AHMAD GUITAR LESSONS

Dave L.

I've been seeing Ahmad for about 2-3 months now, and thought a review might be in order to help those looking for guitar lessons. First off I'm an intermediate player, who has successfully avoided theory since I started playing. Coming to Ahmad for some help to hit the next level, he's cunningly introduced theory into the curriculum, but made it fun to do so with creative exercises I can take home and work on. For the last month I've seen my understanding of playing the guitar improve, and he's also helped with the creative side using the tools I have at my disposal. I've been through a few teachers in my time, and Ahmad's understanding, patience and vim for guitar really shine through. Would definitely recommend for whatever stage you're at.

2020-12-28

Hiro

Excellent!

2020-12-20

Rajeev C.

Absolutely incredible, I questioned whether online lessons could work but he's a better instructor online than any in person teacher I've ever had. Can not recommend highly enough!

2020-12-07

Dave

Ahmad is an exceptional teacher! Great with any song or style, and great at using technology: recording video tutorials, using GDocs for sketching out songs, and using Skype and Zoom for lessons.

2020-11-27

Rich

I have been taking guitar lessons from Ahmad for a few months. He's a fabulous player whose musicianship and enthusiasm are worth making time for. Ahmad's taste in music is so broad that he can take you anywhere you care to go. I'm beginning to transcribe and use music editing software to write out guitar parts. Ahmad is helping me with this.

2020-11-20

Samantha

We love Ahmad! We have been taking lessons with Ahmad for about 2 years now and have seen great progress. I have in the past and would recommend again Ahmad for well structured and fun music classes!!

2020-11-12

Sunny

I have taken lessons with Ahmad for a number of years. He has been very accommodating to my music interests and allowed me to work and learn at my own pace. Ahmad is friendly, helpful, very skilled musically, and good with kids. I have worked with Ahmad for a while, and he is a great guitar player with a wide range of interests and knowledge about music. He has made music easy and fun to learn.

2020-11-05

Liza

I used to take private lessons with a different school, but I have switched to Ahmad during COVID19 quarantine. He offer lessons on zoom or skype which has helped keep me occupied at home. So far I have enjoyed the experience. Ahmad has been helpful and has made interactions over video calls productive. It seems to be a good replacement to in person lessons. Looking forward to coming in and continuing lessons in person once quarantine is over.

2020-10-28

Katy

Ahmad offers great lesson that make it easy for me to have my children learning a lifelong skill while they're having fun. The environment is fun and encouraging there which makes me feel confident that my kids are being taught well. I've even heard from friends that Ahmad is handling the online lessons really well!

2020-10-19

Krstina

Ahmad has been great for my daughter who loves the guitar. He has great teaching experience and really help my daughter learn the music. She is definitely developing her own style now!

2020-10-13

Danny B.

Ahmad is awesome! I've been taking guitar lessons for a few years and Ahmad is a real musician teaching you how to play real music. No matter what style I've been interested in he've helped me learn it.

2020-10-04

Francisco S.

Ahmad is awesome. He's very patient and didactic. He easily picked up what was my playing level and what were my objectives. He then started with a plan adjusted to what I wanted to accomplish and in only 5 lessons I feel like I've learned a lot already. He wants you to have the foundations first, the building blocks from which you can improvise or create something new. Thanks a lot, Ahmad!

2020-09-09

Brandy

If only this fit into my lifestyle better. I had lessons for several months with Ahmad and he proved to not only be an outstanding teacher but a gentleman and a scholar. He is flexible with schedules and can certainly accommodate if a weekly lesson isn't possible. If you want to do lessons with Ahmad, don't hesitate. Get as many as you can!

2020-08-31

Amie

My son has been taking lessons from Ahmad for four years and he loves it. It's amazing to see a kid continue to be motivated about something that requires hard work and dedication and I truly credit Ahmad with his talent as a teacher for inspiring my son. Ahmad moves kids at their own pace and with just the right amount of pressure - not too much, not too little. He says that hard work is more important than talent and I think he's right. He's also just a hip kind of guy and my son likes hanging out with him. We've seen Ahmad play live and we have his CD's - he is incredibly talented. Ahmad continues to inspire my son and keep him excited about playing even though he is in high school now and has a lot of other stuff going on - he never wants to miss a lesson no matter how tired or busy he is.

2020-08-19

Beth

Here's why I dig Ahmad. The atmosphere is casual, personable and relaxed, but he is a real professional who know what they're talking about and don't just give you Green Day tabs (unless you're into that, I'm sure). I've taken all kinds of music lessons with all kinds of folks in all kinds of places and settings and what I learn with Ahmad is comparable to what I could get at any serious school without the pretentiousness. My lessons with Ahmad have been illuminating. I totally appreciate his willingness and ability to work through my various neuroses with patience, grace and clarity. Ahmad brings a refreshing combination of content knowledge, adaptability, professionalism and humanity to his instruction--the cherry atop my Tuesday evening parfait.

2020-08-10

Erik

Ahmad does a good job of teaching. Ahmad has a nice way about him and his calm demeanor makes the learning experience nonthreatening and enjoyable. Ahmad's background and current music career outside of the school also impressed me and I have seen him play live on a number of occasions which is also inspiring to this frustrated musician! Who says "those who can't do, teach"? Ahmad does both exceptionally well.

2020-08-03

Nancy

My kids had great lessons with Ahmad. A friendly instructor with a definite love for music and teaching evident. I think he is a very approachable person for anyone nervous about improving their musical skills.

