When talking about learning the guitar, students can mean different things: they might want to learn to play fast lead guitar licks or might want to jam along with their favorite music. They could have a desire to write songs or perform with a band. The kind of genre and type of instrument also can vary – is it the wish of the new musician to shred Metal riffs on an electric guitar or does he/she want to strum chords to Singer/Songwriter songs on an acoustic guitar?

Whichever direction the student wants to take, the basis of electric and acoustic guitar is the same. Guitars usually have six strings and they are tuned in fourths (with one exception). They can be played equally well by right-handed or left-handed students. Notes are produced when the player presses down on the fretboard. Because the guitarist has to use fingers to press down the strings, it is usually a good idea to wait until the student is about 8 years old – at that point the hands and fingers often seem to be strong enough.

Most students will learn to play some chords and basic strumming techniques first. Then, some scales can help the student to find his/her way around the guitar, help finger strength and dexterity and build a basis for soloing. If the student then wants to move towards rock guitar, for example, blues guitar chords can follow, as they lay the foundation for many forms of rock music. Having said that, I like to incorporate “real” examples of music as soon as possible and pick songs together with the student which excite her/him and encourage the student to practice.

Private Guitar Classes

Private guitar classes offer a great way to learn the guitar. One-on-one attention allows the teacher to develop a personal approach, which serves the individual student best. Personally, because of my abilities as a multi-instrumentalist, I am able to accompany the student on drums, bass or piano and sing with her/him, if wanted. To “flesh” the songs out in this fashion and make them sound more “real” and closer to the sound of the original songs can really boost the progress, help with timing and simply make learning more fun!

Many students name this as their goal: Playing guitar in a band. My way of teaching private guitar classes does aim to replicate that environment. What that means is: I see myself as a knowledgeable partner in music-making, who can steer the student along the path, while supporting him/her with techniques and information in a friendly, no-stress environment, which promotes camaraderie and fun, rather than a more antiquated hierarchical teacher-student approach, which often can rely on pressure.

Private Guitar Lessons in Los Angeles

I currently teach private guitar lessons in various areas in Greater Los Angeles, from Malibu to Hollywood and from Venice to the Pacific Palisades/Brentwood. Bringing music to student’s houses for the past 10 years+ is a privilege and something I am enjoying. Seeing and hearing the students growth does not get old for me. Just one week ago I saw my former student Bryan’s band Kitten, which are now signed to a major label deal and are opening for No Doubt. Not that I am saying that he is in a signed band because of me, but, according to him, private music lessons had a lot to do with his successful path.

Learning to play an instrument can have many solitary sides to the experience – the student practices by himself, listens to music by herself and sees the teacher for private lessons, for example. A big part of playing an instrument, though, is to share music with one or more listeners and to make music with other musicians. Music recitals offer a great opportunity to do both.

Music recitals also help with goal-setting. I rarely have seen students practice more than before an upcoming recital. It also helps the student to grow as a person, not just a musician. Most students are quite nervous before a recital, even if they have performed in front of an audience before. I have a good rapport with the students and can help them feel more comfortable and also perform with some of them, which makes them feel more at ease.

A nice, comfortable setting is also important in my view. At private music lessons LA, we use the Martin Luther King auditorium at the Santa Monica Library, a bright, small, yet comfortable Theater-like space, which features a PA and a Steinway piano. I bring all the other instruments with me – guitars and bass, amplifiers, and drums. As a security guard said to me: “This is not a recital, this is a show!”.

What does a recital look and sound like?

Every recital is different, and every performance within a recital can vary. Some students, who play at my recitals, have studied their instrument for five weeks, some for five years. Some play by themselves, some with recorded music, some perform with me and, at times, a whole band of students takes to the stage. Here is an example of the latter: Kimmie, Jacob, Ryan, Sam and Atticus playing “Cough Syrup” by Young The Giant at the last recital in October 2012.

A Win-Win

Every student experiences a boost of confidence after a recital, learns a lot about his/her instrument and about interacting with other musicians and an audience. Seeing other students perform adds an impetus to further studying and naturally accelerates the learning process. It also gives the parents a chance to see their children in a different light and offers a chance to observe their progress over time. I am looking forward to seeing you at one of our recitals in the future!

Learning to play the bass guitar is one of the most fulfilling things for a musician to do. The bass is not as easily recognizable as the guitar within a recording, not as loud as the drums and not in the center of everything, like the lead vocalist. As a result, for many listeners of music and non-musicians, the bass seems to be a less important piece within the sound of a song or a band. Quite the opposite is true. A good bass line can make or break a song and many bass lines have become big hooks in themselves, like, for example “Under Pressure“, which has been sampled for other hits also.

