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 picked up a guitar working on a ranch in Montana years ago. I’ve dabbled with guitar off and on and do love playing. I’ve written a few tunes and can play some basics. I have no idea how to read music so most of what I learn is through trial and error. I’m looking forward to expanding my guitar playing with your method. It makes sense to me.
Hi, my name is Glenda. I am 65 and wanted to learn the guitar my whole life. I am hearing impaired.
I started when I was in high school and didn’t progress much and eventually went away from it and now im older I figured to give it another shot in hopes to play guitar with my son
My fingers seem to have become much bigger since the last time I played..!
I have never picked up a guitar before, lost already! lol
I received a new Yamaha acoustic guitar and it came with different how-to books but never tried to learn. My career was to involved. Now I’m edging towards retirement and want to learn.
I am 70 years old and decided to learn the guitar. So i am a very very beginner.
Picked up a guitar 7 yrs ago and started with you for about a year and found I wasn’t using the site enough and dropped out. Then started local in person lesson and found a group of people to play with and did well. Over time the group dissipated and I found that I lost the drive to play everyday as I wasn’t prepping to play something for the group. I’m here to get that drive back!
I really started playing the guitar more often when my boyfriend made me a custom guitar. He was a Luthier but passed away in 2021. I promised myself that I would learn to play better in honor of him and my brother who passed away in 2016. He was a drummer and a singer but dabbled on guitar. He had a 1969 Martin D28 which I inherited as well, so I have 2 beautiful guitars to play! I have only played chords and played songs that have no barre chords. I had surgery on my left hand several years ago which left me with a shorter thumb by about ½ inch so sometimes it is difficult to play those barre chords. But I am here. I have never played anything like lesson one. I learned by looking up chords and taught them to myself. It is going to take a lot of practice to get ready for lesson 2! Thanks for teaching!!
Infancy below beginner. Retired and want to be a guitar player. Just received my 1st guitar with no musical history or knowledge. I only played the RADIO!!! Not sure if your technique is too advanced for me at this time ??
Been dabbling since 1965, and now at 74 I think it’s about time to get a bit serious. My son is a self taught guitarist/pianist, granddaughter plays and writes music at a major performing arts school in England. Grandson is a very good drummer and youngest granddaughter plays bass. Need to catch up!!!
I’ve been dabbling for about 30 years now and am ready to be more consistent with my guitar playing and take it to the next level. Hoping I am in the right place.
I played guitar with the Dillon Junior fiddlers back in the early 90s but it was just chords. I really struggle with strumming so am retired now and want to play guitar better as my grandson is now learning guitar and the fiddle.
This is great Tony, I’m a beginner at 67, I’ve dabbled with the piano for years but its never easy. Looking forward to the week.
First day; first effort. I’m 79 years old a bought an acoustic guitar several years ago because my son is a self taught and excellent guitar player. I want to be able to play for/with him.
I never learned music. Love to listen but zero technical knowledge. My two daughters are excellent on the piano. Hit the mid life and decided two years ago that I was going to work on a bucket list item and learn to read music and how to play the guitar so I bought an off brand Strat and am currently taking my second class at the local junior college. Steep learning curve for me. We are learning how to play nylon acoustic in an ensemble. Thanks for the class!
Jeff,
I’m 65 and started playing guitar when I was 10. I joined a band in middle school we called Purple Onion and bought a Stratocaster. Unfortunately when I turned 16 I sold it and bought a car and the rest was history. My wife bought me an acoustic 20 years ago. I took lessons and the instructor was too technical and thus the guitar has sat on a stand in our house for the last 15 years. The fact that we are starting with Friend of the Devil can’t get any better! Looking forward to this journey.
Long time beginner. Started classical guitar 20+ years ago. Never very good at it. Recently purchased a steel string.
Hey. I am 60 and have tried to play for years. Never really made much progress. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years ago and the connection between my brain and my fingers has deteriorated quite a bit. Since I wanted to learn to play guitar anyway, I thought it would be a good way to help regain some of that connection between the two and have some fun at the same time.
I’m 63 and started playing guitar at 19. Every 5 years or so, I pick it up again, learn a half dozen songs, and put the guitar in hibernation till “next time”. Looking forward to dusting off my 6 string, warming up the fingers and getting down the backbone skills to make my playing more fun and rewarding.
If the TAC is really designed for people with no guitar experience, then it seems like the first thing you need to learn before you start playing is how to tune the guitar, how to correctly hold it and the names of each string (?).
Hi Wes, TAC has a beginner course called 30 Days to Play which does teach you all of these things! We hope you’ll check it out.
Just started few months ago and trying to figure out good structure. Know quite a few chords but struggle to transition between them fast. Also made it hard for myself since I fell in love with 12 string guitar and learning on it. This riff sounds really cool on it though, however I struggle to hit pair of Bs without hitting lower G. Oh well, going to practice it more.
Hi Guys.
