Food For Thought
Guitar Techniques|January 2019
Justin Sandercoe of justinguitar.com lends GT his insight as one of the world’s most successful guitar teachers. This month: Confidence and reality.
Justin Sandercoe
Food For Thought

When I got a scholarship to study at The Guitar Institute back in 1996, I was honestly expecting to be the worst in the class. I showed up on the first day thinking that I was going to be the awkward kid from some distant island that wouldn’t be able to keep up. After chatting with a few of the guys, I discovered they all felt the same way. It worked out that I was one of the more experienced players and could indeed hold my own, but I never forget the fear I felt on that first day.

Today I see it in students at almost every workshop I run; that first-day fear - everyone feels they’re not good enough and going to be the runt of the litter, all the insecurities bubbling away while they meet the other participants, all of them nervous about playing.

Is there always going to be a best and worst player in a group of students, and does it matter? I think digging around this question reveals some interesting food for thought for both students and teachers. The question and the answers are of course subjective and depend on what is being done and why. Let’s explore this a bit more.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 2019-utgaven av Guitar Techniques.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GUITAR TECHNIQUESSe alt
THE MOODY BLUES
Guitar Techniques

THE MOODY BLUES

This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
WAYNE KRANTZ
Guitar Techniques

WAYNE KRANTZ

This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
OPEN G TUNING
Guitar Techniques

OPEN G TUNING

Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Guitar Techniques

RODRIGO GOUVEIA

Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
MARK KNOPFLER
Guitar Techniques

MARK KNOPFLER

Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
U2
Guitar Techniques

U2

Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
LUTHER ALLISON
Guitar Techniques

LUTHER ALLISON

It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
Guitar Techniques

JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio

This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
Guitar Techniques

THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau

John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
Guitar Techniques

VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern

This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024