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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Win: small…able to play vertical scale ascending and descending…slower on D string solo scale…need practice
My small win is that I wrote a little tune last night based on what I learned here!
Two days ago I was struggling to understand tabs, and it already makes sense today.
I’m wondering if there’s any “rule” that tells me when a note should be struck with a down stroke or an up stroke.
Looking forward to tomorrow
This is really fun and if I take my time I can do it! My only reservation would be following this program and having time to work on fingerstyle songs I like to learn and play.
Yes, great lesson but it’s taking me more than a day to learn. I can’t say I know day 2 yet and it’s now day 7. I agree with Linda that it’s definitely not as motivating to learn a song you don’t particularly like. But I can see that there is the basic learning in the weekly challenge that will help us to learn how to actually play and learn any song we want. Not to just find the tab on Chordify and learn blindly.
Had a look on your site, and I get the process but would like to know more about what music we would be learning. I am more motivated if I know or like the song.
Mini Win- Got comfortable with the tab reading! Made it through the scale! Patting myself on the back I got sleepy. Hope to memorize scale tomorrow.
Really fun!! It’s still a bit of a struggle but I’m feeling hooked, which is great. Had a little success with the improvisation idea off of the scale exercise and it is awesome! Never thought I would say that. Thanks,
For an interesting exercise, try doing the horizontal scale with just your index finger. Then just your middle finger. Then just your ring finger. Then just your pinky. It’s more challenging than it sounds and it can help you fix problems You might be having with a specific finger or 2. 😎
I played my first scale but also improvised and created something I liked the sound of. I’ve not had someone connect the scales and techniques like this. I still want to figure out the lick you did yesterday on the G chord. Combining strumming and the picking is a goal of mine.
I really enjoyed this lesson – thank you, Tony
Wow that moving down the neck is beautiful made me sound like a real guitar player. Even got my pick out ( usually play with fingers ). Ive played through the scale a few times going to practice a few times to get it cemented in my playing. Real positive today/
I played the G major scale to the backing….loved it can hardly wait for tomorrow
Always had a guitar hanging on the wall and never committed to any structured learning – the TAC 5 day course has been a game changer. Simply playing the scales over the backing track was a real ‘little win’ and probably the most enjoyment I’ve had in years of ‘playing’ the guitar.
Day 5 will not open
Hi Michael, Please reach out to TAC Support for help with this. They will be able to assist you. Email: support@tonypolecastro.com
breakthrough today! realizing that by playing the notes of a scale, you just cant go wrong! I improvised along to the backup track for 45 mins until my fingers were too sore to play any more! Not sure I’ll be able to play day 4 now!
Break though came yesterday when I realized I could play the lic at speed. Today I appreciate knowing the proper key and a few ways to play it. Look forward to the next challenge each day. Thank you
Fun stuff. Hit a lot of ugly notes soloing, but hit some beautiful ones too. Good enough to come back tomorrow!
I’ve avoided solos and lead guitar licks bc I’ve always felt I had to play them as fast as there do. Learning to practice slowly is what Im enjoying. Guitars for Vets helped me understand the very basics of music theory, but I’ve reverted back to just playing what sounds good to me. Learning notes and scales to me is like homework. Playing for fun w/o having to know all the notes/theory, and taking my time as I practice are the golden nuggets from today’s lesson.
really want to try this, sadly I have split my finger tip. I was new to hammering on and kept working on trying to speed up. Will I still be able to access the videos next week when my finger is healed? I hope so. Thank you.
I had resigned myself to just being a chord/bad rhythm player and couldn’t keep a beat….but guess what? I feel it coming around. Sorry I am behind a day but my fingers hurt so bad that couldn’t play for a day
I found myself starting with the scale then joining in with the backing track and throwing in some lead lines.
It’s more joined up than anything I’ve done with scales before.
I’ve always struggled to make my solos sound in time. This is really noticeable when playing quarter notes. The horizontal scale really helped with this. Thank you
FUN!
This is working. I am amazed. I’ve been trying on and off (mostly off out of frustration) for 55 years and have not come far. I’m mean I learned the basic chords and how to barre them and understood scales but never had anyone walk me through step-by-step line this and teach me real applicable skills. If I’m playing Friend if the Devil by the end of next week that’s worth the price of admission (the time and effort involved)!
One thing I can say is a quick takeaway already was that little lick with the pull off on 2nd fret D string then pluck the G string then do a hammer on D string open to the 2nd fret quick pul-off on it again then end on the open G string. And then incorporating this into the G chord as you strum it. THIS is the kind of stuff that I wish the last three guitar teachers that I have paid would’ve just spent a little time to show me instead of like “well what do you wanna learn?” The answer was always “HOW TO PLAY GUITAR!” ☺️
Really enjoyed today’s session. Actually felt as my ‘solo’ fitted the backing track. Tony’s way of teaching seems to work well with the way my brain works
very fun playing to the backing track!