2020-07-24

Dean

I began taking singing lessons with Ahmad from an online coupon and had a great time. My guitar playing got consistently and measurably better and I felt like I was given quality instruction at the lesson as well as good ideas for practicing at home. Ahmad is laid back and friendly and a great instructor. Thank you!

2020-07-16

James

Ahmad does a Solid Job. My 11 year old son likes coming to hangout and play. I make this a priority for him.

2020-07-09

Terry

Ahmad is so amazing and great!. He is very flexible, can schedule classes via email and is totally approachable. I am learning a ton already.

2020-07-02

Marc

Recently, I joined an 18 piece jazz band as their guitarist before realizing I was in way over my head. The speed and complexity of the chord changes were bit too much for me even though I have been playing at home for some 40 years and now I'm in my 50s. Freaking out and not wanting to be a quitter, I decided to ask for the best jazz guitar instructor in Seattle so that I could learn whatever I could in two months (our first gig.) I was told that Ahmad would be a great match for me. I sent him an email and received a response the same evening with the days and times that he could fit me into his schedule. What a relief, I thought, and began to relax. Sitting down with Ahmad, I realized how much I didn't know about music theory and the guitar fret board and decided to begin lessons twice per week. It's been just over a month now I cannot believe how much sense music theory and the guitar fret board makes to me right now. Ahmad has really laid it out a good foundation so that I can see how everything fits together like never before. Ahmad not only understands jazz guitar, but he also knows how to teach according to the way a person learns. Recently, the stress of playing with a big jazz band has gone away. After talking with several other students of Ahmad who were waiting for their lessons to begin, I learned that he was a really great instructor for all sorts of guitar lessons. And everyone seemed very pleased. I've have been to other guitar instructors in the past and I will highly rate Ahmad for jazz guitar, a solid 5 stars.

2020-06-08

Uma

Ahmad is an amazing teacher. My daughter took guitar from him for over a year and she progressed quickly both in skill level with guitar, but also in confidence and social skills. My daughter has some issues relating to other people, including some speech issues, and I was upfront with Ahmad about this before signing her up. He was amazing the whole way. Always positive and always a great communicator both in person and via email.

2020-05-19

Ronald

I love Guitar Lessons with Ahmad. Going on my second year of guitar lessons with Ahmad. Great atmosphere and great teacher.

2020-05-12

Susan

Damn. I was impressed by Ahmad. He is active in the music community and masterful! I was able to master some of the techniques that I was stuck on guitar. Now I don't embarrass myself when I perform.

2020-05-05

Ellen

I cannot say enough about Ahmad! Ahmad provides an incredible opportunity for kids to learn about music from a phenomenally talented musician, how to create their own band, how to record, and most importantly how to have a blast while doing it!

2020-04-15

Ella

Ahmad is an awesome guitar teacher! I just recently started taking lessons with Ahmad and was immediately impressed with his talent and skills, passion, professionalism, and attitude. I have always been a bit shy about playing guitar but I feel at ease with Ahmad. I was also impressed with how quickly and competently he was able to assess my current skill level and provided specific exercises and tips to help me progress from exactly where I'm at today. I left my first lesson feeling empowered and inspired. I have worked with other guitar teachers in Seattle - some very awesome talented musicians and teachers - and I have to say, Ahmad is exceptional. Also, his fee's are very reasonable and his flexibility with online lessons is great.

2020-04-08

Kenneth

I have been a student with Ahmad for about 6 months doing beginning acoustic guitar. I decided to try Ahmad based on the reviews, and am glad I did. Of all the music teachers I have had (previously I took piano lessons), I enjoy Ahmad's teaching style the most. He has taught me a good blend of theory and practice. This has kept lessons and practice interesting, while still letting me feel like I am learning all of the important fundamentals. Ahmad's flexibility with make up lessons is also appreciated. There have been times where my work schedule has been hectic, so I had to miss a lesson, and he was able to squeeze my lesson in later in the week. There have also been a few times where I have had follow up questions about a lesson, sent him an e-mail, and gotten a response within a few hours. I recently wanted to get an electric guitar, but had no idea what to look for, so I asked Ahmad for some recommendations. Instead of just giving me recommendations, he offered to go to a guitar store with me to try some out. We went and he helped me pick out a great beginner electric guitar! Ahmad is clearly passionate about music and willing to go above and beyond for his students. I highly recommend Ahmad to anyone who is thinking about taking guitar lessons.

2020-03-31

John

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and I've had a few guitar teachers. Ahmad is the best teacher I've had. He is always excited about guitar and music in general. Taking lessons from him has vastly improved my knowledge of music. He is a great teacher and musician!

2020-03-20

Arlette

Ahmad is very knowledgable in the wide world of music and we can work from classical to rock to ambient! I started taking electric guitar lessons last year and connected immediately. Although I am adult beginner on electric, I did play classical in HS. This is the best mid-life crisis activity and I realize how much fun it is to have this diversion. Ahmad makes me feel like a rock star! If you ever thought about coming back to guitar or are new to the area, I think you will be very pleased! I do online mostly but the location is also central and easy to get to.

2020-03-13

Mona

Ahmad is incredibly skilled not only as a musician, but as a teacher. My 10yo son started studying electric guitar with him as a complete beginner, and his progress within a couple months has been amazing. I appreciate Ahmad's thorough approach which ensures that my son is learning all the different skills needed to become a competent guitarist, including reading tablature as well as traditional notation on the staff. At the same time he makes sure to teach power chords from the get-go that allow my son to play rock songs which inspire him and give him an immediate feel for what it is like to really play the instrument. Equally important, Ahmad is a kind and patient teacher who is excellent at working with kids, doesn't speak down to them, and has the gift of being able to relate to them where they are. My son comes away from every lesson excited and inspired. I'm a professional musician and teacher myself, and know how difficult it is to find a truly competent, dedicated, and inspiring teacher, especially for children. I am thrilled that we discovered Ahmad - he is a true gem.

