Getting a new guitar amplifier is an exciting time for a guitarist, getting a chance to stroll through the music shops, spend time reviewing amps online and talking to other guitarists about amps will all help with your final decision. Knowing what to look for can be a challenge for the first-time buyer so I…
3 Easy Ways To Mentally Prepare For Guitar Practice
Not all guitar practice is equal. On one end of the scale we have totally distracted and on the other we have flow. To be in a flow state means to be performing almost effortlessly and with near perfection. I think everyone has experienced flow at one time or another in some area of their…
5 Facts Beginner Guitar Students Need To Know To Succeed
Here are 5 facts I wish I had known when I started guitar. I hope they make your journey a little smoother. Guitar is easy to learn but difficult to master In one lesson I could teach you to play the following 5 chords. C, A minor, G, E minor & D. These chords are…
Why Average Guitar Students Quit
I would guess that around 80% of guitar students have very modest goals. At least in the beginning. I know this from many years of teaching and working with hundreds of guitar teachers. The scenario usually goes like this. Me: “How much are you willing to practice each day to reach your goals?” Student: “I…
5 Ways To Optimise Your Guitar Practice
Not all guitar practice is equal. Optimising your practice can make a big difference especially over the long term. Developing the habit of optimising will at first, feel like an effort. Like most habits it will take time but stick with it. It may also go against your natural instincts and urges. Optimising can also…
Why Learn Scales On Guitar?
I will be the first to admit that I had zero interest in learning scales on guitar in the early years. I just couldn’t see the point. I was motivated by songs so why not cut straight to the chase. I resisted playing any kind of scale for about a year until I discovered…
How To Be A Great Guitar Student
There are some very special teachers in the world. We know this because every now and again we hear about them in the news or perhaps a Hollywood script based on a true story like the movie ‘Music of the heart’. The truth is such teachers are extremely rare and in some cases the stories…
Success On Guitar Begins With The Mind
When I began learning guitar as a young teen it was a struggle. Everyday I would fight with the negative thoughts that kept creeping into my head. “You’ll never be any good on guitar” or “It’s too late dude. The best musicians begin when they are 5 or younger” or “Some people are born with…
The Fastest Way To Learn Guitar
When I was 8 years old I received a guitar from my parents. Probably as a present but I don’t actually remember. In fact I can hardly remember much about the experience at all. What I do know is the novelty of guitar at that age wore off pretty quickly. I vaguely remember having…
3 Chord Songs for Guitar
Many beginner guitarists are surprised by how many songs are written with only a handful of chords. Sure they might be in different keys and the concept of keys may be a little hard for the beginner to grasp but lets give it a shot. Rule No.1 ‘Every key is the same’. Thats right. The only…
The True Value Of A Coach
I must admit that I too at times question the value of a coach given that there is so much free information on every possible topic you can imagine. Pre-Internet a coach/mentor/teacher was almost always your best option. But the rules have changed. Now if I want to get fit, learn how to take great photos…
Do You Know The No.1 Reason People Quit Guitar?
Imagine this Your favourite singer comes to town and you are lucky enough to get a ticket to their concert. The atmosphere on arriving at the music hall is buzzing and even before the concert starts you know its going to be amazing. After what seems like an eternity of waiting the lights go…
G4 GUITAR Blog 