I am a ukulele player and have been for nearly 3 years, I also play the baritone ukulele.
I have never picked up a guitar and i thought it would be cool to learn. I bought a starter guitar on eBay (Squire by Fender) but as you know COMPLETELY different. I was going round YouTube and almost getting lost with different ways of learning the guitar. So I thought I would just learn with one tutor. So here I am and looking forward to be on this journey with you all.
Many thanks
Paul.
I have been playing guitar for about 28 years…… but I don’t play in standard tuning. I’m strictly a blues slide player. I’m at the intermediate to advanced level with a slide. I can also play blues on the laptop steel guitar. I’m very proficient and I can jam with people. I have even been recorded before. I can’t play any other style of music and I’m entry level in standard tuning. I want to expand my ability into standard tuning and I want to expand into other styles of music like blue grass and folk. I’m a bit different than a normal student. I could probably teach delta blues and its history. lol!
I’ve been dabbling for about four years now, although I know a few songs well enough that they are recognizable to me. I did get to play Sweet Home Chicago a couple of weeks ago with a real professional band in front of a real live audience.
Not bad for a 76-year old
Been playing for 50 years and am a decent rhythm player. I want to play some lead and fills. I’m playing an HD28. Let’s do it!
my first guitar was at 5 years old; first song was bass line intro to 25 or 6 24? By Chicago my brother got mad because of TBI and busted up my guitar, by 18 I was playing rhythm parts of Rush, Judas Priest, UFO, etc. never could do any solo work, and I practiced three hours per day every day for during high school years, to relive stress, I never got to the solo parts, five years on five years off, and lately I been playing more than the past few years, I need to get through this 5 day challenge, Friend of the devil is a good place to start, my son has a BS in music, I have multiple pieces I played, bass line with a keyboard player and percussionist childhood friend passed away, we were a heavy jazz trio, instrumental, that was about 10 years ago, I am in my 60’s, One time a few years ago, random guitar player was on the kit, and I played his les Paul and the bass player came running in from the other room and I had no idea what I was doing I guess I was sheading I am working 40 hours per week to pay bills, and , gearing up for classes in January for Undergrad cert in ML AI preparing for MS Cert Exam for AI & ML , looking forward to retirement in about 4 or 5 years
I started playing about 3 years ago, after i had a bad episode of depression, ( due to being a full time carer for my wife who has many linked illnesses)a very good asked if I had a guitar, I replied with yes but its a trashy 3/4 size that was bought from a charity shop with a very wide neck,and action of an elastic band over a tissue box ,
Two days later I had a sms from him saying , ” you have a parcel coming, it’s a gift enjoy , I don’t want anything in return just keep talking to me when you need too,
With that 4days later a big box was delivered, it contained a Gretsch 2420 semi acoustic, what s gift right
Any how i can only play a few chords , and really want to do it credit,
Hopefully I will now stop noodling and learn some tunes
I would dearly love to do the full course but I’m only getting $76 per week from the state to look after my wife 24/7
Here’s to a brighter day
Thanks
Vinnie
I’m 69 and used to play when I was 17 and taught by my brother. I’ve played piano since I was 8. I now own a gorgeous Martin LX-1. IT has a smaller body which helps me get my arms and fingers around the neck. So I survived Day 1 but had trouble with my middle and ring finger not wanting to play nicely. I figured it would come with time and NOT to stress over it. I knew what to do so I continued onto Day 2. Not stressing …that was my aha moment.
Nancy Jean
When I was 16 I was picking out a ‘spanish-esque’ tune on my sister’s old guitar. My dad passed by and asked if he payed for lessons would I practice. Being a snotty teenager I said “Probably not”. Been kicking myself for 45 years.
A couple years ago I told my wife that I’d like to learn guitar as something to do during retirement. She surprised me with a beautiful Ibanez but there was a problem, she didn’t know that although I’m right-handed in everything else, I play guitar left-handed. So she bought me a slightly less-beautiful left-handed guitar. I’ve done some online lessons but saw this challenge had a different teaching method and wanted to give it a try.
Played Guitar for about 10years than moved on to banjo the missing string, now I’m trying to go back to Guitar to many strings hard to go back to 6
first time ever will try but my fingers are sore
Just retired and have always wanted to play. Took some lessons before my daughters were born 32 years ago! Also a hockey goalie.
Always a beginner
Hi – I’m happy to be here. I started paying when I was 11 years old. How long ago was that? Hint: I just retired this past February. I took lessons and played a lot until High School when the normal progression of peers and life and love took over.
Fast-forward to 2020 when my husband passed away. I was spending time purging all of the unnecessary stuff from our life and ran across my guitar. I considered selling it but thought, why not try to play it again. I did. I was surprised at how much I remembered and once I had redeveloped my long-lost callouses, I was hooked. I quickly realized my guitar was too big for me, so I purchased a smaller one and I love it.