2020-03-05

Alexander

Ahmad has been teaching our 6 year old for about 6 months. He is reading music, playing chords, and even the Pokemon song. Ahmad is great encouraging him and keeping him engaged.

2020-02-24

Erin

I highly recommend taking guitar lessons with Ahmad. I've had instructors in the past who I realized weren't the best match for what I was I was trying to accomplish and the first lesson gave me the space to feel out if Ahmad was going to be a good match for me! After the first lesson I immediately knew Ahmad was going to be professional, skilled, easy to work with, and open-minded. I really appreciated that Ahmad was down to go outside of your standard lessons in music theory and cater my experience in a way that would fast track me to what I wanted to accomplish within my lessons. As a self-taught musician who has been playing in touring bands for about the last 4 years I had a lot of different strengths and weaknesses. Ahmad helped me hone in on areas that would allow me to boost my confidence in practices and live performances while developing skills to better communicate musically with my bandmates. I believe Ahmad is the perfect instructor for all skill levels and backgrounds. He is an extremely talented and versatile musician. In addition to his abilities as a musician and instructor, he is patient, easy to communicate with, motivating, and understanding.

2020-02-10

Natasha

I purchased four weeks of lessons and loved working with Ahmad so much that I continued weekly sessions with him after! I am a beginner and Ahmad did an incredible job walking me through the basics but in a way that was still interesting - we chose songs that I actually wanted to learn and that made it much more fun to practice. He took advantage of every minute of the lesson and often times went over - really nice when you only have 30 minutes sessions. Plus he is hilarious! If you are thinking about taking lessons with Ahmad, no matter what level, do it! :)

2020-02-03

Lawrence

Ahmad is a wonderful instructor and musician. He connects with people of all levels and is able to break down complicated ideas into more easily digestible pieces.

2020-01-25

Emilie

My son has only recently started taking lessons from Ahmad, but we are all impressed! He is so kind, friendly, and encouraging of my energetic 7 year old and is able to keep him focused, motivated, and learning for the whole 30 minutes. Working with little kids isn't easy, but Ahmad is a natural.

2020-01-09

Marty

I've been taking lessons from Ahmad for a few months now. It's great. He adapts himself well to my pace. There's a good balance between music theory, real world examples, and practice exercises in his lessons. I really feel I'm learning from someone who has an incredible amount of knowledge and experience.

2020-01-02

Katie

My family gifted me lessons with Ahmad and I'm so glad they did! Ahmad is really friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and encouraging. He knows just how to keep a beginner, like me, motivated and I'm sure he could help folks with experience improve upon their skills. He has worked with me on songs that I really love, which makes practice fun. He makes sure you get the most out of the sessions. I'm even continuing with lessons after the gift period is over.

2019-12-23

Nan

I was excited, but intimidated going in because I'm convinced I am musically-challenged. As a beginner, Mike made it easy not to get discouraged so early on. Ahmad covers a lot in 30 mins. I like that he gives a variety of things to work on, and provides ample feedback on ways to improve. This is perhaps the best lessons I've ever found.

2019-12-13

Jenny

I never thought I would spend money on guitar lessons given the number of free tutorials you can find online. Even as frugal as I am (extremely), after my trial lesson I knew lessons with Ahmad would be worth it. Lessons with him are literally the only fun purchase I make room for in our budget. If I hadn't signed up, I'd probably still be playing the same few songs, watching random videos and not actually improving. Instead, each week we choose songs I want to learn that also introduce valuable concepts and skills. After a lesson, you leave feeling motivated, encouraged, and excited to practice a new song! If you want to actually progress beyond beginner, take lessons with him!!! Can't recommend him enough!!!

2019-11-28

Gary

I started lessons with Ahmad last year as a birthday present from my wife, and I can I look forward to my lessons as much now as I did then! Ahmad has provided the exact style of instruction I need and has continued to help me grow as a guitar player. Ahmad is able to connect with his students to understand their goals and objectives with lessons. I appreciate how he is able to tailor his teaching style and method to each individual and adjust as needed. His knowledge of music is superb and his musical interests are wide. Ahmad can flex between jazz to classical guitar to the newest pop single as easily as changing radio stations. As a classically trained musician he can not only play the music, but also knows the music theory. I look forward to my lessons every week, and I can't recommend Ahmad highly enough!

2019-11-19

Kent

Ahmad is a fantastic instructor. He begins work by teaching proper technique with the type of music the student is interested in and goes from. He can work with interests from punk rock to classical, electric to acoustic, no theory to complex music theory. A very talented musician and an excellent, encouraging, patient instructor. My son was a music novice with an intense desire to learn and practice (2-4 hours a day). In just 18 months he advanced his music theory knowledge and skills so far that he was able to easily improvise jazz solos. You can't go wrong working with Ahmad!

2019-11-12

Harry

As someone who has played guitar for over ten years and taken lessons from several other accomplished guitar teachers, I can safely say that Ahmad is the best guitar teacher I've taken lessons from. He determines what you hope to take away from the lessons and what your goals are as a player and is very dedicated to finding a way to get you there that is both educational and enjoyable. His instruction is very flexible and has no hesitation dropping one exercise and focusing more on styles of learning that are suitable for you as a student. For someone who has been playing for a long time he was quickly able to open up a whole new set of possibilities and refresh the instrument for me as well as better my understanding of music harmony and melody in general.

