Guitar music teacher — Finger-picking, strumming, accompaniment for singers, flat-picking, improvisation

Guitar Lessons

I teach a wide range of guitar styles:

   • Solo finger-picking
   • Pattern finger-picking (for accompaniment)
   • Flat-picking (single note melodies with a pick)
   • Carter-style solos
   • Strumming for singers (vocal accompaniments)
   • Open tunings like DADGAD, slack key (and partial capo techniques)
   • Improvisation
   • Learning by ear (how to learn from recordings)
   • Study skills (how to accelerate your progress)
   • The ever important basics of form, posture & reading

Solo Finger-picking

One of my guitar specialties is solo finger-picking. This is a rich style, like classical guitar, where the guitarist plays the melody and accompaniment simultaneously, creating the illusion of two guitars playing at once.

Here are some MP3 examples of solo finger-picking:

Shady Grove - Here's is a simple melody combined with a plain alternating bass, and yet the result is rather impressive. This is an example of intermediate solo finger-picking. When I create arrangements like this I always write them out, usually in treble clef and tablature notation. Here's the notation for Shady Grove.

Setting Sun - This is an original composition. There are two guitars on this recording. I finger-picked the melody with a "Drop-D" partial capo configuration (022222). Then I overdubbed the harmony, which is is flat-picked.

Star of the County Down - Sylvia Herold joins me on this lovely recording. Sylvia's strumming accompaniment is in the left speaker. My guitar finger-picking is in the right speaker. As you'll hear, melodies and lyrics become magically blessed as they fall from Sylvia's lips.

John Hardy - This my arrangement of a famous American folk melody. Again I used a "Drop-D" partial capo (022222). This version of John Hardy sounds rather difficult, but it's a fairly easy intermediate-level piece. If you're comfortable with basic guitar chords, even just G, C and D, and you have a couple of months of finger-picking experience, you can learn it in a few weeks ... if you apply good study skills.

I've arranged and transcribed lots of intermediate level solo guitar material. And I've created plenty of fun and interesting beginning lessons that help students get started so they can advance to the point where they can easily learn pieces like those above.

Flat-picking

Here are some MP3 examples of flat-picking:

Sandy Boys - Here's an example of some flat-picking accompaniment performed with a partial capo, using a 577755 capo position. This capo configuration creates the sound of the well loved DADGAD tuning ... and because I only fret notes on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings, the guitar behaves exactly as if it was actually tuned to DADGAD.

I play the fiddle and mandolin on the recording as well. I've put a bit of a Celtic slant atop an old-time American tune by choosing this style of guitar accompaniment.

Sally Coming Through the Rye - Here's a Carter-style flat-picking, made extra resonant by way of the partial capo. (022200)

NOTE: If you have trouble playing the recordings, read the page Listening to the Music.

Getting started right.

Many musicians overlook some very important basics: posture, relaxation, economy of motion, and effective practice habits.

Most beginning guitarists inadvertently adopt awkward, restrictive, and inefficient postures and hand positions. This limits their ability to play quickly, and they find it difficult to play fast for extended periods of time without tiring

It seems to be human nature. When we have the good intention to do a good job, we tend to exert move physical effort than required. If this is ignored for long, it becomes habit, and it's a habit that's hard to undo. Worse, excessive strength restricts movement, making simple tasks unattainable. This can lead people to conclude that they don't have what it takes. If one perseveres with yet stronger resolve, this is often accompanied with increased physical effort. This is a normal course of events. However, with proper guidance and mindful practice, a rough start bears no indication of one's ultimate achievements. It's very important to make some course adjustments right from the start.

I provide ongoing coaching in the area of form and posture, with lots of friendly reminders, and explanations that emphasize why. Usually the benefits are immediate and self evident.

Improvisation

Guitar is a wonderful instrument on which to learn improvisation. Improvisation is an essential skill if you want to play rock, blues, jazz, country ... pretty much any style other than classical. If you want to play along with other musicians, but you're not in an orchestra or school band, improvisation is the key. Then you can jam.

Guitar Lessons
In Walnut Creek, California. 94596

Near Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Clayton, Brentwood, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Oakland, Piedmont, Alameda, Castro Valley, Hayward, Fremont, San Leandro, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, Pinole, Hercules, Crockett, Benicia, Napa, Novato, Vallejo, Vacaville, Livermore, Stockton, Modesto, and San Francisco.

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area,
Contra Costa County and Alameda County, CA

Private Lessons
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Guitar Lessons

Solo Finger-picking

Flat-picking

Getting started right.

Improvisation

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