Latest Episode
Over 500,000 Downloads

310 – Record Your Song: Hear Your Progress and Know What to Practise Next

Does pressing record suddenly make your guitar playing feel harder? And when you listen back, do you only notice the mistakes?

In the final episode of Songs, Start to Finish, Paul explains how to use a simple recording to recognise your progress and decide what to practise next.

Whether you’re ready to record a complete song or still connecting a few sections, you’ll learn how to make a useful recording, listen constructively and turn what you hear into a clear practice task.

In this episode,

310 – Record Your Song: Hear Your Progress and Know What to Practise Next
Beginner Guitar Academy
310 – Record Your Song: Hear Your Progress and Know What to Practise Next

Recent Episodes

310
Oct. 30, 2026

310 – Record Your Song: Hear Your Progress and Know What to Practise Next

Does pressing record suddenly make your guitar playing feel harder? And when you listen back, do you only notice the mistakes? In the final episode of Songs, Start to Finish, Paul explains how to use a simple recording to recognise your progress and decide what to practise next. Whether you’re ready to record a complete song or still connecting a few sections, you’ll learn how to make a useful recording, listen constructively and turn what you hear into a clear practice task. In this episode,
309
Oct. 22, 2026

309 – How to Turn Song Sections into a Complete Play-Through

In part four of Songs, Start to Finish, Paul explains how to connect the sections you’ve learnt and work towards one complete play-through. Through practical guitar demonstrations, you’ll discover how to practise across section boundaries, build longer passages and prepare a clear beginning and ending. You’ll also learn how to review a full attempt and choose a useful next step. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why transitions need practice, even when you know both sections. How your song map c
308
Oct. 17, 2026

308 – How to Keep a Song Going When Chord Changes Are Hard

Do you stop strumming every time a difficult chord comes along? In part three of Songs, Start to Finish, Paul shares practical ways to keep your song moving while you improve your chord changes. You’ll learn how to choose a manageable tempo, simplify your strumming and practise the movement that causes the hesitation. Through guitar demonstrations, Paul also explains how to recover after a missed chord without losing your place. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to identify what makes you pa
307
Oct. 9, 2026

207 - How to Stop Getting Lost When Playing a Song

Do you know the chords to a song but lose your place when you try to play it all the way through? In part two of our Songs, Start to Finish series, Paul explains how to create a simple song map so you know where you are and what comes next. You’ll learn how to identify the sections, keep track of repeats and use listening cues to follow your chosen arrangement from the intro to the ending. With a practical guitar demonstration, Paul shows why knowing the chord sequence is only part of learning
306
Oct. 1, 2026

306 - How to Choose a Song You Can Actually Finish

Can you play a few chords and riffs, but struggle to get through a whole song? This episode kicks off Songs, Start to Finish, our October series helping you work towards a complete song play-through. We’re starting with a decision that can make everything else easier: choosing a song and arrangement that suit your current ability. Paul explains how to find a song you enjoy, check for unexpected challenges, and decide exactly what you’ll play from beginning to end. Whether you’re strumming chor
305
Sept. 26, 2026

305 - How Do You Know You’re Actually Improving?

Are you becoming a better guitarist, or just getting better at noticing your mistakes? Guitar progress usually happens so gradually that it can be difficult to see. While you’re focused on the chord you still can’t change cleanly or the song you haven’t finished, it’s easy to overlook everything that has already improved. In this episode, we explore the signs of progress that beginner guitarists often miss, and why feeling more aware of your mistakes may actually mean that your musical ear is

Recent Blog Posts

Jan. 10, 2026

How to Jam Musically Using Just One Scale (Even If You Feel Stuck)

If you’ve ever thought… “I know the scale… so why doesn’t this sound like music?” …you’re not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations guitarists have, and it has nothing to do with talent or intelligence. It happens because most p…
Nov. 15, 2025

The Basic 8 Guitar Chords Every Beginner Should Know

Are you just starting your guitar journey and wondering which chords you absolutely need to know? This week’s episode of the Beginner Guitar Academy podcast with Paul Andrews is your perfect guide! He breaks down the “Basic Eight” — those foundat…
Oct. 17, 2025

Level Up Your Guitar Skills: Mastering the C to G Chord Change

Are you struggling to switch smoothly between the C and G chords? If so, you’re not alone—this iconic chord change trips up guitar beginners everywhere and can feel like a real roadblock on your musical journey. In Episode 256 of the Beginner Guit…

Reviews

Best and most interactive online guitar lessons!!

"I can’t say enough at how easy the lessons are. I’m now on my second month taking the online course and have learned so much. Stop waisting you’re time on YouTube trying to pause and play random less…"

Walt35 | March 15, 2021

Mr.

"Paul is such an incredible teacher! I love the way he takes his time and explains everything thouroghly. Can't wiat to hear more episodes!"

Don Parkhurst | July 3, 2019

Exceptional Find

"If you’re looking for a beginning or restarting point for learning to play the guitar - this is it! I started with Paul’s podcast, checked out his Amazon book, and joined his academy online. What’s g…"

Ski_22 | Sept. 9, 2021

The Best!

"THE single best guitar podcast available. Short and to the point, yet packed with useful information."

Mark Z | Oct. 17, 2021

Paul is awesome!

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I can’t recommend Beginner Guitar Academy enough! Paul is such an amazing teacher—his approach makes learning the guitar fun, easy to follow, and truly engaging. He breaks things down in …"

Joinaaronst | Feb. 24, 2025