2019-10-29

Steven

I have been taking guitar lessons with Ahmad Since 2011. Music has always been important to me and my lessons with Ahmad have been a continual source of inspiration and joy. I love Ahmad's musical philosophy and regardless of what I'm interested in he is always able to help me better myself. I continue to be very busy in my life but always find myself coming back to music. Through taking lessons with Ahmad I have been able to achieve many of my musical goals and know that if I keep practicing I will be able to achieve even more of my goals. Ahmad is extremely talented, intelligent, and friendly and is always there to support me in whatever new musical concept I wish to learn next. He can help anyone looking to better themselves in a wide variety of areas regardless of the style of music you are interested in. I have been studying country and jazz with him primarily, as my goal is to be able to write my own music and put together a band some day. I have no intention of stopping music lessons with Ahmad as they continue to be something I look forward to every week. Anyone would be lucky to have such a great teacher.

2019-10-09

Pat

I've had the pleasure of taking lessons from Ahmad for a couple of years. He is a very knowledgeable and patient instructor with the ability to find minor technical flaws in my playing and easily correct them. I really enjoy his philosophy and musical understanding with a really high ability to dissect and explain elements of a song and relate it to music theory that's easily understandable. On top of that he is a super nice guy that exudes nothing but a positive attitude and gives one the impression that anything is possible in one's musical effort that is really infectious. Don't hesitate to give Ahmad a try.

2019-10-02

Damien

Great teacher...I would highly recommend Ahmad as a Guitar Instructor. Each week I am getting better at playing the guitar. I just gave a Gift Certificate to my friend to get a guitar lesson from Ahmad.

2019-09-20

Dave

I've been working with Ahmad for a little more than 2 years. I'm one of those folks that had the intention to learn guitar for many years, but never got over the hump. The Summer that I started taking lessons with Ahmad, it really took off for me. He's fantastically talented and skilled, but he makes it clear that his abilities came with a ton of work, and he gives you a system to get the best results out of your own practice time. He'll work with you on any song, and seems to have a taste for just about any genre of music (especially if its got some good guitar). He'll teach you some theory and get you to read music, but patiently diet this out while recognizing your excitement to learn songs (at least, this is what I'm putting him through, and I imagine others would to). He'll give you practical drills for learning scales, chords, rhythm, etc., and find ways to overlay them so you can start to stitch things together. "Putting it all together" is still a work in progress for me, but I've been pretty happy with the results over the past 2 years, and I've iteratively "ratcheted up" my expectations for where it can all go, heavily due to Ahmad's encouragement. I hope to keep getting lessons from him for a long time!

2019-09-12

Janet

Ahmad is the BEST! I usually feel pretty self-conscious when learning something new, but never the case with Ahmad. Weekly lessons were always super fun and a great escape from work. He individualizes his classes and keeps your preferred genre in mind. He even wrote out the music based on youtube videos of my favorite songs (guitar or not!) Very talented and knowledgeable about his craft. Cannot think of one negative thing. SUPERB!

2019-08-29

Gilbert

Guitar lessons with Ahmad were my weekly retreat from a hectic workweek. Ahmad is super patient with you every step of the way. Somehow he manages to urge you to practice (something I have trouble with) without being naggy or making you feel guilty. He listens to your concerns and musical tastes and incorporates them into each lesson. He lets you pick the genre and even songs that you'd like to play. His classical training means that you get experience in sight reading music and musical theory. I'm a bit of weird bird that I like blues and punk rock. He taught me the basics in both so I can have a great time just jamming out with him or with some of my talented friends. Overall, if you're looking to invest some money in lessons, Ahmad is the place to go.

2019-08-20

Caitlin

I have been taking guitar lessons with Ahmad for at least five years now and have become not only a much more knowledgeable guitar player, but also a more confident one. My favorite thing about lessons with Ahmad is how he teaches in a multifaceted way while also catering to your musical interests. You are never simply learning songs - you are also learning how to read music and the theory behind the music you are learning. I would highly recommend Ahmad to any beginner or even an intermediate to advanced musician - Ahmad is immensely talented and you will never leave his lessons without learning something new! He is far and away the best guitar teacher I have ever worked with!

2019-08-12

Kai

I've been taking guitar lessons from Ahmad for about 2 1/2 years now and I couldn't be happier with the quality of his instruction. He really understands that learning an instrument, and music in general, is more just than just learning technical proficiency but all about learning a new language, which requires a very holistic approach to teaching. Ahmad does an excellent job of providing me with the tools to improve my technical ability, understand music theory, and read music, all of which has made me a much more well rounded musician. He also does a terrific job of structuring his teaching around your musical interests, influences, and ambitions. I would recommend him to beginner, intermediate, and advanced musicians alike.

2019-08-05

Jack Z

Ahmad is a stellar guitar teacher. For starters he has a complete and thorough text book chock full of examples and exercises. He supplements that with practice loops and online videos. More important, Ahmad provides an excellent foundation for playing guitar. He patiently works through all of the essential steps to playing guitar. And, he makes it fun by adding real riffs and licks from luminaries such as Jimmy Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Pat Metheny and many others.

