TIPS FOR TODAY
Progress comes from momentum, not mastery.
If today’s challenge feels awkward or slow, that’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel. This isn’t a “nail it in one day” test — it’s your first pass at a new motion. Your hands will keep improving every time you come across a similar skill.
Even 10 focused minutes is enough to count today as a win. Our goal is NOT to perfect it. It’s to get exposure to a new skill.
Just get the motion under your fingers a few times at your own pace, and trust that next time you try a skill like this, it will feel a little smoother.
YOUR SAMPLE WEEK OF TONY'S ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE
5-Day "Stop Dabbling, Start Playing Guitar" Challenge
- MON: Technique
- TUE: Lick
- WED: Improv
- THU: Rhythm
- FRI: Transitions
FREE WHEN YOU JOIN TODAY
30 DAY JUMPSTART
All new members start with our 30-day jumpstart to learn the basics. It comes free with your membership when you join today.
3-Steps to Stop Dabbling and Start Playing
Try the Free 5-Day Challenge
Get a feel for the TAC method and see what 10 minutes a day can do.
Join TAC and Build Your Foundation
Start the 30-Day Jumpstart Challenge (included when you join) to lock in the basics and build a daily habit.
Keep Going with Daily Challenges
After the 30-Day Jumpstart, keep improving—one fun, daily guitar session at a time.
I took a guitar class a long time ago. i have been practicing some scales and chords on and off for years, but now I have the time and want to play not practice. I am excited about having a guitar instructor and the structured learning path you have developed. Thank you, Iz
I’ve been trying to play like Mississippi John Hurt; hubris. Time to get the basics locked in. Thank you Tony. It’s doable & I’m delighted.
I have been playing around with playing for a long time. I used to play with the bluegrass assoc in Billings, but life happens. After around 7 years I am picking up my guitar again.
I bought my first guitar at 25, over 20 years ago, and bought a bunch of books and videos to teach myself. Tried following the books and videos for about a month, but I ended up putting the guitar down for almost 20 years until about 2- 3 years ago when I paid for an in person teacher for a few months. Every few months I pick it up again and dabble. Still can’t play
I’m a returning TAC member and this lesson was really helpful for me. I’ve been plaing guitar on and off for many years but never got much past playing the chords, strumming and finger picking I taught mysef at around 10-11 yrs. old when I listened to Peter Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez records and looked at the chord charts in the songbooks (REALLY dating myself here!). Lots of false starts and stops through the years. I’m very drawn to Tony’s philosphy of musicianship and his learning approach. Today’s lesson helped me to slow down and really just concentrate on smaller chunks of material. The lesson was fairly easy for me, but I did have to re-watch the picking pattern quite a few times until I had it under my fingers enough to feel like I could play through. I’m glad to be back with TAC and looking forward to tomorrow!
I have been retired for about 9 years and have been playing on and off for many years. I know chords, some scales and notes. This is very interesting for me because I am feel it is learning the basics over. I hope to improve my timing, rhythm and lead playing. Thanks
Found the first lesson a stretch with hammer-ons and strumming i followed the tab without as a start.
I have been somewhat stuck. My teacher retired two months ago and I have been looking for structure. I am looking forward to the next 4 days.
Great video. Excited for this. I’m having a problem with my fingers NOT staying clear of open strings. I play the guitar right handed. Is there a way for the left hand to wrap around the neck, so the fingers can press the strings properly? Thanks
I am very new to the guitar I don’t know cords yet or much of anything but willing to learn,I really like your approach to learning the guitar
Hi Tony, Started playing in July with in person lessons. Have some basics down. Was out of town from the end of September til last week where I did not touch the guitar.
The area I struggle with for now is muting strings. The transition from the low E 4th fret to the low E 5th fret is fine. When I try to pick the A, I have to take my finger off the strings otherwise I mute the A. Any suggestions? Love the course BTW.
Stuck in basic chords and rhythm for YEARS. Want to learn how to take a lead break in a jam, fingerpicking, chord/melody. How to add interest and breaks to my original songs when it’s just me and my guitar.
wow, getting started is tricky but I made some progress
Perpetual beginner feeling stuck
Great post, thanks for sharing it!
Great post, thanks for sharing it! krillion io
Brand spanking new. Can’t get my fingers to do what my brain is telling them and can’t get notes to ring clear, fat fingers.Will keep trying .
Back to playing after 20 years
Hi Tony,
Just joined and I’m 44 and don’t know a lick about guitar or the lingo. When I attempt a hammer on the fret board it just mutes the string all together, any suggestions?
Hi Tony, I’m 70 and have been dabbling for years but never seem to get pass the basic chords. Hopefully this will help me to move on.
Thanks, Tony—I’ve been playing for years, solo and with bands, even took lessons and learned theory, and fingerstyle. My main problem is timing. This was just right. I try to keep my “down-ups” going on longer passages, but I haven’t sat down and practiced them in years.
I’m very interested in this course as someone who is older, and getting back to the guitar after a long time off. I like the idea of a daily structured lesson. Are there fingerpicking lessons in these courses? When I was practicing regularly, I found that I enjoyed the finger picking more. I do not sing, and I just thought it sounded better than strumming.
