Alpharetta Guitar Lessons
About
I have played guitar for 50 years, in college in the Penn State stage band , in Christian presentations "Tell it like it is" Godspell and tribute bands Backtrax was a Beatle tribute band. I play both acoustic guitar and electric guitars and enjoy teaching young and older players
I enjoy working with people and helping them to have fun and become more musical and creative
I have a syllabus of Learning to Play the Guitar that outlines 10 levels of progress.
Please use this to map your level and progress with my complements.
Learning to Play the Guitar
Level One
Parts of the guitar
How to hold the guitar
How to hold the pick
How to tune the guitar
How to down/up strum
How to fret notes
How to pick a single note
What is a note? How many?
What are intervals?
Half steps vs whole steps
Level Two
What is a chord?
E major
E minor
A major
A minor
G major
C major
D major
Open chords
How to count music
Note values
Songs
For what it’s worth. Buffalo Springfield
Wagon wheel. Old crow medicine show
Smoke on the water. Deep Purple
Iron man. Black Sabbath
Seven nation army The white stripes
Level Three
What is a scale?
Minor Pentatonic Scale
Alternate picking
All notes on the low E string #6
Hurt Johnny Cash
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
Running down a dream Tom Petty
House of the rising sun. The Animals
Level Four
2nd position pentatonic scale (the major pentatonic scale)
Bar chords
Bar chords major and minor
5th and 6th string roots
What are triads?
Learn notes on A string
Identify the Key
Start improvising
Backing tracks. Now you shred and elevated jam tracks
Sultans of swing dire straits
Layla. Derek and the dominos. Eric Clapton
Wish you were here. Pink Floyd
Whole lotta love. Led Zeppelin
Level Five
All 5 positions of the pentatonic scale
Major/minor Diatonic Scales
Parallel vs relative major/minor
Construction of major scale
Construction of pentatonic scale
Hammer Ons
Pull offs
Bends
Vibrato
Natural harmonics
Pinch harmonics
Level Six
Harmonize the major scale
Nashville number system
Functional Harmony
Identify chord changes
Learn common chord progressions
Compound time signature
Level Seven
Add 7th to triads
7th chords
Major 7th
Minor 7th
Dominant 7th
Roots on E and A string
Level Eight
7 diatonic modes
Learn all intervals
Play solos and melodies by ear
Level Nine
CAGED system
Arpeggios
How to use chord tones
Add 7th to arpeggios
Hear different harmonic parts
Level Ten
Chord extensions beyond 7th ( 9th 11th 13th)
Harmonic minor scale
Modes and arpeggios
Melodic Minor scale
Modes and arpeggios
The learning never stops and depending on your style and genre preferred
Continue to specific areas. Jazz rock country classical
Highlights
Payment methods
Specialties
Musical styles
Guitar style
Has instrument
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
Photos and videos
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I start with easy chords and learning timing with no music theory until your ready or interested. I show you how to loop so you can play along to your chords. I Taylor everything to the music preferences and enjoyment allowing you to build your skill level and have fun doing it.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I played and learned music in one of the largest university stage bands in the country. We played professionally with full band including horn section and music scored for our parts.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I do an introductory lesson for free
then depending on in person or remote I'll do hour lessons for $25.00 or 2 hour for $50.00
Remote lessons are priced on time and availability.
How did you get started teaching?
Teaching while in school
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages and walks of life
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
We played for Cars for kids and donated proceeds and received a thanks from the mayor
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Playing music should always be fun and not something that your not enjoying. Everyone has different expectations so find a tutor who respects your preferences and good luck.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
What your motivation is?
Where would you like to play?
Play as a one man band or in a group?