Dan Thorpe's Acoustic Guitar Domination

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An Unusual Way to Help You Improve on the Guitar

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improve on guitar

The last few days I’ve been doing a really useful exercise.

It’s one that has helped me, and I believe it could be very powerful for many guitarists.

Particularly those of you who are struggling with tension.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Learning, Practice Tagged With: Breathing, Learning, learning guitar

The Most Awesome Musical Exercise Ever?

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awesome musical exercise

What would you say if someone told you there was one simple exercise you could do…

…That will improve your dexterity, timing, groove, confidence, and all-around musicality?

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Filed Under: Learning, Practice Tagged With: learning guitar, practicing

One Thing You Should Do If You Struggle With Chord Changes

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struggling with chord changes

If you ever struggle with chord changes, here’s something that will help.

I’m not going into the technical tips here, but it’s a simple practical tip.

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Filed Under: Chord Progressions, Chords, Learning Tagged With: changing chords, chord changes

The Power of Negative Thinking for Guitarists

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negative thinking

I don’t know about you, but in the past when trying to achieve goals, I tried doing this…

Using positive thinking.

Did it work?

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Filed Under: Learning Tagged With: learning guitar

3 Random Thoughts This Monday (Albums, Saunas, and Bedtime Routines)

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albums

Welcome to a new Monday post with 3 random thoughts. This is where I share my thoughts on all things guitar, music, and life, including thoughts on listening to albums, trying out saunas, and more.

Here we go…

 

#1 – The experience of an album

One thing I love about having a car with a CD player is this…

…Being able to listen to a complete album the way it was meant to be listened to.

So, whenever I’m on a journey, I’ll put a CD on and listen away.

This really doesn’t happen that much at home.

 

I’m not sure if younger generations of people out there still listen to albums like this.

As far as I know, a lot of people tend to listen to songs in random order on YouTube, or Spotify, or they just listen to songs on the radio.

…But to me, that is a shame.

 

The artist crafted that album to be heard in a certain order…

…With the whole album being designed to take you on a journey.

Especially with classic albums such as Low by David Bowie, Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel, or Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

 

For me, it’s still such a thrill listening to albums such as those from start to finish.

I’d love to know, what was the last album you heard in its entirety lately?

 

#2 – Saunas

Ah, sitting in saunas…

That sounds like fun.

Or not!

 

Well, over the past few weeks, I’ve joined the gym and started using the sauna.

According to research, there are plenty of health benefits of using a sauna a few times per week for 30 minutes at a time.

My gosh, 30 minutes in a sauna is hard work though.

 

For me, I really have to focus on relaxing and breathing and not letting the pressure of the heat get to me.

It’s a bit of a challenge, I’ll be honest.

But when I’ve finished, I’ve felt great.

 

…And guess what, there are some similarities between that and practising guitar.

On the guitar, when playing anything remotely challenging, we also have to focus, relax, and breathe.

This makes a huge difference too.

 

Try playing something today that is a challenge, but as you do…

Really concentrate on reducing tension, relaxing, and breathing.

It all helps.

 

Just don’t sit in the sauna and play guitar.

I hate to imagine what the heat of a sauna would do to a guitar!

 

#3 – “Easy” routines

When Archie was a baby, the song that would get him to sleep more than any other was “Easy” (as in “I’m easy like Sunday morning”).

For some reason, he always preferred the Faith No More version (or maybe it was just me).

 

Anyway, these days, it’s our bedtime routine that I get my guitar and sing and strum the song, “Easy”, for him.

This is a tough old song to sing for sure, but I think I do it justice in parts.

But really, for both of us, it’s lovely just having this routine…

 

The calm, smooth, and sweet melody, the mix of upbeat Major chords and soulful minor chords, and the vocal embellishments are a real joy.

Both Archie and I love it, and it relaxes us.

 

Anyway, I’m not saying you should have a bedtime song on guitar or anything (although it could work).

…but it’s definitely good to finish off your day of practice with a song you love.

One that you can play confidently and without strain…

…And one that makes you smile.

 

So there you go.

Three random thoughts of mine for you there.

 

Anyway, tomorrow I’ll be filming some new lessons for the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy for August.

This includes a very exciting and incredibly powerful musicality exercise, how to take one chord progression and play a huge variety of exciting things with it, and more…

I’ll talk more about these lessons soon, but if you want to join the academy, the place to do so is below…

Find out more about the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy

 

Enjoy your Monday!

Dan Thorpe

Guitar Domination

 

P.S. This post was originally taken from Dan Thorpe’s private email list. To get blog posts like this sent to you which are full of great tips to make fingerpicking, strumming, and learning guitar more enjoyable (especially if you are over 40) join Dan’s list. It’s 100% free, HERE.

Filed Under: Learning, Practice Tagged With: learning guitar

What James Webb Is Teaching Us About Guitar

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james webb

I don’t know if you heard but last week the James Webb Telescope sent its first images back to Earth.

Wow, some of the images are stunning.

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Filed Under: Learning Tagged With: learning guitar

Your Best Guitar Tips Shared

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your best guitar tips

Last week, I asked everyone in my Fingerstyle 101 Facebook group a question…

“If you could go back to when you first started and give yourself one guitar tip, what would it be?”

I love to see all the members interacting and sharing really useful tips.

Below, I’ve summed up some of the most common answers the members gave and added a few of my own thoughts to them.

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Filed Under: Learning, Practice Tagged With: learning guitar, quick tips

3 Random Thoughts This Monday (Air Guitar, B.B. King, and Multiple Uses for the Same Old Chords!)

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air guitar

Welcome to a new Monday post with 3 random thoughts on all things guitar, music, and life, including air guitar, B.B. King’s guitar, and more…

Here we go…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Learning Tagged With: learning guitar

When a “Natural” Guitarist Is Actually Not a Natural at All

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natural guitarist

“You have to be born with natural talent!”

“I’ve not got the ear for music!”

“I’m rubbish at guitar and I feel like I’m going backwards!”

 

Those are all things I’ve heard a lot over the years from new students.

In fact, in the past, I said some of the above out loud to myself many times.

Well, let me share with you an example which highlights how incorrect (as well as dangerous) this sort of thinking is.

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Filed Under: Learning, Practice Tagged With: learning guitar

3 Random Thoughts This Monday (Guitar in the Sun, Six Courses, and a Useful Tip!)

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guitar in the sun

Welcome to a new Monday post with 3 random thoughts on all things guitar, music, and life, including playing guitar in the sun, six courses, and a useful tip.

Here we go…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Learning Tagged With: learning guitar

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