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.
Like this lesson? Join Tony's Acoustic Challenge to keep going!
Responses
You've been invited to experience Tony's Acoustic Challenge
Stop Dabbling, Start Playing
GET STARTED
Watch the free class to discover the fun guitar learning method used by over 35,000 students to learn guitar through nostalgic songs from the 60s and 70s.
Finger Pairs Speed Challenge
Responses
-
Made it to 120 on first go round! Pretty happy with my brain AND fingers. Great exercose/
-
My old fingers love this one at slow bpm and I’m fine with that. My drummer friend says thid is called the spider walk warm-up.
slow is good -
Slow is fast….fast is slow
-
How do you change spped. I am set at 160 bpm and want to go 120?
-
so, its a weekly warm up. today, I actually got the point where i was looking for the welding gloves I don’t have. couldn’t get it clean and fast, but got parts of both (day 2, after all).
-
this was tough!
I started slooooow – 85 bpm. If i could make it through the progression 2x in a row without messing up, I would increase the bpm by ten. Eventually i made it up to 145 bpm. This will for sure be in my short list of daily warmup exercises. -
Fortunately I have been doing week one every day. I can do 80bpm up and down cleanly once. It’s the second run that has my fingers tripping all over themselves I’ve been trying to build up strength by going up to the 12th fret and back down again cleanly and without stopping. Hasn’t happened yet!
-
I use a metronome on these speed challenges. The speed adjustment in the app doesn’t give me the bpm without me doing too much math in my head. Anyway, I hit 100 clean and accurate. At 110 I can make it through 1 cycle clean but start missing the pattern the 2nd time through. Still, 100 is my personal best on Finger Pairs so I am taking the small win and marking Complete
-
HOLY COW! Half speed is kicking my butt. Going back to week one as well. I have a feeling my fingers weren’t built for this. Not giving up.
-
OK… Tony did that up/down twice in 18 seconds! Starts at 0:01 and ends at 0:19! I did it in 23 seconds… I don’t think I can go any faster! And Tony wanted to do it this at 200 bpm instead of 160bpm… WOW!!!
-
I work on speeding up a clean play through by successive repeats. I only look at what Tony does at speed for personal amusement while I watch with awe at his skill.
-
My 1st tac lesson, yeah pretty tough for a beginner not even a clean 50bpm. Tried it a few times then started working up the fretboard with each pass. By the time my index finger started on the 7th fret was able to span my fingers between the 4 frets. Glad to see others in similar boat. 364 days to go can only get better. So is 10 minute practice for consistency or the time scientists discovered frustration takes over?
-
Completed ,but I need to practice so I can speed it up. Not at 160 just yet.
-
This exercise was frustrating to me as well. Also, I need to figure out why as I curve my fingers around to contact the string, my pinky moves toward my ring finger. This makes the stretch across all four frets difficult because the pinky moves diagonally inward. Never noticed until I started playing guitar. Oh well, the band needs drummers too – just kidding:)
-
Found something funny,
20% Complete
Last activity on December 31, 1969
This could make my slow speed really easy to understand, that was when I was 22. -
When I tried at the fastest speed I could go, I think I made about 60 bpm and that was as fast as I could. Slower made it clear and not only was I able to do it, I even got the alternate picking. I am also old, so I take what I can get.
-
Sorry speed demons.. i can only get to 123 -127 this .. inconsistently! Lol
Closer to accuracy at around 110… ooof! What a tricky one this is. 😉 I really like the pairs but I’m lacking in speed. (Cross picking is my nemesis.) -
I can get up to about 130. I had to work my way up bit by bit. How I did it was around to start at 75 with the metronome which is where I was quite comfortable. I then stopped using the metronome and simply counted- 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 etc. picking up the pace bit on each set. What that did was get my brain connected to hands through a creating a steady beat in my head that led my hands/fingers to follow on beat. I found It disconnected my brain from trying to match my fingers to the pace of metronome and simply let my hands follow the beat I was counting at. I was able to increase my speed much quicker and more accurate. After I got as quick as I could then turned the metronome on to find out pace I was at.
-
A lot faster/ smoother than last time still not as fast as the speed challenge but I’ m happy I am getting it with the alternative picking.
-
Call me slow hand because I’m turning into pretzel fingers at 120! Oh metronome, you continue to be my worst enemy!
-
I like the challenge but I’m no where near 160 BPM. The good thing I’m much faster and cleaner than I have been on challenges. so it’s a small win for me. I’m just a year into this journey and my only expectation is to have fun and build my skills. I’m not even sure I’m even using the metronome correctly.
-
I joined the party late today and lucky me I was able to see the lesson without any problems. Getting to and maintaining these speeds is the problem for me. I’ve been working on this exercise since we first saw it two weeks ago and my speed is improving.
