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Hi there. New to the forum, but about a year and a half into playing, so not a complete newbie. Had lessons for a couple of months during lockdown but stopped due to family illness. And thanks to some serious belt-tightening can't really afford any atm. I expect this is a bit of a perennial problem but I'm really struggling with WHAT to practice. My guitar time is very unstructured and I don't feel like I've improved much over the last 6 months or so. Was thinking of trying one of the online guitar lesson apps. Has anybody out there given any of them a go ?, and if so, we're they any good ? Thanks in advance, Neil

Hey, thought I’d say hi and introduce myself! I’m Richard, longtime couch guitarist…used to play acoustic Sunday sessions in a couple of bars in Newcastle quite a long time ago. I play steel string acoustic only and just had a new one delivered last week, I’ll share a couple of pictures of my brand new Lowden F25. Cedar top with rosewood back and sides. She sounds awesome, very clean with incredible sustain. hope you like it!

Every pickup by 15th Floor has been individually scatter-wound in Ancoats, Manchester, using only the finest of modern materials. We specialise in custom pickups for electric guitars and basses that cover a wide range of sounds to achieve the tone that you want to hear. Sound quality is at the forefront of all of our designs. Therefore, our pick-ups are carefully crafted and tested to create a range of popular, iconic tones. We utilise modern materials and processes, as ‘vintage correct’ isn’t always best. If you have something else in mind, 15th Floor also offers completely custom-built pickups. As each pickup is built to order, we offer a free ageing matching service. Simply send us an image of your instrument and we can meticulously match the level of ageing to your instrument. This is something you won’t find any other pickup manufacturer doing, but we think it’s really important that the pickup not only sounds right but looks right.

Good evening, Neil... Would you mind giving a bit more detail as to what you're wanting to achieve..? What style..? Any favourite influences you'd like to work towards..? Any songs or pieces that you are already either good at or struggling with..? There's a lot of general advice, suitable for any and all occasions, but a bit more info would help to put you on the rails. Meanwhile, here's a few general tips that will always serve you in good stead... A little-and-often approach is much better than irregular long sessions. Make a conscious decision to do, every day, at least 10-15 minutes, without fail. This is better than 2 hours at week-ends, for instance. It matters less what you do in that time as the regularity of doing stuff, every day. It's a simple discipline, but works wonders. Learning the guitar, like many other things, goes in leaps and bounds. One may easily get the impression that not much is sinking in, then suddenly, there's a modest 'quantum leap'. This levels off to another plateau, until 'Bingo..!'; there's another..! The trick is to stubbonly keep ploughing on, in the firm and certain knowledge that it's improving, whether you think so or not. Be patient, and persist; the rewards are there. A quick'n'easy test..? Turn the guitar over and try to play it left-handed (or right-handed, if you're a 'lefty'...). This is roughly the ability you had before picking up the guitar at all. Turn it back to normal, and recognise that progress has, indeed, been made. Be convinced that everyone here, and every one of your favourite players, started out the same way; no-one was born with the 'gift'. It only comes through keeping on keeping on, that's all. Tell us more, then, and you'll be guided onto a firm path for you to tread, at whatever pace you wish. We all know it's not easy, but we also know that it's worth it. Over to you, then..? Douglas