How to get good at guitar the first time around

How to become a good guitarist for the first time

First time guitarists might not know how to get started or what to expect. 

Learn the basics of the instrument with this guide.

Learning Is Important and getting beginner’s guitar lessons would be a good idea.

Although learning with your own material is possible, bad habits can creep in. Guitar students often choose not to take lessons when they begin playing, which results in them making slow progress.

It is because your teacher will give you the foundation you need to be successful that you wanted to take beginner guitar lessons.

It was my guitar teacher who taught me so much about the guitar and later my career as a musician. My own guitar lessons began then. Guitar lessons provide the foundation for success as you gain the knowledge you need while learning the instrument.

Getting better at practising the guitar

The key to success is practice

Guitar lessons don’t give you a lot of time to learn a lot. A song, some chords, or music theory could be covered by your teacher. This is your responsibility to practice these concepts at home. The only way you can get better at the instrument is through a great deal of practice.”

Many London guitar teachers tell you this.

Taking guitar lessons only will not lead to much progress. You’ll get the materials from your music lessons here so that you’ll be able to practice outside of your lesson.”

Practice outside the lessons is important to them. Most days of the week, try to spend 30 minutes in the gym.

Training and practice are much more important for our students during class.

Even if you practice little during the week, we teach the skill of practising during the lesson. Despite our guitar school’s reputation, you will still improve.

Important thing to learn on the guitar when you are a singer songwriter part 2

If you read our part 1 of what things you would want to learn as a singer songwriter on the guitar…. you will know that we covered how important it is to learn how to communicate with other musicians by covering the basics of music theory.

Learning to play and sing at the same time

The other thing that’s really important to learn. And probably the most important will be how to sing and play at the same time. 

This is something that a lot of guitar teachers are not very good to teaching, mainly because they don’t do it themselves. It can be very easy to think that it’s easy to sing and play on the guitar but really it’s kind of like rubbing your belly and tapping your head. At the same time, so it does take some practice, and having a guitar teacher who knows how to teach you that skill will help a lot. Because there are lots of tips and tricks that will help you get go with it. 

Learning the right type of chords 

The other things that you want to learn the right type of chords for the type of music that you want to do. 

For example, if you’re more like a country, musician, and probably more simple chords. Who suit the sort of thing that you’re doing. 

However, if you’re a jazz singer. You probably need to learn some quite complex chords. And you need to realise that your journey to playing the guitar. Accompany getting yourself. Singing jazz. It’s going to be a lot longer road, and someone who’s singing simple acoustic covers. The other thing to think about is the type of strumming and fingerpicking that you’re going to be doing with your other hand, so it’s not the core sets. 

It’s not only the chords that are important for actually what’s going on with your other hand, it’s going to make a big difference to how professional you look as a musician playing the guitar. If you can get good at strumming and keeping up with the groove of the song and sounding confident during it while singing, and also doing finger picking. 

If that’s the sort of thing that’s gonna help you with your music to make you stand out. Then there are things that takes working on. 

I hope these few things have helped you to think about what’s needed for you to get going with becoming a singer songwriter who can also play guitar help take your musicianship to the next level.

Important thing to learn on the guitar when you are a singer songwriter Part 1

So we got a lot of enquiries from people who are singer songwriters, often because they’re very frustrated with having to rely on a guitarist, every time they go to perform or do a gig. 

The other reason that they get frustrated with them is because they have to rely on them for songwriting as well. 

They’re struggling to communicate with other musicians because their main focus is singing but they don’t understand either musical components.

Which instrument to learn to play as a singer songwriter?  

Guitar is a popular choice of instrument for them to learn because it’s very easy to get going with it, and it’s one of the easier instruments to play and sing at the same time. 

Other instruments that they often consider would be something like a piano. 

So what are the sort of things you need to think about when you’re learning the guitar to singer songwriter? 

Learning to communicate with other musicians

I would say the biggest thing for singer songwriters to do, is to learn how to communicate with other musicians. With the guitar. If you’re using it as a tool to help you song right and help you perform. It’s likely that you’ll be playing with other musicians at some point. So learning how to communicate with them is going to be essential for you. 

