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.
I’m playing an Epiphone J200 EC, just had it set up and a bone nut put in. I love it.
Today I took out the Martin 00015 to challenge my huge fingers. Much more used to my 1971 Gibson D45 I bought in college, then, a giant step up from the “Old Craftsman” inherited from my Swedish immigrant grandfather when he passed. (strings a Half inch off the fretboard as you described). I admire your marketing skill making this connection with us. You Rock!
In my young days I played piano, clarinet, and saxophone. I bought a guitar for these lessons, and it looks like it is not for beginners. Not sure how to hole hand on the neck and would like to know what the notes are on each string .. At 79 I will give up. Is there a beginner’s section>
Very challenging! and my finger tips are tender. My guitar is a Guild cut away.
My guitar is a Hohner HG07. Got it in mid 70’s.
My regular guitar is in the shop for a setup, and I cannot WAIT to get it back: Yamaha FG730S (the last gift I got from my guitarist dad before he died). In the meantime, I’m playing an Ensenada CG107 classical that I bought for 80 bucks.
I’m 41 and I have been playing guitar on and of for more than 20 years and I really want to learn to play better. I’m playing my uncles guitar that I inherited it’s a classic concert guitar older than me so I don’t know the brand unfortunately. But it’s the best guitar in the world for me.
Just started playing at 53. Martin Jr. Thanks Tony!
I just turned 63, total beginner. I do not even understand the foreign language you are speaking, let alone follow along here. I just got my Yamaha FG800J for my birthday and want to learn, but this is too far advanced for a total beginner. Where is the beginner training?
Hey Tony, I’m playing a Takamine EF508KC
Playing a Taylor 310
I’m playing a 2018 Alvarez AG610 electro acoustic guitar. You are right! Once I got it professionally set up it was a big difference, it became easier to play and allowed me to enjoy playing it longer.
lol-my first guitar when I was 13 was a Gibson Epiphone. I had a love hate relationship until I got a really good set up when I picked it again several years back. I also play electric guitars, but for this I’m playing a Taylor acoustic electric that I absolutely love’
Oscar Schmidt OH2
Yamaha Guitalele
Playing a Fender beginner dreadnought acoustic guitar I got about a year ago.
Playing on a behringer strategy primarily because it quieter so i can play after I put my kids to bed. I also have an Ibanez AW40-NT that I absolutely love. I just happened to find it in a pawn shop, fits my hands like a glove & looks absolutely beautiful. I’ve spent hrs in guitar stores trying other acoustics & havent found another I like as well. & this was the first acoustic looked at when I was shopping.
I’m playing a Taylor Presentation series ce, all koa guitar! It’s a beautiful guitar, that I don’t deserve to play because I’m not very good. Help me, Tony! Loved the second lesson more than the first, I was able to figure it out easily, but need to get it up to speed. Thanks for the lesson.
Yamaha 2025 FG5 GL and FS5 satin (no electronics, never liked plugging in). Love them both, amazing guitars!
Epiphone pr-150 and a epiphone les Paul custom
I’m playing a Gretch 5420 hollow body I’ve never played before
Decided at 68 so to be 69 I’d like to play a guitar before I leave this world
First guitar I’ve ever owned
I’m playing without an amp
Sounds much like an acoustic
Without it
OK, today was frustrating but I got through it. For some reason my brain processes more slowly when it comes to learning guitar by watching a video. I think it mainly comes from looking at everything backwards all mirror like and it messes with my brain… getting the finger placement for each pick is mentally challenging but once I got it, I got it. I say all this because I have to continually rewind the video for this and that (proper sting and fret position as well as getting the up or down picking and timing correct) and my frustration comes from navigating the video… By that I mean, when I need to reverse to see something again I can’t simply use my cursers to go fwd and rev in the video like I can on a YouTube video. I have to move the feed bubble to where I “think” the part is I need to see again and it never fails to put me somewhere 2 minutes in the past and then I have to wait for the stinkin’ part to all come back around again, by then my brain forgot where I was and the vicious cycle starts all over again. Nothing wrong with your teaching style Tony, I think it’s one of, if not the best out there that I’ve experienced, I just have issues with your video format and being able to navigating it efficiently. If I could use cursers, it might take 15 minutes to get through the video but as it stands now, it takes me at least 45 minutes to make it through the 10 minute lesson. BUT I’M NOT GIVING UP! See you tomorrow.
