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 feel lost. I’m a total rookie and going as slowly as I can.
Hey, super fun first day! I heard after I signed up with you that you are the best teacher and great player! Excited to learn with you, thanks again!
I’ve played G, C, D, Em Am chords – E, A B C#m, and similar Chords for years. Plus a capo. Have had ZERO confidence to ever play notes. Always want to hid behind chords that are slightly more forgiving. First day is still super messy. But encouraged. Thanks.
I’m starting off completely brand new. This is actually the first time I’ve ever picked up a guitar.
The Tab icon is a link to a pdf; it doesn’t automatically open into a window. I taught myself some picking from a book, took a 3 week beginner course for chords, but I’m not progressing. I have a hard time getting my fingers onto the correct frets on the lower strings -there’s a lot of dead notes from fingers interfering with strings. Hammer-ons don’t sound or are very weak and it throws off my picking rhythm. Took longer than 10 minutes (as everyone else said!) to get something I was reasonably happy with. It’s going to take quite a few more 10-minute sessions to get this!
I play banjo and hammered dulcimer mainly, some dobro and mountain dulcimer. I learned basic rythym guitar so I could accompany banjo and dulcimer students. Played around occaisionally with a flatpicking book or two. Now retired at 68 thought I would try the guitar challenge for fun
Tried a long time ago but the guy I learnt from didn’t teach the fundamentals properly now I feel awkward trying. I play one finger the next makes awful sound. Unable to move with basics…
I came back after 25 years of not playing. Been playing about 2 years now.
I’ve been a beginner for about 25 or so years. I learned how to read TAB when I was younger and can do some easy picking. But when it came to chords and strumming or tougher picking patterns I always struggled and after awhile would give up. Always wanted to be able to just set and play. Now I want to be able to be able to play for my kids so they get interested in music.
I’m learning that the right hand is just as clumsy as the left. Got to admit, I’m feeling overwhelmed. This is where I usually go to noodling, but this time I stuck it out and even practice it for a bit afterwards. I’m a life long noodler with a bunch of bad habits to correct. I’m 46 and have owned and fumbled around with both acoustic and electric guitars since I was 18. I love the sound of the guitar, I want to play it so bad, but never had the time for professional lessons or the money for tudor’s.
I’ve spent thousands on hi dollar guitars and tons of books and “lesson books” tips and tricks, techniques and blah blah blah’s. I don’t know, maybe I’m just ment to be a collector of nice guitars.
It’s difficult to complete the lesson in 10 minutes when the video itself is longer than 10 minutes! I’ll need to dedicate at least 30 mins daily. I bought an electric guitar and amp a couple months ago and played a few chords and practiced strumming, but otherwise I am a complete beginner. I’m 68 and found it difficult to go from fret 4 (middle finger) to fret 5 (ring finger) because my fingers don’t stretch as far as the fret wires are apart. Then, my ring finger muted the A string and it sounded awful. Otherwise, I got the 1-and-2-and-3 4-and pattern down pretty well. Small win!
The muted string is nothing new to me, as I have been doing that for the last 2 months and just cannot get my fingers properly on the string. I honestly have been thinking about trying the bass guitar because of the increased spacing between strings!
I am a beginner. Great 1st lesson.
Found this first lesson a challenge.
I’m 67 and have been dabbling for years don’t seem to be able to to stay with it long enough to get better.
Not used to using a pick but it does sound better with one.
I did make good progress with this exercise but it took me longer than 10 minutes.
Great lesson. I’ve only been playing for a few weeks. I was able to get it down pretty fast. Only issue I had was muting the next higher string on the upstroke with my middle finger and hammering on with my ring finger.. I don’t yet have the dexterity or muscle memory. My fix was to move my middle finger out of the way a little. I also tried playing with finger 1&2, definitely easier for the hammer on. I’m guessing 1&2 might not work for the rest of the piece? How important is proper fingering? I also play some open chords with different fingers.I love your way of teaching. I plan to become a member. I already feel like a player instead of a dabbler.
Big win today, can’t wait for tomorrow!
