The Insider Secret to Getting Instant Overnight Success as a Guitar Superhero!!

Welcome!! I would like to congratulate you for coming to this page. You are here because you want to live your dream as a guitar super hero, and you want to play to hordes of cheering fans. You want to make brilliant music. You want to do this all without the frustrations and tears that far too many other guitarists experience.



After many countless hours of performances  and teaching over the last 10 years I believe that I have created the only course of it's kind. Even if you have never played a note before in your life, you are guaranteed to sound like a guitar hero in just one day.



Think this claim is outrageous? Read the comments below, find out what others have to say about it and then decide for yourself!!:



"Anything is possible with this method. You can progress faster with this than with any other system".
Andy Anderson


"Perfect! Complete beginner to virtuoso in just a few hours of training, Unlike anything else out there!"
Percy Polanski


"Really can't believe it but after just a few hours invested in this course I can now play 'Flight Of The Bumblebee's' and have set a new world record!"
Rob Reel


"I couldn't believe it, but after getting this product the guitar seemed to just play by itself!"
Ivy Ivanhoe


"Living the dream. After completing this course I got a record deal with a major label and next month I start my first world tour. All this without learning any scales, chords, theory, or doing any of that practice that all my school music teachers insist you need to do get good on guitar.."
Laura Landon

Still unsure? Perhaps these testimonials below will really spell it out for you:

"Finally.... A guitar method where you can become an expert without having to practice or learn anything technical about music!"
Fabian Ferrari


Originally I was going to take lessons with a teacher, but then I decided to do this instead because I liked the way it offered instant gratification without the possibility of failure or sounding bad.
Oliver Olive


"Overjoyed at the results from this! Yesterday I entered my name into the Rock N Roll high score table. It's early day's but I can see myself winning a guitar contest against ****** later this week!!" (* = Name of famous guitarist whose name can't be published).
Olivia Olive

"Love the way that my guitar fretboard catches fire when I play a cool lick, Not even ******* can do that!"  (* = Name of famous guitarist whose name can't be published).
Linda Lee





I'll let you in something here........ There's something that each of these 'Guitar Heroes' have in common. Two words in fact. Can you work out what they are?


Clue: Get a pen and paper and write down the first letter of each testimonial OR the first letter of each persons name.
























OK.......The morning coffee has yet to kick in? To help you some of these have been completed for you.


A – P – R - ? - ? F - ?- ? - L

Ha ha! Happy April Fools Day!!

Hope you liked my little joke ! - ) Sorry...Couldn't resist!!



OK..so now the joke is out of the way, here comes the more helpful advice There are 2 options for playing guitar that you will learn about below. Option A is about faking it. Option B is about making it happen for real..



A) To get instant guitar hero results like the fictional testimonial characters above you can buy one of the many console gaming products like the ones in the links below:



http://amzn.to/1hu2S1B



http://amzn.to/1hX2wwV



http://amzn.to/1fIz6ly



http://amzn.to/1fIzhxl




If you are not a fan of computer games you can always invest in an 'air guitar'.



B) The other much more rewarding option is to learn guitar for real. You may not get the same instant gratification (or the ability to shoot bolts of lightning from your guitar), but you will have a more satisfying experience of music that outlives your games console.

Why buy a plastic guitar shaped controller with plastic buttons when you can have the real thing for about the same amount of money?

Five Tips For Making It Happen


1) Is your guitar playable? You don't need to spend £1500 on a custom model signature guitar to get a good instrument to learn on. However it should be comfortable to play, sound good and stay in tune, and make you feel inspired to play it every time you look at it. I wrote an article a while back on finding a suitable instrument which you can find in the link Below:

http://southamptonguitaracademy.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/advice-on-buying-your-first-guitar.html

It's possible to get a good quality guitar/amp package these days for less that £250. That's still less than the price of a new Xbox games console and guitar hero games package.



2) Have a plan. Without direction you will not make much progress. Using a syllabus such as Rockschool or RGT will help you develop the skills to become a well rounded competent player. Setting small achievable goals that you update regularly will help you to make more progress than setting something Big that feels overwhelming.



3) Don't Believe The Lies. There are a lot of popular myths that seem to be perpetuated about natural talent or having 'natural ability'. Whilst it is true that some people may have an aptitude for learning some things quicker, it should be noted that practice and dedication will win over natural talent. You can learn about other common myths that may be holding you back in my free E-course 'Learn Guitar The Smart Way' which I have details on at the end of this article.



