Starting to learn guitar can be an exciting, but also intimidating, experience. One of the quickest ways to begin playing songs is by using just a few simple chords. In this blog, I will highlight some of the easiest 3 chord guitar songs that are perfect for beginners. These are just a few examples of…
Beginner’s Guide to Learning Guitar: Tips and Tricks
So you are ready to start your journey as a guitar player. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just looking to brush up on your skills, this beginner’s guide to learning guitar should help. First and foremost, it’s important to choose the right guitar for you. Acoustic or electric, steel-string or nylon-string, there are many…
Why you should apply the 80/20 rule to learning guitar
The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, states that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. In terms of learning guitar, this means that 80% of the progress you make in becoming a proficient player will come from 20% of the things you practice. One way to apply this principle to guitar…
The 7 Guitar Modes – A simple explanation
The seven modes of the diatonic scale are: To play in a specific mode, you start and end on the corresponding scale degree while playing the scale. For example, to play in Dorian mode, you would start and end on the second note of a major scale while playing the scale. It’s worth noting that…
Unlocking your potential: 5 benefits of learning a musical instrument.
Learning a musical instrument can be a fun and rewarding experience that brings many benefits to our lives. Whether you’re a child or an adult, playing an instrument can help you develop a variety of skills that can be beneficial in all areas of your life. In this blog, I will explore the many benefits…
10 Ways To Practice Guitar Effectively
Practicing guitar is essential for improving your skills and becoming a proficient player. However, it can be easy to get into a rut and become frustrated with your progress. Here are 10 ways to make the most of your practice time and improve your guitar skills:
How I convinced my guitar students NOT to QUIT!
From my experience as a guitar teacher I discovered that most people expect their progress on guitar to be constant and uninterrupted. The reality is there will be periods of stagnation even if you are practicing daily. Why this happens I cannot explain. All I know is expecting uninterrupted progress tends to lead to disillusionment….
Why The Best Teachers Use Drills To Teach Skills
One of my favourite books is Practice Perfect. It’s full of great insights based on in-depth research by Doug Lemov. Here is just one insight from the book. In sports and music when it comes to practice there is this temptation to want to play the game or play the song likely for 3 main…
Motivate your child to practice guitar
Motivating your child to want to practice guitar is different for every child. What works with one child may not work with another child. In addition any strategy you apply will generally not last indefinitely. The secret to motivating your child to practice is creative experimentation. This means you need to be testing new ideas…
What Is The One Thing You Want From A Teacher?
In my early years of teaching guitar I did not really push the issue of practice. I believed that students were either motivated or they were not. To be honest, as a guitarist making a living from teaching, I was afraid if I pushed students to practice too hard many would just quit. Unfortunately, being…
How To Motivate Your Child To Practice Guitar The Simple Way
Many parents struggle with getting their child to do guitar practice mostly because they make it complicated. There is in fact a very simple way to motivate your child to practice but it may not be what you were hoping for. You see there is this common held misconception that children should have a passion…