TIPS FOR TODAY
If your chords are buzzing, your fingertips hurt, or everything feels clumsy — that’s not failure. That’s the normal breaking-in process.
Rhythm guitar asks a lot from your hands: new shapes, new pressure, clean strings, steady strumming. Your fingers simply haven’t built the strength or calluses yet — and they can’t build them without days like this.
Remember the science of motor learning: the goal is not to get each challenge perfect before allowing yourself to move to the next one.
We want regular, imperfect exposure to things just outside our ability.
So don’t chase perfect chords. Chase small wins: one clear note, one smoother switch, one pattern that feels a touch less chaotic than yesterday.
Those micro-improvements stack faster than you think.
Stick with it. Your hands are learning even when it doesn’t look pretty.
YOUR SAMPLE WEEK OF TONY'S ACOUSTIC CHALLENGE
5-Day "Stop Dabbling, Start Playing Guitar" Challenge
- 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.
Tony, the last 4 days have been eye opening to say the least. I have to quit dabbling!! See y’all tomorrow. Thanks
While chord changes and strumming are no problem. Progressing to that next level ( fluency) has been hampered by periods of not playing, or just playing songs i already know.
Tony,
I went through a 7- level program for a year and made great progress as a 70 year old beginner. I learned many chords, strumming paterns and songs so I bought into this programs next level so I could keep going forward but it is not structured like the 7-level program was, you are on your own and so I have been struggling for a year to move forward. Even with this background I struggled for some resason with the first 2 days of your program. The next 2 days I was able to do very well. I look forward to what tomorrow’s challange brings and from there deciding on whether to go on and if so whether to go into the 30-day beginner challenge or jump into the regular challanges.
Thanks!
Good!
I, too, have difficulty transitioning from G to C. I guess I have to keep practicing, but the muscle memory is not as quick as I would like it to be. This, by the way, is not a new issue. I did not do your 5-day challenge in 5 days. I typically spent a couple days on each. I know you said we’re not working on perfection, but I want to feel a minimal level of competence before I move on. So, my concern is FOMO. In your program, if I spend two days on Monday’s lesson, do I get access to Tuesday’s lesson, or does it just go away? By the way, I really love your teaching style, demeanor, encouragement and am enjoying this immensely.
This week has been inspiring and disappointing
The teaching and the video play is great which is inspiring
The disappointment is how slow I seem to be catching on
Before the next days lesson I find I have to go back to the previous days challenge and go through it several times before I move on
Frustrating to say the least
I read a comment below from a member and his hesitation with signing up is his fear of not being able to keep up and then falling behind
I’d say that is my biggest concern falling behind because I’m brand new to playing and maybe a slow learner as well
I have no problem playing every day and it’s never 10mins it’s more like an hr
My comment is there I invested a good amount of money for my guitar so I’m not going to waste it
Plus I really really want too learn
I was playing classical guitar, in a quartet, in a celtic band and even in a guitar orchestra. But sadly that all ended after I moved away from my band, and then Covid came and I had no musical contacts at all. It has been very difficult for me to play or practice without the motivation of enjoying it with others. I’m hoping your course inspires me to learn to play in a new way that will allow me to perhaps play around the campfire and get my friends singing along.
My challenge is chord changes. I know the chords and can play them independently but when I change chords mainly G to C, my finders move slow and bleed onto other strings and it sounds horrible and throws me off. I also don’t come by rhythm naturally and have to work at it, which is another issue. Practice and repetition.
my problem is consistency especially when things get tough, like learning the f chord and barre chords.
Is this course strictly for acoustic guitars?
I am slow at reading tab and slow at changing chords, even the ones I know. I fear I may be left behind if there’s a daily challenge which I don’t quite get. My main problem in the past is that I’ve hit a plateau then leave the guitar alone for months.
