This content is exclusive to My Method.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
Things I wish I knew
Ben lays out four big lessons he wishes he’d heard when he was younger. First, stop tearing yourself apart. Guitar is genuinely hard for everyone, even the players who look effortless online. Most of what you see is carefully polished, not reality. Second, ignore the people who try to discourage you, even when it comes from friends or family. Everyone has opinions, but the only thing that matters is what you love and the direction you want to go. Third, frustration is a core part of the journey. Feeling stuck, angry or overwhelmed is normal, and taking short breaks before coming back is often the thing that moves you forward. Finally, insecurity can actually work in your favour. That nagging feeling of not being good enough is often the thing that keeps you developing, learning and pushing yourself. He’s still insecure himself, still gets annoyed, still compares himself to others, but uses it as fuel. In short: keep going, block out negativity, embrace the hard bits and let your insecurity push you rather than defeat you.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
Injury Prevention
Ben talks through injury prevention for guitarists, stressing that most problems come from poor conditioning, posture, and lack of warm-up, not playing itself. He explains the difference between healthy muscular burn vs sharp or electric pain, highlights avoidable issues like nail damage and overuse, and emphasises that regular full-body movement, warming up, and recovery are essential if you want to practice hard without breaking down.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
How to Practice
Ben explains that effective practice is about balancing structure and enjoyment. He contrasts methodical, goal-driven practice with instinctive, passion-led playing, noting that most great players developed their signature sounds through repetition driven by obsession, not rigid schedules. His solution is a 50/50 split: one half spent playing songs, solos, and improvising for fun while actively working on timing, feel, and performance; the other half focused on specific technical goals, tackled slowly over weeks or months rather than everything at once. Progress comes from choosing one idea, committing to it, applying it to real music, and accepting that improvement is long-term and cumulative. The key is keeping the guitar in your hands, protecting your love for the instrument, and building skill through consistent, focused repetition without burnout.
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I do it the hard way
Ben explains that he’s always been drawn to the “hard way” in guitar, especially alternate picking, because the challenge and aggressive sound feel more rewarding than easier techniques. He encourages you to embrace difficult weaknesses in moderation, since that grind builds long-term skill, confidence, and a stronger musical identity.
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7. To Metronome Or Not To Metronome?
Ben explains that while timing is essential, he avoids practicing with a traditional metronome because the constant click feels restrictive and kills the fun. Instead, he prefers drum loops or playing along with music, pushing past his limits and then settling back naturally.
He admits this approach can lead to rushing if you’re not careful, so learning to lock in is still important, especially in band or studio situations. Ultimately, Ben’s view is simple: use whatever keeps you practicing consistently, if a metronome works for you, use it; it just isn’t his go-to tool.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
It's All Bollocks
Ben talks honestly about the pressure and illusion of “perfect” guitar playing on social media, explaining how most flawless clips are edited and far from reality. He encourages players to ignore comparisons, embrace mistakes, and focus on steady, old-school progress through consistent, achievable practice.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
6. The Superpower of Self-Belief
Ben talks about the mindset that’s driven his playing for decades: extreme self-belief balanced with total humility. He believes he can learn anything given enough time, even while doubting himself daily. By visualising where he wants to be years ahead and working backwards one small step at a time, he stays moving forward. The key, he explains, is ignoring perfection, embracing the long journey, and trusting that progress comes from consistency, patience, and learning from absolutely everyone.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
8. The Enemy Within
Ben talks about the constant inner battle between self-belief and self-doubt, describing how his own mind is often his biggest obstacle. Even though he knows he can achieve things with time, old comments and negative voices still trigger anxiety, especially around writing music. He explains that learning to push back against that inner enemy and sometimes even using it as fuel is a big part of moving forward.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
9. Biggest Win & Biggest Fails
Ben explains that behind every highlight there are real struggles: one of his biggest wins was pushing through fear to write a song for a major film, proving to himself that he could deliver under pressure, while one of his biggest failures was burning out, damaging relationships in a band, and walking away from music for years; he also shares a brutally funny onstage disaster to underline the point that highs, lows, wins, and failures are all part of the journey, and the key is to learn from them, embrace the chaos, and keep moving forward.
This content is exclusive to My Method.
10. My Controversial Advice
Ben explains that you can make a life in music, but taking all the financial and emotional pressure on it alone can lead to burnout, so having something else alongside it can really help. And if you’re playing just for fun, he’s clear: don’t let anyone tell you how you “should” do music if playing alone makes you happy, that’s enough.