Matthew West, Guitarist

While this post is intended for absolute beginners, it is always a good idea to examine and reevaluate your right-hand technique, regardless of your current playing level. I still use these exercises to analyze my technique and ensure I've set myself up for success with the right hand.  When I'm confident in my right-hand technique, I find that I have better control over dynamics and projection. 

Right-hand technique is often thought of as just beginning with the hand. However, the positioning begins with…

Over the years, I've had the privilege of teaching many students. It has been an absolutely amazing experience to see each student grow in their abilities and mature into wonderful musicians and people! As a teacher, one thing I've observed that is essential for enhancing the learning process in every student is a practice routine.

When talking to students about a routine, I often have them map out their practice by writing down how much time are they spending on scales, new technique exercises, reviewing…

Hello Everyone! I've been quiet for a little while, but I'm happy to once again be able to reach out with guitar related blog posts, lessons, and videos!

One thing that has been on my mind recently is repertoire. I always have students asking about how I choose repertoire and scaffold it to their needs. Since there is really no simple answer to this question, I thought a blog post about it may be helpful! 

First of all, The way I look at the term "beginner" versus "intermediate" versus "advanced" is based…

Whether a beginner or advanced player, we all have the joy of playing the right-hand exercises by Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829). These studies have such an amazing impact on player development and right-hand technique that it's no wonder that the 120 studies are the standard for learning RH arpeggios.

As a student, I spent hours and hours trying to master the 120 studies. Still, to this day, I practice all 120 weekly. The studies are designed to be played and practiced in groups. Each group has a specific…

As guitarists, we’ve all faced the challenge of reading sheet music. We often completely avoid this task by reverting to learning pieces by ear or even using tablature. While there are advantages to each of these approaches, they still have limitations of expression that can only be effectively communicated through standard notation. However, if reading standard notation is so important to musicianship, why do guitarists do their best to avoid it? The answer is simple: reading guitar sheet music is…

Developing finger independence is a crucial skill for all guitarists. But it's also a skill that takes a lot of time to master. After more years playing than I'd like to admit, I still find myself returning to building finger independence before tackling a new and challenging repertoire.

With that being said, I'd like to introduce you to some of my favorite exercises for developing your fingers. Each of these exercises offers different challenges in moving the fingers in the left hand. And yes, they all…

Learning all of the notes on the fretboard can be an intimidating task! I definitely struggled with learning all of the notes for many years. However, over the past several months, I've been thinking about ways to make this process easier and more efficient for my guitar students. In this blog post, I'm going to share with you four methods to help you learn the fretboard quickly so you can get back to working on all of the fun stuff!

1. Learning First Position notes!

This has to be the first step, but it doesn't…

The quick answer is YES! We have all heard the saying that "Practice Makes Perfect." However, how we practice is equally important to improving our technique and musicianship. In this article, we will explore different practicing techniques to help you make the most of your time with your guitar.

Probably the most important technique in developing a practice schedule is determining how much time can be spent mastering your craft each day/week. A realistic goal is to set aside 30 minutes a day for practice…

So, you've decided that you are more into the docile tones of the acoustic over the radical sounds of the electric axe. Now you are left with the task of choosing an acoustic guitar! What an awesome reason to take a trip to your local guitar shop and play around on some guitars! Buying a new guitar is an awesome experience! But, before you go exploring new instruments, it might be a good idea to know the difference between a quality acoustic vs. one that may not meet your needs for playing and learning. For…

Like most guitarists, you are probably interested in the recording process. Every musician loves the idea of hearing a mastered version that represents their hard work and passion for songwriting, as well as playing their instrument. However, many musicians are unsure of ways to produce the best sounding recording from their homes. Especially when it comes to acoustic instruments. In this article, we will focus on some techniques that will help produce the best sounding recordings for the acoustic guitar.

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