FAQ: Prepare with Confidence

Usually not. For a circle of up to around fifteen people, an acoustic guitar and an unamplified voice carry well if you face the group with the wind behind you. Many parks restrict amplified sound without permission, so going acoustic also keeps things simple.

Strings react to temperature, humidity and sunlight. Let the guitar settle in its case for about ten minutes before tuning, check again after the first song and retune lightly between songs.

Use clothes pegs or page clips on a low stand or clipboard, and print in a large font so you can read at a glance without leaning in.

Sing the highest and lowest notes of the song over open chords, then move a capo until both feel easy. Write the capo position on your lyric sheet. The chords lesson explains this in detail.

G, C, D and E minor cover a large number of folk and pop songs, and a capo lets you move them to suit any voice.

Start in unison, then have the friend hold only the last note of each phrase a third higher. A simple voice map, like the one in the harmony lesson, lists both parts side by side.

For an informal gathering, thirty to forty-five minutes is plenty, with natural pauses to retune and chat. See the outdoor sets lesson for a three-part shape.

Informal playing among friends is generally treated differently from public performance, but rules vary by country and venue. Check local regulations, especially for busking or organised events, and ask organisers about any music licensing they hold.

No. The lessons are free, independent learning notes. There is no enrolment, assessment or accreditation, just material to practise with.