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.
Hey all – I am a 53-year-old drummer and have been an on-again, off-again beginner guitarist for a couple of years now. I like this approach and would really love to go pick up an acoustic to play this on. Right now, I am playing an unamplified electric guitar. I cannot justify purchasing another guitar until I am sure I am taking guitar playing seriously.
Great exercise very clear instruction and the pdf helps. I just can’t seem to get the open notes clear without my thick fingers touching the string, any helpful hints?
Over a 10 year period I have had on line lessons and lessons with 4 different instructors but didn’t stick at it so yesterday I picked up my guitar for the first serious attempt at playing music since I put my guiitar down about 6 years ago. I really did enjoy playing the day one piece and at 74 years of age I am determined to give your lessons a good go.
Super fun! Got a long way to go, but i’m glad the guitar is being used other than as a clothes hangar!
I’m a left-handed person playing right. I’ve been picking up the guitar off and on for years trying to get something to click but I’m still having trouble seeing what’s actually going on in the video fingering and what you’re picking was practicing the wrong pattern so I’ll have to go back and figure out the right one. Not too good at reading music especially off the phone because my computer is down
I’m still very new to everything, but I have hope that this might help. And I would get the experience either way even if it sound at first really bad. It does seem abit hard but when i get it down it would feel amazing.
New
Brand new…and honestly, a little overwhelming on just day 1… gulp
Hi Tony, my name is Norm. I’m 56 years old, and I guess you would say I’m a returning guitar student, ready to become a player. I took guitar class when I was 15-16 years old in high school, and lost focus and drive when I couldn’t make sense of the guitar. I’ve sort of always had a desire to be a guitar player, and a piano player as well, and I’ve recently made the commitment to myself to get serious and put my fingers where my desire is, so to speak. I’m working on the 5-day challenge now, and am interested to see where things go!
I’ve been playing right handed guitar as a lefty for 50 years. The fight to control my right hand can get pretty ugly. Let’s see where your challenge leads. Day 1 has been productive.
Brand spanking new at 75 years old, trouble getting the fret fingers to understand in ynison with the picking but trying
I’m excited about the challenges and the concept of small wins. I played guitar 40 years ago and didn’t go far only playing chords but have lost all of it. Looking to get back to it and learn to play some of the songs I love from the sixties through the eighties.
Not a beginner, looking for ways to make my chords, solos and transitions cleaner. I have been playing consistently for over 4 decades.
I’ve been a rock/blues player since 1981 – some gaps, not 100% continuous – and I play in cover bands locally. But 90% of the time I play electric, not acoustic. I just got my first GOOD acoustic this year and I’m trying to elevate my acoustic chops, So far this is a bit elementary for me, but I know it will do me good to get through.
Mark here. 54 yrs young beginner currently living on Lake Norman NC. I purchased a Fender Telecaster and after this week I’ll be ordering my first acoustic.
Tony, Thank you in advance for putting this all together I’m sure it’s going to be a great learning experience!
I took lessons as a child just learning chords and trying to play songs. This was extremely frustrating and grew up dreading my lessons. I never had “technique lessons”, nor learned any of the scales. Thank you for this great practice.
Day 1 total beginner
I am starting guitar from scratch. No previous knowledge or hands on guitar at all. Always wanted to play. Age is 69 retired and staying busy. Strength and dexterity with my fretting hand is my current challenge.
Day 1 total beginner
I go by “Trish”. Its been years since I played and my guitar teacher only taught chords and songs we wanted to learn. I have never been taught basics and at 66 years old am wondering if I should get the $197 refund already? I only played HAPPY BIRTHDAY by strings. I was learning chords … he was a blues guitarist who i think felt we were too old to learn basics. What should I do? I am having skin grafts and not my best. A songwriter of 5 yrs who would love to be a better guitarist.
Help Tony!
Trying again. Never knew what to practice. Just did the same old thing all the time. Giving this a go. I feel useless at the moment but I’ll keep trying. All the way down here in NZ
I’ve never heard the song before. But I got this down after seeing the tab. I can’t tell from the video’s which finger is where, but the tab works for me. 63 A dabbler. I’ve been around guitars my whole life. I can build, upgrade, repair, and collect them. Have 14 right now. Never learned an entire song. Now that I’m retired it’s time to get serious so I can justify buying another Martin.
This is my first time ever, picking up a guitar, and I am 66 years old. In other words, I know nothing!
Brand new. 70 yo.
I have been playing off and on for about 3 years. Got the chords and can sing/play at home. Wanting to take it to the next level so I can play with others and not just sing at church, but play too . Today’s lesson was definitely a challenge but I know this will get easier with time.
Tony,
I play in my Church band(acoustic) and I want to get better at playing so maybe one day I can take a bigger role in the band. We play most of the modern day songs. With the chords printed before me I do OK. But I want to learn more.
Thanks for what you do.
Getting back in after too much timer away.
Enjoying day 1 of the challenge. Thanks for the tools: instruction section, play along section, tab sheet, and speed control.
I know some chords but have struggled to get to a point where I can play anywhere near fluently. I’ve got piano and trumpet in my background but haven’t learned the notes on the fret board yet and every attempt at playing songs I like is just a slog. Haven’t stuck with it yet but still really want to learn how to play the instrument I wanted to play since I was 5 years old (50-some years ago). Did ok with today’s challenge and will see how the week goes. Thanks.
Hey,Styx Underfoot here in the great state of Indiana I’ve been the proud owner of an acoustic guitar since the age of eleven.
