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This felt like WAY too much to learn in one day; I’m gonna need at least a week to learn just this. I have to work two jobs today, so will have little time to actually practice this, and knowing that tomorrow is going to build on what I’m SUPPOSED to be learning today feels overwhelming. I think I’d rather move at a MUCH slower pace, where I have at least a week to learn each little nugget, and time to practice and digest it all. Learning something this complex every single day is too much for my overloaded brain to take in.
Some trouble and time taken up getting my guitar somewhat tuned with yours. My old tuner wouldn’t work, even with new batteries. Have always had problems with finger strength and could not get but a muffle out of the hammer. Is it fair to pick instead? I always blame the guitar strings or type of guitar and have never been able to efficiently press down the strings. Love the teaching method. I tried many in my youth. I’m now 72 with arthritic fingers, but I feel your method may finally work for me, especially since I now have time to dedicate to the skill and realize it’s the daily persistence that slowly leads to results.
Clunky not clingy. I’m 74 and have been dabbling for 8 months – I had hoped to gain structure from this programme
I’m one of the old guys, who played for years, never got where I wanted to, despite dedicated and intense practice and finally gave up. I started in 1972 as a college sophomore, quit some time in the 80s. I went by the old saying about the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So I didn’t beat myself up or feel like a failure. I knew I’d given it all I could and then some. I felt I had to face the fact that I simply didn’t have ‘it’ (whatever ‘it’ may be, talent, musicality…).
Then during the COVID lockdowns decided to give it another shot and ordered a cheap acoustic online and started up. Surprisingly, a lot of the muscle memory was still there and I could finger the chords and run the pentatonic scales, and some of the runs and leads I had learned. I could even play from memory some fingerpicking pieces I knew (My Creole Belle by John Hurt, one of my all time favorites to play) which amazed me and kept me motivated. I even found some of the old books online I’d learned from, now out of print, so I could refresh those songs I used to know. And I’m just having fun with no expectations of perfection.
All good so far…but as before I had trouble going past that. I realized that my interests were too varied and my focus too scattered to make real progress to a deeper understanding of how to make music with the instrument. Not just rote memorization, which I never could quite nail despite 1000s of repetitions. I had to laugh in your long video when you showed the montage of all the books you’d bought. I have a giant stack of them, many uncracked. Bluegrass, country-traditional folk flat picking, acoustic, electric and slide blues, fingerpicking, etc. etc. Another love is lap slide guitar, I originally wanted to be a pedal steel player, so I have books on Hawaiian, Blues, and country. So you see the problem. I lacked focus and direction. I needed to learn how to learn. And that’s why your description of your approach and your in depth study of the psychology of learning, really resonated with me. I’m really excited to get a plan in place and follow it.
54 dabbled for years off and on finally gave up because I figured i just don’t have the natural ability needed to be good at it. Haven’t touched my guitar for years.
Been playing for many years, just want to get better. I want to learn more guitar theory and technique so I can grow and not just play at a basic level. Appreciate the tools/advice you provide to make the learning experience easier (controlling speeds of practice videos, tab options) I’m looking forward to tomorrow, thanks for sharing Tony.
Been trying to play guitar for years (electric) using YouTube, rocksmith and books and always get stuck in the same place then give up. I decided to go and get an acoustic and came across you, thanks Facebook. I have found 2 other online tuitions that offer some free lessons so I’m going to try them all to see what works best for me before committing. Today’s lesson was nice and easy to follow I just need to get used to have a massive guitar under my arms and I’m sure I will do fine lol
I’ve tried guitar on and off for 50 years! This is my last attempt, so I hope it goes well! 🙂
Really enjoyed this start. Felt good on the lower strings but found it really tough when I got down to the A and E strings.
New from the start, not shore were my fingers should be
I haven’t played in years. I learned what I used to know by ear and by watching my uncles play. I eventually learned to play a few chords and some rhythm, and then I started playing bass guitar with my uncles, because they needed a bass in their band. Y’all getting me excited to start playing guitar again!
I haven’t touched my guitar in quite sometime. I’ve been attempting to learn guitar since I was 10. It’s been an on again off again “challenge.”
The day one challenge was pretty straight forward, yet easy enough to
grasp.
My one issue was the “tabs.”
When I clicked on the icon it asked to Download or Cancel. I downloaded, of course, and when I opened the pdf it was sheet music with guitar chords above the measures. What I know as “tabs”, are lines, for the strings and marks for which strings to press. Am I missing something here? Was the sheet music supposed to be posted as “tabs?”
Brand new to guitar. Lesson is moving too fast. Programs keeps freezing up
I am a new player do not no anything about guitar day 1 a bit overwhelming but I am here
Brand new. 59 years old and blagged a guitar a day late! Very overwhelmed with needing to be ambidextrous, small win… I’m here and trying!
