"Excellent beginners course will have you strumming along"

by Keely Anne Hill, Writer & Editor

  I am a really really bad student, it has to be said. With a very short attention span, if I'm not interested, nothing short of an actual bribe of epic proportions could shift my lazy ass into action. This is this reason that I have failed so miserably so far in learning the guitar. I want to be able to play, but can't quite put the effort in.

However, over the past few weeks, all that has changed after discovering Justinguitar.com. Justin Sandercoe, a London based guitarist, songwriter, performer, producer and educator, offers online video based tutorials for budding guitarists of all levels; his "virtual students".

For newbies like myself, the excellent beginners course will have you strumming along to the likes of Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and Pulp's Common People, while building a firm base for progression, looking at strumming techniques, a steady build up of chords to add to your repertoire, and general guitar frequently asked questions. For those of you that are more advanced, Justin offers the intermediate course, plus extras such as awesome riffs and licks, master classes, fast legato techniques, aural training, transcribing... honestly, the list goes on, with over 500 lessons there for the taking.

Oh - and did I mention that they're all free? Justin runs his site on an honour system, whereby if you can donate, you can through the site, but if you can't, Justin is ok with that as well. Did I also mention that he is a really great guy?

There is far too much content to sum up in one review, so please, check it out yourselves, and, if he can turnaround my musical ineptitude - think of what he can do for you?

For guitarists of all abilities, I urge you, check out www.justinguitar.com - probably the best teacher you will ever have.

Photos by Nick Delaney