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John Chapman Guitarist

John Chapman Guitarist

5.0(3)
Fairview, NC & Online

About

Subject: Learn Guitar the Fun & Easy Way with GuitarSynergy®

Greetings, fellow guitar lovers!

I help beginner and intermediate guitarists build a Master Guitar Foundation – Made Fun & Easy® through my proven GuitarSynergy® method.

With over 45 years of playing, 30 years as a professional musician, and 10,000+ teaching hours, I’ve developed proprietary picking, fretting, strumming, and timing drills that deliver fast, lasting results. My students see rapid improvement in accuracy, timing, speed, feel, muscle memory, and endurance—while avoiding bad habits.

I customize every lesson to your skill level, learning style, and musical taste—whether that’s blues, rock, jazz, country, funk, folk, or metal. Along the way, I’ll teach you the same verbalization, visualization, and accelerated learning techniques used by top athletes and performers.

Is This You?

• A total beginner ready to build a rock-solid foundation with a flat pick, committed to at least 30 minutes of focused practice, 4–5 days a week.

• A beginner or intermediate player who knows bits of songs, scales, licks, and riffs but wants to master technique, timing, fretboard knowledge, and music theory for real-world playing.

• Frustrated with past lessons that lacked structure or left songs and concepts unfinished, and looking for a coach who uses organized, proven drills and handouts to accelerate progress.

• More interested in great guitar technique than traditional notation reading, and eager to learn the same efficient practice secrets professionals use to improve quickly.

• Seeking guitar as both a creative and meditative outlet—building solid technique while enjoying the joy of making music.

• Wanting to grow your song repertoire fast with great technique and no bad habits.

• Stuck in an improvisational rut, tired of only playing minor pentatonics, and ready to explore jazz harmony to spice up blues and rock solos.

• Needing to tighten rhythm, timing, phrasing, and beat awareness—including how to use a metronome for maximum results.

• Wanting to integrate foundational music theory to understand scales, arpeggios, and chords across the fretboard and use that knowledge in improvisation and songwriting.

• Loving styles like Blues, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Country, Folk, R&B, Reggae, Metal, Punk, Grunge, and more—and wanting guidance on the techniques, approaches, and gear to play them authentically with deft tone.


If you nodded “yes” to any of these—you’ll love working with me.

About Me





I’m a highly versatile multi-style guitarist, singer-songwriter, and music educator with over 30 years of professional experience in performance, composition, recording, and teaching.

I’ve helped hundreds of students—from beginners to aspiring pros—achieve their musical goals. My passion is guiding guitarists of all levels in a supportive, fun, goal-oriented environment to develop solid technique, musicianship, and confidence, so they can express themselves fully and enjoy the lifelong joy of making music.

Lesson Details


• Ages: 10 and up

• Skill Level: Beginner & Intermediate Specialty, too Advanced

• Styles: Pop, Blues, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Country, Folk, R&B, Reggae, Metal, and more

• Instruments: 6 String Acoustic, Electric—Steel and Nylon String Guitars

• Format: Online via Zoom – worldwide

What You’ll Learn


• Proven practice techniques used by top professionals for faster progress.

• Foundational guitar skills in picking, fretting, and tone production.

• Rhythm mastery in all styles—beat awareness, timing, and efficient metronome practice.

• Music theory essentials for all styles, applied directly to real-world playing.

• Complete fretboard knowledge to navigate with ease.

• Scales, arpeggios, chords, and progressions for soloing, songwriting, and accompaniment.

• How to read music notation, charts, lead sheets, and chord symbols.

• Build your song repertoire quickly—without bad habits.

• Understand the language of music to boost confidence, learning speed, and communication.

• Develop the skills to share your music with the world.

• Play guitar with skill, confidence, enjoyment, and ease—just like you’ve always wanted.

See & Hear My Playing
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🎶

Website Samples:

www.johnchapmanguitarist.com

www.johnchapmansmusic.com

Next Step

I’d love to hear about your current level, goals, and musical interests, and share my lesson policy, rates, and scheduling. Please call me directly so we can have a “real-time” back-and-forth exchange. Thanks :)

📞 Call on WhatsApp: +1 (914) 420-2977


📞 Zoom Phone: +1 (704) 681-6444

Let’s start building the guitar skills you’ve always wanted—with skill, confidence, and joy.

I’m excited to speak with you!

Kind regards,


John Chapman


Guitarist | Creator of GuitarSynergy®


Highlights

Hired 5 times
1 employee
29 years in business
Serves Fairview, NC
Offers online services

Payment methods

Paypal

Social media


Specialties

Musical styles

Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Classical, Recommendations available

Guitar style

Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Has instrument

Student who have a guitar, Student who don't have a guitar, but are planning to purchase one

Years experience

No formal training, No formal training; some self-taught experience, 0 – 2 years experience, 2 – 4 years experience, 4+ years of experience

Able to read music

Students who can read music staff, Students who can read guitar tabs, Students who cannot read music

Lesson length

60 minutes

Student's age

11 – 13 years old, 14 – 18 years old, 19 – 25 years old, 26 – 45 years old, 46 – 65 years old, Over 65 years old

Photos and videos

  • Nashville - 2024
  • Ecuador - 2022
  • Carmel CA - 2019
  • New Orleans - 2016
  • Oakland CA - 2015
  • Oakland CA - 2015

  • Reviews

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    Your trust means everything to us. Learn about our reviews policy.