-
Yeah!!! I was able to do this at 80!
Dan, don’t be sorry. I get frustrated a lot, especially w/ barres. But compared to a year ago, my guitar skills are soooo improved!. You’ll get it. time, patience, practice.
-
The play video wouldn’t work
-
Hoof-Tee! That burns! Got it up to 180 BPM and not a click faster!
This is only the third Speed Challenge in 4 months in which I have matched Tony’s speed! I will take the small win!
-
140 was all I could manage, and had to use my own metronome. No way was I keeping up with Tony at 160 BPM. My 140 started out okay through one iteration, but I started to lose it somewhat towards the end. Definitely a finger twister.
-
I got the pattern, just not the speed yet. I know it’ll come – some day…
-
Strangely enough when I clicked the Publish button I got Tony’s caricature cogratulating me on completing today’s challenge. Easy enough –
-
The message about not being able to access the lesson today
wasn’t published – ?
-
-
No, nope, just no. I think that Tony should give the same warning before attempting this exercise at this speed that he gives about consulting your doctor before attempting those stretching exercises. Okay, back to work.
-
120 was the best i can do
-
Ooh wee! I just joined the site like 15 minutes ago and this is one heck of a welcome! I had to take the alternate picking out and forgot the metronome to get through it successfully maybe 3x out ten minutes of going at it again and again. Great exercise but a real brain breaker for me.
-
Better than before, but still could be improved upon in the speed department. Was anyone able to whistle or hum along with this one? LOL, Not me, but I do have the fretting and picking pattern down up and down the fretboard and my picking is steady and notes are clear. Small win: I am using a metronome more and more so I can practice the increase of speed in smaller increments. Have fun.
-
Well I knew this warmup was coming back around so I have added it to my daily warm up. I’m still not super fast but can complete with accuracy. I know with more time the speed will come, so I’m not gonna beat myself up, it’s my journey I’m enjoying.
-
I never thought I would be able to do this at this speed. So excited to finally get it!
-
Congratz Ocgraves!
-
Nice work!
-
-
I knew in week one that this was going into the speed challenge, so I’ve been practicing my fingers off…I’m somewhere near 150 and that ain’t pretty…I’ll keep it in my favorites for my warmup and mark this done for today…
-
I have small hands and was stretching for the fourth fret while still trying to keep my index finger on the first fret and getting really frustrated (I’m a beginner player doing these challenges at the same time as the 30 day to guitar stuff). So I went and watched a video about people with small hands playing and they mentioned that you should generally shift your fingers down for the lower frets instead of trying to stretch all the way – helped me a ton. Still can’t do it very fast at all but at least I don’t feel like it’s completely impossible.
-
Definitely in the slow land, but got better with tone and speed after about 15 minutes. #smallwin
-
Well, so much for the “challenge in speed”, it is just a CHALLENGE! It is a great exercise for the fretting hand, no doubt. I am just working on getting the fingers to hit the strings correctly, so slow but true is the way to go. It is a bit easier than the first time it was introduced, so that is good. I will just keep working on it.
-
I’m plodding along at 70 or 80 bpm, but that’s okay. I still feel like I’m improving gradually.
-
LOL! Did Tony say “IF” 200 BPS was ‘too’ difficult to stick with 160 BPS? LOL! I’m NEW to the “Acoustic Challenge” program….this speed challenge will be my fourth challenge. As a ‘Noodler” & a “Doodler” for years and years (and not getting anywhere) I’ve always been a finger picker. Never picked up a flat pick in my life! Until I did the KC4 (Key of F major) and KC4 (Key of F minor). I did use a flat pick to strum those bar chords & it wasn’t too bad. But THIS! LOL! You know what I’m talkin’ about! I had trouble at first just finding the right string with the pick! I was using my eyes to find the right notes on the fret board and not really looking at my picking hand to find the string with the pick. I felt lost at first! However, it really did NOT take very long and my pick was, in fact, hitting the right string at the right time. Now, I just have to work on my speed. It was very helpful watching Tony pick with his downstroke-upstroke-downstroke-upstroke technique. Not ever using a flat pick it’s little details like that …that had never occurred to me. I mean….I am REALLY a greenhorn with a flat pick! Ummmm….I am getting faster but I sincerely doubt I will hit 160 BPM today! LOL!
-
Small win. I managed 150 bpm. by incrementing the metronome by 5 bpm again and again until it was messy, then dialed it back. I will work on this some more, as i want to reach higher speeds. I have marked it complete.
-
Well my fingers and mind aren’t working together today that great, I’ll keep doing this off an on today, and for the week at about 100bpm for know
-
managed to get to 160 without fluffing which is better than last time I did this exercise so a small win
-
Ouch. Can’t touch his slowest speed. .75 of that is even a stretch. Can do the first part much faster than the 2nd part.
