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.
You talk too much and too fast.
Slow down.
I am not totally new but have lots to learn.
What if someone didn’t know what a hammer on is, for example, or what the notes are?
Very challenging for a total beginner.
Thanks though.
You’re very encouraging and positive.
I picked my old guitar up for the first time since the middle ’70’s a few weeks ago and started with no callouses and just now getting where I can play a few chords clearly. I’m 71 years old and my fingers don’t move like they did 50 years ago!
I am new to guitar and I have a very hard time having one hand doing one thing and the other doing something totally different. I also have a very hard time keeping my fingers on just one string at a time on the frets so the string that is supposed to be open is not actually open and sounds terrible.
new to guitar
Hey, Tony I’m a disabled veteran who just retired and I’ve tried taking lessons online a couple of times since I live in the boonies now-with a 100% fail rate because they just wanted me to learn to hold the guitar right and do this practice technique and draw it out so they can get paid. Today was frustrating at first but I slowed it down and finally got the picking pattern down because my picking skills are very beginner cuz I don’t use a pick when I’m just playing through the chords I’ve learned to just thumb on the down strokes and using the 3 and 4 fingers on the upstroke.
So I’ve saved some of your lessons for blues riffs on YouTube and that is my main objective to be able to play the blues and Learn a song from beginning to end other than jingle bells which ain’t very bluesy. So thanks for breaking it down enough that I can learn something I can use to help get through this wall I have been stuck on of not progressing
Wow, no way am I going to be able to follow this guy…definitely not for beginners…requires players to know and be fluent with the entire keyboard…needs a much clearer demonstration of where the fingers go…oh well… was worth a try.
new
I’m 70 years young and been trying to learn guitar for 5 years. I’ve learned a few songs, pentatonic scales, and a couple of modes. I also dabble with triads. I can play most major, minor, seventh, major 7th and min 7th open chords. I have failed at barre chords. Fast chord changes are a challenge, depending on the chords involved. I am here trying to improve technique, as well as increase my song selection. I also want to bring some joy and feeling of accomplishment into my playing.
hello tony, Let me start by saying i thought i was to old, I 66 years old now and still trying to learn to play the guitar so i finally took the leap and decided to try your way of learning, I’ve been watching your stuff for well over a year now and your comments in and about your TAC program and why to take it sounded like it was directed at me. I have been trying to learn guitar for 5 years and nothing seemed to stick, I have tried several methods, personal lessons with a teacher, you tube videos, books, tapes etc but it doesn’t stick. I can play several of the basic chords, hate the barr chords, and have a fairly good understanding of music theory but my problem is chord transition and keeping rhythm in a strum pattern. tried to learn the strum pattern for horse with no name and have trouble with it, been at it for months. So here i am at the 5 day challenge with a lot of hope and determination once again. I feel i need the daily routine of something specific with an overall goal in mind. My goal is to learn rhythm as well as fingerpicking. there is so many styles i like a little of each so if this works as well as i hope i will sign up for the TAC program. Thank you for your time and talent in helping others like me. Wish i could tell you all this in person but this will have to do. I truly hope that any responses i get back, at least the first one here, will be from you and not a staff member, I am sure you have hundreds though that hope the same.
I dabbled 28 years ago and stopped because of work. I’m now 69 and want to have another go. My finger nails need cutting, but got my fingers in the right places and at the right timing – eventually. A little slow but I did it.
I am coming back after years but was getting lost with to go.
I’m stuck and I don’t know why. Maybe I’m tired of playing alone and not being challenged. Same old same old
When I press down on the second fret it kills the sound. I’ve tried several times, moving my finger a bit back then forward, I don’t know what is wrong. I watched the vid and you pluck the E major once with your finger on one fret and without plucking [ or whatever it’s called] again, you place another finger on the next fret closer to the bridge this results in a new note, but when I do this it kills the sound. WHY? I’ve ordered some feeler gauges etc. and I’ll have a sus of the height of the action. ANY:) insight would be appreciated. ARRR, LOL!
I listened and tried without much success. I feel confused, and hope it will improve with tomorrow’s challenge.
I’ve been dabbling off and on for some time, and had some formal lessons as a kid. I really want to play really well, but I need help with technique. I came across your challenge and accepted. I’m finding with day 1, I really need to reach with my fingers between frets, and not arching well to stay off the lower string. Getting there, I have my moments.
Haven’t played in a few year but want to get back into it. I wasn’t progressing and felt frustrated. Giving it anoher shot. Having a hard time geting the open string to ring out. My fretted finger is blocking it from ringing out
Thanks for this. Getting back into guitar after a few years away. I lost any technique I once had. My first attempt at this challenge was awful. My hammer ons were pathetic and I couldn’t get my head around the pattern. My second attempt was even worse. I forced myself to work thru it and by attempt 10 I can make it all the way to the end. It’s not smooth or rhythmic but it’s something. Going to keep at it. I’m glad the first lesson is a bit challenging and not ‘here’s an a-minor chord.’
Sorry, but I am a day behind, Also, I am a little slow and not striking the strings hard enough…or so I feel.
Brand new. I’ve always wanted to play music but get frustrated easily in progress
I watched How to hold a pick, but do you have a vid on How to hold a Guitar???. Can’t find one
So I prepared and planned all weekend for today’s start, after supper, my wife wanted to watch some TV with me so I did and the next thing I realize is its 1am and I just woke up! I realized the guitar was next door in my office, so I went and retrieved the guitar, came back and started the challenge, first I couldn’t get the sound to work. Lol after restarting the computer, it cleared up that problem. I went through the lesson but at 1x speed it was so fast I didn’t learn a thing, so I went back through it a second time. This time I turned you down to .5 speed, that was helpful. So, my small wins for today: 1. I woke up before daylight, so I could say I showed up on day 1, although technically after 1 am it was Tuesday already. 2.Got the sound back to working on my computer. 3. At .5 speed I was actually able to follow a little bit the 2nd go round. I noticed you say something about the sound being wonky you might need to tune your guitar. Should we start there? because I am so green at the guitar that I don’t even know how to tune the guitar.
Sincerely,
JD
40 year beginner is the phrase I heard recently that seems to fit. Maybe advanced beginner on a good day. Some barre chords. recently started working my way up the neck trying to work pentatonic phrasing into easy songs. Learning Alt bass picking and initial foray into Piedmont blues on my new resonator. I lack consistency in my playing time. Stuck in a cycle where I play a handful of songs with Cowboy chords for few months and then stop playing, Trying to build a consistent routine so I enjoy playing more and play most every day.
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.