Here are two more interesting emails and comments I have got lately.

I hope you find the emails and my thoughts useful…

Email #1

“My name is Neil and I started playing guitar 40+ years ago.

Actually played professionally in a C&W band for a few years so I thought I was pretty good. Then I moved to Austin, TX and was immediately disheartened to come across SO many really talented musicians that I believed put me to shame…so I sold my electric guitar/amp. I held on to one acoustic (that I picked up every few years for about 10 minutes) so I basically went 25 years NOT playing…

Then in 2015 my boss wanted to form a band to play at our company Christmas party–I volunteered of course because I thought I knew how to play (I got the guitar out a week before the party to practice–OMG I was terrible!)

Practiced like a banshee that week and found just enough implicit memory to do a 12-bar lead riff (guess we were OK as they asked us if we would play the next year).

So I’ve been trying to improve on a regular basis since 2016. My main goals are to improve finger picking and learn to improvise. Here’s to DTAA on my quest!”

     -Neil

There’s a lot to unpack in what Neil said there.

One thing is just how dangerous it can be to compare yourself to others.

In Neil’s case, it killed off his desire to practise.

But the good thing is, he got back to it.

I love how he had a goal and went hell for leather with it.

In just one week, Neil got back to playing live and to what must have been a pretty good standard.

…All because he had a goal with a deadline.

Goals and deadlines are both very powerful.

Well done to Neil!

Email #2

“I forgot to congratulate you on your awesome “six string lifer’s handbook!” Very well done! As usual, you have really done a great job! This is really nice to grab and go to the lessons! Great job, once again!

I truly appreciate your new book and picks! Thanks again, for all you do for us up and coming guitarists! 

You always make things so interesting and bring them back to the guitar and the lessons! Your chats, guitar lessons and your books are so packed with knowledge! I truly do, and I know I have said this often, do appreciate your time, efforts, and skills! Thanks again!

Oh, I took your advice and barred the Em and Am on the 4th fret. Then, the third, then the second! I still am having trouble with the first fret. But I press on! I will get it!”

-Matt

I always love Matt’s enthusiasm.

He is a DTAA member who regularly checks in and writes me a quick email.

That is nice for me and good for him too.

I always appreciate the emails I get from everyone (even if I don’t get a chance to reply to them all – there’s only so much time in the day).

A cool perk of joining the DTAA, though, is that you get fast support and help from me as and when needed.

…Like when Matt was struggling with barre chords, he emailed me, and I gave him some very simple advice to help.

Writing is powerful.

For instance, in psychology, there’s a lot of evidence that jotting down a few things you are grateful for is proven to make you happier and healthier.

Plus, writing down what you want to specifically achieve is proven to help you stay motivated.

Writing to me, yourself, or in a group such as the Fingerstyle 101 Facebook group is a very good habit to get into.

On that note, the last big thing I wrote was The Six String Lifer’s Handbook.

For a short while you can get it on the link below along with a series of really cool bonuses.

Find out more about the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy

Keep on writing, not just music, but your goals.

Dan Thorpe

P.S. This is for non-US readers…

I got an email the other day from Jon about the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy offer and the new Six String Lifer’s Handbook.

Jon asked:

“Went to sign up but slightly confused that for the U.K. I need to pay $40 but if I was in the US only $20. I thought you were U.K. based so slightly confused that it’s twice the price as I am in the U.K.”

Yes, I am from the UK, but my book publisher is in New York.

I chose them because around 80% of my students are from the US.

…And shipping within the US is, of course, far less expensive than shipping from the UK to the US.

The problem is shipping from the US around the world is very pricey.

…Yet, there is another option – using a print-on-demand service.

They have printing locations around the world, so this could be a solution.

So, if you’re not in the US and you would like to try out the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy and get The Six String Lifer’s Handbook printed and sent to you for around $20, hit reply and let me know.

If there is enough demand, I’ll set this up in the next few days before enrolment to the Academy closes.

P.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.

The post Two Reader Thoughts (Formerly Disheartened and a Proven Motivator) appeared first on Guitar Domination.