I've been playing guitar for the best part of 25 years and performing as a full-time acoustic musician for most of that. Teaching is something I do alongside the gigs — it's a small number of students at a time and I genuinely enjoy it.
Who I teach
- Absolute beginners — never picked up a guitar, don't know a chord from a note. I'll get you playing full songs in a few weeks.
- Returning players — used to play years ago, want to get back into it without starting from scratch.
- Intermediate players stuck on a plateau — you can play a few songs but feel like you're not progressing. Usually the issue is rhythm or technique, and I can help you spot what's blocking you.
- Aspiring gigging players — want to take it live. I'll show you how to build a setlist, read a room, and sound good through a PA.
- Songwriters — stuck on writing? Happy to work through your ideas with you.
I don't teach children at the moment — adult learners only.
How lessons work
In person at my home studio in Surrey. One-hour or half-hour slots, flexible scheduling. You bring your guitar — I've got spare guitars if yours is in a bad state or if you haven't bought one yet.
Online via video call. Works surprisingly well — I use a decent mic and camera so you can see my hands clearly. Great option if you're not in commuting range or if you prefer the comfort of your own space.
Both are priced the same. No minimum commitment — we do one lesson, see how it goes, and take it from there.
What you'll actually learn
- Chord shapes and transitions — the boring stuff done properly so everything else gets easier
- Strumming patterns that match the songs you actually want to play
- Reading chord charts and finding songs online
- Building a songbook you can play end-to-end
- Once you're comfortable: fingerstyle, travis picking, singing and playing at the same time, dynamics, live performance
The end goal isn't to teach you scales you'll never use. It's to get you to the point where you can pick up the guitar at a barbecue or a birthday party and play two or three songs confidently.
Send me a message if you'd like to book a first session.