Try this guitar challenge
STEP 1: Watch the video to learn the bite-sized piece of music
STEP 2: Click the “PLAY” tab below the video to play along with Tony until you can do it on your own.
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Responses
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Responses
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This one is stumping me! Grrrr. Will keep at it, but will take a few days to get it right. 🙁
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Fingerpicking is the toughest for me. I would play songs like this with pick and fingers before but never get it quite right. Keep chuggin’ along. took a little break and did jimi’s chord
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Ah ha. Finally got it. It took about 30 or so tries, very slowly.
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My pinky feels like its not working
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going to have sore fingers with this one gonna keep plucking at it though
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, never did I think I could play THIS type of blues, no I don’t have it down, but knowing it’s possible for me is fantastic… Bobby Blue
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I’m having trouble coordinating my thumb and the hammer on for this. And the base seems to cover the sound of the hammer on. Am I doing something wrong?
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Liking this and will practice and play it around
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Yeah, I’m not gonna have this one any time soon.
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Yeah first time I’m carrying this over into tomorrow
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48 seconds in Tony says, “It took me forever to get.” In other words, this is not going to be accomplished in one session!
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Curse of the uncooperative pinky strikes again!
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So simple and so fun. The basis of most blues tunes. Yay!
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I found the instructions and demo unclear and in fact confusing. I have spent days on this.
WIth all due respect, I think it needs to be redone to make it easier. It should not be so difficult. The hammer ons are not that difficult but the explanation is confusing, The 1 and 2 and 3 and is probably more understandably demonstrated by a view of the neck of the guitar and strings where the head stock faces the viewer while the body of the guitar is horizontal and you explain which fingers hit which strings as they do, and the fingers on the strings and the fretting and hammer ons, are clearly visible as played and explained. Its not that clear looking at you playing despite multiple repititions.
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Hey Fehorse, your not alone. I may mark complete, but not mastered. I am a recovering dabbler, and hit that point of frustration often. I’m trying to push past that feeling of thinking I should have this down and mastered. My practice time is divided into a fingure warm-up, practice time (which is getting longer :), some fun time with some easy songs, and then a warm down exercise. What I have learned so far is that picking up a guitar and trying to improve everyday is half the battle! Keep on strumming!!!
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I was glad to read some of the posts below. I am a return to play guitar dabbler and tend to make progress for a month and then get frustrated. The 30 day challenge was fun and doable. I am a few lessons in o fretboard wizard and have hit a wall trying to apply the music theory into my playing without blunting the notes. Now I’m into the Blues challenge. I loved the Boogie and Bassman Bobby and jumped on it. The High and Lonesome is a challenge for my fingers and Hammer the Hurt is a big hurdle since I never learned to fingerpick. My real challenge is to keep at it when I keep thinking I should master things in a day or two.
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Tony, this fantastic and what I really want to learn! Having taken the fingerpicking jumpstart learning Freight Train, this is a great next step. It took me 2 months to get Freight Train down, hope this will take less time, but I’m really onto this and will play through the hurt!
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Geez! I was wondering if the hurt would ease off after weeks of trying. Low and behold today I was finally able to play at speed and have most the hammer-ons land with the bass: not perfect but definitely felt I was getting it :)! Seriously challenging. Cheers to ALL learning this.
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This will take some work but worth the effort! played first measure a ton, next step measure 2
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Glad I read the comments. Nice to know others feel the pain. This is my fifth day on this piece.
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HI Tony, Question. Are we suppose to get each day off pat in a day or work on one a day and incorporate each lesson into our daily practice and move on to the next lesson?
No way am I going to get each lesson 100% in a day?-
WAMGO, I have been working on Hammer the Hurt since May. I love it but it’s very challenging. Good luck!
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It sure is!
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This is going to take some work! I can’t seem to hammer strong enough to make a musical difference.
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My fingers keep getting in the way when I do the hammer ons.
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Yeah, I had to keep hammerin’ the hurt for a couple weeks too. Practice works.
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Taking a while to get this PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE won’t give up on it time will tell lol
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Took me a few weeks but I can finally get it. Most of the time
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Finally, after five days, its sounding recognizable.
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Way too complicated instructions for me. It’s kicking my butt.
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Hmph. Gonna have to re-visit this one later, it’s kicking my butt.
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This one just slays me. Why even make the E7 chord shape if the A string isn’t played?
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I got the rhythm and timing down fine. Iv’e done this type of music before but I had a hard time hammering to get a good sound with my pinky. I have a very crocked pinky finger!
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Back again to redo this one.