-
Wow! Tony is knocking it out of the park at 160 bpm. Needless to say, I’m not there and that’s ok. My alternate picking technique is pretty good, but fret hand mechanics falter a bit around the transition from ascending to descending. I’ll keep at it!
Congratulations, !
Challenge complete
Come back tomorrow for your next challenge
Made it to 120 on first go round! Pretty happy with my brain AND fingers. Great exercose/
My old fingers love this one at slow bpm and I’m fine with that. My drummer friend says thid is called the spider walk warm-up.
slow is good
Slow is fast….fast is slow
How do you change spped. I am set at 160 bpm and want to go 120?
so, its a weekly warm up. today, I actually got the point where i was looking for the welding gloves I don’t have. couldn’t get it clean and fast, but got parts of both (day 2, after all).
this was tough!
I started slooooow – 85 bpm. If i could make it through the progression 2x in a row without messing up, I would increase the bpm by ten. Eventually i made it up to 145 bpm. This will for sure be in my short list of daily warmup exercises.
Fortunately I have been doing week one every day. I can do 80bpm up and down cleanly once. It’s the second run that has my fingers tripping all over themselves I’ve been trying to build up strength by going up to the 12th fret and back down again cleanly and without stopping. Hasn’t happened yet!
I use a metronome on these speed challenges. The speed adjustment in the app doesn’t give me the bpm without me doing too much math in my head. Anyway, I hit 100 clean and accurate. At 110 I can make it through 1 cycle clean but start missing the pattern the 2nd time through. Still, 100 is my personal best on Finger Pairs so I am taking the small win and marking Complete
HOLY COW! Half speed is kicking my butt. Going back to week one as well. I have a feeling my fingers weren’t built for this. Not giving up.
OK… Tony did that up/down twice in 18 seconds! Starts at 0:01 and ends at 0:19! I did it in 23 seconds… I don’t think I can go any faster! And Tony wanted to do it this at 200 bpm instead of 160bpm… WOW!!!
I work on speeding up a clean play through by successive repeats. I only look at what Tony does at speed for personal amusement while I watch with awe at his skill.
My 1st tac lesson, yeah pretty tough for a beginner not even a clean 50bpm. Tried it a few times then started working up the fretboard with each pass. By the time my index finger started on the 7th fret was able to span my fingers between the 4 frets. Glad to see others in similar boat. 364 days to go can only get better. So is 10 minute practice for consistency or the time scientists discovered frustration takes over?
Completed ,but I need to practice so I can speed it up. Not at 160 just yet.
This exercise was frustrating to me as well. Also, I need to figure out why as I curve my fingers around to contact the string, my pinky moves toward my ring finger. This makes the stretch across all four frets difficult because the pinky moves diagonally inward. Never noticed until I started playing guitar. Oh well, the band needs drummers too – just kidding:)
Found something funny,
20% Complete
Last activity on December 31, 1969
This could make my slow speed really easy to understand, that was when I was 22.
When I tried at the fastest speed I could go, I think I made about 60 bpm and that was as fast as I could. Slower made it clear and not only was I able to do it, I even got the alternate picking. I am also old, so I take what I can get.
Sorry speed demons.. i can only get to 123 -127 this .. inconsistently! Lol
Closer to accuracy at around 110… ooof! What a tricky one this is. 😉 I really like the pairs but I’m lacking in speed. (Cross picking is my nemesis.)
I can get up to about 130. I had to work my way up bit by bit. How I did it was around to start at 75 with the metronome which is where I was quite comfortable. I then stopped using the metronome and simply counted- 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 etc. picking up the pace bit on each set. What that did was get my brain connected to hands through a creating a steady beat in my head that led my hands/fingers to follow on beat. I found It disconnected my brain from trying to match my fingers to the pace of metronome and simply let my hands follow the beat I was counting at. I was able to increase my speed much quicker and more accurate. After I got as quick as I could then turned the metronome on to find out pace I was at.
A lot faster/ smoother than last time still not as fast as the speed challenge but I’ m happy I am getting it with the alternative picking.
Call me slow hand because I’m turning into pretzel fingers at 120! Oh metronome, you continue to be my worst enemy!
I like the challenge but I’m no where near 160 BPM. The good thing I’m much faster and cleaner than I have been on challenges. so it’s a small win for me. I’m just a year into this journey and my only expectation is to have fun and build my skills. I’m not even sure I’m even using the metronome correctly.
I joined the party late today and lucky me I was able to see the lesson without any problems. Getting to and maintaining these speeds is the problem for me. I’ve been working on this exercise since we first saw it two weeks ago and my speed is improving.
Yeah!!! I was able to do this at 80!