If a small part of you is considering performing music as a career, the bass guitar is a great choice. Every band and recording needs a bass, but the least amount of musicians do play the bass. The bass guitar is also easily set-up. I have been at countless gigs and shows where the bass player is the last one on stage, quickly setting up his bass amp, and the first one to leave. Many bassists also play in numerous bands, are often busy and can play two different shows per night. Quite unthinkable for a drummer, for instance, who can take close to an hour to set his/her drum set up.

One thing to consider when starting to play the bass is that it is one of the bigger instruments – it is easier to learn the bass when the student is older and more able to hold the bigger instrument, press the thick strings down and maneuver around the long neck. Starting to learn how to play the bass guitar before the student is 12 years old usually is not considered to be a good idea, unless the student is quite tall for his/her age. Because the bass guitar shares many aspects with the guitar, it also makes sense to take guitar lessons first, and then to switch to the bass guitar later on.

How To Start Playing The Bass

Typically, in bass guitar classes, we will start by explaining the names of the strings and various parts of the bass guitar (frets, neck, body, etc.). Then we will see that bass guitars can be played with fingers or a pick. We will begin to learn a few exercises and play simple bass lines and within the first lesson we will start making music together. Because I am also a drummer and guitarist, I am able to play with the student on either instrument, which adds a real-life application to the techniques we are learning.

Bass lessons in Los Angeles with me offer the student to get a good grasp of the basics of the bass, understand its role in the process of music-making and gives the student a chance to apply what he/she learns by making music actively. Many bass guitar teachers have knowledge to offer, but I am aware of the unique chance I give the student to apply the scales and bass lines in a real-life situation. Playing the bass with another instrument plays a big role in the function of the instrument.

Why The Bass Guitar?

The bass sits in between the guitar, the piano and the drums and often acts as a kind of “glue” to bring together the sound of a recording and/or a band. It is not hard to learn once the student is older and strong enough to handle the bigger instrument. Bands and artists are always looking for bass players and there is no shortage of creative opportunities and work for good bass players.

“Where do I start” asked me my brand-new 8-year old student the other day. “On middle C”, I replied, and showed her the central note of many first songs and exercises. The piano makes it easy to learn music, because of its simple, yet sophisticated, organization and structure. The piano also offers a great start to all musical studies and lays the foundation for other instruments.

The piano makes it more simple than most other instruments to be able to produce well-sounding music quickly, because when you press down on a single piano key, the note will sound good, regardless if you are a total beginner or a seasoned pro. It  will take months, if not years, in comparison, to play a well-sounding melody on the violin. On the piano, a note or chord progression will be found in the same place when it is played higher or lower. Many string and wind instruments will need the student to remember and learn different hand and finger positions for the same notes at different pitches.

On the piano, the music-maker is also self-sufficient and can play melody and accompaniment at the same time after a brief period, compared to most other instruments, which offer this opportunity only to intermediate and expert players. And lastly, no other instrument makes it easier to learn the basics of music theory – all the notes are clearly laid out in front of you and make changes in keys, chords, modes etc. easy to explain.

Learn To Play The Piano

As a result, the piano is a great instrument to start with for many students of music, especially the very young, which are not yet able to press down guitar strings or blow steadily with force into a wind instrument. In my private piano lessons I will help the student to learn the proper finger techniques and also how to use the wrist to produce well-sounding notes. In the first lessons, we will learn some basic scales, like the C major scale (all white keys), play some basic chords and learn simple songs. These piano playing basics will pave the way for more involved and elaborate tunes in the future.

Finding the right piano in Los Angeles is made easier by the fact, that many specialized piano stores and good music shops are to be found in virtually all areas of this City. Good used pianos are also a great option to start with and can sound beautiful after they have been tuned by a professional piano tuner. Electric pianos offer an alternative to buying a real piano – they need less space, can be transported more easily and also do not need to be tuned. Having said that, I would really encourage the purchase of an electric piano with a weighted keyboard – it will feel more like a real piano and will make it easier for the student once she/he plays on an acoustic piano.

Private Piano Lessons

Piano lesson instructors can help the student to learn more efficiently by streamlining the lessons to suit the students needs and desires. Many students do enjoy to choose their study material and like having a say in what is being learned. Who would not spend more time with more joy learning a song they love rather than going through the motions of a rigid program? Innovative, personable and insightful private piano teachers will offer the best route to learning how to play the piano.

