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.
Coming back from long layoff due to frustration from trying to get perfection in small pieces. What I mean is I would attempt to gather more information in the area of music theory (and I am saturated) instead of muscle memory practice with my fretting hand and rhythm practice as well. I realize that I am fearing failure instead of looking for small wins in smaller windows of practice time. I appreciate your pace and dedication to your craft.
Brand new to guitar. Managed to tune it. Managed to do low e and a string exercise to passable but didn’t yet try the other strings. Fat fingers meant up strokes on the a string were often muffled but learned to place fingers better. Seemed complex for a complete beginner but gave it a go. Thanks.
Off to a great start, learning new skills. Finding which fingers have dominated in my playing and which need some strengthening. I look forward to tomorrow’s challenge.
Been taking lessons for years but stuck. This concept seems like a great daily motivator. Stuck in chord strumming songs. At lessons my instructor tries to work on picking but I don’t see the goal or what we are working towards. Your videos give a goal at the end of the week which makes me feel I am working towards something.
I haven’t played in 30 years and I was more of a dabbler. I decided to take it out again and realized the guitar is too big for me. I am trading in for a mini next month but starting again with the big dreadnougbt. My finger tips hurt. I was (trying to) follow along with the lesson. The good thing was my flat picking started to come back (sporadically) and I remembered I can do this. Last time I played I was one od those people that practiced scales for an hour so I appreciate this approach as a start.
Holy crap! This was hard. I get why I’ve been stuck as a beginning dabbler for years. My small win for Day 1: I didn’t quit. I stayed with the challenge and playing the Learn video at .5 speed about 5 or 6 times to catch on. Messy, clumsy fingers? Check. Feeling worthless? Check. I had to make notes on the tab to clarify what to do. Eventually I began to understand what you were doing and saying. Still no clue on how to hammer on correctly, most of the time my fingertip slides off the string– assuming I even hit it. But I got something of a rather feeble-sounding version of a hammer on here and there, so I’ll count that as a small win, too. There were some others: occasionally I managed a correct, alternate picking sequence and some clean notes. So, I’ll focus on the small wins (not easy for me), take a break, and practice some more focusing on learning the techniques. Many thanks. See you tomorrow.
Hi! I started your course years ago and stopped—was not feeling inspired. I have been in an intermediate plateau for years. Since recently retiring I have now started up again in the last few months, and have gotten very serious about playing every day and diving into music theory. Super excited…it’s starting to click!
Day 1, I don’t know the song, so im not trying to rush it. feels pretty good for a start
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I don’t know what string each is. Just starting.
Brand new at playing guitar. A bit overwhelming and will look for the small win as you advise.
Hi,
Vanessa here from France. I joined this challenge because I am stuck on my learning path and routine, and feel as though there are lots of things I know and can do, yet I can’t seem to connect the dots (because of the gaps I guess!).
Love the building progress.
Thank you!
50 years dabbling
This was fun
left hand hurts a little, arthritis
Hello there,
Daniel here, a Portuguese guy living in London.
Lesson one is done, but the fingers are a bit chubby and touch the strings below. need to practice my hand position.
I am using my classical guitar with nylon strings, which is the only one I have here.
I love the method, and after this week, I am considering registering for the TAC. Let’s go 🙂
wow thank you i got this lesson
My guitar is out of tune.
Hi im William Im new to the guitar and stuck very excited for this 5 day challenge i wanna take your online course but i cant right now to financial but when i can i will for sure thank you for this 5 day challenge
Day 4 and I am still trying to get day 1 ingrained. Still not right!!
Beginning guitar. Going to stick with lesson 1 for a few days until I get it down pat.
I’ve been dabbling for years, but since retirement, decided to take it to the next level. I’m a week late, since I was traveling when the 5 day challenge began. I’ll catch up soon though.
Guitar is a Martin. I’ll be insulting it for years, but never want to blame the equipment.
Fender
Used to play drums, moved over to guitar, easier to carry around. I know a few chords, that’s it. Lesson was a somewhat hard but I think I can manage.
Struggling as finding my fingertips too wide and touching the string below the pressed string. Also trouble seeing the strings with my progressive glasses – better with just reading glasses.
Clumsy fingering at the moment but got there in the end but fingers are a bit sore, did day 1 today as busy yesterday.
Found the 1st challange a bit difficult as I have short fingers.
I tried to play 30 years ago, badly. I have heard people play my guitar, and it can make such beautiful music. I’d love for her to sing.
Taking one last crack at it. It sucked. My fingers couldn’t kept pressing on multiple strings, the sound was awful.
We’ll see. The guitar deserves someone that can play.
In addition to my previous question I’m basically wanting to start from scratch with your course but I do know several basic cords but have only dabbled in guitar for several years with no real progress or breaking though to becoming a guitar player. Thanks
I have 2 acoustic and 2 electric guitars that I play in daily rotations. Is there any downside to using them all for your course instead of just one or the two acoustic guitars only ?