That said, with the natural progression of time and decay, I have some pretty painful arthritic thumbs. Holding a pick is almost impossible and when I try to strum with said pick, the string wins and the pick goes flying. I can still strum with my thumb and finger pick – it’s painful but worth it. I recently purchased a Black Mountain pick with a spring-driven attachment that holds the pick to the thumb. I won’t lie; it is still difficult but I’m sure the more I use it the easier it will become.
So that’s my story – sorry it was so long. I would also like to mention that I am loving making music so much that I purchased a Ukulele and recently, a Mandolin. Are you wondering what happened to my guitar? Well, my 14-year-old grandniece, who plays violin, wanted to learn guitar so I have her my 1979 Washburn, and she gives it the love it deserves.
Thanks for reading…
I’ve been a TAC member for several years and keep starting and stopping. Still can’t play a song.
I decided to take this 5 day, “Stop Dabbling” challenge. I went through all 5 days before nailing day 1. So I’ve now started over. Still struggling with the day 1 lesson. It’s frustrating that I can’t quite get it under my fingers. I’ll get it, I know, but for something that seems so simple, it bugs me that I’m struggling with it. I’m determined to get this before I repeat day 2. Maybe this reboot will be the charm. Maybe one day I’ll feel that I can call myself a guitar player.
I was interested in guitar as a young person but didn’t
pre-sue it .
I decided to learn guitar when I retired.
My grandson and I have been taking weekly lessons for 2 1/2 years, his is now 11 and I am 70. We are still learning and loving it.
I think it would be nice if the image of the guitar was reversed so the fingering you see was a mirror image, just like when Phil MIckleson learned to swing a golf club
Bob
Have been starting & stopping since 1978! Never mastered & want to surprise the family at Christmas. The challenge is on!
Long time beginner. Started at 16 and still beginning at 83 but I am now convinced I will make progress
Where is the best place to learn the chords?
Thankx! Lifelong beginner here lol. I know simple chords but picking is a challenge!
I just started to learn guitar I’m 63 now,always wanted to learn, never thought I’d had time, then had heart failure…since then I’ve received a heart transplant a year ago Aug. 14th, I’ve been dabbling with the guitar to help my anxiety, which it has…now I want to play the guitar…done construction all my life hands are pretty stiff but the exercise are helping and thank ya,I’m enjoying this challenge tony…
I started to play when I 12.Not really play just mest around with the guitar. Now I’m retired and I been trying to learn by watching YouTube .
Hi guitar heroes. I decide to try this course as I have been thinking about lessons for a while, and I like the way Tony talks. I started learning guitar about 30 years ago, but only learned chords and riffs. As I was playing on my own I was definitely only dabbling. i stopped playing completely for about 20 years, but have been back to it for about 2 years. It is just amazing that I forgot how to play basically everything I learned apart from some chord shapes. I feel I am doing the same dabbling as before again now, so I want to learn to play the guitar, not just songs. I am going to give this a bash and see if I can be disciplined enough for just 5 days to start….I am running through this progression on day one, but I have found the top of my forearm is really hurting. I am not sure why that is at the moment, but I am playing a mini guitar (Tanglewood TRX2E Roadster Travel) so not sure if the shorter neck is doing that to me. Anyway. I will persevere through that pain and see how it goes. By the way. I am from Wales, but have only seen comments from people on your side of the pond. Are there any others from the UK learning?…I have a question. How long should we be practicing each lesson? A new lesson is coming every day, so I am unsure how much time I should be doing this for. I watched the video about consistency, but that spoke about 10 minutes a day and I feel this will take more
Neil
Hey Neil.
I’ve just started learning the guitar and from just over the bridge from you in Swindon.
Happy playing.
Hi Neil. Great questions! Please reach out to us in TAC Support so that we can assist you with those. Email: support@tonypolecastro.com
As a beginner , you didn’t explain the chords and fret locations . While most of your people are returning guitar players or beginners with a few lessons . Someone who just bought a guitar and is clueless is left searching internet for understanding of basics .
Hi,
I was able to download a piece of music but no loop. The play button was greyed. I did see your video but I wasn’t able to download it. Can you help me?
Perhaps I was on the wrong webpage.
I am just checking out your lesson.
Thanks,
Stephanie
I am sixty years old and have always wanted to learn basic guitar. I just wanted to be able to play a few sing alongs around the campfire. I tried to learn guitar a few times a couple of years ago. I tried using a couple different online courses and apps. I saw the Acoustic challenge on Facebook, and thought “what the heck”, I’ll give it a shot. so here I am.
TONY, Ive tried many times over the years to learn to play, starting in college, I’m now 75 and I keep running into the same stumbling block, when trying to play on the frets, I get a clear note on one string and then a dud on the next string down, (like fat fingers) but yet my fingers are not large or fat and I get frustrated
I Amma longtime dabbler excited for some bite sized chunks I can grow with.