How to Play 'Better Than This' by Lizzy Mcalpine: Full Guitar Guide & Faq
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
McAlpine entered Los Angeles recording sessions for Older determined to capture live takes with minimal overdubs. Speaking to Guitar.com in June 2024, she explained that she found a renewed sense of authority as a rhythm player by letting the natural imperfections of the instrument bleed through. Rather than tracking to a click track and quantizing acoustic strums, the band tracked in a circle, following her vocal breathing and acoustic guitar volume swings.
Canadian music publication Exclaim! noted ahead of the record's release in April 2024 that McAlpine had grown "a little bit older, a little bit wiser," trading heavily layered vocal stacks for the sparse vulnerability heard on vintage folk records. On "Better Than This," that philosophy translates to an arrangement where the guitar functions as a second voice. If you strike the strings with an aggressive, even attack, the fragile mood dissolves. The song requires a soft acoustic setup, ideally light-gauge bronze strings (such as 11-52 or 12-53) and a light touch, to reproduce the intimate parlor-room warmth heard on the studio recording.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
