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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The Secret Sauce
Responses
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Barre cords yuk. Not going to give up on them.
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Update: following the advice I saw in the forum, I tried using less pressure on the barre chords and found that they sounded better and that’s a small win
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These are the exercises I like. Though as I’ve gotten older and more arthritis sets in barre chords are something I limit till my hand says “Whoa there fella”. Make it an epic day TACsters!
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Yay @SharonSings. So glad you did it and did it well although maybe not up to your expectations. But that just gives you more motivation for the next time. I know it took a leap of faith and courage to play in front of others but congratulations on reaching this milestone. You are an encouragement for all the TAC community.
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Well, I had to at least try to play the barre chords which I did poorly. Barre chords for me are a work in progress. At any rate I did the exercise although my cats couldn’t take it and begged to go outside. I will keep working on this though because I do want to conquer barre chords at some point. It was a fun exercise anyway.
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This session is best taken in little pieces. Squeezing those barres is hard and your hand tires. Getting it though and it is better and stronger after a little break. Imma take a break.
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Wow! So much to work on here! It’s coming along a little bit, hard to to get the feel for the “Chuck” (time the release of the strings of the fret). The G chord I’m compromising on with just a power chord and then palm muting, while I can handle the A shape barre chords (C and D).
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I got through it. I understand the concept, but my fingers are too tired to continue. I will keep at it until the barre chords sound a little bit like music.
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great workout for the hand
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Really difficult. Have to work on barre chords, Have to remember that slow progress is still progress. Will come back to it each day for the coming week to progress,
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Man, the tendons in my hand just struggle with these chords. The distance is so hard to make.
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This one gets the wrist and back of the hand sore for sure. I definitely need to play more bar chords over an extended period to develop more dexterity. Overall, it went pretty well, and I can’t complain.
SharonSings, glad to hear it went well for you, fantastic! -
I’m still awful at bar chords but this gives me a good exercise to improve…..that is a small win
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I was surprised at how easily I was able to do this exercise. This was a win for me today.
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That’s a good one.
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Yes, this one is in the toughest group of lessons. Words of encouragement: As I attacked this from the tab (where I always start, in year five of the journey), I was daunted and almost defeated. After some warming up and muscle memory kicking in, however, I was making musical sounds (after perhaps four or five run-throughs). My fretting hand IS very tired – more work to come – but I feel successful. Note to self: be sure to do my hand and wrist warm-ups before doing this next time. Hang in there, friends. The small wins matter, so claim them.
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Thanks for sharing that perspective @RichL I had a hunch this week was trickier than it looks to be!
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Those of you who say with practice you;ll get those barre chords or can already do them, lucky you, with your long fingers and loose tendons! I cannot, and can barely do power chords, but I do think those are doable eventually. I don’t know what the power chords are he is using, however, especially the transition chords. Can someone tell me, then i can look it up in my chord book.
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Hi @BarbaraM , The Barre Chords are as follows:
Measures 1 & 2 = G, measures 3 & 4 = C, measures 5 & 6 = D, measure 7 = G.
Measure 8 = G + A# + B, measure 9 = C, measure 10 = C + C#, measure 11 = D.
Measure 12 = D + F = F#, Measure 13 = G, measure 14 = G + F + F#, measure 15 = G.
Hope that helps.-
Thanks, @Bill_Brown. Good to know those chord names. Doesn’t mean I can play them!
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Okay …. this will be a workout for my fretting hand …. But fun and useful.
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Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your guitar journey. I dream of doing the same someday, maybe!
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Wow, this was really tough! Small win; I was able to squeak out something using each shape. Who needs the B string anyway? All in all, I’ve really enjoyed this week of walk downs. It will take me more time to be smooth but I really enjoy working on them. Not so much the bars. Time for some ice and my hand splint.
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You and me both.
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Very difficult to understand and to play. Full of information. Took copious notes onto the TAB. Stopped and backed up many, many times. 30 to 45 minutes to just go through the video. Later, I will try to play using my written notes on the TAB.
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Well, I marked that complete … but I really didn’t get it … I don’t know how you guys think bar chords are easy!
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Totally lost with barre cords.
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same here.
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Secret sauce is going to remain a secret for me, apparently
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exactly!
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@SharonSings you are my hero! Getting up in front of people to me is a goal, but not ready for that yet. My biggest audience to this point has been my wife and dogs! They don’t mind the guitar playing, but take cover when I start to sing! Congrats on a huge step.
