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.
Hey Tony,
It’s been many years since I last played my D, C, G songs!! I keep my guitar, in it’s home but in plain view, just in case.
It took me 2 days to start playing your day 1 introduction and thank you, I feel better already!!
Back after 30 years
No comment yet
Played chords for a lot of years. Mainly strumming. Practiced alternate picking some. Never really picked and strummed.
I’m a self taught rhythm guitarist and singer who back in my younger days played in a band, but I was never happy with my skills. I really like your teaching method.
Hi Tony.
Started playing guitar in 2020 but playing the 5 string banjo for quite a while, this was my first challenge and it was not perfect but I was capable of doing it, I’m taking these lessons to help me out with my precision and focus.
Hi Tony
I’m a 66 year old lifetime collector of guitars and complete non achiever! I can’t really put my finger on why I’ve never committed, despite wanting to be able to play and living my life vicariously through the worlds greatest players! Haha.
I can only conclude that I haven’t come across ‘the right tutor for me’, if you know what I mean.
I’m looking forward to these 5 days, and really hoping that I am motivated at the end to commit to a year of TAC.
Thank you for what you are doing.
I tried to learn the guitar several times but the time and effort did not mesh with what was happening with me in life at that moment. I am hoping I will stick with it this time.
Hi Tony,
I started playing guitar via Fender app during covid and stopped in 2022 when it ended and life happened again. I dabbled occasionally.
Today was really hard. My right shoulder froze such that holding the guitar was painful. My notes were muffled until I remembered you said to move my palm closer to the neck and arch fingers. Low E was pretty clear but I had to pause between strings and position to get clearer notes. Fingers dulled the notes between strings. I positioned the guitar on an angle to be able to play without too much right shoulder pain but arm was almost numb when finished.
What stretching exercises do you suggest? Don’t think I can play the way my shoulder locks.
On a high point, I did the link and it sounded OK in the end. Mostly clear notes at .75 speed.
I’ve been trying to play for 63 years. Gave up, but about 3 years ago.started trying once again..
Not easy, but getting the pattern down. Thanks. Joe
Hi Tony,
I’ve messed with my guitar on & off for over 60 years, and 6-8 years ago developed neuropathy in both hands. Not total loss of feeling, but pretty profound. Could finger pick fairly well, but had no plan or direction. Hadn’t picked up a guitar until last week and decided to see if it would be possible to play. Today’s challenge felt good, but a bit mushy on some strings. I didn’t usually play with a pick, but it worked out fine. Worst part is my hands have weakend such that barr cords are really difficult. Hopefully, playing will help rebuild strength. Thanks for this opportunity.
Chuck
Ok, first day of the 5-Day Challenge. I like it. As a beginner I recognized myself in your list of “why people don’t progress” – I am the AR/OCD type. I work on an exercise for months until I have it down, then go to the next one… I am 75, I will be lucky to get anywhere at this rate. I am glad you offered this trial because I joined a while back and immediately backed out because I just wasn’t sure if it was for me. So now I can find out.
I finally got the cords right, got to admit my fingers are sore. I’m a beginner looking to have more fun this time around and not beat myself up. I tried your course awhile back and I couldn’t move forward bc I had to get the lessons right. Glad my 10 minutes turned into ½ an hour and I was so psyched that I got your Day 1 challenge done, it was fun.
Hi Toney I’m back again this is round two I’m really going to try this time I am slow on the execution but it makes since so that’s a win
Thank you see you tomorrow.
Brand spanking new. Enjoyed today, looking forward to the other lessons this week,
I am fairly good at chords but struggle to do much more. I self taught myself using Mel Bay chord book when I was 18. I probably didn’t play very much for 20 years after that. I have been trying pick it back up over the last year. I mainly just play songs using chord charts. I don’t know if it’s the action on my guitar but I found the hardest one to do was the 4-5 on the Low E and A strings. The rest were easier.
Brand spanking new.
I do not understand where to place the fingers on my left hand at all.
Please help.
Thank you!
Thanks for this challenge. I’m a long time beginner that’s been leaning towards electric guitar for a long time, but love acoustic. Just not versed in the skills (they are different).
Hello Tony,
Used to play gigs with a band 40 years ago. Have not played since, and have pretty much forgotten everything I ever knew. (Played organ for 50+ years as well, but not the last 20. I think I have forgotten that as well. It is tough getting old.) Decided it was time to get back into playing again. We are in the process of selling our current home while waiting on our retirement home to be built. This “5-day Challenge” will be a great motivator for restarting the journey later this year when everything settles down.
Just starting picking. Long ago I sang and played chords.
