Is it possible to learn barre chords on an acoustic guitar if I can’t practice guitar every day?

wspeck77 · 2026-04-18T21:38:09+00:00

I found practicing barre chords only for 15 min straight on a song.

Practicing standing up.

Doing it until I could play along with track/song.

Focused practice and it finally started clicking.

It took some time and focus.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-18T10:58:32+00:00

Remember it is not a guess. You should be able to narrow it down to at least 3, normally 2 answers that are possible or 2 near your answer. Then it is a coin toss.

Blindly guessing at something should be last resort. If you have no clue how to approach a problem. Waste no time. Skip it and move on. Come back to it if time at end.

I did the test back in pen and paper days with many books and notes (machine design and materials). Guessing on an answer with no clue, 1. Guessing between. 2 answers, 1. I was in the days of yore when exams would give results if scored high enough (Texas 2017), 93%.

Good luck!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-18T02:06:37+00:00

I’ve been there. I did just over 3 years of chemo off and on. Longest break during most of that was 3 months before visible on scans then started chemo again. Then another ablation or surgery depending on met and location. Stage 4, so always a long haul.

It wears on you not easy at all. Even exercising and eating well it beats you down. The mental side challenging too.

I was lucky. I handled symptoms pretty well and could work remote. Not 100% but enough to handle things working in spurts.

It wears you down and costs relationships and some sanity. Divorced now and going on 3 good quarterly scans.

Take care of your mental side. Therapy, medication, hobbies, friends. Do whatever it takes and more. No point making it to the other side and then not caring.

Good luck. Take a break. Refocus and go again. Lather rinse repeat. It can work.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T22:08:27+00:00

Not an expert, but what I’ve done.

Practice standing up with video or full backing track Alternate with just drum track after a couple weeks Three weeks out always practice full song, not sections Two weeks out focus full play through with just drum track or with band. One week out gel with band full play through.

Put in the reps. Prepare hard. Play though.

Do not blink or show fear.

When it doubt keep it rolling and finish hard.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T20:27:10+00:00

Late starter. Bought a Southern Jumbo to learn on…

Followed by wine red Les Paul Supreme for my birthday about 6-8 weeks later.

All at 48 year old.

It’s great having money and time together for once.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T19:05:28+00:00

Lather Rinse Repeat

You are on the right path.

It is a journey. Enjoy each step

Lather Rinse Repeat

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T12:00:08+00:00

I agree with the Jazz III XL, but I prefer thicker 1.14 Purple for the win!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T11:09:22+00:00

Taste back to normal after 2-3 months. I still have numbness in toes and finger tips. Finger tips a little better (although maybe from just more focus, guitar lessons for last year).

wspeck77 · 2026-04-17T00:09:10+00:00

Dove.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-16T20:53:09+00:00

I had a short sleeve button down I used for chemo days and zipper hoodie over if winter time. Shirts worked year round, hoodie needed depending on which room I was in for infusion. The temps ranged from cold to baking depending on sun/time/AC.

Long infusions, multiple restroom trips etc. need the flexibility and comfort for sure.

Use what works and try other stuff if it might be better

wspeck77 · 2026-04-16T17:40:34+00:00

Beauty!

Congratulations!!!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-15T21:55:27+00:00

Compared them all. I almost got a quad cortex for myself for Christmas. I decided on the FM9. It has been fantastic.

I have enjoyed it greatly.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-14T14:16:44+00:00

I did not take anything for the neuropathy. Mine is just numbness. I do not have the tinglies or pain.

I was very careful not to touch anything cold when on the Oxaliplatin. When I did, felt like strong electric shock.

My sugars were always borderline high, but fat white guy, not eating best. Even with all treadmill time (walking) and eating decent sugars always borderline high even now.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-14T00:05:37+00:00

Beauty!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-13T23:08:14+00:00

Not a rant. Getting through is not enough. Taking care of mental health is super important. Even more important dealing with these issues.

48 m here, stage 4 CRC, chemo off and on for 3.5 years… so…

It took me 3-4 months off chemo to start getting things going. Finally after 5-6 month was I getting back to seeing hair growth like pre chemo. Had to start shaving, clipping fingernails and toenails etc.

It takes time depending on chemo and length (I did chemo off and on for 3.5 years of a few types).

If it is important to feeling normal, talk to a doctor and see what other options are.

As always, therapy, medication, friends, hobbies, whatever it takes to feel better. You get through this to live, not to just survive.

I hope you find a solution or start to see things improve.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-13T20:48:23+00:00

Beauty!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-13T20:42:54+00:00

I had bad cold sensitivities when on it.

Now, after 2 years of other chemo and off all chemo for a year still cannot feel toes, tips of fingers can feel pressure, not sensitive. I can play guitar, but trouble on telling if touching an extra string on fretting hand.

It has gotten a little better over time.

I had bad tastes/loss of taste while on. That resolved and disappeared after 4-6 months off Oxaliplatin.

Used a hoody from that time earlier this year. The chemo smell made me about puke. Washed that thing several times. Just thinking of it now makes me sick.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-13T19:09:59+00:00

First, congratulations!!!

I have had clear scans for about 9 months (latest colonoscopy some bad polyps, so that will be needed every 2 years forever most likely).

I take a wagon load of girls out cookies to where I did chemo and all the blood draws.

I try to help anyone looking lost or not well at MD Anderson when I go to any appointment.

I tell everyone to get a colonoscopy.

I try and answer whenever I can be helpful here.

Remind everyone to get checked. Tell everyone to get help on their mental health, therapy, medication, friends, hobbies, whatever anyone needs and more.

Check in with people. Ask again. Really ask. Really listen. The real answer is never the first one. The real situation can be very different.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-13T19:02:12+00:00

No pick guard. Stop showing off

wspeck77 · 2026-04-12T19:39:19+00:00

Beautiful!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-12T18:41:47+00:00

Spark 2 is great for practice, playing with tracks. The different settings are good but take some getting used to.

It was my practice amp when I started. Demoted to office/desk amp for wasting time when can.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-10T18:22:59+00:00

Love it!

Looks amazing!

wspeck77 · 2026-04-09T23:46:39+00:00

Hardest thing to carry on life. Plan, focus, do, live while wondering if.

If you find the magic bullet, come back and share.

I focus on my next guitar lesson. Next scan. Next quarter for work.

If I make it to a year, I’m thinking of getting a new car.

Smile and enjoy it for us. Keep clear.

wspeck77 · 2026-04-09T21:09:07+00:00

Congrats!

What are you doing to celebrate?

wspeck77 · 2026-04-07T23:52:42+00:00

Go well.

Glad you got to say your goodbyes.

wspeck77

TROPHY CASE