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@MiDan you dogs sound like my cats LOL
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I was able to make noticeable progress and gain confidence with barre chords just by working through this several times. That’s a big deal from me as I’m just starting to get comfortable them and I know that will help me accomplish my main goal of “playing songs with other people and have fun doing it” this Summer. Thanks!
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Congratulations on your accomplishment. We definitely grow by pushing ourselves. Tony makes it look so easy. Ha ha.
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Congrats Sharon. That’s an encouragement to do Open Mic maybe down in the future. At least the idea is planted!! 😀
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Well done! You should be proud of yourself.
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Managed 30 minutes before my fingers cried “enough”.
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But don’t you have to press hard with the finger that is doing the bar?? I find I have to do that in order to have good sound on those strings.
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it is a delicate balance @Syria You have to press hard enough to fret the strings, but it is so easy to feel like you have to overdo it and stress your fingers. One tip Tony gives in his Bar Chord lesson is to press on the upper bout of your guitar body with the inside of your strumming forearm. That force actually pushes the neck into your fretting hand making the fretting easier.
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I agree Syria but peter_m’s advice helps. Thanks peter_m! (I couldn’t reply directly)
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This week has been the most interesting for me since I signed up. My first love is the old old country and Appalachian sound. I can hear so many different songs in my head just doing the exercises.
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Going to have to watch this Secret Sauce a couple of times, bc I am a bit lost. But it could be just me! LOL
Seems like a lot to absorb: and my mind is not totally present this morning. Will have to work this out on my guitar. I think I got what Tony is saying for the first line. 😛-
You’re not alone, I found this one a lot more challenging than it looks! Also the TAB is missing the chord shape diagram and the chord progression. Lacking this just makes it more difficult to follow along – needing an extra moment of thought to know where you’re going next.
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I prefer doing a walk-down from the A shaped D chord to the E shaped G chord via an E shaped A chord (5th fret root) then the E shaped G# chord (4th fret root). Or if you prefer, you can do it without the barre chord shape and just play the root notes on the loE string.
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No you are not @WAMGOC ! I first started playing guitar over 50 years ago and you can bet that barre chords were some of the first chords I was taught to play.
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Yep. 50 years ago and barre chord were mandatory. Almost to the point of missing other important nuances of the fretboard.
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Well done! The fact that you got through it is amazing! Better your confidence is at an all time high!!!! On to the next one!!
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YOU ARE A GUITAR PLAYER @SharonSings!
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Well that as hard look forward to down the road seeing if I can get better.
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Absolutely love this session! Tony, you are a wonderful teacher and break everything down in a very simple manner. I can see using this technique in many of the songs I play. Bar chords were my nemesis for a long time, but I’m starting to see the beauty of using them.
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I’d say (as Tony did) just go slow and be kind with your self. The walk and pattern are not the challenge today, the chords are for those who are not used to them. Go slow practicing the finger placement on them and then those full chops transitions will be an awesome tool in your bag
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Congrats!
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CRAMP!!!! Even after stretching… Takin’ one for the team…
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I’ll give this the old college try after work today, the more I do them the better its going to be. Sharon congrats and many more!
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Is anyone else really struggling with today’s challenge besides me? Perhaps the rheumatism in my fingers doesn’t help trying to make the barr shape.
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Totally with you, I can’t seem to do the barre shape whether it is the full shape or just the lower three strings.
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This one definitely requires you to warm up 🙂 . Seeing some progress in my Barre shapes and quite frequently now it actually sounds good.
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Ouch! Don’t forget to warm up your wrists for this one! This is indeed all about repetition and muscle memory! I’m not sure I could have practiced this however if I was just starting to learn guitar. Anyways, I knew these bar chords so I loved the exercice. Good luck!
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@SharonSings Wow, a herculean task!! So brave of you. A new door has opened and I’ll wager you’ll go through it more often. Congratulations!!
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Anything is possible! Congrats and reach for the stars! 🙂
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Today’s lesson is the perfect example of progress for me. I have been with TAC for quite a while, and this is the first time I have been able to completely finish this lesson. This weekend is FW for me, and I am excited to go through it again. I hope everyone is doing well, and I can’t wait to read the comments. I am further encouraged today by the comment from @SharonSings.
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@SharonSings, we are all proud of your accomplishment. It took a lot of courage and ability to get to that point. Great Job.
