Basic Introduction to Modes Modes are simple in theory but can take a little time to understand. Think of the major scale as the first of 7 modes known as Ionian. If you were to play for example a C major scale you would also be playing a C Ionian mode. The 7 mode names…

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…

I know you love Facebook and nothing compares to the hours of pleasure you get but hear me out. Facebook has been shown to be addictive, largely time wasting and offers little in return for the time invested (the exception being if you are in business).  Our brain produces dopamine when it anticipates pleasure. We…

Here is a list of our top 5 most requested Christmas songs by G4 GUITAR students. Ask your teacher to help you with the strumming and timing and you will be ready in time for Christmas day. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer Jingle Bells Santa Claus is Coming to Town Amazing Grace Auld Lang Syne Rudolph the red-nosed…

Most guitar students have good intentions when starting out but over time the motivation tends to fade but why don’t we just stay motivated? We still love music and we still want to play but our motivation for practice tends to wane over time. I wanted to understand this question so many years ago I…

Early on in my guitar teaching career I realised many of the guitar students who came to me grew increasingly disappointed with their progress on guitar over time. This made me question my own ability as a teacher and led me to try and understand why. The answer became more obvious as I researched the…

One day for one of many possible reasons you decide to learn guitar. You say to yourself “How hard can it be? After all every second person and there dog seems to be able to play something on guitar.” You buy yourself a guitar, a guitar book and maybe even some lessons with a guitar teacher. The salesperson in…

While there is no exact answer to this question the best answer I can offer you is 2 years if you practice 30 minutes a day based on average expectations but there are definitely ways to decrease this number. Deliberate Practice The term ‘deliberate practice’ in terms of guitar practice refers to practicing the guitar…

Put the process before the goal. The above concept is one that many of us find difficult but is a critical factor in learning guitar. The percentage of students of guitar  who actually reach their goals compared to the number who actually  take up guitar would have to be one of lowest compared with other…

Memorising the notes on the guitar fretboard will give you a big advantage. Once you have the notes memorised you will spend less time looking for notes and more time playing. The trick to memorising the guitar neck is to do it one note at a time. So here are the steps. Step 1. Learn the…

I believe an important element of success for any guitarist is establishing your own sound. Whenever you read interviews with high profile guitarists they will inevitable talk about what guitars they use, which pedals, amps, string gauges etc. Each of these elements plays a role in their overall sound and many are very particular about…