4) Train Your Ears. Tab sites have been especially popular over the last few years, however good ear training is often an overlooked and essential part to becoming a good well rounded guitar player. If you ever want to play with other musicians this is especially important. Contrary to popular myth this is actually a skill that can be developed, and will allow you to appreciate and enjoy the process of making music much more. There are some top quality products on the market today that can take you from beginner to very advanced level. The two programmes I've used are Earmaster Pro and Theta Music Trainer which are both excellent and highly recommended.




5) Learn From A Pro.   Learning from a professional guitar teacher will save you months, probably even years of learning and minimize the frustration of not knowing if you are learning a particular song or technique correctly. This is something that you can never get from a magazine, Internet lesson or DVD instructional. The fact is that despite the recent wealth of free information and free lessons on the Internet, the demand for paid lessons with a tutor is as great as it has ever been, and doesn't look likely to become obsolete any time soon. The reason for this is that no matter how good all these other learning resources are, they are unable to give you feedback on your technique and progress, identify and solve potential problems, and help you to set realistic achievable goals. When searching for a suitable guitar teacher check out the following:

-Do they teach the style of music that you want to learn?
-What experience do they have teaching, and what results do their students tend to achieve?
-Do they have an organized syllabus of lesson material to move you towards your goals?
-Can they offer additional services & support between lessons?
-Are they CRB checked (if lessons are for your child)?
-Are they a member of a professional organization such as the 'Registry Of Guitar Tutors' and 'Musicians Union'?
-Do they offer a money back guarantee?

Pricing: As with most things you really do get what you pay for when it comes to music lessons. Whilst some high profile tutors can charge over £60 per hour, The standard hourly rate set by the MU for private lessons in the UK in 2014 is around £30 per hour for 1 on 1 lessons. This money pays for the tutors expertise as well as his/her time. Be wary of anyone who charges significantly less than this.

FREE LESSONS: Like all professionals I charge the market value for my time. If you are serious about becoming a better guitarist this is a great option, but not for everyone.
There are more people that want to learn guitar than I could possibly teach in my studio each week, so I created this free e-course to help those of you that are not able learn with me personally or that are still unsure about taking lessons.

Simply click link below or copy & paste into your browser to get full free access

https://www.facebook.com/GuitarLessonsSouthampton/app_123077107711598

https://www.facebook.com/GuitarLessonsSouthampton/app_123077107711598

Top Performance Tips

These tips will help you to successfully ace that important audition, performance or music exam:

1. Be Well Prepared
   This sounds obvious but one of the biggest causes of performance anxiety can be feelings of guilt due to lack of practice or preparation. If you have done the preparation and the practice in the weeks/month leading up to this performance then this is one less thing to feel anxious about. In fact, the sense of accomplishment from being in control and well rehearsed is a confidence booster that will help you achieve a top performance.
   
   
2. Don't Try Too Hard
   The second biggest cause of performance anxiety is due to 'trying to hard'. Sure, you want to put in the effort and work hard to get the best result, but there is also such a thing as overdoing it which can be nearly as counterproductive as not putting in the practice. If you feel overwhelmed, stressed and don't seem to be making progress you are probably overdoing it and would benefit from taking a short break, and coming back to your guitar with a fresh perspective.  Take it easy and stay as relaxed and stress free as possible. This is especially important leading up to the performance or exam. keeping a relaxed, but focused mind and body on the big day, and to getting plenty of sleep the night before will maximize the chances of you getting the best possible result. See 'Mind Over Matter' for further details on this topic (below).
   

3. Don't Do Drugs 
   Using drugs; this includes alcohol or excessive amounts of caffeine as well as other illicit substances before an important performance, audition or exam is never a good idea.
   It may be tempting to “tank yourself up” with some “dutch courage” to calm the nerves, and you may feel that this enhances your performance, but what it really does is creates a false sense of security and deceives you into thinking you are giving a better performance than you really are, and can actually make you play far worse than your actual ability (the exception to this is that some musicians take prescribed medications for stage fright).
   
   

3. Go Bananas.
   Eating foods that are rich in potassium such as bananas about 60 minutes before the performance can have beneficial effect on your performance. This will help to take the edge off any adrenaline and allow for a calmer more focused mind and more control over those fine motor skills needed for playing your instrument at its best.....Many professional musicians swear by this! There are also reports of some performers that have been prescribed anti anxiety drugs in the past such as beta blockers to control their performance anxiety confirming bananas can be just as effective.

