What kind of guitar should I use?
As I teach rock and pop styles, the best guitars for this are either electric or steel-string acoustic guitars.
I have a lot of students who bring classical guitars to the lessons, as these are often much cheaper. Although all the concepts of playing are the same, I do not recommend classical guitars for playing rock or pop music. Classical guitars use nylon strings which sound very different from a steel-string acoustic guitar. They have a very different feel, and are designed to be played with the fingers, not with a plectrum. If you want to learn to play classical music, then a classical guitar is great, but in my experience it will actually slow down your learning if you want to use it to play rock and pop music.
Please see my article on the difference between classical and acoustic guitars.
What ages do you teach?
My lessons are designed to suit teenagers and adults best. When I was a kid and had my first guitar lessons I was taught things such as nursery rhymes, and it is not a fun way to learn the guitar; I make a point of avoiding this and teach contemporary and classic rock and pop music. Younger children may not find this approach works for them unless they are actively into music. As such, I regret that I do not teach children under the age of 11.
Of course, every student is unique!
Where do you teach from?
I have a teaching area set up at home, so I ask my students to come to me.
Are you CRB checked?
Yes (Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure).
Is it a problem if I'm left-handed?
Not at all, I'm a lefty myself and as such I have already prepared learrning materials that a left-hander can understand. Just let me know before the first lesson.
Can you teach me to play [insert favourite song here]?
Generally, yes! This is the most important part of my whole approach to teaching! If you bring a song to the lesson that you want to learn then we can explore it. Naturally, the songs should be rock or pop, it's not always realistic if the song is particularly unsuitable for guitar.
