Guitar-related links and handouts
Under construction
(links in blue are active)
Resources
Online tuner
Online metronome
Handouts
Useful tips
(links above)
Come to your lesson with your guitar already in tune. It saves up to 10 minutes of your lesson time and shows that you have learned that essential skill. All students (and every guitarist and bassist) should learn to tune using a tuner, by ear, and by the relative tuning method. Memorize the notes of the open strings in normal tuning as soon as possible to assist in tuning.
Learn and memorize the basic chords as soon as possible (link above). It will increase your knowledge of the fretboard, and teach your hands to memorize many of the common shapes. Knowing even the basic 5 open position major chords and 3 open position minor chords allows you play accompaniment to songs much sooner, and is helpful when learning to sing and play at the same time.
Tap your foot to gain better timing and rhythm. Doing so internalizes keeping the beat, and will help to improve your ability to hear and feel rhythm. If that is difficult, use a metronome and count out loud. Playing along with a song you're learning or lesson book CD helps in the same way.
Learn and memorize the "natural scale" notes in open position.
Studies show that students who use a music stand will practice more regularly. Expand that to include a guitar stand. Of course, it only works if you get your guitar and out music and place them on the their stands following your lesson. Having a dedicated practice area can improve consistency as well.
Download "lesson guidelines" above for more practice tips
Make sure you can trust your instructor. Request a Criminal Record Check. Solanco Guitar Studios will provide you with a clean criminal record check report for Mr. Hutson upon request.
Make sure your instructor possesses professional education and associations, in addition to teaching and performance experience. Solanco Guitar Studios' owner and primary instructor, Jeremy Hutson, has a Master of Music degree in classical guitar perfomance from West Chester University, is a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors and the Music Teachers National Association, has been teaching in the area since 1997, and has performed professionally on the classical guitar as a soloist and with The Pedrick-Hutson Guitar Duo. He has also been in a bands, and has worked as a studio musician on various local musicians' albums.