Guitar Quest 2026

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Learn to play and perform a famous song in 3 weeks!

Learn to play and perform two famous songs in 3 weeks and raise money for Suffolk Mind with our Guitar Quest.

Calling guitarists of all levels

Join our Guitar Quest fundraising challenge for 2026.

Challenge yourself to learn to play Country Roads and Live Forever, and ask people to sponsor your giving page. With over two weeks of bitesize tutorials by Richard Deyn, Ipswich Guitar School, you’ll learn the songs step by step.

Whether you’ve got a guitar for Christmas or dusting off your old guitar, why not make learning to perform a song or two your first 2026 challenge?

If you join our challenge, you can achieve it by 29 March.

Feeling up to it? Rock on! Here are the details:

Step 1: Sign up before 23 February 2026. Entries cost £10 per person

Step 2: Set up your Suffolk Mind giving page. We’ll then send you the tutorial links by email, and reserve your unique commemorative guitar pic

Step 3: Download our daily bitesize recorded online tutorials, beginning March 2026

Step 4: Practice the song at home between 2 March to 20 March 2026

Step 5: Play for friends and family at our gig at St. Stephens Church, Ipswich on 29 March. You’ll have the chance to play Oasis and John Denver with everyone else taking in the challenge. (Performing is optional, but if you’d like to join us, you’ll be on stage with lots of other people, and a live band for support). Our band will also perform a few more hits for you and your audience to enjoy together.

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FAQs

Who can sign up?

Anyone – the challenge is open to all ages and abilities.

Will I need my own guitar?

Yes, you will need a guitar. If you know someone with one, you could ask to borrow one for the month if you don’t have your own.

Electric or acoustic guitar?

Either. When we play it through for friends and family, everyone will be on stage together.

Do I need to know how to play guitar?

Some experience will make it easier, but if you’re new to guitar, we’re teaching you in very bitesize tutorials. If you would like to learn more, there are a range of online tutorials and local instructors available – including our event partner Ipswich Guitar School.

Do I have to do the performance?

No, we won’t make you perform if you really don’t want to. But, we do encourage it as part of the challenge and to celebrate your achievement. If you do perform, people are likely to sponsor you more for playing the song in public. You will be playing with lots of other guitarists and a live band, so you won’t be on your own!

Can we do it as a class or team?

Yes, you can. Taking on a challenge as a class, family, couple or team is a great way to stay motivated and makes it fun. We do suggest a £10 donation per person to join the challenge, and then raise sponsorship for completing the challenge through a giving page.

Can you tell me more about the gig?

On 29 March we’re hosting a live performance for everyone who’s taken part in the challenge. Everyone will be on stage together, with Richard’s band, to perform the songs.

Audience tickets are available to purchase at £10 per ticket via the link below:

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How do I get sponsorship?

Set up your Suffolk Mind giving page and set a target (we suggest £50 for this challenge), and we will send through your tutorial links.

Then share your page on your social media using the hashtag #GuitarQuest2026, and with friends, family and colleagues. Let people know what the challenge involves and that you’re supporting Suffolk Mind.

Questions or queries

Find out more by emailing the Fundraising team.