Evan
The Tech · Calm. Clear. Generous.
Evan has taken apart more guitars than he's owned, and he'll tell you exactly what he found. He thinks most beginner struggles are really equipment or setup problems nobody explained, and he'd rather hand you the answer than watch you blame yourself for it.
“Nobody's born knowing this.”
Evan's guides
Parts of an Acoustic Guitar Explained
Every part named in plain English, headstock to bridge pins. Plus the two spots beginners mix up: the bridge vs the saddle, and what counts as a fret.
Parts of an Electric Guitar Explained
The parts an acoustic doesn't have, explained in plain English: the pickups, the knobs, the switch, and the whammy bar, and how each shapes your sound.
Chords vs Tabs: What's the Difference?
What each one is, which to learn first, and why tabs aren't cheating. The honest answer to the question beginners actually ask, minus the gatekeeping.
Acoustic vs Electric Guitar for Beginners
The honest answer: pick the one that plays the music you love. Why electric hurts less, what the full kit really costs, and the acoustic-first myth.
How Much Finger Pressure Do You Need?
Less than you think, and there's a test: add pressure until the note first rings clean. Why buzz is usually position, not force, plus the death-grip fix.
How to Build Finger Strength
Your fingers are already strong enough; what's missing is control, and control trains faster than muscle. The five-minute daily builder, no gadgets required.
How to Fix Sloppy Chord Changes
Sloppy hides three separate faults: the gap, the buzz on arrival, and the stagger. Diagnose which one is yours, then run the fix that matches it.
How to Use a Metronome
Incorporating a metronome into your practice routine is one of the best ways to develop solid timing on the guitar.
Why Does My Strumming Hand Tense Up and Cramp?
The ache isn't weakness; it's tension, and it usually starts with two fingers squeezing a pick. The minimum-grip fix plus the mid-song check-in.
Downstrokes vs Upstrokes
Downs are wide and heavy, ups are narrow and light, and that contrast is the design. Why your upstroke sounds thinner, plus the fix for a snagging pick.
How to Mute the Strings You Aren't Playing
Clean players don't aim better; they mute better. Both hands guard the strings: the fretting hand takes the thin side, the palm edge takes the thick side.
How to Record Guitar at Home Without Fancy Gear
Your phone is enough for year one: about a foot away, aimed where the neck meets the body, never at the soundhole. Trust it on timing, not on tone.
Free Recording Software for Your First Songs
Your platform picks for you: GarageBand on Mac, Cakewalk on Windows, BandLab in any browser, Audacity for bare capture. Friction decides, not features.
How to Change Guitar Strings
The four signs your strings are done, the slack-and-wrap routine that holds tune, and the stretch-in ritual. The neck-warp fear is a myth; relax.
How to Clean Your Guitar
A dry cloth after every session is most of the job. What's safe, what ruins finishes (furniture polish tops the list), and the fretboard-oil rules.
Essential Accessories for Beginners
Teachers list five: a tuner, picks, spare strings, a stand, a gig bag. The test for everything else: does it remove a reason not to practice?