Beginner Guitar Academy

233 - Challenge Week One Recap: Master Your Picking


Listen Later

Episode Overview:

In this special episode, Paul Andrews recaps the first week of the “Five Minutes a Day Guitar Challenge,” which is designed to help beginner guitarists practice daily and build strong foundational skills. Whether you’re keeping up with the challenge or just tuning in, this episode is packed with techniques and exercises to improve your picking and overall guitar playing.

Key Topics Covered:

Introduction to the Challenge:

  • Paul shares the inspiration behind the Five Minutes a Day Challenge, encouraging everyone to build consistent daily practice habits—even just five minutes a day can make a huge difference!

Week 1 Theme – Picking Fundamentals:

  • Essential Picking Techniques: How to properly hold the pick, avoid tension, and brace your picking hand.
  • The 5 Essential Picking Exercises: These cover alternate, outside, inside, double down, and double up picking patterns—core skills for nearly every riff or song you’ll encounter.
  • Isolation Practice: Focusing on one hand at a time for faster and more effective learning.

Fretting Technique:

  • Paul explains the “three F’s” for proper fretting—flat thumb, fingertip, and fret placement—to get clean, buzz-free notes.

Applying Techniques with Iconic Riffs:

Practice what you’ve learned with riffs such as:

  • “Under Pressure” by Queen
  • “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
  • “Peter Gunn Theme” (including different versions and fingerings)

Spider Exercise (1-2-3-4 Exercise):

  • This classic exercise builds finger strength, synchronization, and hand independence.

Progress and Recap Structure:

  • Each week of the challenge wraps up with a recap to consolidate your learning before moving on to topics like chords and rhythm in the following weeks.

Community Updates

Academy Show:

  • A new monthly recap episode is out, featuring member shout-outs, milestone celebrations (“guitarversaries”), and highlights of active community members.

Live Office Hours:

  • Paul is hosting a live Zoom Q&A for challenge participants on May 18th—bring your guitar questions and get them answered in real-time!

Beginner Guitar Academy Community:

  • Connect with guitarists from around the world, share your progress, and get direct support from Paul.

Resources & Links:

Join the Challenge Anytime:

  • Sign up for the “Five Minutes a Day” challenge and start from day one at bgachallenge.com

Video Version:

  • Want to see the exercises and riffs played? Watch the accompanying video for this episode at bgapodcast.com/233 or search YouTube and socials.

Become a Member:

  • For structured learning, personal feedback, and community access, join Beginner Guitar Academy with a 2-week trial for just $1.

If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Keep practicing, and stay tuned for next week’s episode.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beginner Guitar AcademyBy Beginner Guitar Academy

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

72 ratings


More shows like Beginner Guitar Academy

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,189 Listeners

Guitar Music Theory by Desi Serna

Guitar Music Theory

822 Listeners

The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast by The Fretboard Journal

The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

348 Listeners

Chasing Tone - Guitar Podcast About Gear, Effects, Amps and Tone by Wampler Pedals

Chasing Tone - Guitar Podcast About Gear, Effects, Amps and Tone

476 Listeners

Guitar Nerds by Guitar Nerds

Guitar Nerds

155 Listeners

No Guitar Is Safe by Jude Gold

No Guitar Is Safe

784 Listeners

Music Student 101 by Jeremy Burns, Matthew Scott Phillips

Music Student 101

226 Listeners

Know Your Gear Podcast by Phillip Mcknight

Know Your Gear Podcast

293 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,121 Listeners

Play Guitar Podcast by Lee Anderson

Play Guitar Podcast

209 Listeners

Tips For Guitar Playing Success by tipsforguitarplayingsuccess Marlene Hutchinson

Tips For Guitar Playing Success

32 Listeners

The Steve Stine Podcast by Steve Stine

The Steve Stine Podcast

75 Listeners

Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch by Greg Koch

Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

216 Listeners

Dipped In Tone by Dipped in Tone

Dipped In Tone

207 Listeners

Word In Your Ear by Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold

Word In Your Ear

62 Listeners