Congratulations, !
Challenge complete
Come back tomorrow for your next challenge
Barre cords yuk. Not going to give up on them.
Update: following the advice I saw in the forum, I tried using less pressure on the barre chords and found that they sounded better and that’s a small win
These are the exercises I like. Though as I’ve gotten older and more arthritis sets in barre chords are something I limit till my hand says “Whoa there fella”. Make it an epic day TACsters!
Yay @SharonSings. So glad you did it and did it well although maybe not up to your expectations. But that just gives you more motivation for the next time. I know it took a leap of faith and courage to play in front of others but congratulations on reaching this milestone. You are an encouragement for all the TAC community.
Well, I had to at least try to play the barre chords which I did poorly. Barre chords for me are a work in progress. At any rate I did the exercise although my cats couldn’t take it and begged to go outside. I will keep working on this though because I do want to conquer barre chords at some point. It was a fun exercise anyway.
This session is best taken in little pieces. Squeezing those barres is hard and your hand tires. Getting it though and it is better and stronger after a little break. Imma take a break.
Wow! So much to work on here! It’s coming along a little bit, hard to to get the feel for the “Chuck” (time the release of the strings of the fret). The G chord I’m compromising on with just a power chord and then palm muting, while I can handle the A shape barre chords (C and D).
I got through it. I understand the concept, but my fingers are too tired to continue. I will keep at it until the barre chords sound a little bit like music.
great workout for the hand
Really difficult. Have to work on barre chords, Have to remember that slow progress is still progress. Will come back to it each day for the coming week to progress,
Man, the tendons in my hand just struggle with these chords. The distance is so hard to make.
This one gets the wrist and back of the hand sore for sure. I definitely need to play more bar chords over an extended period to develop more dexterity. Overall, it went pretty well, and I can’t complain.
SharonSings, glad to hear it went well for you, fantastic!
I’m still awful at bar chords but this gives me a good exercise to improve…..that is a small win
I was surprised at how easily I was able to do this exercise. This was a win for me today.
That’s a good one.
Yes, this one is in the toughest group of lessons. Words of encouragement: As I attacked this from the tab (where I always start, in year five of the journey), I was daunted and almost defeated. After some warming up and muscle memory kicking in, however, I was making musical sounds (after perhaps four or five run-throughs). My fretting hand IS very tired – more work to come – but I feel successful. Note to self: be sure to do my hand and wrist warm-ups before doing this next time. Hang in there, friends. The small wins matter, so claim them.
Thanks for sharing that perspective @RichL I had a hunch this week was trickier than it looks to be!
Those of you who say with practice you;ll get those barre chords or can already do them, lucky you, with your long fingers and loose tendons! I cannot, and can barely do power chords, but I do think those are doable eventually. I don’t know what the power chords are he is using, however, especially the transition chords. Can someone tell me, then i can look it up in my chord book.
Hi @BarbaraM , The Barre Chords are as follows:
Measures 1 & 2 = G, measures 3 & 4 = C, measures 5 & 6 = D, measure 7 = G.
Measure 8 = G + A# + B, measure 9 = C, measure 10 = C + C#, measure 11 = D.
Measure 12 = D + F = F#, Measure 13 = G, measure 14 = G + F + F#, measure 15 = G.
Hope that helps.
Thanks, @Bill_Brown. Good to know those chord names. Doesn’t mean I can play them!
Okay …. this will be a workout for my fretting hand …. But fun and useful.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your guitar journey. I dream of doing the same someday, maybe!
Wow, this was really tough! Small win; I was able to squeak out something using each shape. Who needs the B string anyway? All in all, I’ve really enjoyed this week of walk downs. It will take me more time to be smooth but I really enjoy working on them. Not so much the bars. Time for some ice and my hand splint.
You and me both.
Very difficult to understand and to play. Full of information. Took copious notes onto the TAB. Stopped and backed up many, many times. 30 to 45 minutes to just go through the video. Later, I will try to play using my written notes on the TAB.
Well, I marked that complete … but I really didn’t get it … I don’t know how you guys think bar chords are easy!
Totally lost with barre cords.
same here.
Secret sauce is going to remain a secret for me, apparently
exactly!
@SharonSings you are my hero! Getting up in front of people to me is a goal, but not ready for that yet. My biggest audience to this point has been my wife and dogs! They don’t mind the guitar playing, but take cover when I start to sing! Congrats on a huge step.
