Adult guitar lessons

Economy Picking vs Alternate Picking: Which Should You Practise?

2026-10-04T09:55:14+01:00

There is a moment most guitarists recognise. A phrase that felt comfortable at a moderate tempo starts to fall apart the instant you push the metronome up a few clicks, or the moment the line stops sitting on one string and begins moving across three or four. The fretting hand often seems to be coping perfectly well. It is the picking hand that begins to stumble, snag or tighten, and the notes lose their evenness. Two techniques are usually offered as the answer: alternate picking and economy picking. Both are legitimate, both are used by outstanding players, and both solve the [...]

Economy Picking vs Alternate Picking: Which Should You Practise?2026-10-04T09:55:14+01:00

10 Guitar Songs Every Beginner Should Learn

2026-10-04T09:42:51+01:00

Learning complete songs is one of the most rewarding parts of learning the guitar. Beginners often spend much of their early practice time working on chords, scales and technical exercises, but songs reveal how those skills actually come together in real music. The best beginner songs do not necessarily have to be the easiest songs imaginable. Ideally, they should introduce useful techniques without demanding too many new skills at once. A balanced selection might include open chords, simple riffs, steady strumming, chord changes and basic rhythmic patterns. Familiar songs are especially useful because you already have a sense of how the [...]

10 Guitar Songs Every Beginner Should Learn2026-10-04T09:42:51+01:00

The Role of Touch in Acoustic Guitar Tone

2026-09-25T14:43:34+01:00

Acoustic guitar tone is often discussed in terms of wood, strings, body shape and construction. All of these matter, but they are only part of the picture. The player’s touch has an equally important influence on sound. Two guitarists can play the same instrument, with the same strings, in the same room, and still produce noticeably different tones. One may sound warm and rounded, while the other sounds bright, direct or percussive. The difference often comes from how the strings are approached, struck and released. Understanding the role of touch in acoustic guitar tone can help players develop greater control, musical [...]

The Role of Touch in Acoustic Guitar Tone2026-09-25T14:43:34+01:00

Legato Technique: Playing Faster with Less Effort

2026-07-13T11:31:34+01:00

Many guitarists assume that playing fast is simply a matter of moving the fingers more quickly. In reality, speed is often the result of efficiency rather than effort. One of the most effective ways to develop fluid, effortless playing is through legato technique. Legato allows notes to connect smoothly with minimal interruption, creating a flowing musical line while reducing unnecessary picking movements. The idea behind Legato Technique: Playing Faster With Less Effort is to use hammer-ons, pull-offs and smooth phrasing to reduce unnecessary picking, improve control and create a more fluid, expressive sound. What Is Legato Technique? The word legato comes [...]

Legato Technique: Playing Faster with Less Effort2026-07-13T11:31:34+01:00

What Is Diatonic Harmony and Why Does It Matter for Guitarists?

2026-06-09T12:08:07+01:00

Many guitarists begin by learning chord shapes, scales, riffs and songs, often before studying much theory. This is a natural and practical way to start, but over time, deeper questions usually appear: why do certain chords work together, and why do some progressions feel more resolved than others?What is Diatonic Harmony and why does it matter for guitarists?In simple terms, it is the understanding of how chords and scales belong together within a key.This knowledge helps guitarists move beyond memorised shapes and recognise how music is organised directly on the fretboard.For adult guitar learners, diatonic harmony can make theory feel clearer, [...]

What Is Diatonic Harmony and Why Does It Matter for Guitarists?2026-06-09T12:08:07+01:00

Why Fretboard Awareness Matters More Than Memorising Random Patterns

2026-05-16T13:19:35+01:00

Many guitarists spend years collecting shapes. For many players, the more patterns they learn, the more confused they become. They may know where to place their fingers, but not always why those notes work, where they are on the instrument, or how to use them musically. This is where guitar learners discover why fretboard awareness matters more than memorising random patterns. A pattern can help you play something quickly. Fretboard awareness helps you understand the guitar. Fretboard Awareness Gives You Musical Freedom Fretboard awareness means knowing the instrument well enough to make informed musical choices. It is not about turning [...]

Why Fretboard Awareness Matters More Than Memorising Random Patterns2026-05-16T13:19:35+01:00

How to Use Simple Theory to Learn Songs More Efficiently on Guitar

2026-04-29T14:42:15+01:00

Many guitarists learn songs by repeating shapes and sections without always understanding how the music fits together. As a result, each new piece can feel like starting again from the beginning. Understanding how to use simple theory to learn songs more efficiently on guitar becomes far more effective once you begin to recognise patterns, chord movement, and simple musical relationships. Even a modest understanding of theory can make learning feel clearer, quicker, and more secure. At the London Guitar Institute, we often see how this kind of understanding helps adult learners absorb songs more easily and remember them with greater confidence. [...]

How to Use Simple Theory to Learn Songs More Efficiently on Guitar2026-04-29T14:42:15+01:00

What to Expect in Your First Three Months of Guitar Lessons

2026-04-16T16:18:49+01:00

Beginning guitar lessons is an exciting step. Whether you have been thinking about learning for years or have only recently decided to begin, read this article to know well what to expect in your first three months of guitar lessons. This early stage is not about becoming advanced overnight. It is about building the right foundations, developing confidence, and starting to enjoy the instrument in a meaningful and lasting way. At the London Guitar Institute, we often find that adult learners arrive with a mixture of enthusiasm and uncertainty. Many are eager to play, but are unsure what lessons will actually [...]

What to Expect in Your First Three Months of Guitar Lessons2026-04-16T16:18:49+01:00

7 Tips For Learning The Guitar As An Adult

2022-06-28T09:17:04+01:00

Take Lessons! Adults need a bit of encouragement the same way that kids do, or even more when trying to find the motivation around work and family commitments! Taking regular lessons with a great tutor will keep you motivated and give you weekly tasks to work on to constantly encourage you to pick up the guitar at home. I always say to my students that the key to seeing progress is short but frequent bursts of practice. This can be incredibly hard to do on your own accord, so the thought of turning up to your weekly lessons and making an [...]

7 Tips For Learning The Guitar As An Adult2022-06-28T09:17:04+01:00

The shocking truth told at last – 90% chance of failure… Unless you study with a great guitar teacher

2021-03-01T11:21:59+00:00

Finally, you can discover the shocking truth. 90% Of all new learners fail to achieve their goals. The reason for this is sub-par guitar tuition! That is why you can not allow this to happen to you. The guitar mentor you select for your weekly guitar lessons will have a lasting impact for the rest of your life that. You simply cannot take things lightly. You do not want to learn bad technique and have to relearn the guitar. That is effort time and money lost. Save money, save time and learn with the best from day one! You can take [...]

The shocking truth told at last – 90% chance of failure… Unless you study with a great guitar teacher2021-03-01T11:21:59+00:00
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