Have a clear reason why you're doing this
Do you have a clear goal/vision that fires you up? That could be to play around the campfire, get grade 5, busk, or even become a rockstar.
Here's my vision from 2004 when I started out, it still fires me up now as I write this.
Here's my vision from 2004 when I started out, it still fires me up now as I write this.
Prioritise and invest
Guitars aren't cheap, but they're not even half the price you'd pay for a violin bow. You must be willing to buy a functional guitar and ensure it stays in good condition, or it will sound bad, hurt your hands, drain your motivation, or destroy your child's dream of being a rockstar.
£50 can get you a good second hand guitar... providing it's been approved by a trusted guitar specialist, I use Treblerock Clifton, Intersound Dursley, or A Remus Sound Gloucester.
£50 can get you a good second hand guitar... providing it's been approved by a trusted guitar specialist, I use Treblerock Clifton, Intersound Dursley, or A Remus Sound Gloucester.
Practice
To achieve anything on guitar you must practice often. Minimum 4 days a week. For a beginner 5 minutes every day is better than 2 hours at the weekend, that's pointless. If it's your dogs birthday and you're going out for dinner, get up 10-20 minutes earlier and practice in the morning. Don't find time, make time, if you value something you'll do it no matter how busy life gets.
Have a regular scheduled time, otherwise it won't happen.
Have a regular scheduled time, otherwise it won't happen.
Be organised
Keep your music together in a folder like this, put the current projects at the front and things you still play further back, ditch anything you no longer use.
Write down instructions and solutions to problems clearly, also use your camera to film me demonstrating or explaining troubled sections, then store videos in a folder well labelled and easy to find during practice. This way you improve faster and your money goes further.
Be sure to download any backing tracks and store them in the folder too.
Be sure to download any backing tracks and store them in the folder too.
Watch this video and do the tasks
Read all the small print (exam books, Ts & Cs, ect)
Live in different houses? Get 2 guitars. Make it easy for yourself to practice, otherwise you just won't.
Live in different houses? Get 2 guitars. Make it easy for yourself to practice, otherwise you just won't.
Watch this and take note
Be on time
Be on time, don't be too early though, I won't promise to be ready before your agreed time, I could be teaching a student or eating lunch.
If I'm ready early thats fine, but please don't expect or demand it.
Thanks for understanding.
If I'm ready early thats fine, but please don't expect or demand it.
Thanks for understanding.
Pay on time
90% of the time the people who pay fast, take guitar seriously, turn up on time, practice, laugh at my jokes, and are a joy to deal with.
When I first started I had a client build up £140 worth of debt, I then saw them buying Champagne in Waitrose...
Trust is everything, nobody gets discounts, mates rates, or special treatment here.
Prompt payment is essential to retain your place on the timetable.
When I first started I had a client build up £140 worth of debt, I then saw them buying Champagne in Waitrose...
Trust is everything, nobody gets discounts, mates rates, or special treatment here.
Prompt payment is essential to retain your place on the timetable.
Set goals, be ambitious
If you want to speed up the process, set a goal that moves you towards your vision, even better a goal with a deadline and some healthy pressure.
Getting on stage or taking an exam is really powerful, as it removes the option not to improve.
Open mics are an amazing opportunity to play to a live audience and feel the full power of the guitar as it resonates through the venue.
Only playing to yourself in your bedroom will not inspire you or drive you forward. And yes, you'll be very nervous, just like I still am 23 years after I first got on stage to perform with my violin, once you get up there and face it the nerves will disappear, and you'll get better and better at shaking them off faster the more you do it. Face your fears or they'll get bigger and stronger.
Getting on stage or taking an exam is really powerful, as it removes the option not to improve.
Open mics are an amazing opportunity to play to a live audience and feel the full power of the guitar as it resonates through the venue.
Only playing to yourself in your bedroom will not inspire you or drive you forward. And yes, you'll be very nervous, just like I still am 23 years after I first got on stage to perform with my violin, once you get up there and face it the nerves will disappear, and you'll get better and better at shaking them off faster the more you do it. Face your fears or they'll get bigger and stronger.
Be respectful
I'm human like anyone else, I have bad days and make mistakes, be cool and don't get silly about it.
Listen to my feedback and follow the tasks
Teachers love it when students pay attention to instructions. Be self motivated and proactive, I've put together loads of videos and PDFs which will cut your learning time down by years. If I send you something study it, it'll make your life so much easier as you'll know what you're doing. Every task is set for a very good reason, don't be that students who learns the hard way.
Adult students
I don't care if you're older than me, relax, don't be so serious. Follow my instructions like everyone else ;)
Relax and have fun
Students who can relax and have fun in my presence typically stay for many years and learn a massive amount in that time. It's very normal to be nervous at first and also to be afraid of getting things wrong. But you have to get over that and have fun in the lessons, otherwise you'll quit. You're going to mess up and make mistakes and that's absolutely fine, because this is how you learn. Success is continuous error correction. You've gotta relax and have fun to play well.