Yah, something I could finally do. Well for the most part. I know the chords so it allowed me to work on strumming. Which is a major problem for me currently. Trying to lean a new song has been difficult to say the least. In fact not knowing what to do with my strumming hand causes me to get frustrated and stop. Then playing what I already know to feel better about being able to play at all. However, even that becomes short lived as I get frustrated even worse in my limitation. The simple explanation and demo of the strumming pattern was extremely helpful to me. Thx for the continued encouragement and inspiration!
I have mentioned this before in an earlier question you posted. I have had lack of consistency in lessons to date. Now to be fair I didn’t give it a period of time to bake, and that is on me. I’m hoping that this time and these lessons will be different. My fingers are crossed.
Is there a mistake on the tab sheet? Seems like there should be a 2 where the x is for the G chord
I am starting from zero. I do see some progress but barely managed a third of each days challenge…and slow at that. I need to do this today challenge for at least a month before I will be ready to go on.
I know nothing. Everything is new. I am just learning the names of the stings. This is a challenge for sure but I am excited to be doing this.
I took 4 lessons in 1973. To many guitar players on the block. One Ear Player who could play almost any rock song of the day. One Schooled a the MacPhail School of Music Mpls. so I took up Bass when I was 15. Played in many bands being self taught and always managing to play with people 4 to 5 levels above my technical level and skills. Had to quite playing in the Bars or die in 1994. Ready to learn why and what works when playing music. Not just what I played on intuition. Now I am retired looking forward to being a musician.
For me, it’s the integration of these parts that makes the difference. I feel like the lessons I’ve done in the past have been all chords and strumming patterns, but the simple breaking out of a bass note before the strum is different, and the integration of riffs and soloing is what I’ve missed in the past. Putting these all together in context is so much more meaningful, and musical. And the whole idea of building on that in a stepwise way makes so much sense to me. Thank you!!
The only thing I knew before today’s lesson was the D, E, and A chords. But knowing some chords made this lesson go faster for me. I was able to get the a minor and g chords without an issue and play clean. The c chord was my struggle as it really stretched my fingers. I finally did get a clean slower version all the way thru. A good win, the best of this week.
I think the reason why I have not followed through in the past is I would work on only one thing, and not get it right and then lose interest. Today, I picked up this rhythm easily. Looking forward to the transition tomorrow.
I think reasons for my lack of progress has been so much information about playing that I have not been able to narrow it down and follow a clear path. Without that clear path it has been easy to not find the time either.
I recognized that not all has been lost! Win: screwing up the D chord (what use to be an easy chord) and releasing frustration, knowing my fingers, hands, and brain are in the process of learning (and re-learning) a skill and being strengthened!
I was interested to see that a lot of people find today’s lesson the hardest. As someone who has started and stopped playing guitar for decades, I can attest that chord shapes are in large art muscle memory. After you play for just a little while, your fingers will hit the right strings/frets almost without thought. Not that I’m an expert…far from it. But I have found this to be true.
I tend to stagnate when I don’t have new material, and I feel like I am playing the same things constantly…. need a fresh approach and new tools in my tool box!
The first thing I learned 52 years ago. It was also called the Church lick or the Carter Family lick or just Boom-chick-a.
Definitely a must know. You can play 1000s of songs just knowing how to do this and the open chords and the chord progression.
My biggest challenge was keeping in time with Tony, especially at the slow pace version. Also because I already have alternating bass notes part of muscle memory, I kept automatically doing them. A situation where knowing something actually gets in the way of honing a skill. Keeping time and counting was always my biggest problem, and I never have fixed it. I’m really committed to this method of learning for this reason. One skill at a time. Do your best and then move on for the moment, but keep coming back and setting that plan in action, building on each day.
Yikes, this day was the hardest for me. I can’t actually reach some of the strings for these chords without manually moving my fingers with my other hand. Some kind of hand stretching routine is in order, I think! I need some kind of easy graphic showing the chords and hand placement…I struggle seeing what your hand is doing in the video. Also not sure how to hold the pick.
