Guitar practice

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

Fretboard Mapping for Adult Guitar Learners

2026-08-25T12:43:16+01:00

Learning the guitar fretboard can feel overwhelming at first, with six strings, repeated notes and multiple playing positions to navigate. Many adult learners become comfortable with chord shapes and scales but still struggle to locate notes confidently across the neck. This article explores fretboard mapping for adult guitar learners as a structured way to understand how notes and patterns connect across the neck. Rather than memorising the entire fretboard at once, you gradually build a clearer mental picture of the instrument. With time, the neck begins to feel more logical, connected and easier to navigate. Understand What Fretboard Mapping Really Means [...]

Fretboard Mapping for Adult Guitar Learners2026-08-25T12:43:16+01:00

How to Review Your Guitar Progress After the First Half of 2026

2026-08-03T12:07:21+01:00

Reaching the halfway point of 2026 is an ideal time to reflect on your musical development. Progress on the guitar is not measured only by the number of songs you have learnt, but also by improvements in technique, confidence, musical understanding and expression. How to Review Your Guitar Progress After the First Half of 2026 begins with recognising your achievements, identifying areas that still need attention and setting realistic goals for the months ahead. A constructive review can strengthen your motivation and help you continue developing with greater focus and purpose. 1. Reflect on the Goals You Set Before assessing [...]

How to Review Your Guitar Progress After the First Half of 20262026-08-03T12:07:21+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

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

How to Avoid Wrist Pain When Practising Barre Chords

2026-04-01T13:36:33+01:00

For many guitarists, barre chords mark a turning point. They open the door to a far wider harmonic vocabulary, greater freedom across the fretboard, and a more mature, versatile way of playing. Yet for all their usefulness, they can also be one of the most uncomfortable aspects of learning the guitar, particularly for adult students who are trying to develop strength and control without unnecessary tension. It is very common for players to experience discomfort when first working on barre chords. In many cases, this does not mean anything is wrong with the guitar, the hand, or the student’s ability. More [...]

How to Avoid Wrist Pain When Practising Barre Chords2026-04-01T13:36:33+01:00

How to Break Out of a Guitar Plateau

2026-01-28T16:26:02+00:00

There comes a quiet moment in every guitarist’s journey when progress seems to slow to a crawl. The fingers still move. The chords still ring out. The guitar still feels familiar in the hands. And yet, something is missing. The spark that once made every practise session feel like discovery has dimmed, replaced by repetition and a low hum of frustration. At first, it is easy to ignore. Surely it is just a bad week. Perhaps the strings are old, or the room is too noisy, or the mind is tired. But days turn into weeks, and the same shapes appear [...]

How to Break Out of a Guitar Plateau2026-01-28T16:26:02+00:00
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