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This is my second time around with this challenge. This time it took me over a week to get through it, now I could do what I couldn’t do the first time I tried this challenge AND also what I couldn’t do one week ago. What an awesome guitar journey – they say the 3rd time is the charm…so I’m looking forward to the next time this challenge comes my way.
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OMG I am having such a hard time with this one. I can’t even get the first 3 notes coordinated. Sheesh!
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Finding this really hard to wrap my head around. Might have to come back once my brain settles down. It’s like I can’t get the timing right.
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I’m working on it!
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Ohouch!… however my love of and therefore much practicing of previous Mississippi John Hurt inspired pieces really helped me learn this in just under an hour… just before my fingers told me to rest them so I can actually play tomorrow!
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10-4 Hammer the Hurt will take awhile- ! more day then will try Jimi’s chord.
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I think Tony gave a couple John Hurt lessons last summer and I could not get it. But now, I have got a year of practice behind me and I am determined to get this. Give me a couple more weeks and I’ll update you.
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Yep, it’s August and I got it nailed!
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Okay, its September 12 and I am finally beginning to get there! Huzzah #small win
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been having a hard time with the finger not cooperating this one was named right finger hurt
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OMG! my brain is having a hard time making my fingers do the “hammer on” at the right time. I will putting in some OT on this tune. Pretty cool and it will be so worth it!!
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it was quite challenging.
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Synapsis meltdown. If I can get this I can get anything. It’ll have to be daily practice drill for a while.
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Where are the tabs located.
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Hi – under the video – where it says – Learn Play, Heart symbol, note and line symbol. that s the tab.
(last symbol) It will open in another tab. -
Bottom right of video, the two music notes.
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Ok. I’m going to be here for a while……..one measure at a time
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I must be missing something here- is the 2 beat (g#) hit at same time as the open D string?
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Yes. as far as I can tell.
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This has been the most frustrating one so far, so going to come back to it when I want to have real “fun”. The other four days have been mind opening!!
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Fingerpicking, to this point, has been difficult for me. This lesson is no different in that regard. It’ll be a while before I can mark this one as complete 🙁
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This particular lesson (for me) should be it’s own 5 Day Challenge! It’s not that the concept is difficult, but the execution is my downfall. I’m going to have to spend a lot more time memorizing the patterns and measures before I can even talk about stringing them together and play at a tempo. But I will get there…..eventually.
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Ok, this one has not been easy… still working on it. As Ausy just mentioned, slowly but surely. I will get it hehehe
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slowly but surely, will get there.
Congratulations, !
Challenge complete
Come back tomorrow for your next challenge
This one is stumping me! Grrrr. Will keep at it, but will take a few days to get it right. 🙁
Fingerpicking is the toughest for me. I would play songs like this with pick and fingers before but never get it quite right. Keep chuggin’ along. took a little break and did jimi’s chord
Ah ha. Finally got it. It took about 30 or so tries, very slowly.
My pinky feels like its not working
going to have sore fingers with this one gonna keep plucking at it though
, never did I think I could play THIS type of blues, no I don’t have it down, but knowing it’s possible for me is fantastic… Bobby Blue
I’m having trouble coordinating my thumb and the hammer on for this. And the base seems to cover the sound of the hammer on. Am I doing something wrong?
Liking this and will practice and play it around
Yeah, I’m not gonna have this one any time soon.
Yeah first time I’m carrying this over into tomorrow
48 seconds in Tony says, “It took me forever to get.” In other words, this is not going to be accomplished in one session!
Curse of the uncooperative pinky strikes again!
So simple and so fun. The basis of most blues tunes. Yay!
I found the instructions and demo unclear and in fact confusing. I have spent days on this.
WIth all due respect, I think it needs to be redone to make it easier. It should not be so difficult. The hammer ons are not that difficult but the explanation is confusing, The 1 and 2 and 3 and is probably more understandably demonstrated by a view of the neck of the guitar and strings where the head stock faces the viewer while the body of the guitar is horizontal and you explain which fingers hit which strings as they do, and the fingers on the strings and the fretting and hammer ons, are clearly visible as played and explained. Its not that clear looking at you playing despite multiple repititions.
Hey Fehorse, your not alone. I may mark complete, but not mastered. I am a recovering dabbler, and hit that point of frustration often. I’m trying to push past that feeling of thinking I should have this down and mastered. My practice time is divided into a fingure warm-up, practice time (which is getting longer :), some fun time with some easy songs, and then a warm down exercise. What I have learned so far is that picking up a guitar and trying to improve everyday is half the battle! Keep on strumming!!!