2019-07-25

Charline

Ahmad is basically the best guitar teacher I have worked with. I've learned more about music from him in a year's worth of lessons than I did from five years in band. His books are both comprehensive and accessible in addressing beginning to advanced musical concepts, and he's a very patient teacher who also works well with whatever your style is. Through supplemental songs and riffs, he makes the driest aspects of musical theory and rhythm entertaining. No matter what your background is, you'll quickly become a much better musician through taking lessons with him.

2019-07-18

Bernard

OK, so here's the scoop. Ahmad is the best guitar teacher around, and I know because I had a deep background in piano and music theory, playing pretty much any sheet music you put in front of me. I took LAST summer 4 lessons with some guy and I got nowhere, fast. Then this August I started with a 5-pack from Ahmad, just to get started, and within 5 lessons I was already learning how to play REAL songs but with the foundations and skills (all those scales-drills) that you need to actually UNDERSTAND the guitar and see how it all comes together. Ahmad is an amazing teacher, his teaching space is great, and he's just a great guy. He will help ANY person start playing real guitar in a short time, and now I'm working with him for a long time trying to really become a PROFICIENT guitar player that can entertain people. If you're thinking about guitar lessons, get them from Ahmad. Totally affordable, and totally a good use of your time.

2019-07-17

Carolyn

Ahmad is an extraordinary teacher and musician. His patience, insight, knowledge and talent know no bounds. Aside from a keenly intelligent approach to teaching, Ahmad has a way of helping his students discover a true passion for music. He has immense respect for his students, and he wants them to succeed. He manages to help them understand the fundamentals while allowing them to explore their creativity and realize their potential. My son spent only a couple of years training with Ahmad, and he still regards him as one of the most influential people in his life. He taught him, he listened to him, he believed in him, and he contributed to his lifelong dedication to music. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished musician, learning from this amazing guitarist is the best thing you can do for your pursuit of music!

2019-06-19

Tracy L

I was fortunate enough to take lessons with Ahmad years ago and I can say he is the most committed and focused guitar teacher I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I've sorted through more than a few. When I returned to the area after a few years in a job out of state I very quickly looked Ahmad up and began working with him again. I believe he has a real skill at determining what his students need to focus on to arrive at their goals and he is equally adept at presenting the material in the right amount at the most beneficial time. His instruction bolstered my confidence as a musician and enabled me to achieve longstanding goals of playing with other musicians, in key and on time;) it is also very clear that teaching guitar is Ahmad's passion and I found that very important, it's what he does for a living sure, but his dedication is rooted in something deeper and it shows. There are many tips, licks, and tricks instructors out there and that can be fine, but a true teacher is rare indeed. If you follow his lead he'll make you better.

2019-06-09

Rachel M

Ahmad is such a fabulous teacher!!! Super organized, always *always* keeps me on my toes, all while being incredibly kind, patient and encouraging. He's always got several ways to teach me the material, so when I am struggling there's another angle I can make progress in. So glad I found him, I have learned so much!

2019-05-30

William H

As someone who has played guitar for over ten years and taken lessons from several other accomplished guitar teachers, I can safely say that Ahmad is the best guitar teacher I've taken lessons from. He determines what you hope to take away from the lessons and what your goals are as a player and is very dedicated to finding a way to get you there that is both educational and enjoyable. His instruction is very flexible and has no hesitation dropping one exercise and focusing more on styles of learning that are suitable for you as a student. For someone who has been playing for a long time he was quickly able to open up a whole new set of possibilities and refresh the instrument for me as well as better my understanding of music harmony and melody in general.

2019-05-22

Brent K.

I have been taking lessons with Ahmad since June 26th, 2011 - I was referred by a mutual acquaintance. I bought myself a guitar for my birthday a year ago and realized I needed some outside motivation to play it. While I'm relatively new to guitar and this is my first time taking guitar lessons, I have been drumming for 13 years with private instruction and university courses. I would highly recommend Ahmad. He is inspiring, professional, informative, and patient; a shining example of what a great teacher should be. Over the past five months, I've already seen significant improvement in both my guitar performance as well as my understanding of the guitar and music in general. Ahmad is very good at balancing the scale between creativity and technique, while never losing sight of what your goals are as a student. As with any learning process, I would suggest you understand your own goals and level of commitment before jumping in to lessons. As I've seen, Ahmad will probably motivate you to practice more than you originally thought, which I really appreciate. It's with practice and strong understanding that I've gotten to a point where I am proud of my abilities on the guitar. Work with Ahmad and I hope you find the same!

2019-05-13

Shawn D

I started taking guitar lessons for the first time 10 months ago and am thankful I found such a great teacher in Ahmad. His positive attitude and love of music helps me stay engaged and lessons are productive and fun. One of the great things about Ahmad is he listens to you and adjusts lesson content based on the feedback you provide. His ability to listen allows Ahmad to deliver a personalized lesson plan that incorporates your goals and gets you excited about what you are working on. Ahmad also has taught me techniques to prevent and address minor aches that come up while learning to play. He takes this seriously and shows you how to prevent and resolve any issues that come up. Overall, taking lessons from Ahmad has been a very positive experience. I look forward to continuing working with him to get better.

