Guitar Lessons Nottingham - Blog
Welcome to my blog, here I will be posting lots of tips and techniques for beginners and experienced guitar players alike. Feel free to leave a comment on any of the posts or contact me if there is something you would like me to write about.
Guitar Lessons In Beeston
Guitar lessons are now available in Beeston Nottingham from the comfort of your home.
For any aspiring guitarist who cant for any reason get to Nottingham city centre, I now have a solution for you and can teach you from home at no extra cost.
Lessons are available most evenings, weekends and during the day. From beginner to advanced all ages are welcome.
Contact me today to arrange your guitar lessons in Beeston.
Students Students Students
Hey students of Nottingham!!
Beans are on offer at the supermarket, beer is cheap on tap and I have some amazing offers for you!!
New to guitar? No problem I have all the tips for you at a price you cant refuse!!
Grab your guitar lessons whilst you can, not many places left!
Skype Guitar Lessons
Skype Guitar Lessons
Guitar is a wonderful instrument to learn but learning it effectively requires the assistance of a
guitar instructor. Learning guitar by yourself with the help of free lessons will be frustrating
and time consuming. For this reason, many music lovers struggle to learn the guitar. If you
are one of them then get rid of all your hesitation. You need not worry that you don’t
have a Guitar Instructor nearby and you don’t need to travel anywhere to learn Guitar. All
that you need to do is sit in front of your machine, login into Skype and start learning guitar
from your guitar instructor.
What is Skype?
Skype is video chat software with cross platform support. Using skype, you can call other
Skype users for free and call mobile numbers of Skype users for a cheaper rate.
How to Learn Guitar Lessons through Skype?
Skype Guitar Lessons are an easy way of learning Guitar. You might reside in U.K and your
guitar tutor might reside in U.S, but still you can learn guitar from your tutor through Skype.
All that you need to perform is: install skype, add your tutor in your contact list and wait till
he approves to share his details with you. Now when the tutor is online through Skype, call
your tutor’s skype id through the call option, visually see him through webcam and talk to
him using your headphone or in-built speaker facility. Now your learning process becomes
very simple and easy. You can clearly see the finger movements of your guitar tutor while
playing the instrument and evidently listen to the music. You can ask him questions and
interact with him all through Skype without any interruptions. Most importantly, you use this
Skype service for FREE!
There are many tutors who can teach Skype Guitar lessons. Most prominent among them is Rob Greco who instructs Skype Guitar Lessons in a professional and indeed creative way. For online guitar tuition look no further.
This Months Guitar Lessons Champion
Interview with Claude Johnson – Guitar Teacher
Claude Johnson is a awsome guitar teacher who made has several hot DVD’s and online guitar tutorials.
Over to the interview…
Hey Claude – my name is Rob Greco and I also give guitar lessons. Thanks for agreeing to share how you accomplished success in music and talking about your guitar playing.
Rob – How old were you when you first decided to learn the guitar?
Claude – I started late! I was 17 almost going on 18… Wish I started younger, but hey…I’m glad to have started when I did. It’s never too late to start enjoying the guitar!
Rob – Who influenced you the most at that age and why?
Claude – My biggest influence was Jimi Hendrix. He’s the guy who got it all started for me. It was just so beyond anything else I’d ever heard. So passionate, so deep and soulful. Obviously, I’m no musical genius like Hendrix, but looking back, I feel that listening to him activated a part of me that had that same inner deep love for the universe, the passion to express it, the willingness to work hard at developing my skills, and the propensity to speak through the guitar in the same kind of electric blues fashion.
Rob – Did you start on electric guitar or acoustic guitar?
Claude – Being influenced by Jimi, I naturally started on the electric but later on grew to love the acoustic too.
Rob – Did you go for guitar lessons?
Claude – Yes, I wasn’t talented enough to teach myself lol… I went for lessons in the beginning and then found I had enough to practice on my own for a while. Years later after reaching a sticking point, I went to a different teacher for more lessons, and then found I had more stuff to work on. It’s been a good pattern that I think a lot of players follow… You learn something, realise how much work you have to do on your own, go practice for a while, then at some point you get stuck and need more information, so you take some
more lessons, etc.
Rob – Has your tastes changed over the years or do you still dig the same bands as when you first started to learn the guitar?
Claude – I still love the same bluesy stuff like Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. that I was into in the beginning. However, my ability to appreciate other forms of music like Jazz has expanded as my ears got a bit more sophisticated.
Rob – How many guitars do you own?
Claude – A few electrics and one acoustic.
Rob – Which is your favourite guitar in your collection?
Claude – I recently got a Tom Anderson guitar (I’m not even sure the model) from a friend of mine that absolutely sings. So that’s my favourite right now.