@MiDan you dogs sound like my cats LOL
I was able to make noticeable progress and gain confidence with barre chords just by working through this several times. That’s a big deal from me as I’m just starting to get comfortable them and I know that will help me accomplish my main goal of “playing songs with other people and have fun doing it” this Summer. Thanks!
Congratulations on your accomplishment. We definitely grow by pushing ourselves. Tony makes it look so easy. Ha ha.
Congrats Sharon. That’s an encouragement to do Open Mic maybe down in the future. At least the idea is planted!! 😀
Well done! You should be proud of yourself.
Managed 30 minutes before my fingers cried “enough”.
But don’t you have to press hard with the finger that is doing the bar?? I find I have to do that in order to have good sound on those strings.
it is a delicate balance @Syria You have to press hard enough to fret the strings, but it is so easy to feel like you have to overdo it and stress your fingers. One tip Tony gives in his Bar Chord lesson is to press on the upper bout of your guitar body with the inside of your strumming forearm. That force actually pushes the neck into your fretting hand making the fretting easier.
https://tonypolecastro.com/courses/better-barre-chords/
I agree Syria but peter_m’s advice helps. Thanks peter_m! (I couldn’t reply directly)
This week has been the most interesting for me since I signed up. My first love is the old old country and Appalachian sound. I can hear so many different songs in my head just doing the exercises.
Going to have to watch this Secret Sauce a couple of times, bc I am a bit lost. But it could be just me! LOL
Seems like a lot to absorb: and my mind is not totally present this morning. Will have to work this out on my guitar. I think I got what Tony is saying for the first line. 😛
You’re not alone, I found this one a lot more challenging than it looks! Also the TAB is missing the chord shape diagram and the chord progression. Lacking this just makes it more difficult to follow along – needing an extra moment of thought to know where you’re going next.
I prefer doing a walk-down from the A shaped D chord to the E shaped G chord via an E shaped A chord (5th fret root) then the E shaped G# chord (4th fret root). Or if you prefer, you can do it without the barre chord shape and just play the root notes on the loE string.
No you are not @WAMGOC ! I first started playing guitar over 50 years ago and you can bet that barre chords were some of the first chords I was taught to play.
Yep. 50 years ago and barre chord were mandatory. Almost to the point of missing other important nuances of the fretboard.
Well done! The fact that you got through it is amazing! Better your confidence is at an all time high!!!! On to the next one!!
YOU ARE A GUITAR PLAYER @SharonSings!
Well that as hard look forward to down the road seeing if I can get better.
Absolutely love this session! Tony, you are a wonderful teacher and break everything down in a very simple manner. I can see using this technique in many of the songs I play. Bar chords were my nemesis for a long time, but I’m starting to see the beauty of using them.
I’d say (as Tony did) just go slow and be kind with your self. The walk and pattern are not the challenge today, the chords are for those who are not used to them. Go slow practicing the finger placement on them and then those full chops transitions will be an awesome tool in your bag
Congrats!
CRAMP!!!! Even after stretching… Takin’ one for the team…
I’ll give this the old college try after work today, the more I do them the better its going to be. Sharon congrats and many more!
Is anyone else really struggling with today’s challenge besides me? Perhaps the rheumatism in my fingers doesn’t help trying to make the barr shape.
Totally with you, I can’t seem to do the barre shape whether it is the full shape or just the lower three strings.
This one definitely requires you to warm up 🙂 . Seeing some progress in my Barre shapes and quite frequently now it actually sounds good.
Ouch! Don’t forget to warm up your wrists for this one! This is indeed all about repetition and muscle memory! I’m not sure I could have practiced this however if I was just starting to learn guitar. Anyways, I knew these bar chords so I loved the exercice. Good luck!
@SharonSings Wow, a herculean task!! So brave of you. A new door has opened and I’ll wager you’ll go through it more often. Congratulations!!
Anything is possible! Congrats and reach for the stars! 🙂
Today’s lesson is the perfect example of progress for me. I have been with TAC for quite a while, and this is the first time I have been able to completely finish this lesson. This weekend is FW for me, and I am excited to go through it again. I hope everyone is doing well, and I can’t wait to read the comments. I am further encouraged today by the comment from @SharonSings.
@SharonSings, we are all proud of your accomplishment. It took a lot of courage and ability to get to that point. Great Job.