    GE

    Giora E.

    ability to come to my house, wide range of styles,
    ... Show more
    January 06, 2020
    Hired on Lessons.com

    LT

    Laurie T.

    Highly talented, excellent teacher, learning quickly, enjoy the lessons
    ... Show more
    January 22, 2019
    Hired on Lessons.com

    JS

    Jordan S.

    I learned bass guitar from John for over four years, starting as a total beginner and Johns teaching method was absolutely amazing. He taught me core musical and practice techniques that I still use as I learn new kinds of music and even new instruments. His commitment to fundamental skills, especially rhythm, and music theory is really outstanding. As he taught me new instrument techniques and different aspects of music theory, he incorporated it into practical skills for playing with other musicians. Thanks to teaching methodology I developed my playing to an intermediate level, with the ability to play more difficult music and improvise in jazz, blues, funk, and other genres. Johns virtuosic technique and complex lyrical soloing style allowed me to cultivate my own musicianship to a far greater degree than I would have been able to with practice alone. As I mentioned, the practice and learning techniques that John taught me were also incredibly valuable. I now know how to approach learning a new song, style, technique, or theory on my own, allowing me to continue to improve my musicianship even still. Without John, I would be nowhere near the musician that I am now, and I wouldnt have the skills and knowledge to even get that good if I tried. John also opened up to me a whole world of great music and incredible musicians who I probably wouldnt have been aware of. Hes very friendly, and when it comes to teaching and playing, hes incredibly dedicated. I cannot recommend John enough: if you take lessons from him, you will gain new skills and knowledge, irrespective of your current skill.
    ... Show more
    December 14, 2018

    Frequently asked questions

    I customize every lesson to each student’s skill level, goals, and musical interests—whether beginner or advanced. Using proprietary drills, handouts, and a performance-focused approach, I help students quickly play the songs and styles they love while building strong technique and avoiding bad habits. Lessons cover picking and fretting skills, repertoire, core skills in rhythm, scales, arpeggios, chords, chord progressions, improvisation, composition, songwriting, lyric writing, and innovative methods for mastering the fretboard. My step-by-step method keeps learning fun, practical, and focused on real-world playing across all styles.
    Awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Music Composition and Guitar Performance from SUNY Purchase College, Purchase, NY, 1997

    Owner, Director, Teacher at Orca Songwriting, and Band Performance Workshops for kids aged 12-19.

    With over 45 years on guitar and 30 years as a professional, John Chapman has built a career that blends technical mastery with deep musical expression. His journey began in the vibrant New York City music scene of the early 1980s, performing rock, R&B, pop, and folk, and learning alongside some of the city’s finest musicians. After relocating to San Francisco in 2007, John immersed himself in solo fingerstyle nylon-string guitar, mastering classical, jazz, Brazilian, Spanish, and nuevo-flamenco styles. Since then, he has performed over 1,000 shows for thousands of listeners, becoming one of the SF Bay Area’s most versatile soloists—authentically performing everything from jazz ballads and Brazilian bossa nova to light classical, rock, folk, funk, reggae, Americana, and more. In 2016 John relocated to New Orleans for two years, and furthered his musical career sharing stages with musicians from bands including Blood Sweat & Tears, Branford Marsalis, Buddy Guy, David Bowie, Natalie Cole, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Tina Turner, Tower of Power, Dr. John, and The Neville Brothers. His playing has been featured on national and international TV and radio, with performances spanning from New York to San Francisco, New Orleans to Nashville. A skilled singer-songwriter, composer, producer, and bandleader, John draws inspiration from guitar legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt, Paco De Lucía, and Andrés Segovia, among many others. His elegant and adaptable style makes him equally at home on stage, in the studio, or teaching students the art and joy of guitar.
    $50 - 60 Minute Lesson $40 - 45 Minute Lesson $30 - 30 Minute Lesson ONLINE Lessons ONLY via Zoom
    I began teaching guitar, music theory, and songwriting while I was working toward my 4-year University degree, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Composition and Guitar Performance, 1992-1997.
    I work with students aged 10 and up, specializing in teaching beginner and intermediate students to advanced levels across all popular guitar styles.
    Learning guitar is a personal journey that requires dedication and a strong connection with your teacher. Students should seek an instructor who is organized, encouraging, patient, and backed by extensive real-world playing and teaching experience. A skilled coach focuses on building solid technique and musicianship—often taking one to four months for students to fully grasp the purpose behind specific drills and methods that lead to lasting results. While a good teacher can deliver quick wins, they won’t sacrifice long-term progress for shortcuts. Like in The Karate Kid, trust is key—allow your instructor to build your skills, confidence, and musicality from the ground up. If you feel a good rapport in person or online, commit to at least a month of lessons to see their expertise in action—after all, if you already knew the path, you wouldn’t need a teacher.
    Before starting lessons, students should openly share any learning, physical, mental, or emotional challenges so the teacher can adapt instruction for the best results. It’s equally important to set clear expectations regarding lesson frequency, rates, and cancellation/rescheduling policies. Students should provide full disclosure of their current skill level, preferred guitar styles, goals, and available practice time, as well as ensure they have a suitable practice space and a functional guitar that holds pitch. They should also agree to obtain any required books, picks, a metronome, music stand, or other equipment needed to support their learning and progress.

    Services offered

    Guitar