2019-05-03

JB L

I strongly recommend Ahmad as a guitar teacher for all skill levels. I am highly satisfied with the music content and his clear, accessible teaching style. I also play clarinet and piano for the fun of it, and can read music, but the guitar has its own unique rewards and challenges. I love anything that has to do with the guitar, and Ahmad thoughtfully passes on information about players, recordings, gear, and websites that he feels might be of interest or use to me. Ahmad customizes each of my biweekly lessons to my current level of understanding and practice. As a result, I have steadily made progress. So far, we have covered basic rhythms and playing technique, scale patterns in preparation for playing lead and eventual improvisation, chord forms, including barre chords, and songs that are challenging to play, but in a motivating, not discouraging, way. Two things that struck me right off in studying with Ahmad is that, one, he really emphasizes practicing and playing music in proper time, which is crucial to playing well with other musicians, amateur or professional. The other thing is that he strongly urges students to practice in between lessons, which leads without fail to better playing and musicianship. With Ahmad, I am motivated to practice at least 15-20 minutes per day, 3 or more days per week. Also, he is quite patient with questions or challenges I may have with a lesson, and thoroughly addresses them before we move on. I'll close with how impressed I am with Ahmad's musical knowledge and guitar mastery, Over the years, he has developed an extremely comprehensive system of teaching harmony, and for me, it is the perfect approach to advancing my understanding of chords, scales, and the art of improvisation.

2019-04-19

Randy Townsend

Ahmad is very patient and focuses on creating good habit patterns when learning the guitar. I had never played this instrument before, although I had 50 year experience playing others. I thoroughly enjoy his lessons. He is quick to respond to questions via email. He is superb.

2019-04-15

Gregory M

I started taking classes with Ahmad about 18 months and have made steady progress on my technique as well as my understanding of music in general. Outside of being an outstanding guitar player, Ahmad has developed a truly effective teaching method that can accommodate students at any level of expertise. Good for me since I was a beginner when I started. So we started with the basics of rhythm & timing and I got the help I needed there. So eventually we moved into lead guitar techniques and harmony in general. I should note that I am in my early forties and thus have limited time to practice. Because of Ahmad's approach, I have been able to maximize my practice time by focusing on the exercises and techniques that are most important. I would also like to mention that Ahmad is very patient with me and easy to work with. It's been a blast working with Ahmad, I really enjoy practicing the material and experiencing steady improvement in my playing.

2019-04-12

Tom

Ahmad is Awesome! Lessons are a must. Before I started lessons, I would find tabs online and it was fun but I was wasting my time. I wasn't progressing and I didn't have any concept of timing and other essential basics. As a result, I was playing the proper notes but I wasn't playing them correctly and I couldn't improvise at all. Ahmad takes difficult concepts and breaks them down into small, easy to understand pieces. Harmony concepts that I thought I wouldn't be able to grasp, I understand fully and use every day. He has a ton of tips that make learning so much faster. For instance, you learn how to find any note on the neck quickly without having to memorize the whole neck, which is crucial skill. Another great thing is that he uses tablature in his lessons. So, you don't have to know how to read music to get started. If you ever want to write your own music or play with other people, call Ahmad now. He will make sure you learn the right way. I'm writing music and playing/improvising solos, at a level I thought I would never be able to achieve. Every lesson opens new possibilities.

2019-04-05

Jack Y

Ahmad is an amazing teacher to say the least!! I've playing guitar for years with never a full grasp of harmony, and within a few short hours he caught me up on some of the most vital information I was missing. A true expert teacher.. Give him a chance... You won't be disappointed!!!

2019-03-28

Lydia H

I started taking lessons with Ahmad over 5 years ago as a wee beginner. Looking back at where I started, I'm surprised at how much progress I have made and have learned more than I ever expected to. It is obvious from the start that Ahmad is not only an phenomenal guitar player, but also, and more importantly, displays a strong passion and dedication for teaching. Each lesson is carefully designed and structured to build off of techniques previously learned and Ahmad has a knack for making even difficult concepts easy to digest. He imparts simple tips and tricks, mined from years of experience, that have helped me master techniques and avoid tedious memorization exercises which would have made the learning process agonizingly painful. Having one-on-one lessons also allows Ahmad to give me the personal attention needed to provide feedback, positive and negative, and nip bad habits in the bud before they become ingrained. Additionally, each lesson comes with handouts which are handy to practice with and use as a reference (I have 400+ pages of material so it's important to keep it all organized). Ahmad has a diverse set of musical tastes and a secondary benefit of taking lessons with him is that he's exposed me to a plethora of great music that I would not otherwise have discovered on my own. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or think you can rival Joe Satriani, there's something for you to learn from Ahmad. Also, I've found that lessons are very motivating in terms of encouraging me to keep practice because, yes, I do get lazy sometimes. With Ahmad, if you put in the time and effort, you will be rewarded greatly with the freedom to be as creative as your heart desires and you will have more fun playing the guitar than a mouse running loose in a cheese factory. Oh, and Ahmad's a super cool guy too.

2019-03-22

Craig S

I was fortunate enough to take lessons from Ahmad for a number of months last summer. Unfortunately I wasn't able to continue due to personal reasons, but my experience with him was wonderful and very fruitful. I've been playing for a very long time, and sometimes in my position its hard to recognize your weaknesses and figure out where to make progress. Ahmad was able to talk to me openly and honestly about where my deficiencies were without making me feel bad in any way. He was encouraging and had a plan! I was able to make immediate progress on some very fundamental aspects of guitar that had been holding me back for a long time. I don't think I've ever seen a more organized and efficient instructor, and it really helps in making incremental progress over the short term, and taking major strides over the long term. I'd highly recommend Ahmad to anyone looking for guitar lessons with disciplined and well-thought-out lesson plans. His focus on technique and fundamentals can help anyone through any style.

2019-03-13

Norman J

Great guy to work with. If you have been playing for a while and the playing is getting no where. See Ahmad! He has tips that will make you a better player.

