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30 Days To Play
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Course Overview & Your First Guitar Win!
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Primer: Tuning, Technique, & Tab4 Topics
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Week 1 - Learn The Basics Of Guitar With The Blues3 Topics
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Week 2 - Building Your Chord Library5 Topics
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Week 3 - Learn Strumming Patterns3 Topics
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Week 4 - Simple Steps To Your First Guitar Solo3 Topics
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What Should I Do Next?
Lesson 1 of 7
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Course Overview & Your First Guitar Win!
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I took the bait and signed up for the TAC course last week. I’m an older learner (70ish) and have been noodling away for the last couple years using various you-tubers for guidance and encouragement. I’m still very much a beginner (my repertoire is maybe 2 tunes), but found the 30 day course pretty easy to work through over the last week Still, that course had its challenges, and was sort of fun. I look forward to the next step.
Struggling with finger placement
Looking forward to this…let’s go!
Great
It’s consistency that will make me better. Aguyjeveté!
Even though my fingers are old and not very flexible, I am still optimistic. Onward I go.
I haven’t played in over 20 years. Smoke on the water was one of the first thing I learned. It brings back memories.
Mission accomplished. Looking forward to the next thirty days. And that’s not the way I play “Smoke on the Water”; you’re way is too easy
Life has become complex.
I haven’t had the time for this.
It is helpful and informative.
I just haven’t had the chance to take advantage of offerings
I can play the single sting scales with you. Not quite there yet in the multi string. I can play them by myself but not as well with you.
I’m not sure how I got 30 days to play showing completed in 5 days. Now I’m trying to review & I can’t get back… very frustrated
Those two fingers don’t spread that far or just barely with the index angled.
Nice easy start.
So its hard for me to play the string with the ring finger in tune when I play the bottom string two frets away. I feel like my hands are not big enough to stretch. Will this get easier? I’m a pianist so I have strong nimble fingers but not large hands.
It gets easier! You’ll want to keep trying, but as a temporary “cheat,” you could use the pinky instead of the ring finger in this instance. But using the ring finger in the long-run will be easier for future lessons (I’m assuming).
can’t wait to get into some good stuff
ive completed this short course but it keeps populating to top of my home page telling me to “Resume” yet every section was completed and checked off. any suggestions?
The stretch on the power cords was a little difficult but it seemed to get better as I went. My problem is the tips of my fingers are getting sore after just a few minutes. Any suggestions for toughing up lady hands?
Here we go! Love to start with the blues!
I’m excited to get started playing guitar.
Done with lesson 1
thanks!
Great start! But I struggle to get my ring finger to stretch to the 5th fret. Two fret stench is a REAL stretch. Any tips to avoid tweaking my wrist?
You can temporarily get by with using your pinky instead of the ring finger, but I’d recommend continuing to practice with the ring as well.
Starting today…
I’m struggling with my left wrist and finger flexibility to reach two different frets and it makes my wrist hurt. Are there exercises that you can recommend for flexibility for hand/wrist
What do I do do when my fingers cannot spread across those frets, already feels like I can’t do anything
Having the same issue, seems like I am contorting my hand to reach it, it is easier the farther down the neck I go as the fret distance gets shorter….also my fingers partially mute the strings below the 6/5th although this happens across all strings….hand placement issues but seemingly impossible to fix. Will research online and see what cures this, good luck
Cool, cool.
And… I’m off… 🙂
I had relatively no problem with the G, C, and D chords. The power chords were a whole different problem. My fingers wouldn’t do what I needed and it hurt to do it. Yes my wrist was sore also. But I will keep trying.
My wrist is sore after 10 minutes of playing power chord. Must be doing something wrong.
Excellent lesson. I really appreciate learning the proper techniques for playing the guitar in a rewarding manner. I now will practice how to play my guitar stress free by being aware of stress signals like holding my jaw tight or not breathing in a relaxed manner and keeping my posture right for an enjoyable time playing my guitar.
This was a great way to build strength and regain confidence
With my index finger on the 3rd fret I can barely get my ring finger on the 4th fret. Is there an exercise or stretch for that?
Hi Don, Thanks for reaching out! It looks like you are a TAC Member. There is a great course for stretches and exercises for guitarists. Please reach out to our Support Dept for help with this. They will be happy to assist you. Email: support@tonypolecastro.com
me too!
Hey Don,
I wanted to follow up on that finger stretch issue we were both having—trying to reach from the 3rd to the 5th fret. I was struggling too, until I tried something that really helped.
Instead of keeping my thumb wrapped over the neck, I placed it behind the neck—kind of like a hinge—and pivoted my hand around it. That small adjustment gave me just enough reach to make the stretch without straining. It felt awkward at first, but after a few tries, it started to feel natural.
Give it a shot and let me know if it helps. We’re both learning, and it’s great to share these little breakthroughs.
Keep strumming,
H Duane
I’ve only ever played open chords and this power chord is a difficult stretch for me as I have stiff and short fingers.
I only have half of my index finger. I improvise.
Had a great time. Thank you. I wish that I could make more time to be more consistent but I will keep trying with my work travel.
Consider getting a travel guitar. The case is way smaller. I used to travel a lot. Really do not miss that! I’m loving retirement now. Best of luck!
oh yea the finger pain 🙂 let’s do this…..
Definitely a difficult stretch for my fingers to get those in place. I can see how getting that dexterity is going to be important for my progress.
Struggling to reach the right spots with my fingers!
Impossible to get fingers in those spots
Hard time getting proper fingers in proper feet.
Excellent month I’m reaty tap.
I’m learning new things I did not know
I’m enjoying!!
I started DABBLING in JR. High! Ouch! That was 60 years ago…I broke the 10-minute rule a few times and did a few Challenges along the way. I think a couple of days were not counted because my VPN was connected. No worries!
Thanks Tony
Practice, practice, practice!
It’s really hard for me to get my ring finger on that string. Any suggestions on how I fix that?
Progress over Perfection!!!!!
Thanks
I struggle with finding a comfortable position without straing my fretting hand and wrist? Any tips?
I am just starting as well, and have that issue of finding a comfortable position without straining my fretting hand and wrist. Folks have been saying it gets better over a year or so.
It’s definitely helping me as I’m new to playing guitar. I’m not good at it, but I’m getting better.
Great refresher after time away. You can’t beat the basics.