Episodes

Welcome to the festive edition of Beginner Guitar Academy! As we kick off December, Paul Andrews shares a comprehensive gift guide for beginner guitarists, perfect for Christmas wishlists or for anyone shopping for a guitar-loving friend. This episode covers essential accessories that beginner guitar players will truly appreciate, products to avoid, and tips for selecting quality gear that actually gets used rather than languishing in a drawer. Key Highlights Academy Updates Monthly...

In this episode, Paul Andrews tackles a common challenge faced by many guitarists: how to keep developing as a musician when an injury or surgery keeps you away from the guitar. Inspired by a question from student Jim Fochs (recovering from left shoulder surgery), Paul Andrews shares practical ways to stay motivated, continue progressing, and set up for a strong comeback—even if you physically can’t play. Key Topics Covered 1. Mindset Shift Your identity as a guitarist doesn’t pause just beca...

In this episode, Paul Andrews dives deep into the topic of free guitar lessons, exploring whether learning guitar from platforms like YouTube is truly “good enough” for beginners. He discusses the pros and cons of free online resources, the hidden costs attached, and why structured lessons might be the key to real progress. Key Topics Covered Community Update Recap of the first-ever Sip and Strum event featuring “Zombie” by The Cranberries. Although there were audio issues with the event reco...

This week, Paul dives into the essential "Basic Eight" beginner open chords every guitarist needs to know. Whether you’re just starting out or want to refine your chord technique, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for learning the key shapes, practicing them efficiently, and putting them to use in real songs. Plus, you’ll get valuable tips to overcome common challenges and ideas for songs to play with your new skills! Key Topics Covered Beginner Guitar Academy News: Upcoming "S...

In this episode, Paul Andrews tackles one of the most common questions among beginner guitarists: Should you start learning on an electric or acoustic guitar? Drawing from his experience, student feedback, and a recent question from a listener named Glenn, Paul dives deep into the practical differences between electric and acoustic guitars, debunks myths, and helps you figure out the best instrument to start your own guitar journey. Beginner Guitar Academy News Monthly Academy show roundup: Ce...

In this episode, Paul Andrews tackles a common beginner guitarist question: Should you keep a practice journal? Inspired by a post in the Beginner Guitar Academy community from Mark Old, Paul explores the pros and cons of tracking your guitar practice and offers practical advice for making journaling both effective and manageable. Key Topics Covered Why Track Your Practice? The benefits of keeping a practice journal include increased motivation, accountability, and the ability to spot progress...

In this episode, Paul explores the most common reasons why so many aspiring guitarists never quite get started or give up too soon, despite having a lifelong dream to play the guitar. He debunks major myths that hold people back and shares practical strategies to help you become the exception, turning those dreams into reality. Announcements: Live Member Q&A: Happening Monday the 27th (9 pm UK | 5 pm EDT | 2 pm PDT). Members can join live via Zoom, or submit questions beforehand if they can't ...

In this week’s episode, Paul Andrews goes back to basics to tackle one of the trickiest and most important chord changes for beginner guitarists: moving from the C chord to the G chord. He breaks down why this chord change matters, the challenges beginners face, his top practical tips for smoother transitions, and suggests four popular songs to practice your new skills. Key Talking Points Why the C to G Chord Change Is So Important This change pops up constantly in popular music—think ...

This week, Paul dives deep into the emotional ups and downs of learning guitar, inspired by a heartfelt community post from member Baltazar. With Baltazar’s permission, Paul explores the realities of balancing progress, avoiding burnout, and keeping guitar practice both effective and joyful. Whether you’re cruising through milestones or stuck on a stubborn plateau, you’ll find practical strategies and inspiration to keep you moving forward—without losing sight of the fun. Key Topics Communit...

In this episode, Paul Andrews breaks down the eight most common mistakes he sees beginner guitarists make and, most importantly, how you can avoid or fix them. If you feel like your guitar progress has stalled or you’re unsure what’s holding you back, this comprehensive guide will put you back on track. From practicing without a plan to quitting too soon, Paul covers it all, offering actionable advice and resources along the way. Key Topics Covered 1. Practicing Without a Plan Many beginners...

In episode 253 of the Beginner Guitar Academy Podcast, Paul Andrews explores the powerful—yet often overlooked—concept of musical intervals. Whether you’re new to the guitar or looking to improve your musicianship, understanding intervals can unlock a deeper grasp of the fretboard, sharpen your ear, accelerate your learning, and even provide inspiration for songwriting. Paul breaks down what intervals are, explains why they matter, shares practical tips for practicing them, and wraps up with a...

In this special bonus episode, Paul Andrews takes a break from the last two weeks’ exploration of the “10 albums every guitar player should listen to” and shines a light on five underrated, yet essential, guitar albums that deserve a spot in every player’s listening library. These records might not be the legendary household names, but they’ve deeply influenced guitarists and can inspire your playing with fresh techniques, tones, and approaches. What’s Inside Why Listen? Discover guitar albums...

