I was recently checking out the popular songs on iTune and noticed that most songs were void of any obvious guitar. Almost all of the tracks were based on beats with bass, synths, piano and vocals. A few tracks had acoustic guitars being strummed in the back ground or a funky rhythm guitar like Maroon…
Tag: guitar
So what’s happened to guitar since 2001 and why is it on the way back?
The guitar enjoyed a boom for a long time but in recent years guitar as we know has slipped a little but due to new circumstances is set to rise again. The guitar enjoyed uninterrupted growth in popularity until 2001 because there was no real competition. Its one big advantage was convenience but then something…
Guitar’s historical rise to fame thanks to Rock
In 1962 a Decca records spokesperson made the following comment after being presented a Beatles demo; “We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” It just goes to show that the experts do get it wrong sometimes. Guitar in the years to follow would become the center of the pop…
How to positively influence your child to practice guitar
This is a good question and I will begin by saying that forcing a child to learn against their will tends to backfire over the long term. There are definitely responsibilities in life that children need to accept whether they like it or not but guitar should not be one of them unless you live…
Would you like to master guitar in just a few weeks?
We have all seen the ads claiming that you can master the guitar in a few months or even weeks. These types of ads play on a part of our personality that secretly wants there to be a magic system of learning. This is the part of you that you really want to ignore because…
Can you know ‘too’ many songs on guitar?
I recently read an article about Steve Jobs and how when he rejoined Apple his first priority was to axe as many of their products as possible and focus on only a few. Initially there were about 300 different products which he managed to cull back to around 10. Jobs certainly did not invent this…
Your child is NOT too young for guitar
Any parent who witnesses the development of their child can’t help be amazed at how much they learn in such a short period. Their development is truly phenomenal. To put this into perspective, a child under 5 learns an average of 1000 new words a year and manages to put it all together to the…
So you want to be a guitar teacher
Occasionally I am asked the question by a student “What do I need to do to become a guitar teacher?” The short answer: If you believe you know enough about guitar and are confident you can communicate what you know you are at least ready to give it a go. Teaching is somewhat like performing…
Is your brain wired for guitar success?
Functional MRI scans are now revealing a lot about how the brain actually works. Researchers today are curious to learn about a whole range of brain functions and how they relate to real life. One such area of research is the brain of successful people. Apparently successful people across a broad range of areas show…
A Lesson in Persistence
As children we are all born into particular circumstances. Our family, neighbours, local community and even country will have an impact on how we turn out as adults. In the USA for example there are certain neighbourhoods where your odds of ending up in prison are high. Children who grow up in these areas are…
A Steve Jobs lesson for guitar students
I recently read that when Steve Jobs rejoined Apple his first priority was to axe as many of their products as possible and focus on only a few key products. Initially there were about 300 different Apple products which he managed to cull back to around 10. Jobs certainly did not invent this philosophy but…
Why expectations matter
When we first begin a new project (E.g. guitar) it is likely that we will have unrealistic expectations. Have you been to a movie highly recommended by a friend only to be disappointed? Compare that to a movie by one of your favourite directors with familiar actors a somewhat predictable plot based on a well…
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