TIPS FOR TODAY
If the word “solo” makes you want to hide behind the couch, you’re in the right place.
Improvisation isn’t some advanced skill reserved for guitar wizards — it’s just playing a few good-sounding notes in your own order. Today’s scale is designed so that every note works. There are no “wrong” ones to find.
Your first solos are supposed to feel simple. Simple is how your ear learns what it likes. Simple is how confidence is built. Simple is what unlocks real creativity later.
If your brain taps out on the second pattern, that’s okay — camp out on the first, easy version and just make little phrases you enjoy. That still counts as soloing.
By the end of this session, you didn’t just “try” a solo — you played one.
And that feeling? That’s the spark that keeps people going.
YOUR SAMPLE WEEK OF TONY'S ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE
5-Day "Stop Dabbling, Start Playing Guitar" Challenge
- WED: Improv
- THU: Rhythm
- FRI: Transitions
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3-Steps to Stop Dabbling and Start Playing
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I wouldn’t say I had a break through yet, but I am glad I came. I am actually taking music theory courses right now, and just took my final, so things have been very hectic. Playing guitar and piano now.
A win for the day?!?! Let’s see. I showed up, practiced for 45 minutes and after three days having never tried a hammer on, I think I have it somewhat figured out. Work on other things tomorrow. Now, if you can help me unearth any natural born rhythm that I have, that would be really helpful.
So cool how any note in the scales sounds good with the backing track
OMG!! Who knew I could sound so good!. I was so excited today I couldn’t wait to share it with my fiance. I can’t wait to share this with my friend. I’ve been so self-conscience of making a mistake and yet, with these five notes, I feel like I’m actually playing my guitar. Holy cow! I can’t wait for the next lesson. Thanks TAC!
Flat picking has been struggle these lessons are helping tremendously. Fellow lefty here!
I’m a cellist and have NEVER felt comfortable improvising. This lesson completely changed that for me. So much fun working within the scale and hearing it sound amazingly good despite being so simple. 🙂
Day 2 was (is) tough for me. Making slow progress. Today was fun. Playing with the “track” is a new thing, but fun.
So, far I’m impressed. Material presentation is first class, tab print out is good practice reminder.
So in three days from a zero start, I have managed to follow the tab sheet, I just keep going whatever note comes out, wrong string, poor fretwork, but it is eventually the piece, albeit at a much reduced pace, I still cannot coordinate at the correct speed YET! But I do notice improvements, very small but improvements nevertheless. So now when I listen to my old favourites Tom Waits, Led Zeppelin and old flamenco, I can see a route to me playing these on the guitar. Being Left anded everything is back to front and not quite mirror image, you have to persevere. I will also do some face to face to help me with incorrect finger positioning, but I like the challenge of playing real music . Two more days left. Just my ‘Stairway to heaven” has more steps the the original track. Thanks Tony.
I feel your pain Mark, right there with you.
I’ve been playing (attempting to play) guitar for over 40 years and I feel like a complete idiot watching this.
Fingers haven’t done so much walking, feel a bit clumsy but I get it!
Have you sent out Day 4 link?
It was fun playing with the backing track. I even hit a couple of notes that resonated with me.
Running a day late, sorry… but starting to recognize bits of other tunes creeping in whilst playing about with the scales. An “ahh” moment
This makes learning scales so much fun! The notes sound so good with the backing track and I just wanted to keep going and improvisation started to happen and I didn’t think I could do it when I first watched the video. Definitely a win for me, thanks!
Small win, I was able to play the scale a few times in a row without looking at my fingers and that helped quite a bit with the improv
This was a fun one and I even kept up with you Tony. So now I will use both hands to pat myself on the back.
Today I had a little win. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve done a scale solo without feeling self-conscious about not being perfect. Forming phrases helps a lot. I was starting to hear patterns I enjoyed and to try to build on them.
I had fun. I didn’t think I would be able to do it! Thanks.
Got the scales down pretty good but still had a little trouble with the live solo.
My first little win was day 2. I watched the demo and thought “There’s no way I can play that!”. 15 minutes later I was playing it (albeit at half speed)!
I think that all three days has been a win for me. I have actually kept practicing that day’s work until I could do the whole thing through, even though it was slow, I still got it done. nothing is learned in few minutes; it takes time and practice. after this five-day challenge, I can redo the five days and speed it up at my own pace, till I can do it at a decent speed. it’s been a long time since I really played. so, re learning to play is a treat. this five-day challenge is right what I needed.