I’ve owned many and I have truly enjoyed everyone of them not to mention countless electric guitars also I’m a self professed noodler,dabbler and music lover. I’ve never learned more than scale’s some licks and chords in fifty plus years. There is my
Background in a short version. I’m looking forward to the five day challenge. Now back to the meat and potatoes.
I am totally brand new. Wanted to learn to play, but never got around to it. Just retired and I am going to give it a try. Just did the exercise for day one. I feel like I have fat fingers, couldn’t place them properly when you get to the middle strings, but that is what practice is about. Going to try some more then onto the day 2 exercise tomorrow.
I’m brand new to playing and struggled today. I did not master the Day 1 challenge but will keep working on it.
Wanting to start trying again after several years of being away. i used to play some blues rhythm, but never got around to leads or riffs. And now I am dealing with essential tremors so the fingers usually have a mind of their own. I struggled a lot this first day with the hammer on and just getting the strumming pattern. My hammer finger kept landing on the finger pad instead of the finger tip, which muted the 6th and 5th strings and was lousy. But I found out this improved as I moved through each of the strings, so it appears to be a technique and finger control thing on upper strings. For the rhythm I just need to slow way down till I get the pattern. The tab and then writing out the strumming pattern helped. My wife keeps looking at me like I am crazy walking around saying “down, and-hammer, down, up, down-and, down up”. I may need more than 5 days, but I’ll get there. Small steps, bigger gains.
I’m pretty new at guitar. I took lessons for a couple of years but didn’t make a lot of progress because of my lack of practice between lessons. I stopped taking lessons eight months ago. I’m
completely lost trying to follow what you are doing on the video. I don’t know what a hammer on is. I can’t transition between chords. I can barely strum while playing chords. This seems well beyond my capabilities. I also have adhd and I’m 68 years old.
Coming back after along time and a massive stroke i am a god fearing g man don’t like the song but I am going g to overlook that and give it a try this week is to see your technique if I like it and I feel I can learn fo.e you I will sign up on the 1st of the month
I just started your 5 day challenge today today.I used to play and wasn’t too shabby. I haven’t played in 40 years and even something simple seems difficult. I’m really hoping that I can get this. My fingers don’t work like they used to and I’m filled with a lot of self doubt. I have never given up on anything in my life and I won’t now. I already expect my progress to be slow and I’m okay with that.
Hi Tony, I just tried your five day free thing and I I’m struggling a little bit with having fat fingers. I try and push down on one string and I’m hitting two at the same time. I’m working on it and it’s getting there and I finally got through your first lesson where I can actually do that but it won’t let me go into the second lesson if you could help me out with that that would be great thanks. I am a very very beginner thanks Tony
I’m returning to playing my old nylon string guitar after not playing for over 20 years.
I’m retired and am trying out your program. I tend to strum with some of my own improvised picking.
I’d like to learn and retrain my fingers, learn some picking patters (e.g. travis), and be able to play along by ear.
I started day 1 on day 3 and will start day 2 and 3 tomorrow with 4 on Friday and 5 on Sunday.
I am currently taking lessons, and have been for years, but am feeling kind of stuck. I feel like I never truly perfect a song I learn before I go onto the next. I am currently going to school for my undergrad degree in music and then onto being a music therapist.
I’ve been playing regularly for 5 1/2 years, mostly strumming chords and learning the fretboard. This is surprisingly challenging for me, feel a bit spastic. Determined.
Struggled with the hammer on – had to do that a few hundred times….
Day 1 moves too quickly
I am not really new to playing guitar and did the day and finding its moving too fast.
While Brandon may not be fan of Friend of the Devil, I was hooked. At 58 yr old, I picked up my first guitar in order to learn to play Ripple and as a way of settling in to retirement knowing it’s something you can never master. Been practicing daily for three months and am making solid progress I am proud of. the picking of the strings in today’s lesson was new to me. I appreciate the ability to sloooow it waaay down. I can keep up at that pace and not get too discouraged. You have really helped me look at this journey as a series of wins. I am thankful for your teaching style and who doesn’t like learning guitar from a goalie!
I was a good player (solo and in groups) 50 years ago. Since then, I’ve had recent spinal issues resulting in peripheral neuropathy in my hands among other issues. I’m doing this because:
1. I bought a new acoustic guitar just before my illness.
2. I’m hoping this exercise will help with rehabilitating my brain to nerve connections.
I’m having trouble getting my hand (wrist) around the neck and I’m fat fingering the strings. Any exercises you can suggest to loosen up my wrist so that my fingers address the strings directly and not flat or at an angle?
Thanks
Mark
May seem silly to your team but friend with the devil I want nothing to do with. The devil is nothing to be friends with wish it would have been a different song liked the approach.
Brand new player as of January ’26. Learning songs (cords only) in a group setting where everyone is more advanced than me. Most of the bar cords feel impossible, causing me to cheat by only playing parts of the cords, just to try to keep up. I even cheated by replaying ur video several times just to get the strumming. I have a hard time watching both hands of players and picking things up, but will give ur method a try. I like the idea of not practicing but playing. If nothing else, I can use in other parts of my life.
I am coming back to guitar but was never very good
Hi Tony I have been trying to learn to play guitar for about a year following you tube videos and have made very slow progress. I enjoyed todays lesson but struggled with the hammer on.
Hi everyone. I’m a 51 yo that inherited a family guitar during the pandemic and have been restarting as a beginner every couple months since. Really hoping the structure here is going to help be build not just float around. Good luck all!