Try as much as you can to get opportunities to play for other guitarists other musicians, get more experience with interacting and using music as a language. So you can communicate with them better. 

Follow us onto Part 2 to find out what other things is important to learn to play as a singer songwriter….

Getting inspired to play guitar again

Where it all started

I played guitar when I was a teenager… about 12-17… guess I gave it up when I had to really study for my O levels… 

And I was pretty good! I had lessons, my parents were supportive. I even had a band with a few friends casually playing at the weekend in my parents garage.

I always knew it was something I wanted to come back to. Just didn’t know when…

Maybe I thought there would be a magical moment when my career would be “sorted”… 

Or when doing outdoorsy things didn’t have the same appeal… 

Little did I know that it was in amongst my sleep deprived moment of having a child, that would come to inspire me to start playing guitar again.

I’m a lucky man

I would preface by saying that… I am a lucky man… who have a wonderful wife. Which means that I am able to enjoy some spare time where she has little. 

Seeing the joy in his face and the big smiles as I was playing guitar to him really gave me the motivation to carry on. 

And with my spare time, I’ve been playing a few tunes to my baby boy. 

Getting started with playing the guitar for my son

Started off with a few simple chords… then it was learning a few nursery rhythms. 

Seeing the joy in his face and the big smiles as I was playing guitar to him really gave me the motivation to carry on. 

And the excitement of discovery and learning music came back to me. 

So I went to find guitar lessons so I could get better. 

I had the picture in my head of teaching and playing guitar & singing with my son. 

I guess that picture is what’s got me wanting to carry on playing the guitar.

And I don’t regret coming back to it at all. 

The best time to start learning guitar is 20 years ago but if this is you reading this now. Then the best time to start is now. 

Tips and tricks to help you get started as a beginner guitarist Part 2

If you haven’t read part 1 of this guide, then I would recommend checking that out first. Getting started as a beginner guitarist Part 1

Or you can just carry on reading this and hope it has some helpful tips to get started with learning the guitar!

3.) Have a nice environment to practice in

Learning to play the guitar is great. But I see so many people who try and learn but they don’t have the environment for them to learn. One examples is a parent who is trying to learn when they’ve got kids running around them. Or maybe you live in a house of housemates and you feel that you have to play quietly as not to stop them. This can actually hinder your progress a lot.

A lot of people don’t realise this and think that they’ll be able to get round it but having the right environment is so vital to your learning. I recommend setting up a space where you can go to it daily and fill a piece where you’re not distracted by the washing up or Other chores that you have to do around the house. Have a music stand ready have your music ready have your materials. Have you got Hall out on a stand so you don’t even have to get out of the case and it’s all ready for you. 

4.) Have supportive friends & family 

So many people give up playing the guitar because their friends and family put doubt in their heads. 

They say “why aren’t you getting better already “”I know my friend learn to play guitar in six months only””Why can’t you play my favourite song already?” 

The truth is learning the guitar takes different amount of time for different people there are lots of reasons for this. It could be that your brain is just why differently. Or that your dexterity needs working on.

For some people, it might be that you don’t have the musical ear like some other people do. It might mean that you haven’t been humming or singing for the best part of 30 years of your life where as other people have.

There are so many reasons that learning the guitar takes different amount of time and a lot of people put I’m realistic pressures on them self. Now on top of that you don’t really need your family or friends to be putting additional pressure and asking you questions that they don’t really know anything about. This happens all the time and it gives you a lot of worry when really you should just be enjoying the experience and a journey of learning rather than trying to get to goal 

I hope these few tips and tricks were Hope you and learning the guitar is a adult beginner guitarist and I have full faith that you’ll be able to learn guitar.…

Tips and tricks to help you get started as a beginner guitarist Part 1

When you first starting to learn to play the guitar it can seem like an overwhelming challenge. Think back to when you first started school and you had to learn the alphabet, maybe you can’t like me. Learning music can seem like a whole new experience.