Dan, don’t be sorry. I get frustrated a lot, especially w/ barres. But compared to a year ago, my guitar skills are soooo improved!. You’ll get it. time, patience, practice.
The play video wouldn’t work
Hoof-Tee! That burns! Got it up to 180 BPM and not a click faster!
This is only the third Speed Challenge in 4 months in which I have matched Tony’s speed! I will take the small win!
140 was all I could manage, and had to use my own metronome. No way was I keeping up with Tony at 160 BPM. My 140 started out okay through one iteration, but I started to lose it somewhat towards the end. Definitely a finger twister.
I got the pattern, just not the speed yet. I know it’ll come – some day…
Strangely enough when I clicked the Publish button I got Tony’s caricature cogratulating me on completing today’s challenge. Easy enough –
The message about not being able to access the lesson today
wasn’t published – ?
No, nope, just no. I think that Tony should give the same warning before attempting this exercise at this speed that he gives about consulting your doctor before attempting those stretching exercises. Okay, back to work.
120 was the best i can do
Ooh wee! I just joined the site like 15 minutes ago and this is one heck of a welcome! I had to take the alternate picking out and forgot the metronome to get through it successfully maybe 3x out ten minutes of going at it again and again. Great exercise but a real brain breaker for me.
Better than before, but still could be improved upon in the speed department. Was anyone able to whistle or hum along with this one? LOL, Not me, but I do have the fretting and picking pattern down up and down the fretboard and my picking is steady and notes are clear. Small win: I am using a metronome more and more so I can practice the increase of speed in smaller increments. Have fun.
Well I knew this warmup was coming back around so I have added it to my daily warm up. I’m still not super fast but can complete with accuracy. I know with more time the speed will come, so I’m not gonna beat myself up, it’s my journey I’m enjoying.
I never thought I would be able to do this at this speed. So excited to finally get it!
Congratz Ocgraves!
Nice work!
I knew in week one that this was going into the speed challenge, so I’ve been practicing my fingers off…I’m somewhere near 150 and that ain’t pretty…I’ll keep it in my favorites for my warmup and mark this done for today…
I have small hands and was stretching for the fourth fret while still trying to keep my index finger on the first fret and getting really frustrated (I’m a beginner player doing these challenges at the same time as the 30 day to guitar stuff). So I went and watched a video about people with small hands playing and they mentioned that you should generally shift your fingers down for the lower frets instead of trying to stretch all the way – helped me a ton. Still can’t do it very fast at all but at least I don’t feel like it’s completely impossible.
Definitely in the slow land, but got better with tone and speed after about 15 minutes. #smallwin
Well, so much for the “challenge in speed”, it is just a CHALLENGE! It is a great exercise for the fretting hand, no doubt. I am just working on getting the fingers to hit the strings correctly, so slow but true is the way to go. It is a bit easier than the first time it was introduced, so that is good. I will just keep working on it.
I’m plodding along at 70 or 80 bpm, but that’s okay. I still feel like I’m improving gradually.
LOL! Did Tony say “IF” 200 BPS was ‘too’ difficult to stick with 160 BPS? LOL! I’m NEW to the “Acoustic Challenge” program….this speed challenge will be my fourth challenge. As a ‘Noodler” & a “Doodler” for years and years (and not getting anywhere) I’ve always been a finger picker. Never picked up a flat pick in my life! Until I did the KC4 (Key of F major) and KC4 (Key of F minor). I did use a flat pick to strum those bar chords & it wasn’t too bad. But THIS! LOL! You know what I’m talkin’ about! I had trouble at first just finding the right string with the pick! I was using my eyes to find the right notes on the fret board and not really looking at my picking hand to find the string with the pick. I felt lost at first! However, it really did NOT take very long and my pick was, in fact, hitting the right string at the right time. Now, I just have to work on my speed. It was very helpful watching Tony pick with his downstroke-upstroke-downstroke-upstroke technique. Not ever using a flat pick it’s little details like that …that had never occurred to me. I mean….I am REALLY a greenhorn with a flat pick! Ummmm….I am getting faster but I sincerely doubt I will hit 160 BPM today! LOL!
Small win. I managed 150 bpm. by incrementing the metronome by 5 bpm again and again until it was messy, then dialed it back. I will work on this some more, as i want to reach higher speeds. I have marked it complete.
Well my fingers and mind aren’t working together today that great, I’ll keep doing this off an on today, and for the week at about 100bpm for know
managed to get to 160 without fluffing which is better than last time I did this exercise so a small win
Ouch. Can’t touch his slowest speed. .75 of that is even a stretch. Can do the first part much faster than the 2nd part.
Wow! Tony is knocking it out of the park at 160 bpm. Needless to say, I’m not there and that’s ok. My alternate picking technique is pretty good, but fret hand mechanics falter a bit around the transition from ascending to descending. I’ll keep at it!