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.
If I am supposed to be able to learn this in 10 minutes, i am definitely in the wrong place. I have been at it on and off for several hours, and still nowhere near right. This is quite a discouraging start for me.
I’ve been playing and just strumming cords for a couple years and the first thing we learn is a hammer on and I’ve spent 45 minutes just getting that down without even attempting the strumming pattern
“I don’t play music because because I’m good at it, I play because I want to be part of it”
Im watching this free series to see if I can do this. I dont even have a guitar yet. Getting one for christmas. Im hoping the full series really starts with some sort of “know your guitar” as I dont know ow which string is which nofe or which fret or how to hold the guitar. But so far so good. I think i can.make my fingers do what your doing…not in 10 minutes but I love your entire concept of the best way to learn. Makes total sense. I guess im auditing right now but like what im seeing so far.
i had a guitar when i was a kid tried to learn on my own but went nowhere had a friend that was great at it but couldnt get him to teach me went in the service came home as a quad with a TBI and PTSD so learning was gone for me wasnt good god touched me i got my arms and legs back but my brain is like the movie 50 1st dates some stuff sticks other stuff dont i take lessons now but i feel im still at day 1 i now 2 whole songs i wanna be alot better i told my techer about this and said give it a shot it may trigger something to help im a Marine so im not a quiter so lets get this done Rah!
I’m retired and I borrowed a guitar from the library and took a class online at the community college. I bought a guitar but never got very far after the class ended.
My hands are small, and hammering on with the ring finger is difficult. Then the 5th string buzzes when I pick it with the upstroke, because my ring finger is in contact with it. UGH! I will continue to try to get it. It’s easier if I use my index finger and middle finger, but I have a feeling there is a reason (to be understood later) not to do this. lol
I started learning guitar when I was around 19 years old. My brother was in a band, and I worked with the guitarist in his band. Another guy and I asked him if he would give us some lessons. I learned a few things, but I never went much farther beyond that. Fast forward about 38 years, and I hadn’t touched the thing much. I decided that I was finally going to learn how to play it. It has been about 2 years into that commitment, and I have gotten a little better, but I was still a “dabbler.” I want to get better!
Played guitar mainly blues, for many years and just picked up the acoustic after no playing for 15 years. Like the way you present the lesson. Very clear, articulate and to the point. Thanks
I am 71 years old and have been dabbling with just chords on my guitar. Decided to do your challenge and hopefully get a better understanding of the next steps. Thank you!
lifetime beginner, i bought a guitar when my kids were young never progressed, got books still didn’t help put the guitar up. my youngest boy Keith picked it up worked at it, he listens to a song and plays music on the guitar by ear! I gave him the guitar. hes a natural. years later i bought a Peavey dreadnaught acoustic, still a beginner, i bought a Gibson Epiphone electric thinking it would be easier. No! then i bought a Yamaha G40 spanish guitar with a wide neck.! My wife said no more guitars! I need to learn to play these things! i like your teaching method Tony.
I have a mental illness where I collect beginner guitars and guitar songs tabs (printed off, holes punched, and arranged neatly in a binder, no less) and then dream about the day I can play just ONE of those songs using ONE of those guitars that hang on my wall. I’m so frustrated with myself because I can never get this thing into gear. It’s actually kind of become a running family joke. I laugh along and quietly die inside….
always meant to take lessons, finally doing it
I have been playing and singing for 35 years, and don’t know how to play correctly, and after watching this I’m pretty sure, I never will. I forced myself to play, because, I got tired of singing without music, I done a lot of ministry in jails, prisons, Boys homes and street ministry, so I felt I had to learn to play, I have been pastoring the same Church for 18 years, l lead Worship every Sunday. But I don’t think I could ever play the way you play.
Not ready for this yet! I need to cut my nails and I don’t have a pick so I have to start on another day! I couldn’t see the functions on the screen that you mentioned in your video. I am a beginner. I grew up playing piano so I can read music but not tab. I tried learning a couple of times with a friend or another lesson app but no luck
I took guitar lessons as a little kid. Quit when the theory part kicked in. Fast forward – I taught music in school and guitar was one of the classes I had to teach. Knew enough to get by, but now that I’m retired I would really like to get good at playing for myself.
I’m a professional sax player in a cover band. Rock.pop, country. I decided to learn guitar. So I’m a true beginner. Can I use an electric guitar in these lessons?
WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO ANSWER YOUR ELECTRIC GUITAR QUESTION
I am a 56 years old newbie here, have been torturing a guitar for almost two years. This is my first online guitar learning experience. So far so good). I am fingerpicking on this challenge, is it OK?
I’m an always beginner ! Have been trying to play since 2012. I picked up building Cigar Box Guitars and found that I liked building. I completed building my first Acoustic Guitar that took 5 years to build. If I spent as much time practicing that building then I’d be a better player. Now I’m trying to devote more time playing, and building my second Acoustic.
I consider myself a campfire musician playing well enough to be happy. Fortunately, about 10 years ago I ran into a fellow whose wife was in an assisted living home. The chemistry was there at our first get together and what a blessing it has been. His wife passed away and now he is in the same facility after losing the use of his legs. He can still play and we have gigs at his place where we are “celebrities”. Hah! We love a captive audience. I’m curious about your course because I have just been coasting as the rhythm guitar. It is all fun and we call ourselves the FunGuys. We do what we can to throw some light into lives that are shut in and often forgotten. I’m looking forward to doing a deep dive into this.
I’m 75. I decided to start to learn during covid and about 4 years on I am definitely stuck in the beginners stage.
I’ve been on and off trying to learn the guitar for a long time. 6 months ago I started again and this time I stuck with it long enough to get past the pain in my fretting fingers. I started a lifegroup in my shop and it turned out that there are 4 other guitar players in my lifegroup so God has put accountability in place. We’re having fun playing together and I’m getting a chance to learn from some good players. I’m ready to give this challenge my all.
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