I was glad to read some of the posts below. I am a return to play guitar dabbler and tend to make progress for a month and then get frustrated. The 30 day challenge was fun and doable. I am a few lessons in o fretboard wizard and have hit a wall trying to apply the music theory into my playing without blunting the notes. Now I’m into the Blues challenge. I loved the Boogie and Bassman Bobby and jumped on it. The High and Lonesome is a challenge for my fingers and Hammer the Hurt is a big hurdle since I never learned to fingerpick. My real challenge is to keep at it when I keep thinking I should master things in a day or two.
Tony, this fantastic and what I really want to learn! Having taken the fingerpicking jumpstart learning Freight Train, this is a great next step. It took me 2 months to get Freight Train down, hope this will take less time, but I’m really onto this and will play through the hurt!
Geez! I was wondering if the hurt would ease off after weeks of trying. Low and behold today I was finally able to play at speed and have most the hammer-ons land with the bass: not perfect but definitely felt I was getting it :)! Seriously challenging. Cheers to ALL learning this.
This will take some work but worth the effort! played first measure a ton, next step measure 2
Glad I read the comments. Nice to know others feel the pain. This is my fifth day on this piece.
HI Tony, Question. Are we suppose to get each day off pat in a day or work on one a day and incorporate each lesson into our daily practice and move on to the next lesson?
No way am I going to get each lesson 100% in a day?
WAMGO, I have been working on Hammer the Hurt since May. I love it but it’s very challenging. Good luck!
It sure is!
This is going to take some work! I can’t seem to hammer strong enough to make a musical difference.
My fingers keep getting in the way when I do the hammer ons.
Yeah, I had to keep hammerin’ the hurt for a couple weeks too. Practice works.
Taking a while to get this PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE won’t give up on it time will tell lol
Took me a few weeks but I can finally get it. Most of the time
Finally, after five days, its sounding recognizable.
Way too complicated instructions for me. It’s kicking my butt.
Hmph. Gonna have to re-visit this one later, it’s kicking my butt.
This one just slays me. Why even make the E7 chord shape if the A string isn’t played?
I got the rhythm and timing down fine. Iv’e done this type of music before but I had a hard time hammering to get a good sound with my pinky. I have a very crocked pinky finger!
Back again to redo this one.
This is my second time around with this challenge. This time it took me over a week to get through it, now I could do what I couldn’t do the first time I tried this challenge AND also what I couldn’t do one week ago. What an awesome guitar journey – they say the 3rd time is the charm…so I’m looking forward to the next time this challenge comes my way.
OMG I am having such a hard time with this one. I can’t even get the first 3 notes coordinated. Sheesh!
Finding this really hard to wrap my head around. Might have to come back once my brain settles down. It’s like I can’t get the timing right.
I’m working on it!
Ohouch!… however my love of and therefore much practicing of previous Mississippi John Hurt inspired pieces really helped me learn this in just under an hour… just before my fingers told me to rest them so I can actually play tomorrow!
10-4 Hammer the Hurt will take awhile- ! more day then will try Jimi’s chord.
I think Tony gave a couple John Hurt lessons last summer and I could not get it. But now, I have got a year of practice behind me and I am determined to get this. Give me a couple more weeks and I’ll update you.
Yep, it’s August and I got it nailed!
Okay, its September 12 and I am finally beginning to get there! Huzzah #small win
been having a hard time with the finger not cooperating this one was named right finger hurt
OMG! my brain is having a hard time making my fingers do the “hammer on” at the right time. I will putting in some OT on this tune. Pretty cool and it will be so worth it!!
it was quite challenging.
Synapsis meltdown. If I can get this I can get anything. It’ll have to be daily practice drill for a while.
Where are the tabs located.
Hi – under the video – where it says – Learn Play, Heart symbol, note and line symbol. that s the tab.
(last symbol) It will open in another tab.
Bottom right of video, the two music notes.
Ok. I’m going to be here for a while……..one measure at a time
I must be missing something here- is the 2 beat (g#) hit at same time as the open D string?
Yes. as far as I can tell.
This has been the most frustrating one so far, so going to come back to it when I want to have real “fun”. The other four days have been mind opening!!
Fingerpicking, to this point, has been difficult for me. This lesson is no different in that regard. It’ll be a while before I can mark this one as complete 🙁
This particular lesson (for me) should be it’s own 5 Day Challenge! It’s not that the concept is difficult, but the execution is my downfall. I’m going to have to spend a lot more time memorizing the patterns and measures before I can even talk about stringing them together and play at a tempo. But I will get there…..eventually.
Ok, this one has not been easy… still working on it. As Ausy just mentioned, slowly but surely. I will get it hehehe
slowly but surely, will get there.