Episode Summary In this episode, Paul Andrews rounds out his two-part guide to the "10 Albums Every Guitar Player Should Listen To." Picking up from last week's list, Paul dives into the final five influential records that have shaped the world of guitar—breaking down their impact, sharing some backstory, and extracting key lessons for guitarists of all levels. Plus, there’s a quick update about the Beginner Guitar Academy community and what’s new this month inside the Academy. Episode Highligh...

Celebrating a huge milestone, Paul Andrews marks the 250th episode of the Beginner Guitar Academy Podcast by launching a brand-new two-part series: "10 Albums Every Guitar Player Should Listen To." In this first instalment, Paul dives into the history, lasting impact, and key guitar lessons from five essential albums. If you’re looking for inspiration, fresh practice ideas, or just an excuse to revisit some legendary records, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for guitarists of any...

In this week’s episode, Paul dives into a common question from students: “Where can I find decent, authentic tabs to learn songs?” Building on last week’s three-step song-learning system (practice, playthrough, perform), Paul takes a deep look at both free and paid online resources for guitar tabs, discusses their pros and cons, and gives expert advice on what to trust when searching for accurate music. Key Topics Covered 🎸 Beginner Guitar Academy News Reminder for BGA members: the liv...

In this week’s episode, Paul Andrews addresses a common challenge among beginner guitarists: learning and actually remembering songs. Paul shares a structured approach to not just learning new songs but maintaining and improving them over time. Whether you’re struggling to recall previously learned tunes or looking to build a solid repertoire, this episode offers practical tips and actionable steps to level up your song practice routine. Key Topics Covered Community Update: Paul ann...

In this week’s episode, Paul dives into the moody and expressive world of minor blues progressions. Building on last week’s look at soloing over major blues, this episode walks you through the structure, chord options, and soloing approaches for a classic 12-bar minor blues. By the end, you'll know how to play and solo over a minor blues progression, select the right scales, and discover great artists and tracks for inspiration. Key Topics Covered What is a Minor Blues Progression? ...

This week, Paul continues the deep dive into blues guitar, building on foundation concepts from Episode 245. The focus shifts to soloing over a major blues progression—specifically, what scales to use, how to target chord tones, and the techniques that legendary blues artists like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan employ in their solos. Key Topics Covered Recap: Major vs. Minor Blues (12-Bar Blues Structure) Definition and structure of a 12-bar major blues progression using ...

In this week’s episode, Paul tackles a common question from Beginner Guitar Academy members: What exactly does it mean when someone says “a blues”—is it a minor blues, and is there such a thing as a major blues? Paul breaks down the differences between major and minor blues progressions, walks you through classic chord sequences, offers examples of famous songs you can listen to and learn, and shares practical tips for practicing both styles. Key Topics Covered: Community Updates: Recap o...

In this week’s episode, Paul dives into the fourth part of the British Guitar Music series, spotlighting the vibrant era of Brit Pop and the indie rock revival of the 1990s and early 2000s. These decades brought guitar music back into the mainstream, known for their catchy hooks, jangly chords, and a strong sense of attitude, along with many riffs and techniques that are highly accessible to beginner guitarists. Paul explores iconic bands like Oasis, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and ...

In the third instalment of the special British Music Series, Paul Andrews takes us on a deep dive into the raw, rebellious, and energetic music scene of 1980s Britain. This episode delves into how British punk evolved into new wave, introducing iconic bands, innovative guitar techniques, and essential songs for beginner guitarists. What You’ll Learn The Rise of British Punk: Explore the roots of punk in the late '70s/early '80s with bands like The Clash, Sex Pistols, and The Damned. Di...

Welcome back to the Beginner Guitar Academy podcast with your host, Paul Andrews! In this second instalment of the British Guitar Music series, Paul takes us on a journey through the iconic 1970s—a decade defined by stadium rock, legendary guitarists, and the birth of British heavy metal. If you missed last week's trip through the swinging '60s and the British Invasion, don’t forget to catch up and check out the new riffs added to the Academy from The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks. Th...

This week, Paul kicks off a special month-long series delving into British guitar music, decade by decade. In this episode, the focus is on the iconic 1960s British Invasion — exploring how UK bands like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Who reshaped the guitar world, and what beginner guitarists can take from their classic styles and songs. What’s Inside Series Preview: All of July, Paul is exploring the evolution of British guitar music: July 4: 1960s British Invasion (this epis...

Welcome to another value-packed episode with Paul Andrews! This week, we're focusing on something every guitarist—no matter what stage they're at—should care about: How to get better. Paul shares a comprehensive list of 20 actionable strategies designed to make you a better guitar player, whether you’re brand new or have been strumming for a while. From crucial practice habits and mindset shifts to practical tips you may not expect, this episode is packed with inspiration and detailed advice t...