5. Mind Over Matter
   A great performance all begins in the mind: You can spend many years learning about music, and working hard to improve your instrument playing, but without a healthy mindset you will rarely perform to the best of your ability. You may occasionally have those moments where the music just flows effortlessly through you where you are “in the zone” but these moments may not happen as often as you would like them to, and may not happen at all when you feel under pressure to perform well (from the presence of a judge, examiner or an audience)..
   One of the most important performance lessons I learned was in Barry Greens book 'The Inner Game Of Music': Performance = Ability – (minus) Distraction. There are several key topics covered in this simple statement, which goes beyond the scope of this article, You would need to read the whole book to fully understand this concept, however if I was to try to wrap this sentence up in a nutshell I would say that your performance is only as good as what you focus your mind on. If 50% of your mind is worrying what the audience or judge is thinking (distraction), and 20% of your mind is worrying about that tricky phrase that is coming up towards the end of the piece (another distraction) then you are performing at about 30% of your ability.
   Paradoxically your best performances happen when you don't consciously think about them or “try too hard” to make them happen. They naturally flow out of you as a result of hours/weeks/months of practice and focused concentration.
   Essential reading: The best performance psychology books I have read that I personally recommend to anyone serious about improving their performance skills are listed below:
   Inner Game Of Music http://amzn.to/1dvWGjy
   Zen Guitar http://amzn.to/1fo5VD4
   
 

Hypnosis is another great way to help you perform at your peak. There are several specialist hypnosis websites that address 'Stage Fright' and 'peak performance', however the most comprehensive hypnosis site I've personally come across is by Sam Brown who specializes in creating scripts and recordings specifically for musicians. You can check out Sam Brown's website and Hypnosis downloads using the links below:
http://www.musicianshypnosis.com/ 

http://www.musicianshypnosis.com/ http://www.sambrown.co.uk/self-hypnosis-for-musicians/ 

http://www.sambrown.co.uk/self-hypnosis-for-musicians/
Please note: Many people experience the benefits from a hypnosis recording right away, however, It can take up to 3 or 4 weeks of using a hypnosis audio programme on a daily basis for the full benefits to become apparent.

One last word on peak performance.
Some of these tips can be used to benefit you immediately. Some of these strategies may take several weeks or longer before you see the beneficial results, but it is worth persevering with these too. Remember that learning to train your mind for peak performance is a discipline that can take almost as much dedication to master as learning to play your instrument (which is why the best music schools and conservatories hire a specialist music performance psychologist to help developing musicians with this 'inner game' performance), but it is worth doing because the benefits and rewards from doing this will enhance other areas of your life outside of music and lead to a more creative, enjoyable and stress free performances that take you “in the zone” more and more often.

The Best Electric Guitar Packages To Buy When Starting Out

Buying your first guitar is an exciting and possibly daunting experience. If you play electric guitar you will need an amplifier and cables in addition to a guitar. The following list of electric guitar starter packages represents excellent value for money.

Yamaha Pacifica 012 guitar starter pack

Peavey Raptor plus electric guitar stage-pack

Squire Stratocaster starter pack.

Epiphone Les Paul Special II starter pack.

Which one is best for you? Depends on the type of music you want to make:

The squire pack is based on the Fender Stratocaster style guitar, used by Dave Gilmore (Pink Floyd) Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knofler (Dire Straights), Eric Clapton or John Frusciante (Red Hot Chilli Peppers).

The Epiphone is based on a guitar created by the late great Les Paul. Guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Slash (Guns N Roses), Pete Townsend (The Who), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society) are famous for playing this style of guitar. Because of the way its constructed it has a deeper thicker tone.

The Yamaha and Peavey guitars are what can be described as 'super-strat' guitars. They first came about in the early 1980's as rock guitar re-invented itself. Initially they were very popular with rock and metal guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen or Steve Vai. They have since become widely used due to the tonal versatility they offer, and can be used for most styles of music, from top 40's pop to the heaviest metal.

The Items above are supplied by Digital Village. If your local music store doesn't supply any of these items above they should be able to provide something similar.

Why Teaching Guitar is Great

Playing guitar is without a doubt one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Music for me is all about expressing a mood or feelings through the use of sound. My preferred tool for making sounds we call music has always been guitar (something about the subtle nuances from an instrument with strings, and how they are so responsive to what happens internally.)

I never realised until I started teaching about 5 years ago how it would change my perspective of music and change my life. You see, there is an amazing paradox that you get back tenfold what you put out. I have learned as much from teaching as I have studying guitar and music, and I have been lucky enough to study with some very knowledgeable mentors (whilst I was studying my Music BA at Wolverhampton University and also the year before when I studied at A.C.M in Guildford).