I’m playing an Ovation that I’ve had since around 1970. Before that, I had a 1968 Fender Jaguar that I traded for a banjo and a mandolin that I never learned to play. I learned a couple weeks ago that my old Jaguar is worth around $20,000 dollars today. That’s what happens when you’re young and dumb.
I’m 54 and have been taking lessons off and on for about 5-6 years. Thought i’d try a new approach.
Today i’m playing my Gretsch G2622T in Olive green.
I’m 76 and started dabbling when I retired at 71. Realized I couldn’t do well with a full-sized guitar. I play a Fender SA-15 3/4 size
Got this acoustic in 1978. It says Cortex model 860, made in Japan. It looks like your guitar, natural wood, but don’t know anything else about it, wood, etc…. Looks like a dreadnought (just looked up that word).
Alvarez AD70CE
Fender acoustic
Help
I got day one down pretty good
I don’t understand at all how I’m supposed to even try to play this lick.
is there a diagram or list that has put your 1 finger on the E string, 4th fret while strum the g string… I don’t even know …just something to break it down. I can’t do it, by just watching your fingers even on slow And I can’t read music notes yet
I was under the impression that this was an Option for complete beginners. I’ve been taking guitar lessons in person for about five weeks and we’ve only been doing chords ..I was under the impression that this course was an Option for complete beginners. I’ve been taking guitar lessons in person for about five weeks and we’ve only been doing chords, but I was interested in the teaching approach in the intro video for this
Fender FA-25
A Cheap Sunlite
playing a Harmony Soverign that I bought in 1971
I am playing a Framus
I am truly a beginner at this. I took a few lessons in about 1965 and did not survive the lessons. In 1975 a girlfriend gave me a Continental DC 310 but I never played it. I carried it round from home to home for the last 50 years and a friend who is an accomplished musician restrung and tuned it. You mention the strings and I am not even sure which strings are A, B, C, D and E so I am really at the very beginning. I need to probably do some research to learn the basics. I worked a while trying to play the techniques the first day and about to work on Day 2 Licks. I played at the lowest speed and the sounds coming out of my guitar were muffled because my fingers were not holding down the strings so purely. Not sure how fast I can proceed but will be trying to make a go of it.
Could you provide ‘paper’ visual of the chords?
Playing my American made Fender Strat…also play a Martin DX1AE
I’m playing my Ibanez Daytripper acoustic. It’s a great travel/campfire guitar.
I’m playing an Epiphone PRO-1 TL
Hi
Playing a Taylor Gs mini 🙂
Using an Aeroband digital guitar, love it.
Kremona Fiesta FS ! Spanish style guitar – hand made in Bulgaria dudes
Fender CD60S All Mahogany
I have a sweet little Silvertone by Samick.
Martin GPC11E
I’m play ing ( if you call it that ) a Taylor 812ce
Took some lessons as a youngster and occasionally dabbled but could never really play anything. Trying again in retirement at age 71. Playing a Eastman E3OME, ovangkol & spruce, bought at The Acoustic Shoppe, Springfield MO. I could muddle through the individual measures after a few tries, but not put it all together. Wins were, I showed up and replayed yesterday’s lesson better on the first pass than my last attempt yesterday. Progress!
Gibson SJ 200
Hey Tony, I play a mid 80s BC Rich I purchased new when I was 16. I love it and I recently had it professionally set up. Now it plays and sounds even better. I also play a Taylor academy series acoustic. I couldn’t tell you which is my favourite.
I play a Yamaha FG700s
2012 Fender Stratocaster USA