Hi Tony
I’m 53 and brand new to playing, but really want to give it a go
I’m 57 and have always wanted to play guitar but have had assorted obstacles. I finally have the time (I retired) and the means to take lessons at the best guitar store around (Appalachian Bluegrass in Catonsville, MD). Two months in and I feel defeated, frustrated, and dread going into my lesson. So I’m trying something different.
Nice start. I started lessons then cut my left index finder in a band saw. I did not have a lot of feeling or movement with that finger for years. I restarted lessons and struggled with the index finger on cords f and c as my finger does not bend well for those cords. I have tried many times and was unable to get coordinated. i still struggle with cord changes and strumming cant seem to get to the next cord before i strum again. its not bad if I go really slow, but then it does not sound like a song. Now that i am retired i am trying again.
Hi. I can do basic finger picking and strumming but want to put more interest in my playing so I can do guitar intros. I took the guitar up as a teenager but didn’t learn things like this today. I didn’t touch it for many years and have started to strum and sing again. I’m reasonably confident in what I currently do but want to improve.
Good morning Tony
I’m 60, just received my Ibanez acoustic left handed guitar from Sweetwater a few days ago. Never played. But have always wanted too. Just finished watching the day 1 challenge, can’t say I picked up much of it lol! Fingers and wrist are a bit tight, age thing i guess I’ve been doing finger stretching to try and get them more functional. Notes, chords, etc overwhelming for sure. Until tomorrow
Thanks for this
Brand new. Hard to figure the frets and finger placement.
I’m a 75yo new player. I’m having trouble with the hammer. Probably arthritis related.
I’m 71 years old. I really need to improve my skills on guitar.
I just had my 73rd birthday on Valentine’s day. I bought my Washburn acoustic guitar when my son was 17 – he turned 50 this year – yet it still looks brand new because I have hardly played it. I have had many interruptions in life that stopped me playing. At one point I felt that I was getting quite good – even made up my own tune. My main problem though is that I can never seem to remember anything. No matter how much I have learned or practised it doesn’t stick. Even after a very short break I have had to go back to the beginning – as though I had never picked up a guitar before. This issue is persistent in anything I do – not just guitar – and it has been a life long problem. While I continue to do something consistently I’m okay but as soon as I stop doing something it goes! This cycle of having to start over has caused me to pick up my guitar less and less. This may not be the best place to try to solve this problem but if I could at least learn to love playing again that would be nice.
I’m 67 and a beginner, using a electric guitar es-355, struggled but enjoyed it. The mistake l made was watching it from my phone, I will use computer next lesson.
I’m brand spanking new…will watch again
Thank you for this! I’ve, never had lessons, love playing but want to get better. I am mostly a power chord guy, but hoping to figure things out!!
i am about to turn 60, and have been a singer/songwriter since my late 20’s, but always have only barely played guitar, just enough to bring bare bones songs to a band or guitar player. every time i try to take lessons, i get quickly overwhelmed because the lessons are either too boring or too haphazard for me to stay motivated. i have felt for decades that i am not a guitar player (because the guys who have played with me are so, so good), but i very much would like the freedom to do local open mics and maybe even small gigs on my own. i am really interested in your structure of building skills by repetition, not perfection. let’s go!
I can hear “She talks to Angels” in the practice notes.
I bought a Martin in 2001 and have been a “dabbler” ever since. I usually learn 50-80% of a song, get stuck finishing it, move to another song, not play for a while, forget everything, rinse and repeat.
1st lesson was great, looking forward to this week.
I played when I was a teenager and was fairly proficient, but I stopped in my early 20s and haven’t played since. I’m in my middle 60s now and retiring and wanted to pick up a hobby I enjoyed and could afford, so I hoped I could once again play a guitar. I’ve had multiple concussions since I was young and don’t remember much about playing so It’s really like learning from scratch for me. Every once in a while I hit on something familiar, and it brings a smile! I’ve tried some other beginner stuff and it helped some but hasn’t really felt like it was getting me to where I wanted to be again. My fingers are pretty slow and it’s odd that some days I mute a lot of strings while other days not so much. Today’s challenge was fun and I look forward to what tomorrow will offer in the challenge.
