal maker? It isnt imo. Ive relearned all the major modal patterns. After first learning all Jonathans patterns. It took a while. But its the better method, imho. The patterns are universally recognized, efficient and more easily integrated into a basic framework for understanding, imo. There is no reason other than being unfamiliar with technique that someone would have a preference to do a big stretch rather than the pattern below. Compare for example those shown with the 5 fret Big stretch patterns and you'll see for yourself. Look at pattern 4 and compare it with the 1st Major pattern you learn in BTG. Its the same notes yet its more concise in terms of reach. Youre welcome. It took me a year to finally learn why Jonathan had taken such a turn from the standardized way of learning patterns. And a short time to incorporate them into my playing. The thing is all the major modes and Pentatonic major and minor patterns I now play them are numbered similarly and in the same part of the fretboard with the same framework. And CAGED works better from this standpoint too. Because pattern 4 seen below is the E shape and the 4 letter in CAGED. Now how easy is that? If you dont know it yet, believe me, its intuitive AND efficient. No one is going to tell it like I did because it would undermine the BTG system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted December 16, 2022 Share Posted December 16, 2022 On 4/6/2022 at 5:55 PM, Fred Soukup said: Awesome! Keep up the great work. Fred 🎸 Preaching to the choir, Fred! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 @Ok Ill bitehaven't heard from you in a while. Thought that maybe you left and started teaching your methods to people on your own. Yes, the CAGED system does work easier for some people. You have to remember that people came to BTG because they tried and failed with the CAGED system and other teachings that are out there. I am glad that you have improved with your playing ability. By the way when I encourage people to keep up with the work, they are doing it is not "preaching to the choir". It is an honest opinion to help encourage them to continue improve. Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 (edited) On 12/19/2022 at 7:20 PM, Fred Soukup said: @Ok Ill bitehaven't heard from you in a while. Thought that maybe you left and started teaching your methods to people on your own. Yes, the CAGED system does work easier for some people. You have to remember that people came to BTG because they tried and failed with the CAGED system and other teachings that are out there. I am glad that you have improved with your playing ability. By the way when I encourage people to keep up with the work, they are doing it is not "preaching to the choir". It is an honest opinion to help encourage them to continue improve. Fred 🎸 Ok. I don't accept that at all about most people failing first with CAGED since I'm an example of learning BTG before trying CAGED method or really anything significant. I asked many over the course of about a year on FB before this forum was available about a different method (the one I mentioned) and the few who commented mentioned its just different. I would say many didn't/don't know the patterns in any method or they got snookered into thinking there was a magical way of playing and memorizing that's assumed to be easier. Its hard to go anywhere and not hear BTG saturate the internet. Its certainly not my method. Its a method that has been taught for many many many years prior to Jonathans awakening to the idea that there may be an easier way for students to learn material because, I assume, many of the folks he taught couldn't or wouldn't retain the classical standards or dropped out of his classes when things became "hard". Take CAGED out of the equation. If we're learning how to move efficiently across the fret board, the big stretches (major modes), are useful only in as much as they are a distinct and repeatable 3 patterns. That is the break through. They're easier to digest. However these patterns are actually more difficult to play. Simply because with BTG you have to stretch 5 frets. Granted it forces the pinky into action. But the downside is its a disincentive to keep playing in a manner which is difficult. Ive heard it again and again, "It hurts when I stretch", or "I cant reach that far". I read it all over these pages. I have big hands and was new to guitar so I just assumed learning is not easy. I'm very glad to have found a way to play major modes in patterns other than 3 notes per string. I would imagine students who start out tabla rasa when introduced to both methods, before starting their course of study, would overwhelmingly chose to go with NOT BTG. Both are memorization, of course, yet one will yield faster results by keeping you in a 4 fret area, a concept which from the start was the main reason for its wisdom and popularity. Edited January 14 by Ok Ill bite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 @Ok Ill biteOnce again since it seems that you have mastered all of this why aren't you teaching it on your own platform? Or why not see if BTG can incorporate it into the course programming here? Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 4 minutes ago, Fred Soukup said: @Ok Ill biteOnce again since it seems that you have mastered all of this why aren't you teaching it on your own platform? Or why not see if BTG can incorporate it into the course programming here? Fred 🎸 I sense a bit of condescension. Maybe not. I worked a life time to smell petunias. I offer something more useful. And its free! There's a reason Jonathan will never mention the standardized method of patterns for major modes. Aside from how he learned guitar, Fred. Remember, he spent 20 yrs teaching a particular method? I assure you it wasn't BTG. His lightbulb moment kept me in the dark for a year until I recognized guitar has been taught a particular way forever for a few good reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Soukup Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 @Ok Ill biteCondescending to anyone is not something I do. For one thing I know that I am not anywhere near the level of guitar player I would like to be, that being said, there are free lessons available on the BTG site. I have tried many different methods for guitar. So far, this one is the best that I have found. I was self-taught since the age of 12 or 13, played in a band. Stopped playing while in the military Then started playing again about 6 years ago. Had a stroke and had to relearn how to play as my left hand/arm didn't work so well. Regained enough to hold down the strings to play chords. tried different systems got nowhere fast. Started BTG and between them and continued PT I now have about 80 to 85% usage back. Maybe closer to 90%. So, for me BTG has been very useful. So, from almost recording an album 40+ years ago to relearning the guitar and starting to get that ability back, I guess you could say that I am a big fan of BTG. Sorry about "bragging" on myself but thought you might like to know where I am coming from. Fred 🎸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 As BTG was my first, I had tunnel vision trying to learn the concept. It was only when Id learned all I could that I branched out and found the other approach. An electic approach is the best for me seeing as how Im already 69 and feel somewhat handicapped by age and my longevity being short range. I taught myself too with Mel Bay books and an acoustic. Then graduated to a boy band where my Slingerland guitar didnt withstand the playing so I sang with other that had equipment. It was hit or miss until I was 24 when my left hand went between a chain and sprocket and I lost the first joint of my index finger. I didnt pick up a guitar until Nov '20, 43 yrs late. Ive put a surprising amount of $'s into my education. Its my prime hobby. I belong to True Fire, Lick Library, Tim Peirce, Guitar Gate, Brett Papa, Ultimate Guitar, Active Melody, Ben Higgins, and finally Guitar Super System. Ive dropped Marty Swartz and Guitar "whatever it is". I wont stand still and am improving. I have Gibsons- an R7, R9 and am expecting an Axcess with carved neck and Floyd Rose tremelo/bridge. I also have a Helix Floor and Line 6 212. Im simply saying keep going, learning and never accept the place you're at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ok Ill bite Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Here ya go Fred. I stumbled on to this from Rick Beato. He recalls his first and 2nd lessons on guitar where he learned the major modes and then pentatonics. You'll see if you are interested, the "abbreviated" form of the major modes and how they stack up on the pentatonic forms. Its perfect but as I remember it, this approach proved too much for me at the beginning. If this is disallowed oh well. I plead the 5th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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