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Having taught many hundreds of people to play the guitar I consider myself to be good at it. Lessons are for the most part fun, informative and progressive. For most people who come to me to learn, there is no set course. Rather, I will ask you what you want, gauge what you need and provide the techniques, the guidance and the material necessary to help you reach your goal. You should be aware though that the desire to play and the discipline of a practice routine are, for most people, the two most important aspects of improving your abilities on a musical instrument.
I also like to think that I learn something about teaching and about music from the time I spend with each student.
The internet offers more resources than you could ever use but it can also be a distraction when doing something that requires concentration. Don't let finding good sites for learning get in the way of focused, concentrated practice. Practicing can be an art and you can be creative with how you apply yourself to it. Or you can be bored by it. Just play your favourite bits again and stay at the same level.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Whether you just want to be able to strum your way through a few songs at the next party or if you are after a more challenging discipline like bluegrass or ragtime or country blues, possibly even combining a few of these skills then the acoustic steel string guitar would most likely be your weapon of choice. From the Rev. Gary Davies, through Chet Atkins to Mumford & Sons the steel string acoustic guitar is good and popular instrument on which a handful of chords open up literally hundreds of popular songs. Almost all singer/songwriters who are guitar players would use this style of instrument.
Click here to read more on the Acoustic Guitar Tuition page
Classical Guitar Tuition
In terms of the most naturally beautiful sounds that can be made with a guitar, you would be hard pressed to beat the classical guitar. Whether it is music from the spanish speaking composers Tarrega, Sor, Barrios and Villa Lobos to name a few, or the master of baroque music JS Bach, the classical guitar is a wonderfully self-contained instrument on which even the easier beginner pieces can sound rich and sonorous.
Although the more developed pieces take a fair amount of discipline to master, in some ways it is easier to get 'in the zone' for practicing as there is a specific and precise way to do most things. The same is not really true for rock and pop.
Electric Guitar Lessons
The electric guitar is iconic. It is the foundation on which virtually all rock and pop was built. It is also easy to learn on. No really, it is. Radiohead called it correctly with an early song... Anyone Can Play Guitar. Good inexpensive copies of a Gibson Les Paul or a Fender Stratocaster amongst others are readily available these days so it is possible to sound good, feel good and look good from the get go playing an electric guitar.
Of course, being easy to play is one thing. Playing skilfully, tastefully and with feeling takes dedication, desire and practice.
Click here to read more on the Electric Guitar Tuition page
Theory - for Guitarists
The theory behind it all can seem a bit daunting, especially if approached in a random manner. I have always enjoyed learning and teaching the theory of music, whether that be which notes are in which chords and scales and why...or reading and writing musical notation, I like to think my love of the subject enables my students to quite quickly have a working and practical understanding of this aspect of music.
Having said that, aside from the names of the strings, the notes and the chords, I don't insist on my students learning theory. For those that are interested in it though, I truly enjoy passing on the information.
For anyone interested in learning to read and write musical notation I usually recommend, and can offer, specific lessons on the subject.
If you're interested in booking a lesson, click here to contact me