Step 1…. Done… Now to keep going..
I’m Don, 58, from Michigan.
I’ve messed around for decades. Go for a while, quit for a few years from frustration.
This is a good start.
Having a tough time getting my hands to bend so as not to mute the other strings
This is just what I was looking for. I’ve been playing bass for almost 30 years and decided to challenge myself with guitar. And it is extremely challenging. I’m finding that fretting a note isn’t as easy as I thought it was.
Hi,
I am a returning player. Played as a kid 10-12 yrs, then in my 20’s a lot then not, then in my late 30’s early 40’s and now starting in my 59th year again. This time seems like a lot less pressure and more enjoyment. I have a few guitars but bought a new one end of September 2025 and have been playing almost everyday sometimes like you said just for a few mins but it often ends up longer. I like to sing or hum along to my playing for my own enjoyment. Today’s lesson was kind of fun. Question: do we have to lift our finger off the first note string when we do the hammer on… have I developed a bad habit of leaving my finger on the previous note??
Great. Leaning from new and this is great. Thanks
Never played more than 2 days in a row, with, as expected, no success. Feels like this was made with me in mind 🙂 So, absolute beginner here.
I have not played in many years, even then after lessons and using Alfred’s book, it still did not click. I was stuck and gave up. I’m trying your 5 day challenge and find it too advanced for a first lesson. Will try it for the 5 days.
Picking up the guitar at 65 after childhood lessons and one failed attempt about 10 years ago. Fingers feel fat and clumsy . I think I got about 70% of today’s challenge and going to leave it that for today as I am trying to not get frustrated and keep this experiment going.
I started playing 30 years ago, played for about five years. I’ve never had a lesson. but then I got stuck. I recently picked the Guitar back up six months ago and again I feel like I’m coming right back up to that stuck feeling again.
Brand new. One week into it and can’t put it down. Oldet guy 71 but I love it
I am the ultimate newbie. Before trying the lessons, what should I look for in a beginner’s acoustic guitar? Features, fittings, recommended models/brands. Took piano lessons 50 years ago but no guitar experience.
I’m getting back into guitar, but truthfully never felt I really knew how to play the guitar even after writing 10 songs with my guitar teachers wonderful help of applying the chords to my melodies. Strumming seems clumsy, and knowing what strums to use for new songs I’d like to play. I can read tabs when I apply myself. Seriously want to get out of my own rut to play more for myself, write more songs and start playing with others and start performing at mic nights.
Day 1 for me. Thanks Tony. Used to play 50 years ago. Never could get good. Hoping to get comfortable playing again. Great lesson. My fingers hurt! Thanks, I had fun.
57 years old and just staring with the guitar. I have an acoustic. My main frustration is finding a comfortable way to hold the instrument and be able to curl my hand enough to touch a string without deadening all the nearby strings. Looking forward to spending 5 days having relaxed fun and hopefully seeing/feeling some improvements
I signed up p the 5 day chalange but I haven’t recieved 2 in my email and I’m dissappoied. I wanted to try the method for the 5 days.
I am coming back to playing the guitar after being away for awhile.
Hello Tony.
I would describe myself as “Stuck” (for a decade or more). Mostly noodling and playing a couple songs every once in a while, but not progressing. After tonight’s technique lesson, discovered one thing…need to build back those calluses! HAHA.
FUN Lesson!
Cheers
74, played in high school bands, but quit when kids came. been watching your lessons for a couple of years off and on. trying to break different habits because self thought and develop more focused skills.
I’ve been around for a long time with a 30 year gap. Been on it for 9.5 years again. No gigging or anything like that, tho I wish I had a person or some people to work on some creative very basic jazz-infected stuff with.
I’m 62 and just starting with guitar. Always wanted to, just never “got around to it”. I’ll be retiring in three years or so and I’d really like to be able to sit at the fire pit in my backyard and play songs. I’m not looking to make a living in music, just enjoy the experience.
Sorry, my mistake. Listened again