I find it hard to make the chores, my fingers begin to hurt, I become frustrated and stop playing. Until now I did not have a clear path to follow. Im enjoying the challenge, my fingers still hurt and Im still frustrated with making the chores but I have a great path to learning
Inconsistency is my biggest issue, and I think that is the result of lack of a clear path. I’m enjoying your challenge, and I like that there is a path and a pattern for each week. I think this may help me progress.
I don’t practice chord progressions enough and can’t do them in time and it frustrates me and I end up stopping.
Inconsistency is my biggest issue! I get excited and do good for a bit and then crickets. I started this go round with way too much info “saved” to learn later, most are still there. I am really enjoying your challenge, seem to be picking things up which creates more excitement for me! Fifty plus years and finally becoming a guitarist!!
What’s the gauge of pick do you use?
Awesome! This is great!
day 5 coming up tomorrow, that means I can do this a whole week.
I would like to learn to play, “Call Me the Breeze”, Lynrd Skynrd version.
Hands down my ability to remember is what lets me down.
I have start and stopped too many times due to disorganization on my part. I feel that this has the organization I lacked and although it seems I’m going over ground I have covered before. It actually isn’t because this pieces it together in a more organic way than I experienced in the past. So I’m decided to sign up and get on with getting my act together. Its sort of taking a break everyday doing something that is goal and result oriented. I’m in.
I am a real beginner, and I have had one guitar lesson. I was using an old guitar that has a warped bridge that made it next to impossible to tune, and keep tuned. My instructor lent me a guitar, and I signed up for your 5 day challenge. I am happy with the few small wins I have had this week. I am eager to learn, and I have ordered a new guitar, and I can’t wait to get it. I believe in your teaching techniques and I will sign up for a membership but I won’t have a guitar right away since I have to return the borrowed one and mine hasn’t come in yet. I don’t want to waste half of the 30 days without a guitar to follow the lessons. Can you extend your offer of the 45% off? Thank you.
Consistency is my biggest challenge. I can go 4 or 5 months at a time and then not play for another 6 months.
Derek I am with you. I struggle picking the correct base cord on the four day challenge along with keeping up with the pace of the song. I really appreciate the option to slow down the song. I feel better knowing I have made progress and accepting small wins. Have I been able to play the complete song no. But I am making positive progress.
Thanks Tony!
Hi – My lack of meaningful progress is that I have no music or guitar experience. I am spending an hour + per night on the daily assignments because I am so new. For example, I still don’t know the appropriate posture or hand positions. Struggling with the basics.
Good stuff! I am really enjoying this!
Life, earning a living and having kids
Chords hurt my fingers.
I’m working on it.
I believe my failures and lack of progress has all been about inconsistant performance. I always seem to be jumping around back and forth Before I accomplish the exercise.
I used to play along with my records, but that was in the 80s and I listened to ‘hair bands’. When I pick up my guitar now, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be stuck in the 80s.
Lack of progress has been due to not being consistent and also not having any structure to push myself to learn and practice new things rather than just banging out the same old chords. I have really enjoyed the five day challenge and if the full course is structured in the same way then I’m going to sign up 🙂
I relate to the comments about trying to keep up. My fingers definitely need to get used to pressing the guitar strings. The first day with Technique was intimidating. However, going back to trying to perfect Technique was way better. Is this course structured so I can jump around (meaning repeat previous lessons)? Do you have recommendations on what strings would work best for a beginner (Ibanez Acoustic)?
Do I have to do a lesson per day or can I repeat a lesson over a few days until I get it down. If Im away from home for a few days will I be able to continue from where I left off. In other words do I have to keep moving forward every day even if I wanted to perfect one lesson before moving on?
Historically, my progress has been slow, I think, because I can’t put things together. I’ve learned many chords and rhythm styles but not a whole song. Time is my enemy with a challenging job, family, etc. Honestly it comes down to commitment and desire. That’s what I’m looking for.