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
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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.
Hi Tony, I got day one, but didn’t get day two of the 5 day challenge.
Thanks – Joe
First timer for quite a stretch (2 or 3 yrs), could never really follow other tutorials along very well. I’m determined to keep trying though. I have a two part question.
1-At the beginning when picking the A-string, is it an open A upstroke? is it picking UP on the 5th fret still?
I tried to learn how to play several years ago, but I stopped. I’m 70 years old now, and I still want to learn and now that I’m retired, I have the time.
I am a complete beginner starting from scratch at 61!
I’ve been strumming mostly open chords for years, but kind of at a plateau. Mostly finger picking. I’d like to improve that, as well as get comfortable flat picking.
Totally lost and frustrated. Really not sure which fingers are supposed to touch which strings when. A diagram would help.
Learning a power chord in the intro is very cool
I am 70 now. I took lessons by note but not chords in middle school. My fingers feel fat. Maybe I need to hold my fingers more perpendicular to the strings? I have been involved with music since the 5th grade.
I’m really just starting and I know I should know all the strings but if you could say string 1,2,3,4 etc a little more in conjunction with the letter name that would be helpful
I bought two electric and one acoustic guitar over a decade ago for my kids, but none continued playing, and they gathered dust. Now, at 57 and a competitive cyclist, my 2026 resolution is to become a pro guitarist from scratch and prove to my kids and friends that anything’s possible. Day one was tough, but I improved by the third attempt and will try again before the end of the day. Starting off unsure is okay as being said.
picked guitar up and put it down several times over the years. always got to a point where I didn’t know what to do to progress. felt like a huge gap between where I was and where I want to be with no bridge in between.
Brand new,confused!
New
Hello!
I’m 40 and I have sang all my life but have never really attempted to learn how to play an instrument even though I’ve always wanted to. I just assumed it would be too difficult. I’ve always loved the guitar and have always wanted to play. My son’s father gave him a guitar several years ago and I dabbled with it but it was brief and when my son moved into his own place he took his guitar with him. I bought one 2 weeks ago and thankfully found you on YouTube. This lesson today was hard for me. I was discouraged, BUT you said to take a win everyday so I tried to be positive and proud of myself when I got just the first part. The ups and downs are hard and I couldn’t seem to get the hammer to work without muting it. After reading some of these comments I’m feeling much better – I’m not the only one who struggles! Thank you for what you’re doing. I’m going to stick with this!
I have been playing for many years – mostly finger picking, and sloppy strumming :). Have never mastered being comfortable holding a flatpick. Any tips appreciated.
Hi Tony, I started learning how to play guitar when I was 13 (taking lessons). I’m now 73. I’ve always been a rhythm player and in those early years in a band in Jr High school years. I played off and on mostly off till 1988 when we started a family. So I’d say 30 + years I never picked up my guitar. Now that I’m retired and no one at home except me and my wife, I started back. I’ve had a 12string Aria since 1972ish, and added a Alvarez 6 string and a Cort 6 string. I admit I had struggles with today’s exercise with my fingers and mind getting my fingers to cooperate lol! I had some buzzing (not a clear tone) but I finally got the pattern but very slow.
I’m excited about this challenge and will try my best to keep up.
I’m 57 and have been dabbling for a few years. Just retired and really want to learn to play. My biggest challenge is my finger tips are fat and soft making hard to get clean notes and chords. Hoping with consistent playing they will harden. Enjoyed day 1.
self taught but consider myself a beginner. after 3 years . so I’m stuck big time. I can play many chords but transition is slow. at 72 I am hoping to really play songs. I think I need new strings on my guitar. Fingers hurt.
53 I took lessons 40 years ago but quit playing after only learning Mary had a little Lamb. I’ve picked up a guitar here and there but I’ve always had issues with staying with it because my fingers don’t seem long enough to play many chords. I’m trying again on a 3/4 size and hoping it helps me this time
I’m 77 and new
I’m 65 and new
I’m 63, and I’ve been dabbling on and off (mostly off) for 40 years. Fingers are not cooperating yet, but this was fun!
