Arena Recording Studio

16/12/2025

Great recording session with Eloise 😃🎙️
Without doubt one of the best singers to come into for a while!

14/12/2025

A fun vocal session today!

12/12/2025

Different string gauges on an acoustic guitar can significantly affect tone, playability, volume, and feel. Here’s a clear breakdown of the benefits of each gauge category:

🎸 Extra Light / Custom Light (e.g., .010–.047, .011–.052)

Benefits

Very easy to play – great for beginners or players with hand/wrist issues.

Easier fretting and bending – ideal for fingerstyle and expressive playing.

Less tension on the guitar – safer for older or more delicate instruments.

Brighter tone – crisp and articulate.

Trade-offs

Less volume and projection.

Can sound thinner, with less bass.

More prone to fret buzz and breakage.

🎸 Light Gauge (e.g., .012–.054)

Benefits

Most popular choice – good balance between playability and tone.

Versatile – works for strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle.

Fuller tone than extra lights, with decent bass response.

Reasonably easy to play for most hands.

Trade-offs

Slightly harder to bend and fret than lighter sets.

🎸 Medium Gauge (e.g., .013–.056)

Benefits

Loud projection – excellent for live performance or bluegrass players.

Full, rich, powerful tone with strong bass.

Great for hard strumming or aggressive flatpicking.

More sustain and dynamic range.

Trade-offs

Requires more finger strength.

Harder on the fretting hand and may cause fatigue.

Higher tension — not recommended for lightly-built guitars (e.g., small-bodied vintage acoustics).

🎸 Heavy Gauge (rare for acoustic, e.g., .014–.059)

Benefits

Maximum volume and projection.

Very thick, heavy tone.

Great for alternate tunings (e.g., C, B) because they stay stable under low tension.

Trade-offs

Not beginner-friendly – can be very stiff.

Risk of damaging some acoustics due to high tension.

Requires strong technique and fingers.

🎸 Matching Gauge to Style

Style Recommended Gauges Why

Fingerstyle Light / Custom Light Sensitivity, clarity, and ease of play
Strumming (general) Light Balance of tone + comfort
Hard strumming / Bluegrass Medium Volume and punch
Alternate tunings Medium–Heavy Stability and reduced buzz
Beginners Custom Light or Light Comfortable tension and tone

10/12/2025

Busy day playing, mixing and recording cool stuff!
Lots of lessons too!
fans

09/12/2025

A question I get asked a lot is "how much practice should I do?"
There’s no single “perfect” amount of practice time for everyone, but there are widely recommended ranges depending on your goals and schedule. Here’s a clear guide:

🎸 Beginner (0–6 months)

15–30 minutes a day, 4–6 days a week

Focus on finger strength, basic chords, rhythm, and switching smoothly.

Short, consistent sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones.

🎸 Early Intermediate (6–18 months)

30–45 minutes a day, 5–6 days a week

Start learning scales, barre chords, riffs, and simple songs.

Include structured practice (exercises) + “fun time” (songs you enjoy).

🎸 Intermediate to Advanced (1.5+ years)

45–90 minutes a day, 5–6 days a week

Practice technique, improvisation, music theory, and more complex songs.

Break practice into focused blocks (e.g., 15 min technique, 15 min songs, etc.).

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⭐ The most important rule

Consistency beats duration.
It’s better to practice 20 minutes every day than 2 hours once a week.

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🎯 Tips for faster progress

Warm up for 5 minutes each session.

Use a metronome.

Record yourself weekly.

Learn songs you love so practice doesn’t feel like a chore.

08/12/2025

Please have a listen to my latest guitar instrumental release 😃🎸

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chriscragg/beyond-the-blue

07/12/2025

🎸 Limited Spots Available! 🎸

Excited to announce that my 16-week Beginner Acoustic Guitar Course at Arena Recording Studio kicks off in mid-January! If you’ve always wanted to learn guitar, build solid fundamentals, and play real songs, this is your chance.