That’s because it is actually a different language that we are trying to learn. Guitar is just one way of learning how to express music by an instrument. If you already have experience playing other instruments it will make this challenge seem a little easier. However if this is your first instrument you can still tackle it as a adult who have no previous experience with learning music. You just need a few tips and tricks to help you get started.

1.) get a great guitar teacher

Learning to play the guitar is hard enough but having a really great guitar teacher who can support you through this journey will make it a lot easier. I say complete beginner who have no experience in music before, your ears when you are playing the guitar can deceive you.

Even the most basic things like whether your guitarist in tune or not. And how to tune a guitar in the first place can hold you back from advancing in your musical journey.

This is something that a guitar teacher can help you with and with all the new challenges that will come your way. This will make the challenges fun for you and make it a lot easier for you to overcome. 

They can also help guide you to know what you should be learning and help you tackle new challenges in the right order to you to enjoy learning the guitar even more.

2.) Choosing the right guitar

So many people pick up a cheap guitar or an inherited a guitar and try and learn the guitar this way. It’s okay it is doable. But most of the time these guitars are very hard to play and actually will end up hurting your fingers even more and maybe make you give up guitar altogether.

Like anything a good instrument will help you get a lot further in your musical quest make it a lot more enjoyable.

Choosing the right guitar whether it’s an electric on acoustic guitar that you look forward to playing will make you more motivated to practice every week. It also helps you take ownership of this new Challenge when it’s a guitar that you’ve bought new film or committed to this new journey.

Go check out part 2 of tips and tricks to get started as a beginner guitar player to find more tips and tricks on how to help you get started an adult beginner trying to learn the guitar! And follow our blog to find out more helpful information that will mean you can have fun and enjoy learning the guitar.

Top Reasons Why You Should Consider A Physical Guitar Lessons Over Online Lessons

When learning guitar, you have the option of choosing a physical or online tutor. Depending on a number of reasons, you could choose either of the options. One thing that is becoming popular is online learning. Thanks to the internet, that has made things simple and easy. 

Both ways have their benefits and downsides. Like for instance, online classes give the convenience of learning that can’t be compared with physical training. However, the benefits of having a trainer you can talk to as you train are something else. 

This article shares with you the top reasons why you should consider physical guitar lessons over online lessons. 

  • You Get To Interact With Your Trainer 

As a beginner in guitar, the first thing that you need to consider is having an interaction with your trainer. Physical interaction will give you a sense of learning that you can’t get from online lessons. 

And if the trainer has other students, then you get to interact with them. You network with other learners whom you can practice together or challenge each other to grow together in learning the skills. 

This is something that’s rare to find with most online platforms. This is because most of the online lessons have pre-recorded videos. There are no learner-tutor interactions. 

  • Customized Training 

When learning with a physical trainer, you get the rare opportunity to get a customized lesson. Depending on the level of your learning or understanding of the guitar, you’ll get specific lessons that apply to you. 

For instance, if you’re in advanced level and missed some critical lessons in the beginner, the tutor can notice it. And as you train at your level, they’ll include lessons that they feel are important to your situation. In the end, you’ll have the best lesson that serves your specific needs. 

Online lessons are standard. You can’t get customized training. This can be to your disadvantage if the trainer overlooks some of the basic lessons that seem obvious to everyone, but you’re struggling with them. 

  • You Get Real-Time Assessments 

One critical area in learning is assessment. You need to check what you’re doing time over time and measure your learning progress. Assessment is personal. And that’s what a physical trainer will do for you. The trainer is there with you through your learning journey. 

As you make mistakes, they can notice them in real-time and correct them. This is unlike online classes where there is no one monitoring or following your learning progress. 

  • You Can Ask Questions and Get Immediate Response 

Part of learning is asking questions. And there is nothing good than getting immediate feedback for your questions. And that’s why physical trainers are better. Because they are there to answer questions as they arise. 

Parting Shot 

When learning guitar, you have an option to choose an online or physical tutor. If you can afford and have time, then a physical trainer will give you more value.