54 years old and brand new to guitar.
Hi Tony, I am 60 years and have been taking lessons for 4 years ( Stopped lessons this past July). Trying to do it on my own and came across this lesson and thought i would give it a try. No issues with todays task.
At first I had a hard time following where I was suppose to be playing, but then I opened up the tab and it became clear to me where my fingers should be and what string to play on. Funny thing, I have never read tab in my life…it made not sense to me. I was so excited to be able to play looking at the tab.
I have been playing for about 30 years and I am self taught. I picked up a few books and learned the chords and I was then able to join our church choir after about a year and a half. I have been playing in various church folk choirs since. I put the guitar down for about ten years and then picked it up again a little over a year ago. I joined my new church’s choir and I have been playing ever since. Back in high school, I was in the orchestra playing the clarinet, so I have been able to read music and that was a real advantage for me. I love to new things and I am hoping to add new things to what I already know, hopefully, I can learn some finger picking as well.
Todays lesson really got be excited. It was so easy once I understood the string and notes. Thank you!
I have been playing for 12 years, mostly a strummer not a picker. I found this tutorial to be difficult, but I could do it somewhat. I’ll keep at it. I feel I never get much better and probably have bad techniques, hoping you can help me be a better player! Thank you in advance!
so i am a self taught guitarists who has been playing about 38 years. I never played in a band or with anyone else. I learned 15 chords and just played the songs I liked. i figured out all the strumming and crosspicking to suit me, no knowledge or discipline. It actually worked out really wel as long as I don’t play with others. Now i want to learn what I have missed. I am retired and 71 yoa male.
for last 40 years, I pick up guitar, take lessons for 2-3 months, practice, then put away for about 5 years.
then repeat that loop.
but now retired, and am more focused on keeping practice going.
would like to play several Beatles songs, Jim Croce, Elvis, that’s my goal, soft ballads.
For my left/fret hand, do I use my finger tips or the pads of my fingers on the strings?
Hi Tony,
I, played guitar a long time ago (garage band) – mid/late 70’s and then started again when I was teaching my son how to play about 12 years ago. Just getting back into it. I have played piano since late 60’s and have no issue site reading there, but guitar is a different cup of tea – being able to play the same note in several places whereas piano, there is only one! Looking forward to build on what I know so far, correcting any bad habits, and getting more of a sense of accomplishment than previously experienced.
Noodled off and on for years with basic chords and playing bass in punk bands in my 20s (I’m 45 now) . Thought this was the year I’m going to start learning properly! Already seeing the merit in this! Thanks Tony
Hi Tony!
I started playing when I was in the 6th grade back around 1966. I played in a garage band at school dances, and a couple clubs on military bases in junior high and high school. I kept playing acoustic guitar in college, seminary, and beyond. I still play often. But I am in a rut and decided to try to get out of it with some practice and new techniques. Your first lesson was a challenge for my 71-year-old brain. But I think I got it now and I’m looking forward to building on what I learned. I’m also a “techno-saur” who struggles with finding my way around my computer. But I was able to get a handle on that too.
Thank you for all the insights and tools you use to teach us geezers.
Been away for quite some time. Looking to re-learn the basics as it seems I’ve forgotten a ton…or so it seems. Also, looking to regenerate the love/drive that I used to have for playing the guitar.
Hello Tony,
I trust all is well!
Challenge is correct, for me anyway! Lol Yet, hope emerged, after carefully watching learn video repeatedly to see what was going on. Then slowing it down to confirm I actually understood. Next studying the tab, I finally understood what I was supposed to be doing. After playing the E and A strings repeatedly and finally making it through, not cleanly none the less moving on to remaining strings. Although, I still need what seems to be endless playing time to get it down. Cool part is, I know I can in time.
Thx for the awesome encouragement and way forward.
Sincerely, No longer lifetime dabbler!
Have a blessed week!
