Guitar lessons have historically been conducted face-to-face, but the reaction to events in 2020 effectively forced
the business to offer online guitar lessons. I had considered offering this option before then, but I suppose
I thought it would be less effective than face-to-face. Having been forced to try this mode of teaching, I have to say
that I have been impressed by its effectiveness.
Whether you are a beginner, novice, intermediate/professional, or an advanced player, if I can help you I will. You
may want a basic grounding in harmonic theory, or development in one particular technique, or you may just need external
observations and options or suggestions for improvement on some aspect of your style or implementation. But remember an
important key to making progress is to have fun while you blaze the trail!
If you would like to book lessons or to find out more, please get in touch using the contact form
at the bottom of this page. I will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours.
I have been writing, composing and performing music in the public arena since 1979, including 2 album releases. I have also been teaching
the guitar since 1992. The makeup of a creative performer is so complex as to be only truly understood by other creative
performers (or perhaps psychologists in this field if they exist).
Here are some of the main facets of that makeup:
Head, heart, conscious and subconscious all have their functions, strengths and weaknesses.
But who is running the show? If you are progressing smoothly and rapidly then the answer is you.
However it is common for any of these agents to hijack the process and create dysfunction.
A little bit of negative can do a lot of damage. Learn to discriminate between constructive criticism
and jealousy. If you have had the guts to stand in front of an audience and perform your art you will
know that there are two distinct types of reaction. Learn to recognize them for what they are.
As an immediate analogy, songcraft is like cultivating a seed to flourish into a fully fledged plant in all its
glory. The seed is a gift and you are the conduit. You can use that seed in any way you choose, and the finished
product is a reflection of how you have nurtured it and cared for it. In a truly dynamic nurturing process there are
many threads running simultaneously - mood, tempo, key, melody, themes and intensity.
A good knowledge of harmonic theory and the instrument is vital to creating listenable music with any
degree of sustainability. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to be able to read music from
the stave. For people starting out historical teaching methods have made the stave a gatekeeper to the
instrument, thus creating a highly restrictive barrier to progress*.
Tablature (shortened to TAB) is a form of written notation which is easier to read, and makes more sense to the beginner as suggested finger and fret positions can be identified, a bit like painting by numbers. Having said this, TAB has traditionally been deficient in timing information, so in the 1990's I created and began using my own version, which includes timing information for common time signatures, for teaching. You can download this freely in the documentation tab below in pdf format.
* I am not averse to teaching to read from the stave once a reasonable level of understanding of the instrument is evident.
4/4 is the most common time signature, often referred to as "Common Time". Download the template for
4/4 here.
3/4 is often called "waltz". Download the TAB template for 3/4 time here.
Triplets - each beat is divided into 3 instead of a binary number like 2, 4 or 8. This gives a feel
which is referred to as "swing". Often used in jazz and blues music. This template can be used for time
signatures such as 12/8.
Here is a template for the fretboard, useful for drawing chord, scale or arpeggio patterns on.
If you would like to book lessons or to find out more, please get in touch using the contact form
at the bottom of this page. I will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours.
Audio format files.
Video format files.