Starting from 0
Bought a guitar yesterday. Got home and opened Facebook. There you were, first thing I saw. Signed up for the 30 day challenge and did my first today. At the beginning of the video I was pretty intimidated. Looks like a lot. Fifteen minutes in I was keeping up. In another fifteen I got it locked in and memorized. Tony, your teaching and methods are spectacular. Thank you!
I really like your approach and am happy to have gotten the first day down after a few tries. At age 54, I have been playing a few years now through other online services such as Guitar Tricks and Justin Guitar with some progress and stagnation at other times as I give up technique and lessons to learn songs through other youtube providers, of which I do like a few. However, I like your approach of learning a movement which can then be transferred to playing styles and look forward to giving this a good try. My best.
I’m 70 years old. Brand spankin new at guitar. I play the piano. I would like to learn to play the guitar. The fingering was confusing to me. Was trying to figure out what string was what and which finger went where. I kept plugging along.
I got a guitar for Christmas for my 12th birthday and taught myself some bluegrass picking and tablature but never had anyone to teach me anything else so I got bored and stopped. Now I’m 57 and want to start again. I don’t know how to read music and that’s always been intimidating to me. I’m a little concerned that my fingers can’t reach all the positions!
Been playing for years, but love learning things that get me out of the same old thing!
I may as well be a new beginner. I took a few lessons when I was a teenager but parents couldn’t afford to continue so I just dropped out. So now I am 62 year old and still have the want to. I went on l online to understand how to tune using a tuner. That went pretty well. But I still do not understand when being told the strings are turned to ABCDE but actually starting with te bottom thin string it is actually tuned to E and from there it is B,G,D,A, and E again. So this is confusing to me. I like being able to slow down you teaching but it still moving WAY to fast for me to do it in 10 minutes and be ready for the next class tomorrow. The other issue is getting my short fingers in place without making the next string sound dead. So I probably need to be spoon fed alot of technique on just how to position my fingers, how to understand tuning, and understanding tuning.
Reminds me of my guitar teacher from 5 years ago. Real skills to play real music. Love that the tab/notes are included.
I’ve been trying to play forever I just can’t seem to put it all together. I have a disadvantage being my index finger is permanently at a 90 degree bend making it difficult to change cords smoothly.
Been playing off and on for years. ‘Collecting tunes’ and playing them ok, but never playing them well, which I put down to a lack of technique (and patience). Hoping I can re-build the foundations here so I can finally progress….!
I’m someone who is “stuck”. Been dabbling for years, never really improving. Enjoyed this first day 1 challenge.
I’m just getting back into playing after some time away from it. Enjoyed the free day 1 technique challenge.
Brand new. Nearly 70yrs old but want to learn. Tuned guitar with an app. Fingers are not hardened yet. Hope I can still access this tomorrow before I start day 2.
I started playing guitar about 4 years ago but my approach was very disjointed and without structure. And I need structure to learn new things properly. Jokingly, I had visions of playing like my own guitar heroes in a short timescale but underestimated (severely) how much time and effort would be required! I had a guitar tutor for a short time but rarely received feedback on my progress. Unfortunately I broke my wrist in Sept 23 which required extensive Physio.for over 12 months. I am only just getting back into learning guitar. Oh yes, I live in the UK and in my early 70’s
I just finished lesson 1. It went okay. I really had to watch the video of both the plucking and the fret fingers many times, so thanks for putting both of those together at the same time. I also really like the 1/2 and 3/4 speeds. I ended up having three 15 minute sessions today to get to a point that I could either go 3/4 speed with no errors or full speed with a few errors. Either way, I am pleased with my progress. My background is that retired at 61 years old, I have played off and on for over 50 years. I played some rock scales at 14-15 years old, and only strummed about 15 chords to YouTube songs and Ultimate Guitar chords since then. I am pretty pumped about this new strategy to learn more. Looking forward to tomorrow.
I’ve tried a few times to learn guitar and like many given up, part of my problem is being self conscious to what others may think with my bum notes and poor technique. I always had great intentions but never came to fruition, being 50+ now and of a sounder mind (as in I don’t really worry too much about what others think) I think its my time to learn correctly. Fingers crossed the system works and I take sound knowledge and technique from these early lessons. Thanks for giving everyone your time to teach what is a very difficult instrument to learn and play 🙂
I’m 73. I picked the guitar back up about 15 years ago. I play just about every day. I can play a ton of different chords in various positions on the fretboard; and I play most barre chords with ease. I know alot of songs. The things missing are a system of learning and mastering techniques to refine my playing to a higher level; and also, I want to learn to solo in a way that is musical and doesn’t sound like a scale. And also to at least do some basic fingerpicking.
