Musical memory is the ability to remember musical passages whether it be a melody, a chord progression, a rhythm pattern or a song arrangement. According to research our musical memory is encoded in a different part of our brain to language so needs to be developed. They also found that both sides (left and right…
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The Guitarist Mindset. Will you succeed or fail?
New students will often wonder whether or not they have the so called musical bone in their bodies. Are some of us born more musical? After 30 years working with guitar students and much research I have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t really matter. It may or may not be the case but…
5 tips for finding a great guitar teacher
Finding a great guitar teacher is difficult for several reasons. Firstly they are very rare. Secondly great teachers rarely have vacancies. Lastly teaching guitar is an unregulated industry so anyone can teach guitar which means you need to go through a lot of teachers to find those few exceptional ones. The question is how do…
Looking at your hands while playing guitar. Yes or No?
This answer is yes and no so let me explain. The goal is to be able to play guitar without looking at your hands. There are several reasons why you will want to learn to play guitar with out looking but lets begin with when to look. The time to look at your handsThe time…
The Idol delusion – Overstating your ability
The TV show American Idol has revealed a well known condition that we all suffer from to some degree in one area or another. That is we believe we are better than we actually are. When we watch Idol and see wannabe singers stand up and audition with no obvious training or natural we…
Why we need guitar heroes
It’s easy to be cynical of idol worshipping. When we see the inside of a teenager’s bedroom covered wall to wall with posters of their favorite pop/rock stars we laugh and think its silly or a complete waste of time and money and in some cases may even seem obsessive. Some people spend their last…
Should you look at your fingers when playing guitar?
The answer is both yes and no. The goal is to be able to play guitar without looking at your hands. Relying on your eyes to guide you will put you at a significant advantage which I will explain. The only time you will want to look at your hands is when you are first…
A star is born. Really? I think they are made.
When we think of very talented musicians it is easy to assume they were somehow born with such talents. This theory has little if any evidence but there is plenty of evidence that being born into the right family is a major factor. Without a doubt Delta Goodrem would be among Australia’s top selling artists…
Discover your guitar voice
When we think of the great guitar players like Hendrix, Page, Santana, Gilmore, Van Halen we know they have a unique sound. In each case they played the guitar in their own way. They weren’t trying to be the next whoever. Sure they had guitar influences but they followed their own compass. I believe in…
Why online guitar lessons are becoming the preferred choice by many students
When I speak to students many say that they are not interested in online lessons because it feels strange and impersonal. I then follow up by asking if they have tried an online lesson and in almost every case the answer is no. I now teach exclusively online as do many teachers across a range…
Why is Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven’ the greatest song ever?
At no other point in history that I am aware was there a song that drove so many people to learn to play music than when Led Zeppelin released Stairway to Heaven. Sure a song like ‘Smoke on the Water’ has probably been played more times but it’s a simple riff played mostly by those…
The mindset of a great guitar player
Mindset in my opinion is the critical factor in success on guitar. A lack of confidence for example would have to be the number one reason why people give up guitar. Let me describe a typical scenario where a student quits guitar. They get inspired, buy a guitar, find a teacher and begin their journey….
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