I Made it to day 3…..
small wins right LOL
Playing along with the backing track is SUCH fun… pausing, repeating, moving from horizontal to vertical… my fingertips are almost raw. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
I’ve never felt comfortable playing with a pick, but that’s happening for me through this challenge…
Awesome lesson. This is the scale I’ve used for soloing for 40 years. The next step is to learn where these notes are up and down the fretboard and then you can bounce up and down the guitar all day! Have fun!!!
Wow! Way fun!
I had been practicing scales for years but finally saw the connection to playing solos!
Good lesson – Progress! Feeling more comfortable just looking at the fretboard.
I can get the scale down without a problem but to add it to the back g track doesn’t make sense
I have to say that this approach to learning is amazing, so much more interesting and challenging than just learning chords to a song and getting frustrated with not knowing how to make the changes smoother and suffering burn out. The main thing I’m finding challenging with the day 1 technique is accuracy when picking, but I do feel like I’m getting somewhere with it, your tip for getting past deadening the A string by adjusting the wrist to increase the arch while fretting the low E has helped so much. I do find my fingers are quite stiff and if you have any tips to warm up and get the flexibility to get past that stiffness I would really appreciate any help, I have tried so many different exercises found on YouTube but as you said information overload is really not good for finding what I need, or not being explained well enough. I’m really enjoying the challenge so far, you have opened my eyes to a whole world of possibilities and I am finding myself getting excited about playing again. Thanks Tony
This is very exciting for me–some years ago I had the BEST guitar teacher. He was a 80s “hair” band kinda guy, all about rock. (I had a very nice Strat at the time–what a great guitar. And a Taylor, I forget what model–I sold them both to pay for lessons). He taught me these pentatonic scale shapes, how to move them around and how to improvise, and I could actually do it–not beautifully, but I GOT it. It was so much fun. But he moved away, and I drifted away from playing, and forgot most of what I had known–until now, it’s coming back. The FUN of it. Thank you, Tony!
Thrilling to be able to fool around playing lead guitar type riffs on a nice tune like this. The continuous loop is so helpful and lets me play around with it. I am a pretty self-taught guitar player and have never really played with a flat pic. I like the sound of the pic (versus finger picking) but could use some tips to improve control with it. I suspect it mostly just takes practice till I get a better hang of it.
I’m traveling today so I don’t have the opportunity to play on my guitar. But, the small win is that I watched today’s video in entirety and I am stoked to get back with it tomorrow!
I am genuinely floored by your method, Tony. Clear, succinct, and logical. Thank you for a brilliant new vantage point from which to explore my terrain.
I feel that I’ve had small wins with all 3 challenges! I still have work to do to get everything “under my fingers” but I feel very optimistic! Thanks, Tony.
I am learning but it is taking me way more than 10 minutes a day to get it down. I should be on day 4 but I am still learning day 3. I did play a solo today and gettting more comfortable with flat picking.
Definitely had a breakthrough moment tonight. Playing open chords, not just the taught scale but any of my scales with open strings. Mind officially blown, how on earth did I not know this before today. Thank you Tony. You are right, all about the little wins and bonus wins for me this evening.
I played a lot of guitar 30 years ago and left it alone while I raised my family etc. I was taught theory and improvisation etc and loved the blues.
Your 5 day challenge has been for me a wonderful way to get excited about guitar again. I’ve enjoyed getting my fingers back in shape( I’m not as flexible) and making music again. I’m smiling as a write this. Thank you
I started back playing guitar when I was working 911 dispatching. This was my stress reliever and I also wrote a song about being a 911 dispatcher called If You Could See What I Hear, I have a Fender Sonoma 3/4 size and a Oscar Schmidt acoustic electric that I play. I have been writing songs now for three years.
Hey! Repeat beginner here. I’m loving this lesson! I’m bad for getting board and wanting to jump straight to shredding hard metal songs I have no business learning yet . This lesson has been really good. I got day 2 down really well and am doing pretty good at the scale and trying to keep up with you without making a mistake. I’m getting there. You may also notice I’m a day behind. I missed yesterday due to family obligations but I’m here and keeping at it!
I’m here every day, showing up and learning how to use my pick
I can’t belive how easy this is. I started playing guitar in the 1st grade. Quit when I entered the 6th grade, then picked it back up again when I hit 47. I’m now 52 and playing better than I ever have – after only three day. Unbelieveable. I can solo!
Can you down load that backing track ?
Today’s win is practicing after a long work day in the heat, and coming home to make dinner and attend a meeting. I got the lesson in and now feel much better about my day. I feel like my solos do in fact follow scales, and I’m looking forward to breaking out of that a little.
The small win for me was realising the first solo of “Wish you were here” that I had learnt is actually based on this exact same scale. When you explained it and then started moving it horizontally it just clicked and I could see the connection between the notes. Thanks Tony