Been playing off and on for 40+ years, never with formal structure, so very hit or miss and leave and come back every few months. I play both electric and acoustic, blues/rock mostly. Getting something out of this first video even to just slow it down and focus on my alternate picking across all strings with consistency at tempo. Consistent and fluid is my goal as my struggle has always been to be able to play the same thing, in time, correctly and consistently all the way through.
Hi Tony,
Whew… this should be interesting. I am a Senior (89 yrs} and retired many years ago. When I retired I tried to learn to play the guitar. Something to entertain myself and learn a new skill. I went to a music store, signed up for some lessons and purchased a nice acoustic guitar. It’s a La Petrie, made in Canada. The instructor gave me a Mel Bay book to study and so started my guitar journey. Problem was, I wanted to learn to play a few songs and the instructor insisted I learn Classical stuff first. By the time my series of lessons finished, I could read sheet notes and Tab and knew most open position chords. I had also lost interest and did not renew the lessons. Most recently I decided to try again and have been watching guitar stuff on YouTube. That’s how I discovered you. I decided to try your challenge to see if this time, I really can learn to play my guitar.
New guitar player, tuned it and played first strings but then guitar sure didn’t sound good, must be my fingers hitting other strings. Will keep trying though see what I can learn.
day 1 sounded similar, not a good or smooth following
Coming back from long layoff due to frustration from trying to get perfection in small pieces. What I mean is I would attempt to gather more information in the area of music theory (and I am saturated) instead of muscle memory practice with my fretting hand and rhythm practice as well. I realize that I am fearing failure instead of looking for small wins in smaller windows of practice time. I appreciate your pace and dedication to your craft.
Brand new to guitar. Managed to tune it. Managed to do low e and a string exercise to passable but didn’t yet try the other strings. Fat fingers meant up strokes on the a string were often muffled but learned to place fingers better. Seemed complex for a complete beginner but gave it a go. Thanks.
Off to a great start, learning new skills. Finding which fingers have dominated in my playing and which need some strengthening. I look forward to tomorrow’s challenge.
Been taking lessons for years but stuck. This concept seems like a great daily motivator. Stuck in chord strumming songs. At lessons my instructor tries to work on picking but I don’t see the goal or what we are working towards. Your videos give a goal at the end of the week which makes me feel I am working towards something.
I haven’t played in 30 years and I was more of a dabbler. I decided to take it out again and realized the guitar is too big for me. I am trading in for a mini next month but starting again with the big dreadnougbt. My finger tips hurt. I was (trying to) follow along with the lesson. The good thing was my flat picking started to come back (sporadically) and I remembered I can do this. Last time I played I was one od those people that practiced scales for an hour so I appreciate this approach as a start.
Holy crap! This was hard. I get why I’ve been stuck as a beginning dabbler for years. My small win for Day 1: I didn’t quit. I stayed with the challenge and playing the Learn video at .5 speed about 5 or 6 times to catch on. Messy, clumsy fingers? Check. Feeling worthless? Check. I had to make notes on the tab to clarify what to do. Eventually I began to understand what you were doing and saying. Still no clue on how to hammer on correctly, most of the time my fingertip slides off the string– assuming I even hit it. But I got something of a rather feeble-sounding version of a hammer on here and there, so I’ll count that as a small win, too. There were some others: occasionally I managed a correct, alternate picking sequence and some clean notes. So, I’ll focus on the small wins (not easy for me), take a break, and practice some more focusing on learning the techniques. Many thanks. See you tomorrow.
Hi! I started your course years ago and stopped—was not feeling inspired. I have been in an intermediate plateau for years. Since recently retiring I have now started up again in the last few months, and have gotten very serious about playing every day and diving into music theory. Super excited…it’s starting to click!
Day 1, I don’t know the song, so im not trying to rush it. feels pretty good for a start
.
I don’t know what string each is. Just starting.
Brand new at playing guitar. A bit overwhelming and will look for the small win as you advise.
Hi,
Vanessa here from France. I joined this challenge because I am stuck on my learning path and routine, and feel as though there are lots of things I know and can do, yet I can’t seem to connect the dots (because of the gaps I guess!).
Love the building progress.
Thank you!
50 years dabbling
This was fun
left hand hurts a little, arthritis
Hello there,
Daniel here, a Portuguese guy living in London.
Lesson one is done, but the fingers are a bit chubby and touch the strings below. need to practice my hand position.
I am using my classical guitar with nylon strings, which is the only one I have here.
I love the method, and after this week, I am considering registering for the TAC. Let’s go 🙂
wow thank you i got this lesson