Best day yet… though slowest speed, but picked it up better than day 1 or 2.
My little win, I actually was able to play along at 1x speed today. After some major practice. The tab is finally starting to make sense with the scale movement up the neck. It was fun to just play around with the scale notes with backing track.
I’m out for a few days as a result of my string breaking. I thought I had left them without tension when I stored it before. Have fun.
I showed up again thanks
Today I played for over an hour And was Encouraged to continue on with this program because of how easy Tony makes it I actually feel like I accomplished something today more than just storming a few chords And I am truly looking forward to the next day’s lesson. Each day I feel more encouraged and begin to feel this will be something I will and can accomplish.
Im a veteran guitar owner but a beginner. I’ve had them in corners for years it was just so hard to learn and “friends” teaching me turns into look what I can do and I give up. My win… I started on a YouTube suggestion if you from a friend and now I am on day three feeling like I’m really playing a little and actually learning. Winner!!!
After watching the video, I realized the vertical scale (G major) you were playing was identical to the E minor scale. I listen to and play mostly blues and am very familiar with minor scale/blues scale. When I played along with the backing track, everything flowed smoothly. That would be a huge win for me today.
It is a lot of fun!
This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing guitar.
No breakthrough today. Played the tabs without listening to the video for about 10 minutes. It was ugly. Listened to the video later today but didn’t play the guitar. Will have to do-over tomorrow.
Today’s win, tried at least to play through the improve scale. I could not find the right speed for me so just did it without it. At least each line at a time.
The vertical one on one string is interesting. But honestly don’t feel comfortable at all since I cannot figure out where I am by “feel”. I know it will come in time. So, will show up again tomorrow.
I think my victory is just coming fay 3 for 3. I have the scale pretty well down but need more time playing with the rhythm section. But for the first time in a long time I’m actually looking forward to playing the guitar consistently.
My breakthrough today was to see the other two links beside the learn link, it made it so much easier to pick up the finger placement. Went back to day two very helpful.
My only win today was that I came back, picked up the guitar and tried. I kind of got the vertical scale slowly, but then my right hand kept hitting the wrong string and it threw me off. I kept missing the correct frets on the horizontal scale. This guitar didn’t come with dots on the frets – they are tiny and not very visible on the side of the neck. I put on sticky dots, which helps, but the down-up stroke between two strings is not natural yet and prone to misfires, which also throws me off. I think I need 1 week of 5 day challenge and then 3 more weeks on working on the first week.
Today’s win was that I didn’t finish Tuesday’s lesson on Tuesday, but I came back to do Tuesday and Wednesday on Wednesday.
My break through moment was seeing the G maj pentatonic scale (aka Em pentatonic scale) played on 1 string. I am so used to playing vertically.
I had fun coming up with a couple underlying melodies to the tune. My ear makes me want to jump ahead a d play more advanced from the lesson but not really landing things I’m cool with musically,YET
Really enjoyed just mucking around with the backing track making it sound actually pretty good. To begin with I just stalled as I’m so used to just following music then it just seemed to click a bit and before I knew it I was making stuff up. Suprised myself!
I like to try a lesson routine like this with a song I’m familiar with. I’ve never heard of this song till now.
Fun fun moving along today! Being able to just flow around with the backing is great. Thanks again Tony!
Today was amazing, it gave me confidence. I struggled a little here and their but enjoyed it. I found the backing track hard. Looking forward to tomorrow.
I was able to play it at 1x speed on the scale tab, but it seemed like i had to play faster than that with the backtrack, almost like 1.5x. Does that sound right?
I have to admit I had my doubts during the learning phase that I’d get it with the backing track. But once i started feeling the music rather than just trying to play in sync, it really started coming together and yeah I would get one part right and botch another, then vice versa, but it did all come together a couple of times and actually sounded good. It was quite fun in the end!
A lot of fun
No breakthroughs, but I do find the videos and format very helpful and enjoyable. Seems like a good value.
Ok that was fun. Back in my 20’s I had a teacher that did this sort of thing with me and the blues scales . He made a back up cassette tape for me yes I sad cassette tape and I would have to play along with it. Once I got over the fear it was fun. I was no BB King but like you said it can sound really great. So my win was having the feeling of being in my 20’s again. I turn 60 in October so thanks for that! This is amazing!
what are the 52 Weekly Lead Domino Songs
After some practice I got the scale down now and it didn’t sound too bad along with the backing track. A victory!