Welcome to the official Simon Morel guitar blog. Discover practical guitar playing tips, step-by-step practice strategies, and resources designed specifically for adult learners. Whether you are learning one-on-one at my studio in Petersham, NSW, or taking online guitar lessons globally, these articles will help you cut through the noise, skip the YouTube rabbit hole, and make real musical progress.
Unlocking Your Ear’s Potential on the Fretboard Learning how to play guitar by ear feels like a superpower when you first start, but it is actually a trainable skill that any adult beginner can master. You do not need absolute pitch or decades of musical training to work out simple melodies and chord progressions from
How to Play Guitar by Ear: A Simple Guide for Adults Read More »
Mastering Rhythm with a Metronome Many adult beginners avoid the click of a metronome because it feels mechanical, cold, or unforgiving. However, learning how to use a metronome is the fastest way to fix shaky rhythm, stop rushing, and make your playing sound polished and musical. The secret is using the metronome as a supportive
How to Use a Metronome for Guitar (And Stay Motivated) Read More »
Keep Your Guitar Clean and Playing Smoothly Taking a few minutes to clean guitar at home on a regular basis keeps your instrument looking great, sounding clear, and feeling comfortable under your fingers. Sweat, skin oils, and dust accumulate on the fretboard and hardware over time, which dulls your tone and degrades your strings faster.
How to Deal with Sore Fingertips When Learning Guitar Every guitarist goes through a phase where their fingertips feel tender, bruised, or downright raw. If you are experiencing guitar finger pain, know that it is completely normal and entirely temporary. Your fingers simply need time to adapt to pressing metal strings against wood. The good
How to Stop Guitar Finger Pain (Without Quitting) Read More »
Most home practice setups fail before you even pick up the guitar — too much friction, too many cables, too much faffing before you’re actually playing. Here’s the exact signal chain I use, from amp to interface to Audacity, plus the setup details and practice techniques that turn recording software into one of the most useful tools in your rig.
Building a Guitar Practice Rig You’ll Actually Use Read More »
Learn proper guitar capo placement to keep your instrument in tune. Discover whether applying a capo from the bass or treble side works best, plus simple rules to avoid sharp notes and fret buzz.
How to Put a Capo on Your Guitar: Bass Side vs Treble Side Read More »
Think you’re too old to learn guitar? Discover 10 science-backed reasons why picking up the guitar after 40 boosts brain health, lowers stress, and builds real confidence.
10 Surprising Benefits of Learning Guitar After 40 Read More »
Hitting a guitar plateau does not mean you lack musical talent. Instead, it simply indicates that your current practice routine has served its purpose. By separating casual playing from structured practice and replacing vague goals with micro-milestones, you can break out of the open-chord bubble and reignite your progress.
How to Break Through a Guitar Plateau (When You Feel Stuck) Read More »
Practical Fretboard Logic: The 20% of Theory That Unlocks 80% of the Neck Many adult beginners believe that learning music theory requires years of boring academic study. However, standard textbook theory is often completely impractical for everyday guitar playing. As a result, many adults give up and rely entirely on static chord charts. Fortunately, practical
Guitar Music Theory for Adults: Unlock the Fretboard Easily Read More »
How to Sing and Play Guitar at the Same Time Learning a new song on guitar feels great. However, adding your voice to the mix can feel completely impossible. As a result, your hands usually stop moving the moment you open your mouth. In fact, this issue is the single most common frustration for adult
