This Method Will Make You A Better Guitarist
From beginner to advanced. You need to try this.
Hey guitar players,
I hope the year has started well for you!
What simple approaches can we take to improve our ability as a guitarist?
Aside from scales, exercises, songs etc.. there is one technique I swear by. We are going to discuss that idea, and I will also link a course, that will help you take this process a lot further (the link will give you FREE access to that course and thousands more!)
💡 The Technique
The first guitar lesson I ever attended, I was asked to bring along a cassette (I’m showing my age). I sat down and the tutor told me he would be recording the session. And it made ALL the difference to my progression!
How often do we feel overloaded with information in the moment, and it can be hard to fully retain?
I didn’t realise quite how groundbreaking it would be to hear myself back. Obviously, my first few attempts of the riffs we covered, didn’t sound great. But that’s the point, I knew exactly how they sounded. And where I needed to improve.
It becomes a wonderful way to reference your development! So many people are self taught. Online guitar courses. YouTube videos. Tab websites. And it can be rare that we get a form of feedback or critique. Your Mum and your mates are always likely to say you sound great. But by following this recording process, you get to trust and fine tune your own ears.
I promise, you will learn SO much from recording yourself. That phone in your pocket has it all. Setup a little video and record your next practice. Watch your fingers from another perspective. Is your wrist low enough to allow your fingers to stretch? Are you tucked close enough to the frets? Are you hunched over the guitar, or more relaxed, with shoulders dropped, allowing the tension to be removed from your playing?
My classical guitar tutor used to advise me to spend some practice time in-front of the mirror (not for vanity reasons), but to shift the perspective and notice things I would otherwise miss.
Suddenly, some of those sounds and imperfections you’re experiencing become a LOT clearer once you not only listen to yourself back, but watch your playing back as well.
Give it a try.
👉 The Next Step
Learning to record is a brilliant sklll to have. And this can be as simple as a phone recording.
Or, you can jump to the next level and enter the world of music production. There are some very user friendly bits of software out there, and some of them are free!
I’d recommend starting with GarageBand. The next time you practice, hit record and see where it takes you. It’s very beginner friendly. There is a metronome to assist with your timing. There are drum loops for you to jam along to. And there is a HUGE soundbank of brilliant instruments and FX.
Places like GarageBand can be a wonderful place to inspire creativity.
This link will give you 1 Month Free access to a beginner GarageBand course.
P.S. My latest YouTube video covers recording and some other tips to help improve your guitar playing ability. Check it here.
❗️ FREE COURSE ❗️
A FREE guitar class for all readers of this email. Follow this link for video lessons and accompanying PDF’s:
Guitar Songs: 6 Iconic Guitar Riffs
There are some great riffs here! And they work through a beginner to more advanced level. Give me a shout if you have any questions about the content.
👉 Recommendations
Alice Boman - Where To Put The Pain: We spoke briefly about music production in this post. I love the beat and a lot of the sounds that are used in this track.
Idles - Crawl!: Very different vibe to the above. But man, I’m obsessed with the energy this band create!
🌍 Links
All of my classes can be found on Skillshare. This link gives you 1 month FREE access to every course I’ve made and the entire Skillshare site.
🙋♂️Follow me for more guitar, bass & ukulele related chat & tutorials:
🧡 My Music Charity
All the best.
Marc