My first teaching job was at a 6^th form college in Fareham in 2004, coaching groups in preparation for their BTEC performances. Things that you may take for granted can be a big deal for musicians just starting out. Although some musicians were almost beginners, and some were quite advanced and I had to match to the level of the class I was teaching. I quickly realised that having the know how, the musical knowledge is only half the story, and learning how to relate to people, how to pass the knowledge on to them is a new skill in itself. I was a beginner, not to music, but to teaching. The role I had to fill seemed a bit daunting but I always like a challenge, and there was this incredible sense of satisfaction from seeing my students transform over a few weeks. Five years on I continue to feel a sense of satisfaction from seeing my students achievements that I haven't quite found in any other role that I've performed.

I have always had a fascination with how people learn, and how the human mind works. This natural curiosity keeps me growing as a person and musician, and leads me to explore new ways to help my current students to learn in ways that are engaging and empowering for them. The results from this are that many of my students achieved their musical goals and seen excellent results from grades that they've entered (see testimonials for examples).

The challenges of keeping people motivated and finding those ways to inspire them keeps you on your toes and keeps you growing. As I mentioned what you put out comes back to you ten fold, and teaching guitar is a great thing to do.

Advice On Buying Your First Guitar

 Many music shops offer guitar package deals to save £££'s.

There has never been so much choice when it comes to buying a guitar these days. Even guitars designed with the beginner in mind have improved in quality to the point that some professionals will use those models as a back up in live performances. Unfortunately, It is still possible to end up with a bad purchase, so I will be giving you the low down on what to look out for when buying your first instrument, and the best places to buy from.

What to avoid:

• 
  Don't buy guitars from catalogue stores. They won't be set up properly for playing and as a result they can end up costing more. The staff in these places won't have any knowledge of what they are selling you either, so they can't advise you on the best guitar for you. I have taught several students in the past that bought from these places, and they have experienced problems from poor build quality to tuning problems which need to be sorted out by the local guitar repair man/music store.
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  Avoid buying second hand (unless you know someone who has a good experience and knowledge of guitars who can try the guitar out for you and give you their insight.). The reason I give this advice is that unless you already have some experience and understanding of guitars there is a good chance you may buy an instrument that is not suitable for the music you want to play, or worst case, unplayable and beyond repair. If you do have a friend or know someone who is an experienced guitarist then with their advice you can find a suitable instrument and save a bit of money buying pre-owned/second hand.

Where to buy from:

You can buy a good beginner guitar new from about £100.

There are several music stores in Southampton/Hampshire that have experienced and knowledgeable staff that can advise you an instrument that is suited to your budget and the style of music you wish to play. Prices will start from about £100 - £200 for a good beginner instrument that will last you many years. Many stores offer starter packages or bundles including tuner, cable and amplifier to save you money.

Here is a list of local music stores to check out:

Becketts Music

56 Commercial Rd

Southampton. SO15 1GD

02380 224827

www.beckettsmusic.co.uk

Digital Village

St Mary's St. Southampton. SO14 1NR

02380 233444

www.dv247.com

Music shops will have a good selection of guitars to try out

first

.

Fret Music

11-13 Church St
SOUTHAMPTON,

Hampshire

SO15 5LG
023 8077 4433

www.fretmusic.co.uk

The Music Shop

1 Bitterne Road

Southampton. SO18 6AZ

02380 437939

www.southamptonmusicshop.co.uk

The Guitar Store

64 Commercial Rd. Southampton. SO15 1GD

02380 339668

www.gtrstr.com

Hayward Guitars

Stockbridge Rd

Winchester. SO23 7BZ

01962 850555

www.haywardguitars.com

Nevada Music

12 Fitzherbert Spur
Farlington, Portsmouth, PO6 1TT
023 9220 5100

www.nevadamusic.co.uk

If you can't afford to buy your dream guitar:

The arts council runs a scheme called 'Take It Away'. This is a way to purchase your instrument and pay back instalments without paying interest. For more details phone 0845 300 6200 or visit www.takeitaway.org.uk.

Why Learning The Guitar Is Good For You

Learning a musical instrument is fun and it's good for you, it's official! There is scientific evidence that people who develop musical skills use parts of their brain that are neglected in non musicians. Playing and listening to music is exercise on the whole brain requiring abilities to recognise pitch, pattern processing, co -ordination and memory. For the full scientific reasoning behind this check out Philip Bells recent report into learning music and how it can improve your brain functioning HERE....


