How 1-on-1 guitar lessons helped Logan overcome finger coordination struggles and learn to play songs by ear

Logan began his guitar learning journey with the challenge of finger coordination, hand posture, and limited familiarity with chord shapes. 

Returning to the instrument after a break, he found himself struggling to stretch his fingers comfortably and to recognize notes on the fretboard. 

With the patient guidance of his tutor, Yasmin Devan, Logan was eager to rebuild his skills and gain the confidence to play songs fluently, including his goal of figuring out popular songs by ear.

Why Logan started guitar lessons

Logan was motivated by a desire to refresh his guitar skills after some time away from regular practice. 

He expressed feeling “like a lot of relearning” and noted his hand was “shaking trying to get the notes,” showing his awareness of physical limitations that were holding him back.

He also wished to improve his ability to “keep fingers close to the notes” and work on his wrist and elbow positioning for better technique. 

Logan wanted personalized guidance to break down complex chords and power chords, learn proper posture, and develop the skills needed to pick out chords by listening-a skill he hadn’t explored fully before.

Real class insight: what Logan worked on with Yasmin

Finger stretching and hand posture 

Yasmin emphasized developing finger strength and correct hand positioning. She advised Logan to “open up your fingers like a fan” and keep fingers close to the fretboard without unnecessary shifting. 

Yasmin noted, “Your pinky is a little bit too close,” and helped Logan visualize stretching through knuckle movement. Logan shared, “It’s a lot of relearning,” highlighting his effort to build new muscle memory.

Using a guitar pick and coordinating both hands

Logan experimented with playing using a pick for the first time. 

Yasmin encouraged this approach for warm-ups, explaining that it “hammers in the coordination between both hands more than when you’re playing with fingers.” They worked on maintaining a relaxed wrist and elbow to avoid tension while strumming.

Mastering power chords and musical notes on the fretboard

Yasmin guided Logan through identifying notes on the sixth and fifth strings and explained the musical alphabet and how power chords are constructed from roots, fifths, and octaves.

Logan practiced naming notes and navigating sharps and flats, saying, “I think I’m a bit slow on the uptake today,” but Yasmin reassured him it was normal to take time.

Ear training and figuring out chord progressions by listening

A major breakthrough was Logan’s introduction to ear training: listening to songs, humming bass notes, and finding chords on the guitar. Yasmin shared, “That’s how professional musicians do that.” 

Logan reflected, “I like how it works,” and was excited by the realization, “I never thought I could, if that makes sense.” They practiced identifying repeating chord progressions in songs like Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t” and discussed active listening techniques to distinguish instrument parts.

Sliding technique and focusing practice on problem areas

Yasmin noticed Logan struggled with sliding between frets smoothly and encouraged slowing down and focusing on “problem areas,” such as sliding from D# to F. Logan learned to avoid pressing too hard and “just let go, slide,” which helped reduce tension.

Using tools like GarageBand to support practice 

Yasmin suggested using GarageBand’s piano sounds for clearer note identification, encouraging Logan to hum notes and find them on the piano keyboard as a complementary ear training method

The big win: How Logan’s playing and confidence leveled up

By the end of their session, Logan had not only improved his finger flexibility and hand posture but also discovered the empowering skill of playing songs by ear through chord progression recognition. 

He felt motivated and confident, saying, “That was really cool to be able to pick a song and play it.”

Yasmin observed visible improvements in his finger openness and control and reinforced that consistent, focused practice-especially “paying attention to your problem areas”-would accelerate his progress. 

Logan planned to practice listening actively to music and continue refining his skills over the next weeks, hopeful about his growth.

What you can learn from Logan’s journey

• Progress is possible-even after a break or when overcoming physical tension-with the right techniques.
• Good hand posture, finger stretching, and using a guitar pick improve comfort, coordination, and control.
• Training your ear to recognize notes and chords, along with using tools like GarageBand, builds independent playing skills.
• Focusing on problem areas instead of full-piece repetition leads to faster, more efficient improvement.

Try it yourself – book a free trial

• Personalized 1-on-1 guitar lessons offer tailored guidance to overcome your unique challenges, whether finger stretching, posture, or ear training.
• Real-time feedback helps you correct bad habits early and build solid technique safely.
• Lessons adapt to your pace and goals, making learning manageable and enjoyable.
• Practice strategies taught in lessons make your self-study more effective and focused.
• Expert guitar tutors can introduce you to tools and methods, like GarageBand, for comprehensive musical growth.

Start playing with confidence – book your free trial lesson today and take the first step toward mastering the guitar!

Meet the tutor – Yasmin Devan

Yasmin is a passionate and patient guitar tutor who specializes in helping learners develop strong foundational techniques and ear training skills. Her teaching style is encouraging and detailed, breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps. 

See more transformation stories

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4. How 1-on-1 guitar lessons helped Evie master fingerpicking and strumming patterns with confidence

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Footnote: Student’s name has been changed for privacy.