Hello Tony. Originally from Helena, Mt. Recently retired to Florida. Took lessons for a period of time and i would consider myself a middle of the road intermediate player. Looking to integrate melody and chords together to play songs. I believe this week will put me on my path to this goal.
I Tony. I guess I’m just stuck. Im self taught, but I’m really not getting any better; maybe you’d call me a “low intermediate”??
Hey Tony,
For some reason I got my course on Saturday instead of Monday, weird…, anyways glad to start the course…I’m 50 years old and have been playing for 3 years, totally YouTube taught, but can play pretty good. Day 1: as for what challenged me..having the strength in my ring finger to make a clean hammer-on…I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so having the strength in my fingers to make certain chords ring out challenges me. I had to slow down the video, but the more I practiced, I got it down pretty good. What a fun first day! Looking forward to the next day…
Hi Tony, this is Tony! I’ve been playing for a number of years and have even started a couple bands (1 3 piece, myself another guitar player and a drummer – the other myself and another guitar player both acoustic) but have found myself simply playing chords and being tenative about anything more. So, solos, fingerpicking and anything more “advanced” have sort of been off limits for me. I’m hoping that this will get me the confidence and practice to finally be able to move into more music and get more diverse in playing. Thank you!
Hey Tony,
I am a bluegrass style rhythm guitarist/folk picker who has trouble taking leads. I’ve had a fair amount of instruction, but was looking for a different approach to see if I could get my fingers moving a bit more. I saw you play at Follow Yer Nose this Summer!
Cheers,
Meredith
I had it at the lowest speed. I couldn’t get through the first lick.
I’m 55 years old. Been dabbling, feels like, all my life. Strumming with my dad or others in the lead. But my dad passed two years ago this December, and I’ve had no one to follow along. I guess it’s time for me to take the lead.
Played off and on most of my life, 65 years old, primarily rhythm. Haven’t touched my guitar for the last 6 years due to a health issue. Working on building back some finger strength and callous and learning new skills.
75 year old returning after 50 years + some bluegrass banjo with the same time frame. This already feels fun. I’m headed for the blues now.
Started this year through Guitar 4 vets. Still very much a beginner, learning how and what to practice.
Did not learn anything. New player don’t know where to put fingers
I do not have a link to the PDF.
I am taking the 5 day challenge to see if I want to sign up.
Lost most of playing ability (intrmediate) due to medical issues and trying to come back.
70 yrs old. Dabbling for years. Know CAGED and maj. & min. Pentatonics and scales. Former professional trumpet player.
71 years old. I have been dabbling for a year now. Since most of what I do is strumming this is a huge leap for me, and I found 1st lesson was very confusing. Hard to see what you are doing. I’m used to following a diagram on finger placement. Not sure this will help me but will continue for 5 days at least.
59 years old. I started on May 1rst. I have learned scales and dabbled. Can’t play any songs. And I am overwhelmed with info . I really get hooked on just playing but I want to play music.
50+ yrs playing bluegrass rhythm and upright bass. Minimal flat picking but mostly just runs and open chord rhythm. Want to learn more lead guitar.
50+ years playing bluegrass rhythm and upright bass. Some flat picking but mostly just runs and open chord rhythm. Want to learn more lead guitar.
Stuck play songs cowboy chords – want to learn runs and fretboard
You didn’t explain what hammering is at all and looking at your guitar in reverse is confusing. Showing finger placement from our perspective would be helpful to get our fingers in the right positions.
self taught and play by ear, have been playing on and off for 40 years. have knowledge of basic chords and bar chords. looking to become more fluent with lead guitar playing and different chord progressions utilizing the whole neck.
10 month beginner, struggle with strumming patterns and staying in time.
Coming in as a beginner, yesterday struggled today-not as much time but seems way too much for me!
my “hammer” doesn’t create any sound…more like a pillow 🙁
I’m a week late to start the challenge, but tonight I did it! I went through the whole exercise and I got it. Tomorrow I’ll practice it with you on the play loop and then jump into day 2’s exercise. I’m feeling excited. I’ve been a dabbler for decades. Try to practice. Strumming patterns. Alfred’s books. Never know where to go with it. Get just so far and then stop. Then do it again. I’m thinking I may finally learn to make a little music.
coming back after many years, feeling overwhelmed, you are a great teacher though.
Hi, I am brand new. I had to slow video way down to catch everything but I did it so thank you. My fingers are feeling it.
Coming back from 1970’s. OMG in my mind I was right where I stopped some 45 years ago. But in reality, it’s almost like day one. The muscle memory is lost. And my fingers hurt like hell! That’s something nobody talks about for new people – is building calluses on fingers and muscle memory. I’m excited to get back in the swing. thanks for sharing.
Long story, but I’ll make it as brief as possible.
Tried guitar years ago after a child abandon it. Found the chords difficult and a stretch for arthritic fingers.
Picked up the ukulele almost two years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Four strings and a smaller neck simplified much for me. Now I am retired and have always had that guitar in the corner staring at me. When I saw the Facebook add for this 5-day challenge I thought I would give it a go.
Still a bit of a stretch on the fretboard, and I have to adjust to a pick. But, I didn’t do bad for Day 1. Slow but good!