Choosing the drums as a first instrument builds a strong foundation for rhythm, which is at the center of all music. When learning the drums, the student not only begins to grasp the instrument and its specific techniques, but also will get an insight in how to read music. Reading notation for drums is not much different from reading music for piano, guitar, bass or string and wind instruments. The basis acquired here will be helpful with all other instruments, too.

For many private drum students, their main goal is to be able to play along with music, learn songs and, eventually, to play drums in a band. The drums can be used as a solo instrument, but, usually, drums are an accompanying instrument, albeit a very important one. If the main foundation of a song is shaky, the whole song will suffer – and the first pillar of the rhythmic foundation is the drummer! Good timing and musicality is important – the drummer must be able to lead a band at times, but also be prepared to listen to his/her fellow musicians.

When starting to play the drums my students will learn how to hold a drum stick, get an introduction to snare drum exercises (rudiments) and how to play basic drum beats.  My private drum students are often amazed that so many of the world’s greatest rock and pop bands use the most basic drum patterns. From many songs by AC/DC to  “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz use drum beats, which all of my students have learned and will learn in the first two lessons – guaranteed!

Why Private Drum Lessons?

Learning any instrument in the comfort of your own home is a plus, but with the drums there are two additional, special reasons. 1. Every drum set is set up slightly differently, because there are so many variables – every stand can be adjusted in height, angle and placement. Every drum can be tuned differently, the student can sit higher or lower etc. The result is that no  two drum sets are alike. Learning on her/his own drum set will make the private drum student feel more at ease. 2. In many music schools drum sets are not maintained properly and often the student is not able to really express him- or herself on the drum set, because other music students learn quieter instruments nearby. The drum set is a loud instrument, that is in its nature.

Electronic drums offer a good alternative to acoustic drums, especially for students whose neighbors live too close or are not fans of loud drum beats at all times of the day ;0) With electronic drum sets, the set-up can be intense, because cables are also used and need to be set up. As hinted at above, unlike most other instruments, the drum set does not come in one single piece, but is made up of various drums, some cymbals and hardware. To set up a drum kit for the first time can be quite intimidating and I am happy to help you set it up and also tune it. Un-tuned drums can sound quite abrasive and unruly. Using muffling and dampening is also helpful in making a drum set sound better and more controlled.

Starting Drum Lessons

The drums seem to be an instrument, which have a magic draw for many students. Rhythm and beat form the center of most music and it has been said that the drums were the first instrument, which human beings “invented” and used. Learning to play basic drum beats, snare drum rudiments and starting to play along with recorded songs and other musicians quickly will be my main aim when I teach you the first private drum lessons.

There are many different ways to learn how to play the guitar. As a professional musician, I had the good fortune to play with many great guitarists who taught me along the way. For example, I played with Janick, now guitarist for Iron Maiden, in Bruce Dickinson’s solo band. After he would play a cool guitar solo, I’d ask him how he performed a particular run or figure, and he would show it to me. He was happy that I was interested and I was glad to have such a knowledgeable teacher.

That simple, open and friendly relationship between student and teacher is what I aim at in my guitar classes. Just the other day, a new student of mine told me how he had dropped out of his guitar elective at school, because he had experienced a “shaming” teacher. Asked what that meant, he explained: “someone who makes you feel bad when you mess up.” In my view it is necessary and natural to mess up and “messing up”without negative judgment is already part of the students success.

Typically, in the first few lessons I will establish a relaxed and open atmosphere with my students and we will concentrate on learning a few easy riffs and some basic guitar chords. Usually, my students can play some songs within the first month. There are quite a few classic hit songs, which are based on three or four guitar chords, for example “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Fallin’”.

Private Lessons On Guitar

Guitar chords can be notated in a few ways, the most common being guitar tabs. Using guitar tab, a number expresses where the fingers have to be placed in order to make the correct guitar chord. For instance, if you want to play an E minor chord, you place your middle finger on the second fret of the fifth string and your ring finger on the second fret of the fourth string (the A and D string respectively). Then you play all the strings with your other hand. In guitar tab, that is expressed with writing the number 2 on top of lines 4 & 5, which signify the strings.

Playing in a band in Los Angeles is a goal for many students and a great way to grow your self-confidence, make friends and learn from other musicians.  To me, it is really exciting to see current and ex-students perform with their new bands. Not that I feel they wouldn’t be there without me, their private lessons guitar teacher, but I know I play and have played a part in their development from beginner to intermediate to expert guitarist.

Starting Guitar Lessons

Starting guitar lessons, learning the basic guitar chords, getting familiar with guitar tabs – all these steps are helping students to gain knowledge, acquire more self-esteem and work toward their personal goal, if it is playing in front of 10.000 people or for the student’s own private enjoyment.