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.
Tony –
I am 66, just retired and bought my first guitar – an Orangewood, and love it! Been practicing for a couple of months now and my fingers are still sore. Your challenge is very motivating for me and I love your approach at learning new skills. I plan to stick with it.
I first picked up my son’s guitar around 2014 and learned some chords from YouTube then eventually bought my own guitar. Since then have dabbled learning bits of different songs from YouTube and even had a few 1-2-1 lessons. I made quick progress at the start but really haven’t improved much since and definitely class myself as a dabbler. 1-2-1 lessons were helpful but too focused on music theory for me which didn’t really click. I’m now retired from paid work at 63 and would like to put some time into guitar again, don’t want to carry on the dabbling as sure I’ll stay at the same level forever! First lesson went pretty well today though had to run back over a few times, low E hammer was a struggle but the rest is coming together so I’m encouraged and looking forward to the next days.
Hi Tony
New beginner 67 yrs old never played a a day in my life. I have always wanted to play the guitar and thought now that I am retired it was a good time to learn.
Hi Tony, I am a 78 yr. old newbie on the guitar but very motivated to learn. I had to go back several times to get a clear sounding note. Coordinating the notes with the strumming I find is challenging but I’ll stick at it.
Hi Tony brand new. Been trying some online beginner stuff with progress made. Am totally committed and have the time to put into this. Looking forward to getting better
Hi Tony! I’ve been playing guitar off and on since I was 18 (now 75). I play with a group at church, but find myself wanting to learn more skills. This morning’s lesson is exactly what I’ve been trying to work on – alternate picking! So I know I’m in the right place. Thanks so much for breaking it all down and actually challenging me to grow in my skill level!
Got bought the guitar I’m using for my 18th Birthday (which was, ahem, some decades in the past). It’s been picked up every so often for short bursts of enthusiasm every few months or years apart and then neglected after a while of aimless plinking. Really hoping that adding some structure in like this will help me keep it going this time.
Strangely, the thing I’m finding hardest about this particular lesson is keeping the picking direction & rhythm consistent – whilst my chord hand seems to know what it’s doing the right hand just keeps going off and doing it’s own thing! – shows me where perhaps I need to focus some attention I suppose 🙂
Hi Tony.
Just starting out as a 77 year old retiree.
Starting over again at 58!
Hi Tony, 1st off, thanks for the into. I’m a complete beginner at 50. Fat fingers and a fender CC-60s concert acoustic guitar which sounds better than me. Day 1 challenge out the way, a little fumbly but seen it through.
Thank you very much. I started a couple of years ago at age 64. Very infrequent practicing. Watched whole video today and will try it tomorrow. I was supposed to start on Monday, but only have received this first video which probably came in my mailbox yesterday.
Rama
I am a restart. I think this is goi g to work
I’ve been playing guitar since the 80s and my fingers are a little rusty but I enjoy the way you teach it’s just like I’m starting over i joined tac and really want to learn more so thank you
This seems to have stopped at day 1????
Have I missed something?
I am currently dealing with lung cancer and your learning methods are helping me keep my mind off my health problems. I have a good feel for playing and connecting chords but struggle with licks and tabs. God Bless you Tony for making this challenge so fun!
I’m 64 years old (and yes! I do want to learn that Beatles song!). I had never even touched guitar before last year when I decided, I’d like to learn how to play. I bought an Eastman 00 which I think is beautiful. I love what you’re teaching me and I’m grateful for your superb five day challenge. I’m glad I found you.
One thing that would really help me is if you showed the stroke patterns on the tab. As a former piano player, I like seeing sheet music, so I watch your video while looking at the tab, but sometimes it’s hard to see whether you’re doing a down stroke or an up stroke. Is there a way you could add that?
I’m unable to move forward to Day 2?
Small win: Got my fingers moving, not just shaping a chord !
A good start, but a day late. I just had so much going on yesterday I never got to the guitar. So here I am today. So recently I had started out with the 30 day deal in the five day thing and everything went well up until the daily challenges started. I just thought the first challenge was so much over my head that it was unattainable. My fingers just couldn’t make the stretches. So I backed off. Then I saw this and I thought maybe it was something more manageable. And it seems to be! I had to slow the speed down to .5 then to .75 but I’m getting it. I’m still a day behind but I plan to catch up tomorrow. Certainly it needs more than 10 minutes and tomorrow I should have the time. Looking forward to continuing. Biggest win was being able to play the sequence without needing the tabs. But I do need to speed it up and be more clean on the strings. FYI. Age 79… Been playing for a long time…can do major, minor, and seventh chords at the bottom of the front board and can buy these as well. I wanted to learn how to re-tab and now I can. I also wanted to learn how to pick and use different rhythms srumming and I did get some of that over the first five or six weeks.
Brand spanking new – showed up!
Some notes sounded clear.
I am 70 years old, recently retired and have been taking online classes for about two years. I can play a dozen songs with chords but seem to not be going forward any, and I am stuck on how to put a good practice routine together.
computer down yeaterday but pick up guitar and play stuff i remembered as it came back for 25 min. no stop will do same today try to gey back tommrrow like what i read here
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