2019-03-02

Roberto P

I have been taking lessons from Ahmad for nearly a year now. Ahmad is a fantastic guitar player, but more importantly to me he is an experienced and effective teacher. From the first lesson he has been clear, concise, encouraging, motivating and serious about my progress on the guitar. Ahmad displays a strong passion for guitar playing and teaching and his in depth understanding of the subject comes across in his lessons. His lessons are very well thought out. Over weeks of teaching, you can look back and see that each lesson has clearly built on the last, and nearly every week I have been amazed at the things that I can play and how easy it has been by taking incremental steps to improve. The one on one time with Ahmad has been a great help. He pays very close attention to every little thing I do to make sure I am doing things the right way all with the intention of making sure that I avoid any roadblocks or technical issues that can lead to plateaus. Ahmad's clear gift for teaching and his amazing talent on guitar are a killer combination for a guitar teacher. I would highly recommend anyone who is serious about improving on guitar both technically and harmonically look to Ahmad. You definitely get the impression that he can teach just about anything.

2019-02-20

Jimmy L

I work in a guitar store and get the chance to refer teachers to students regularly. I have been sending students to Ahmad since he moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles. He Has an amazing system of teaching that really works. If you want to really learn to play and have fun at the same time then go to Ahmad!

2019-02-09

Andy G

I started out trying to teach myself to play the guitar using beginner books and free online lessons. At first I was enthused to be taking the plunge and learning some chords. What was missing was an understanding of the structure behind what I was learning. For example, I didn't want to just learn the chords to popular songs but rather why those chords could be used together and why. I soon realized that trying to teach myself was going to be a long and potentially error prone process so I decided to seek out private instruction. I wanted to be able to ask "why" and get an answer and not have to guess or poke around in the dark and hope to stumble on understanding. I needed a guide. Having spent a fair amount of my adult life in various universities I knew that mileage can vary when it to comes to instruction. After spending some time looking over various local online search results I found Ahmad site. I was immediately struck by the difference in his presentation from the rest of the offerings. Instead of a bio and picture there was a complete presentation of his approach to guitar instruction. The emphasis on an understanding of harmony struck home with me and I gave him a call. I've been taking weekly one hour lessons with Ahmad for four months. If I had to find another teacher it would be like having my world turned upside down. In the first few minutes of my first lesson, Ahmad identified what was my biggest fear, rhythm and timing. Ahmad immediately recognized that I didn't play to any particular tempo and how crucial that is to making music. I've come to expect Ahmad's keen attention to how I am playing my exercises. There is no indifference or laziness here, he watches, assesses, then instructs. Ahmad writes his own lessons, he doesn't borrow pages from books or other sources (each page has an idea or purpose that is clearly defined, each a building block of understanding) . His energy to embellish his own written material with written impromptu notes and clarifications are the norm for each lesson. My curiosity about music theory was met with much enthusiasm. Even though I have only been playing for a few months my understanding of harmony and how it relates to the guitar fingerboard still astonishes me. Granted, I ask a lot of questions and because of my math background I can absorb concepts quickly, but regardless, Ahmad has the answers and you can sense his excitement when he shares ideas that open up your understanding about music and especially the guitar. Looking back at the last few months I realize I take Ahmad's knowledge for granted, he never has to look something up in a book or get back to you on some idea. Some of my favorite lessons have been when my head was full of questions and getting access to Ahmad for an hour. If there is a rhythm I just can't get down or an idea that is foggy for me Ahmad has the patience and experience to present the material in a way that makes it seem easy. Ahmad is great at sensing when something is shaky in my playing or my understanding and quickly focuses on solving the problem. He places a lot of emphasis on the importance of the fundamentals and how that will ultimately lead to real enjoyment as I grow as a guitarist. Ahmad has made me aware of how important it is to learn something correctly the first time rather than trying to retrain yourself down the road (I honestly feel I will be saving countless wasted hours by learning material in an order that makes sense for my experience and by learning good technique from the start). I feel so fortunate that Ahmad is available in this time and this place to take lessons from. I feel that Ahmad has a real talent for teaching. I feel it is something he is both talented at and genuinely loves to do. I look forward to my lesson each week with excitement, knowing that I am steadily growing as a guitarist. I always leave my lessons with a smile on my face and looking forward to the days ahead with a guitar in my lap.

2019-02-03

Jamie

Ahmad is incredible!! I could tell from day one he was going to make a huge difference in my guitar playing. His lessons are prepared in advance so very little time is spent penciling out lesson material. His teaching studio is a very clean and professional, and his super well organized library of teaching materials allows us to maximize our learning time. I love playing his teaching material! None of the guys I took lessons from before had such an effective approach. I have so much fun with it! His lessons have introduced me to various pop, rock, country, metal, and jazz concepts from very popular musicians. He has a unique way of teaching rhythm that has helped me capture phrasing and keep songs in time. Recently I've started taking his harmony classes. These classes have given me the knowledge to confidently play with other musicians and create great music. I would highly recommend Ahmad for anyone that desires to learn more about the guitar. I am moving back to Arizona for work (and sun!). I wish I could take him with me!!