I have tried to learn the guitar for about 15 years now. I just never feel like I’m making any progress no matter what I try. Obviously, I haven’t given up because I still try new things after taking a long break from frustration. The reason I started was because I find peace in music and I want to actively play music and not just listen to music other people play.
Hi
I played 30 years ago not well and trying again. My partner has even less experience.
I am totally new. It would REALLY help if I could see your pick when you are picking the strings. I can’t tell which string you are on and can’t track you fast enough when you say “down on the E and up on the A.” I’m just learning the names of the strings.
Been playing for about 5 years. I can play most chords, know my minor pentatonics and a few major scales, and have a handful songs under my belt. Not as committed to practicing as I want to be. Wanted to see how these techniques might help me accelerate my progress. I have an excellent teacher but I’ve bounced him around from finger picking to learning songs to theory.
I want to learn it all
Mediocre player… need new direction. looking forward to it all.
I’m coming back to the guitar after a number of years not picking it up. My wife just asked for an acoustic guitar for Christmas and I figured it was time for me to dust mine off. Looking forward to the challenge.
H there, in my 60’s always wanted to learn the guitar. Trying to the first challenge and already very frustrated. I can do the picking part, but my fingers overlap with next bottom string.
Easy enough. I have been playing since I was 12. I am now 50. I can play about 50 songs, but I’ve been stuck at those songs for a few decades. Looking to grow.
I have tried to play guitar in the past. I’m struggling with fat finger syndrome where I contact more than one string at a time. I’m right handed, but seem to be able to pick better with my left hand.
I’m an intermediate player and I am looking to become more proficient. I’ve been playing bass guitar in bands most of my life but now that I am retired I’d like to play more guitar for my own enjoyment.
I bought your program serval years ago but never did it. Need a reset to get started again.
Your 5 day challenge sounded perfect to get me started.
Two and a half years ago I was a rank beginner on the guitar when I cut fingertips 1, 2. & 3 of my left (fret) hand on my table saw. It took off a bit of the bone and messed up the nail beds of those fingers. 2 & 3 have puffy tips that make fretting a challenge. I have determined to take these winter months and give the guitar another chance. The hammer on is new and I did ok, I get the alternate picking but I’m having a hard time getting a clear note on the open string trying to put #3 on the 6th string without muting the 5th.I am 70 yrs. old and retired. I have lots of time to work on this. I like your stuff. David B.
Learned classical guitar as a teen but left guitar for about 25 years before returning. I then joined a play and sing strumming group and felt like a fish out of water. I have been doing that for the last 16 years and am now able to keep up, but playing in a group hides how bad you are. I can’t really just play a song for a friend on my own. Practicing skills is daunting when you don’t know where to focus so I am really going to enjoy the structure of this. Look forward to continuing. This challenge is just my speed and I was able to get it after watching the video several times and slowing it down at first.
I have some private lesson but I could not find time to practice like I wanted to. Life continued to get in the way. Now I have a new job and a renewed commitment to practice. Thank you for going slowly. I think I can keep up.
Got me off my ass to make time to play. I’ve been playing since I was 13. I’m 67, was in a rock band in high-school and play by ear. Interesting and inspirational information.
I am new my first day I get it ..I am 63 and retired my fingers hurt and I seem to hit the other strings when I’m on the right strings but I’m going to continue for now and hopefully it’ll get better
I am a member. Just had things coming up and didn’t get a chance to use it.
First time in 20 years and gave up after 10 lessons 20 yrs ago… but I’ll be back….very ackward today
Intermediate. Played for 30 years on and off. Can’t connect the fretboard and keys/scales/notes properly. Never get round to deep diving the various (endless) systems out there but hoping this might bring more success
Been at it (Guitar) for some time but often get frustrated and feel like I’m a real one dimensional guitar player. I can play only portions of songs and usually find myself giving up after it gets tough and frustration sets in. I’ll be giving this a shot and we will see what happens. Thanks
Been playing for decades, mostly poorly. Played in bands early on and then mostly as a solo campfire-type of player. Lately, it’s just for me.
Took jazz lessons for a while to switch it up and learned some new tricks there, mostly chord voicing. Still can’t read music with any working competence. Been concentrating on instrumentals since my voice isn’t great as a singer. I don’t generally use a pick – always finger style.
Always looking for new tricks to learn, so that brings me here.
I have owned my guitar for years but i could never really grasp anything. I am 62 years old and and playing guitar is at the very top of my bucket list. Love the blues and classic hard rock. I really didn’t grasp the first lesson but; showed up. I wish i could watch the lesson again. Bit i will be here tomorrow. Thank you my friend.
Playing on and off for years. Never managed to crack the code and always struggling with memory!!!