V/R Nick Westenhofer
been away a long time. 65+ years old and having a hard time with my hand cramping up. going to give it a try anyway
Started 50 years ago. On and off, more off. Started again 5 years ago playing the same thing over and over again. I want to advance
Hi Tony, Perpetual restarter at guitar. I’ve been playing for 50 years, had lessons in classical and campfire type guitar and can usually get my left hand to do the right thing but my right hand doesn’t keep time well. Try for a while and then lose heart and lose the skills I’ve gained but want to be able to complete a full tune in time and play troubadour style carrying the rhythm and melody.
Today’s lesson was a challenge to get the up picks and down picks synched but I managed. Away to do a bit more.
Hi! I’ve been a dabbler for years. I play the same things every time I pick up the guitar. I’m looking to improve and refine my playing, learn some new skills, and new songs to play.
Starting back up after “dabbling” 30 years ago and then again 20 years ago. I know most of the basic cords and can move from cord to cord rather well but it needs cleaning up as well and it’s challenging when the cord changes every other strum on a song so I’m working on that. As far as today’s challenge, I was able to follow along ok but realized my fingers don’t stretch like they use to when I was 20-30 yrs old, even the one fret lol but it got better. I also kept muting the open string because I couldn’t get my fingers doing the hammer-on to stand up properly, frustrating but it’ll get better with practice. Kept the lesson short but productive… smart Tony.
Hi, I am totally a ‘newby’ to guitar playing, I’m totally lost with ups and downs lol my first mistake is I don’t have a pick yet, my 2nd problem is I don’t know if my guitar is tuned or not. And lastly, you’ll be pleased, my fingers don’t reach or separate enough to move onto different thingies. I actually have a child’s guitar and still have finger problems. This is such a challenge for me do you think I will overcome these and play or am I wasting my time.
I heard you say don’t go back to yesterday’s lesson. I don’t think I am a slow person but I pretty much stared at my computer in this first lesson lost. I have never played and find it interesting that people are able to keep fingers on only one string and strum the right string. Even if I understand what I should do I am unable to do it.
I’m not sure where I am on my journey. I purchased my guitar several years ago. Took lessons. They said I was wasting my money. Set it down and picked it up again a year ago. I will say that I am left handed and have a left handed guitar. Everything is backwards for me. My brain sees differently. After today I am encouraged.
Starting again after dropping it through Covid and the shutdowns. Lost my enthusiasm as I wasn’t progressing and needed new stimuli. Want to get better, and I am picking the guitar up daily again. Not looking to be a performer, just want to be able to play what I believe are pretty simple songs if you have the skill set.
Okay, Ive been trying to play guitar for the past 30 years. I kept picking it up, getting frustrated with it and leaving it alone for years on end. This is probably my 10th time of coming back to it in the hope that it will finally click and I can find the motovation to keep going with it and improving. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ve finally found the formula that will allow me to do just that. Thanks
I am brand new…I don’t know a single note. I am totally lost, but I want to learn.
Long time Senior aged player here. I’ve been playing semi-professionally for 40 years. Mainly a rhythm player and lead vocals. Just trying to improve my lead skills. Thank you!
I am brand new…got a guitar about 6 years ago and took a few lessons with my kids, but never really was able to play…didn’t practice daily and then got away from it. Feels like I’m starting over but I really want to try again and the small bites feel doable. Thank you!
Restarting after many years. love your presentation but not sure I have it in me
Hi, I am an older player who has been playing the same 5 chords most my life and have never used a pick! Almost gave up but stuck it out. I didnt know what hammer meant! lol
i am having tech challenges as well as can not get the tab to come up with the lesson???
alos I didnt see where the looping of this lesson was to practice. I will not give up and hope to progress as tried of the same chords with no picking style!
Day#1; TOTALLY a NUBE. Never played a guitar or anything else. 67yrs.old. My Orangewood Oliver Retro [beautiful instrument] arrived today. Positive: I checked it and got it tuned. Ha. This lesson a little rough. “It will get better” thank you