👉 Very limited spaces, so grab your spot before they’re gone!
Message me for details. Let’s make some music! 🎶

01/12/2025

🎸 Seniors Afternoon Beginner Guitar Course – 16 Weeks!
Arena Recording Studio, Crewe
Aimed at seniors, but all ages welcome!

Always wanted to learn guitar? Now’s the perfect time! Join our friendly 16-week acoustic guitar course designed especially for beginners who want to learn at a relaxed, enjoyable pace.

✨ Why Join?
✔ Perfect for absolute beginners
✔ Gentle, supportive teaching
✔ Fun, social and confidence-boosting
✔ Learn in a real professional studio
✔ Great for wellbeing and staying active
✔ Seniors focus, but open to everyone!

Make new friends, learn new skills, and discover the joy of making music — one chord at a time 🎶

📍 Arena Recording Studio, Crewe
📅 Afternoons – 16-week course
🎟 Limited places available!

👉 Message us to book your spot or find out more!

Arena Recording Studio. Guitar lessons & singing lessons. We have a fantastic recording studio and

24/11/2025

https://youtu.be/3dTwdgFNRfY?si=Huj5wBS9fylCvIvT

🎸 Beyond the Blue – Melodic Rock Guitar Instrumental by Chris Cragg | Emotional, Powerful Guitar Music“Beyond the Blue” is a soaring melodic rock guitar ins...

19/11/2025

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Shaun Bolton, Denis Den, Matthew Brammer, Uke Praise, Paul Senior, Keith Buzz Hamilton, Steven Horne, Emma Peach, David Elliott

18/11/2025

Meet singer Maddie 🎙️
She's doing incredibly well and has an amazing voice for someone so young!
She's currently working in an Adele track, which sounds fabulous!

16/11/2025

WHAT IS THE BEST GUITAR & AMP FOR BLUES?
The best guitar and amp for blues will depend on your personal preferences and budget, but some popular and highly rated options include:

Guitars:

Fender Stratocaster: The Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitars in the world, and it's a great choice for blues music. It has a bright, clear sound that's perfect for playing clean or overdriven tones.

Fender Telecaster: The Telecaster is another popular choice for blues music. It has a more twangy sound than the Stratocaster, but it's still very versatile.

Gibson Les Paul: The Les Paul is a classic blues guitar. It has a warm, rich sound that's perfect for playing both clean and overdriven tones.

Gibson SG: The SG is another popular choice for blues music. It's similar to the Les Paul, but it has a lighter body and a faster neck.

Amps:

Fender Blues Junior IV: The Blues Junior is a great all-around amp for blues music. It's relatively affordable and it has a classic Fender sound.

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV: The Hot Rod Deluxe is a more powerful amp than the Blues Junior, but it still has a great blues tone.

Marshall Origin 20C: The Origin 20C is a great choice for blues guitarists who want a Marshall sound. It's relatively affordable and it has a good range of tones.

Vox AC15C2: The AC15C2 is a classic British blues amp. It has a warm, rich sound that's perfect for playing both clean and overdriven tones.

These are just a few suggestions, and there are many other great guitars and amps out there for blues music. It's important to try out different options and find what works best for you.

Here are some additional tips for choosing a blues guitar and amp:

Consider your budget. Guitars and amps can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Set a budget before you start shopping so you don't overspend.

Think about your playing style. Do you prefer to play clean or overdriven tones? Do you like a bright, clear sound or a warmer, more mellow sound? Once you know what you're looking for, it will be easier to find the right guitar and amp for you.

Try out different guitars and amps. Once you have a budget in mind, go to a music store and try out as many different guitars and amps as you can. Bring your favorite guitar with you so you can compare how different amps sound with it.

Listen to other musicians. Pay attention to the guitars and amps that your favorite blues musicians use. This can give you a good idea of what to look for when you're shopping.

Once you've chosen a guitar and amp, you can start experimenting with different tones and effects to find your own unique sound.