I can do the major basic chording. I am hoping to get skilled at playing.
Hi Tony. I’m a 78 yr old who has tried several times over the last 30+ years to learn to play the guitar, unsuccessfully. I have been playing ukulele, tenor and baritone, for about 10 years so a string instrument is not a mystery. Your 1st day of the challenge has been fun, but a real challenge because the guitar is so much larger than my ukes. I have been able to play the pattern, in a different key, on my uke, but I’m having a hard time with holding the guitar and getting my fingers to the low E and A strings – the instrument positioning for a uke doesn’t seem to work for the guitar. Will you be offering any guidance for these basic things? I assume the 30-Day Jumpstart would help, but I’m not sure enough about the program today to purchase it and get the Jumpstart. Looking forward to tomorrow. Skip
I am a Beginner to the guitar( somewhat late in the day at 82yrs) but I have always yearned to be able to play the guitar.
Your tutorial was excellent in its clarity and detail , so here we go I will give this 5 day challenge my best shot
some difficulty finding Play!!
Im an 83-year old male and have been playing for nearly a year.
Hi Tony. I used to be fairly fluid in playing. I’m starting again for the umpteenth time. Generally start out well then completely leave it behind again. Age 68, some hand arthritis but it’s not too much of a hindrance. Just need consistency and strength to keep on keeping on. Thanks for what you do. I can see it brings joy to your players.
Brand new 56.5 years old
Tried playing a long time ago and quit pretty quickly — excited to take time and learn but felt pretty slow in this exercise
Hello Tony. I’m a “hit the wall” 20 year guitar hacker. Hoping to break through a guitar rut.
Basically a beginner. Took lessons 10 years ago with some success. Lost a good instructor and didn’t keep up on my own
I’m getting more nervous, because I don’t understand some of the terminology.
Hi Tony, I’m a beginner, having never picked up a guitar before. I was lost there but will re-do video.
I took lessons about 20 years ago and didn’t get a lot out of it. It felt like work. I would consider myself a beginner at 63.
Hammer?? What? You have already lost me.
Pretty much a brand new player. Started a year ago with a bass guitar. Then bought an electric guitar and finally an acoustic / electric guitar. Had an accident where I couldn’t play or practice for about seven months. Just recently I started to pick up the acoustic again.
I’m a beginner. The first lesson took about an hour. On to day two!
Just turned 76, first guitar a Guild back in 1976. Played off and on, mainly the same few songs mostly chords. Like to play finger style on a newer Eastman 00 and am better than using a pick on the Guild dred. Left off playing many years and never consistent. Diagnosed 2 yr ago with Terminal cancer so while I’m still above ground giving it one last go to learn to play. Should have focused earlier on but life got in the way.
hi toney. enjoyed todays lesson. i only made same progress but i did make progress, i happened to break a string on my acoustic guitar. would it be ok to use my electric guitar.
Older adult. I’ve been doing some online lessons and playing praise and worship music with YouTube since 2020. Working on smooth transitions between chords and using a pick instead of fingers.
Dr. said, have to use fingers more or I will lose their usefulness to arthritis. Am 87 and definitely
on the back nine. Fumbled at guitar in earlier years and never got past basic 18 chords and
related minors and sharps. Knew a group while attending university at the FARM who were real
folkies. Eventually had to leave the farm because they were losing too much money. Fun times.
First timer. Been wanting to learn for years. Played the trumpet when I was a kid. Now 54 and really want to learn guitar. Wrist hurts a bit. 🙂
Brand new
I play more classical style , without a pick, can I do this with fingers only?
Just starting out !
good vid
Slow old guy I have dabbled for years on and off my whole life, Now at 62 I need to do this! trying to get the proper strumming technique
down on this first day.
I’m KT,
My purpose for the challenge is developing a consistent practice routine with some direction. Day 1 I felt confident in the challenge.
Thank you! I look forward to learning how to pick better and get comfortable enough to be able to sing while also picking. I can strum while singing, but picking while singing has been a huge challenge for me.
Haven’t touched a guitar since Jr. High and didn’t take it seriously back then. I’m now sneaking up on 65 and really want to learn.
I used to be a TAC member but got breast cancer and put it on hold. I still played throughout. I’m in a folk trio that performs our own originals and I’m feeling the need to learn more so I can move on from a plateau I
feel I’m on.
Picked up guitar after a long hyatis.
I’m a solid rhythm player, songwriter, perform live. 58 years old/female. I write mainly on guitar and looking to add more licks in my writing, walk-downs, fancy it up 🙂 I was a member back when I was feeling rusty and your lessons are incredible so I decided to do this 5 day challenge to get outside my comfort zone again.