Even without considering the science evidence in support of music, and look at it from a lifestyle perspective, there a few things more satisfying than learning to play an instrument, playing your favourite songs or composing your own. Guitar is one of the most accessible instruments to learn. It's continuing to grow in popularity and with the wealth of tutorials, resources and popular bands using guitars in their music, there has never been a better time to learn guitar.

Why It's Easier To Learn Guitar Now Than Ever Before

Today there exists more options and ways to learn guitar then there did even a few years ago. With the invention of the internet, social networks and online forums, there is a wealth of resources just waiting to be shared. For many people who are first starting out or with no previous experience of playing music the number of options available can seem daunting. I'm here to offer the following advice for those who wish to see their guitar playing dreams become a reality.

1. 
   
   Set goals for your music/guitar playing.

If you know where you want to go with your music you will go further, period. Setting goals is simple, all you need is a single page of A4 paper or page from a note pad. Write down what you would like to learn on guitar and some provisional dates for achieving this (working with an experienced tutor will help you clarify this). Depending on what you want to achieve will affect what you will be working towards, for example someone who wants to be the next heavy metal guitar hero will have a different set of goals to someone who wants to play finger picking style like Paul Simon or Jack Johnson. Once you have a big goal you work on smaller goals each week to bring you towards your big goal. If you know what you want you will get there faster.

2. 
   
   Study a syllabus that will help you reach your goals.

There are still some myths out there that studying 'grades' is only for 'classical' musicians, and that graded syllabus is hard or boring. I will be upfront here and and tell you that nothing can be further from the truth. There is syllabus that has been written specially for the Rock and Pop musician in mind, that develops your musical skills in an even an measurable way. If you are learning for fun these books are a measure of achievement and progress. If you do decide to enter the optional grade exams it's worth knowing that the certificates are recognised by education authorities, acting as a passport to GCSE, BTEC, A-Level and Degree courses. For those of you that still doubt the validity and usefulness of graded syllabus, many top professional musicians in the industry endorse graded syllabus by boards such as RockSchool and RGT. Following in their footsteps will help make you more successful on guitar.

3. 
   
   Find a good guitar teacher to study with.

Choosing a tutor to guide you through the exciting (and sometimes confusing) world of music is a big investment and you will want to make sure that you choose someone who will get you the results you want. Here are some things to consider:

How long have they been teaching & what teaching experience do they have?

What professional qualifications or experience do they have for the instrument they teach?

Do they have a CRB or ISA certificate to prove that they can work safely & responsibly with young people?

What results have they achieved with previous students?

What do current students have to say about them?

Do they offer a free trial lesson?

How much should you pay for music lessons? This is a personal choice. Prices can vary with some tutors or music schools charging up to £50 an hour or more, and others charging less than £20 for the same lesson time. You may not need to hire the services of  (insert name of your favorite celebrity virtuoso guitarist here) but cheapest is not always best either, as lack of professional experience or knowledge may cause problems that may need to be corrected in future and cost you more money long term. At the time of writing this article the Musicians Union in London recommend £27 for a one hour lesson for individuals.

Tips for finding suitable professional teachers in your local area include doing a google search for guitar lessons in your area/city/town, Checking local colleges to see if they offer courses or searching tutor databases supplied by professional organisations such as Registry of Guitar Tutors.

If you are based in the Southampton and looking for guitar lessons check out my website for resources and special offers.

4. 
   
   Practice.
   Practising the guitar is fun. It is a chance for you to spend quality time honing a new skill and taking time off from your regular daily schedules. The reason why some people may dread the P word is down to working on the wrong stuff or having tasks that are either too easy (boring, not enough challenge) or too difficult (ouch, why can't I see any progress for my efforts?) for their current level. The biggest practice pitfall I have observed with students of all levels is lack of consistency in practice. They feel that if they miss their practice for the week that they can make up the time at the weekend for a few hours, the way someone may deal with writing an assignment for work or college. Unfortunately this strategy doesn't work for music.
   The truth is that nothing will develop you faster than regular consistent practice everyday. Try to set aside some time each day. 15 – 20 minutes at the same time each day will achieve more results than playing for 3 – 4 hours the day before the next lesson. I will repeat this point as it's very important; 15 – 20 minutes each day will achieve more results than playing for 3 – 4 hours the day before the next lesson.

5. 
   
   Reward Yourself!
   Playing music is all about having fun and expressing yourself. It can involve a lot of dedication to work towards your ultimate goals, so acknowledge any improvements and achievements you may make such as mastering 'that cool lick', gaining a grade certificate or learning a new song. I have a collection of songbooks in my music room and often like to finish off a practice sessions by just playing through or jamming a song. Make you time spent playing music fun and rewarding.