Essays Page

There are a few questions that come up over and over in lessons and pre-lesson interviews. Sometimes the answers are too detailed for the Frequently Asked Questions page. This page connects you to a few essays I've written about the guitar.

Guest Essay: "Natural Talent" by Jamie Andreas

Jamie Andreas, the world-famous guitar teacher whose system of guitar instruction I use exclusively, has granted me the rare privilege of publishing one of her essays on my Web site.

Click here to read "Natural Talent".

All rights to this essay are reserved by Jamie Andreas.

Photo by Geraldine Rapetti

My Essays

There are a few questions that come up over and over in lessons and pre-lesson interviews, for which the answer is too detailed for the Frequently Asked Questions page. This page connects you to a few essays I've written about music and the guitar.

How do I measure my progress on the guitar?

This essay introduces qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques for the guitar. I give a copy of it to all my students, and to the parents of minor students.

I want to learn electric guitar. Should I learn acoustic guitar first?

The short answer is "no". The essay at the above link will show you why.

What should I look for when shopping for a guitar?

Make sure you buy the kind of quality that will last, and avoid paying more than you need to. Find out how to buy an appropriate sized guitar, and learn what features to look for in a guitar or amplifier.

Is it possible to learn the guitar even with a physical, learning, or cognitive disability?

My research so far indicates that unless your impairments are severe enough to keep you functioning in most other parts of your life, you can definitely learn to play provided you've got the will to do so. The above link will show you why.

Why are tenors an endangered species?

This essay looks at some of the reasons why it's hard to find, and keep, certain kinds of amateur ensemble singers.

Other On-Line Information Sources

In addition to "Natural Talent" and the links it contains to some of Jamie's other essays, there is a lot of free material at the Guitar Principles Web site here. There is also a well moderated forum.

If you're looking for technical essays about different kinds of gear and different parts of the guitar, check out Ed Roman's Web page here. You can get a basic grounding in the design and construction of electric guitars by reading the technical articles on Ed's site. Plus, there are lots of cool guitar pictures.