2019-01-24

Richard K

This is the guy you are looking for. At 42 I finally got around to buying my first guitar (no musical background other than fan) and set about teaching myself with books and videos. 10 months later I realized that in spite of working at it every day I was going to get to the 1-year mark and not be able to play a single song all the way through (of the 70's and 80's hard rock that I love, I could play "Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star" pretty well). I was rapidly becoming "that guy" who can play sloppy intros to 300 songs, but nothing else. I looked around the web, and settled on Ahmad because of his credentials and reviews, and I could not be happier with my choice. The thing that makes Ahmad special is that he put as much effort into becoming a great guitar teacher as he did in becoming a great guitar player. Every lesson is tailored exactly to my ability at that time. If ever I have had particular trouble with something Ahmad is ready with additional material, alternate ways to learn it, different ways to explain it. No matter what the technique or concept, Ahmad has seen this mistake before and knows just what to do. Some days I leave with many pages of material to master, and some days just one or two. It is all about how slowly or quickly I am picking up the new thing, and all about learning things the right way so that the foundation is solid when I am ready to advance to the next level. There is no schedule or competition (except with myself) and the only objective is to learn more and get better. To show examples in action Ahmad routinely finds 70s and 80s hard rock for me (not every single note is from Guns-n-Roses of course, but if a particular concept relates to something in a familiar song from the genre, that's the one Ahmad will pick for me to master). You do not have to learn jazz! (I mean if jazz is your thing I am certain that Ahmad can teach you that.) I really doubt that there is a player at any level (or in any style) who would not learn a lot from Ahmad (that is if you are prepared to be humble and possibly review some foundational material you think you know already... if you knew it, Ahmad would not be teaching it to you... he can hear that your timing is off, or if you didn't hit all of the strings in that chord, and so can your audience). (Once, while I was performing an exercise from the previous lesson, Ahmad had his back to me digging in his filing cabinet for my next materials and said "Did you play the fifth note with an upstroke?"... He heard that, it was supposed to be a down stroke and he heard a difference so slight I didn't even know I was doing it.) If you are a beginner as I was, my advice is to commit to four lessons with Ahmad. By the end of that time you will hear that you are advancing, and more importantly you will understand where you were and where you are going. It might seem kind of basic at first (which is why I say to go with at least four) but it does not take very long to understand how much better you will be with strong fundamentals. If, instead, you learn to play badly, and you practice regularly, eventually your speed will improve... and then you will play badly fast which actually sounds worse than playing badly slow... all that work for less than nothing. I have been taking lessons for about a year and half. I can play some Lead Guitar now. And I can play some real songs now. Even those 300 intros are getting tight, that is to say I now play them with the right timing, technique, phrasing and feel! PS - If Ahmad says "it's time for the Harmony Classes", do it! Like most things Ahmad has taught me, I have resisted it in some way at first, and the harmony lessons are no different. Like everything Ahmad has taught me, the harmony classes have immediately made me better at playing guitar, and have provided a foundation that makes the next thing and the next thing and the next thing easier, faster, and better.

2019-01-16

Mike P.

Ahmad is an excellent guitar teacher. I have been taking lessons from Ahmad at his place in for several months now and I'm continually impressed with Ahmad and very pleased with my progress on the guitar. Ahmad has a relaxed and friendly attitude, but it's clear that he's exceptionally good at his trade. He has years of experience and teaching materials on hand, and I enjoy that Ahmad customizes what he teaches to each student's skill level and goals. He has developed a very effective teaching method that works well for me. I've had plenty of music education previously in my life and Ahmad quickly recognized that we could move quickly over the basics of reading music, rhythm notation, etc. and he's always prepared with an exercise or two for me to take home and practice to expand my skills further. I found Ahmad via his web site and called him and he was very professional and courteous leading up to our first appointment. He's got his teaching down to a science and Ahmad is very efficient with his administrative matters. I'm grateful for this because it leaves a lot more time for the guitar lesson itself. Ahmad charges a reasonable fee for his service and I'm looking forward to learning from Ahmad for a long time to come.

2019-01-09

Fred

As a complete beginner, I began searching for a guitar teacher. Upon meeting Ahmad, I was struck immediately by his passion for music and teaching. That was what kept me coming back to the lessons. Having now spent a year and a half with Ahmad, my progress has been phenomenal. As a former music major studying saxophone, I have had my share of music teachers. I can say that Ahmad has been the most influential and effective of all. His manageable lessons challenge you enough to make you better without overwhelming you with techniques and theory that you don't understand. Every lesson builds on priors so that you are not wasting time learning scattered and incomplete lessons that you may find in books or video lessons on youtube. We began simply learning pentatonic scales to build basic right and left hand technique. After spending months learning this, we moved onto major scales, and understanding harmonizing and more music theory. Throughout this, we have also spent time on learning basic rhythms. Finally, we have moved onto modes, arpeggios, and blues. Although there was a lot of work learning to play scales and arpeggios, it was absolutely necessary in order to understand how to solo over rock and blues music. While I have a long way to go with the instrument, it is so satisfying to have the tools to write music, play solos, and make them sound like you know what you are doing. I would have never been able to do this without Ahmad. Ahmad is not a magician--you have to put in the work yourself. But he makes your practice efficient so that your time is spent learning valuable skills, instead of bad habits. If I had to do it all over again, I would have started sooner!

2019-01-02

Evan

Ahmad is a fantastic teacher, and not just for beginners but for experienced players as well! I've been playing guitar for about 20 years, but haven't taken any formal lessons in the past 15 of those. I felt like I was in a rut with my playing so I started taking lessons with Ahmad a few months ago. He was able to immediately help me improve my technique and help me correct some inefficiencies that I didn't even notice I was doing. The word "inefficiencies" in the last sentence was chosen very deliberately because Ahmad has a great way of showing that there are multiple ways to play the instrument and not one specific "right" and "wrong" way. I feel like I've made more progress in the last 4 months than I had in years.

2018-12-27