TIPS FOR TODAY
You might be thinking, “There’s no way I can learn this in 10 minutes.”
Good — because you’re not supposed to.
The goal isn’t to perfect the challenge in ten minutes. It’s to introduce your fingers and your brain to something new so they’ll be a little smoother the next time you sit down with a similar skill.
Motor-learning research shows that short, imperfect reps create more progress than long, grinding sessions. Ten minutes keeps your brain sharp, your hands relaxed, and the habit alive.
And here’s the quiet superpower of the 10-minute rule: it gets you started. Most people end up playing longer because once you’re in motion, the fun takes over.
So today, just touch the new idea a few times. Let that be enough.
Ten minutes builds momentum — and momentum builds players.
YOUR SAMPLE WEEK OF TONY'S ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE
5-Day "Stop Dabbling, Start Playing Guitar" Challenge
- 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.
My guitar is a cheap Tanglewood
Playing a Vintage Viator electro-acoustic travel guitar, a perfect fit for playing on the sofa!
I am playing my Breedlove cut-out, Martin D-45, Taylor 12 strng, and my Fender from Indonesia …
I’m playing a Tanglewood Crossroads Orchestra body, smaller than the dreadnought, mahogany top and sides, great sound.
Yamaha FG-240A, I’m just a beginner and enjoying the first 2 lessons.
Martin d10
Taylor 110e
I’m currently playing a Taylor 724ce Koa
Taylor 214ce-DLX
excellent intro to an old and permanent learner
playing a Sigma DR35 – a fine sounding Martin wannabe
Taylor 414ce Studio.
Thanks, Tony. I’m really enjoying the first 2 challenges. I am currently playing a 1969 Martin 00-18c. CLassical/nylon strings. This guitar was a recent gift from a dear friend. I’ll need a lot more work with TAC to earn the pleasure of playing this guitar!!
Actually playing an electric guitar a Fender Telecaster, I have a Yamaha acoustic, but I like to play the Fender.
Gibson SJ200 TV
I’m playing a Takamine G Series Model GN1 1MCE-NS
Yamaha FG5 and Martin 000-X2E
Yamaha A1M. Bought new. Lifetime beginner.
Martin 000-16 Street Master
BreedLove Pursuit Ex Concert, bought used at Bullfrog in hometown of Corvallis. OR. She’s a beauty! I’m a beginning beginner at 59 years old. My better half and daughter surprised me with it for Christmas, so I took a beginning guitar class at the local community College this sorring and am starting to get the hang of it 🙂
i am playing a martin 000C nylon
Gibson CL30
Beginner from Saskatoon
‘87 Fender 265C Sunburst Spruce top Rosewood back and sides. Bought new.
switching between a Yamaha APX600 and a little Fender Squire Strat.
Epiphone PR-4E starter kit and a squier Stratocaster. I brought them in to get set up and they didn’t change much, but I do think the strings should be lower. So far I love the instruments more than I like playing them.
I am playing on a Taylor 10-E
It is really surprisingly good for an entry level guitar
1980 Yamaha 6 string and a Fender Squire Bullet Strat electric
used Dean acoustic travel size (I am short and have small hands)
I am in-between acoustics currently due to a disaster when moving house. It was an Epiphone Dove though and I loved it. I am doing your course using a PRS SE ‘Paul’s Guitar’ in a rather fetching shade of blue. I bought it to grow in to, like my mother did my clothing when I was a kid. I used to be a better player than I am now. I have nerve damage and need to find my mojo again.
I’m using (hopefully playing one day) a Martin 000-28. A forever guitar that I bought with some money my dad left me when he passed
I’m playing a 1994 Ibanez CR80 YGS acoustic, f hole flat top w/tobacco sunburst.
Takamine G series I bought used. Dreadnaught with cutaway
Martin 000-15M
A 60th birthday gift from my wife
A Guild D55NT
I play a weird German guitar with a symbol and not a name on the headstock. I got it when I told a luthier friend that I was looking for aguitar with higher action for playing blues slide on for a class at music camp. It’s an oddball guitar with a really wide, heavy neck but I’ve gotten used to it. The cool thing about it is that it was signed by Willy Nelson once upon a time in its past. I do have a Takamine finger-style guitar but it’s not a great strumming guitar, so I just play “Willy” for now until I get myself a really nice one.
I have trying to play my Breedlove passport 250 for tenish years, playing Dylan, Dead, Prine, and more. So far this helping me add to my development.
I am trying to play a Fender Sundance I just got it in tune, so far my fingers are slow but it is moving along, I sing which helps never been able to work with music instruments only machines.
Hi! My guitar is a Fender CD60 SB that we had purchased a while back for our daughter to use in a music tech class when she was in high school. My brother is a luthier, and he was able to work on it so the strings lie closer to the fretboard now and it is much easier to play. He also adjusted bridge and made a new saddle, so the entire thing is much better in tune with itself now.
I have a 40+ year old Fender F-210 I bought as an end of the summer-job gift to myself while I was in college. A dreadnouight with spruce top and mahogany sides, she has always punched way above her weight. Deeply resonant and a low action, she helped me learn the beginning of Stairway and Pinball Wizard (which I’ve forgotten).
I have two acoustics, Alvarez AD90CE and Alvarez MGA70CE
Hello Tony. Today I am play a Taylor Guitars 522ce 12-fret. I love a guitar with deep rich tones and this beauty is deeply rich and a pleasure to play with it’s short scale. Silent finish on the neck, glossy body, all solid mahogany with the softest Taylor Kona leather guitar strap. I go between this and my Taylor Guitars 324ce Builder’s Edition. Love hearing the tonal differences. There’s also a difference in the feel of each one’s neck. And learning to play with the different scales of necks helps too. Course the bevels in the 324ce make her a pleasure to hold with your strumming arm and against your chest. ‘Good’ ‘Good’ ‘Good’, ‘Good Vibrations’.
Hi Tony, I am playing my Yamaha APX500.
About a month ago, I purchased a used Waterloo WL-14L & I’m loving it; can’t wait to play it every day. BTW, only re-started guitar in December/2024 after 30 years of idle guitar. I used to play (not very well) basic cowboy chords for family sing alongs. Have always wanted to truly learn to play better, especially would like to learn to improvise solos over the chords of a song.
Really liked day 2 of the 5-day challenge; looking forward to day 3.
Martin D 28 E C
I rotate between my Martin 00015m and Gibson J 45 Standard. The Martin gets played more because it is easier to play for me.
Hi Tony I am playing a Taylor 224 . Started playing 5 years ago and am 81 years old. Wish I had started many years ago.
3/4 size SaMich.
I have a few I rotate through.. Art and Lutherie Cedar Dred, Faith FVHG, and a Martin HD-28.
I’ve been trying to learn how to play guitar since I was 16 years old. I’m 71 right now. I’ve been to a few schools with 45 minute lessons, and I recently was a member of Guitar Tricks. I want to play so bad but hands and fingers just do not cooperate. I sometimes have a hard time fretting a single string, and my wrist, hand, and fingers just won’t bend the way they need to. I’m once againthinking it’s just not possible for me. These first two lessons seem easy enough but very difficult for me. I’m frustrated already.
My first acoustic guitar was purchased back in 1998 and is a left hand Washburn D-12 with crazy high action. I play right handed, so the nut was switched and the pick guard is on the wrong side. After years of painfully playing that one, I finally got the guitar that will last till the end. A 2025 Martin D-28 Billy Strings version. Plays 100% better than the Washburn and I’m really enjoying playing again. Love this guitar.
I am a beginner and I am learning to play on a 1974 Yamaha FG 75