Max Hodes Guitar Lessons

My teaching approach:

My approach is fun first! Playing the guitar can be really challenging, but all the hard work of learning to play doesn't have to frustrate. All the great players have one thing in common: joy. Joy of playing and joy of learning. The ultimate goal of my lessons is better music for all. I teach with the utmost respect for my students' tastes and desires: to be the teacher I always wanted.

My influences are:

I started playing when I heard Hendrix play the "Star-Spangled Banner." A short list of influences: Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Sharrock, Eddie Hazel, Eric Johnson, Bill Frisell, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Frank Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Slash, Trey Anestasio, James Hetfield, The Edge, John McGlaughlin, David Fiuczynski, Randy Rhoads, Mark Knopfler, Ichirou Agata, Yngwie Malmsteen, Shawn Lane, Buckethead, Steve Vai, Steve Albini, David Gilmour, Greg Ginn, John Homme, King Buzzo, John Kleber and my teachers: David Tonkin, Dan Knox, Chris Buono, Kent Allen, and my mom and dad.

My guitar lessons take place in:

The teacher's studio or the student's home

Guitar lessons typically take place on these days and hours:

I teach seven days a week! However, regular lesson-times are preferred.

Guitar Techniques:

Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Open tuning, Slide Guitar, Vocal Accompaniment, Performance, Improvisation, Jamming Skills, Music Theory, Scales and Exercises, Song Writing, Recording and Production, Guidance In Equipment Selection

Your first guitar lesson with me might include the following:

In an introductory lesson we usually set up some long-term and short term goals. Students who are are completely new to the instrument work on the absolute basics while learning to be mindful of efficient and relaxed habits. We break down the neck length-wise and learn basic chords. Students with a greater understanding and their own feel influence or dictate what to work on. An intermediate student might need help with speed picking, and I would give them my personal practice. A pro-level student might want to know how to record properly, which we can go through in detail.

A guitar lesson with me might entail the following:

There is no typical lesson! Each session is different based on a students' goals. A session might include an exploratory listening experience in which we decode a favorite player's techniques. We would probably follow with some deliberate, meditative absorption and integration of those techniques. For the technically minded, we could follow with rigorous, metronomic practice and drilling; or we could jam together, to really feel out how what we're learning works in real-world contexts. I was born and raised in a music school. There is no typical.

The qualities I look for in an ideal guitar student might include the following:

My ideal guitar student is open-minded and loves music.