Rob – What would you say is the single biggest challenge for beginner guitar players?
Claude – I think it’s with confidence and motivation… not letting one’s self get frustrated and being able to stick with it long enough to get over that initial “hump” or stage where it’s frustrating. I shake my head in sadness whenever I hear people say that they tried guitar but gave up on it. Learning anything new can be tough in the beginning, but the rewards of being able to play guitar are incredible once you get over that first stage of growing pains. So the challenge is just hanging in there long enough to the point where it’s self-rewarding and really fun to play.
Rob – Have you noticed the interests of beginner guitar players changing over the years?
Claude – Sure. Young players always want to play the latest songs, so it’s interesting to keep
up with the trends.
Rob – how has this influenced you as a guitar teacher?
Claude – It’s good to get exposure to what’s popular in the now, because you keep learning
new stuff and if I didn’t do that, I’d still just be playing Led Zeppelin and
the Grateful Dead all the time… (lol)…
Rob – If you could give one piece of advice to a beginner guitar player what would it be?
Claude – Just focus on mastering the basic chords in the beginning and being able to switch between them. You master that, and you’re inches away from playing all your favourite songs. All the doors open up to you once you got the basic chords under your belt.
Rob – Do you notice any trends with people’s needs when learning the guitar and any needs which go unmet?
Claude – People just need good, clear information and a clear path to follow. I think that’s the biggest unmet need. There’s so much information out there now, that I think people get lost with information overload. That’s why I try to keep things simple and straightforward and give people a clear pathway on what to work on for any given stage of guitar playing. If you’re a beginner, you need to learn your basic chords. If you want to play lead, you have to learn your pentatonic scales. If you want to play jazz, you have to learn some jazz standards, and so on.
Rob – What is your opinion on people’s level of interest in the guitar now compared to the 90’s which was the decade I learned the guitar?
Claude – I think there is more interest than ever before due to the rise of youtube and also the popularity of video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, which only put guitar playing more into the limelight of popular culture.
Rob – I own a selection of your DVDs and use the guitar god club. What products are you most excited about?
Claude – Well, I am proud of my own courses like “Ultimate Beginner Guitar” and “Killer Guitar Control Secrets”. Killer Guitar Control Secrets was the one that started it all and I think its unique because it really talks about the core essence of improvising leads from the heart (Jimi style) that I haven’t really heard anyone talk about. But I would say I’m most excited about “Blues Master Class” with Sol Philcox. The kid is a real guitar genius in my eyes.
Rob – Do you play in a band?
Claude – Not right now. I played in several bands when I was younger and the past several years have been very time consuming in running the Guitar Control Company, but in the past year or so, I’ve been able to really get back to my practicing. Hopefully in another year, I will get my lead guitar chops to the next level and I’m looking forward to playing out again and rocking even harder.
Rob – Thanks for your time Claude. I’m sure my readers will find your suggestions very helpful.
Which guitar pick?
Guitar picks come in all shapes, sizes, brands and colours. The choice of picks is vast and this can be overwhelming for anyone new to learning the guitar.
So which one should you choose?
For general all round use a pick at .50mm would be a good place to start because the guitar pick is not too stiff but also not too flimsy.
As for shapes and sizes generally go for a normal looking pick as anything else might be difficult to use and may promote bad posture.
Try a few different “gauge” picks out between .50mm and .70mm (approx).
Test the pick out and have a touch to make sure it feels comfortable to hold. Some picks have a matt finish and these are generally better than the highly glossed picks as they tend to grip well. Better still if the pick has a grip embossed into it this would be the best choice to avoid losing the pick during guitar practice.
Which Guitar?
Choosing your first guitar can be a daunting experience. With the immense amount of information on the internet giving conflicting information – where should you start?
This is the precise reason for this tutorial and further tutorials to come. As a guitar teacher I come across this question frequently.
Choosing your Guitar
Acoustic or electric guitar? This is not an easy choice to make so I will sum up the advantages each has to offer to help you choose your beginners guitar.
Acoustic Guitar
- No leads or amplifiers required – just the guitar
- Usually cheaper than an electric guitar. A decent one with an amplifier is approximately double the price of the acoustic guitar
- A lot of beginner guitar lessons are based around the acoustic guitar
- Lighter than the electric guitar
- Bigger distance between the strings which is useful for large handed people when learning the guitar
- The sound is unmatched due to its build and acoustic properties
- No need to spend extra on equipment – unlike the electric guitar which requires an amplifier and lead not to mention guitar pedals
- Generally less things to go wrong mechanically
Electric Guitar
- Easier to play for several reasons (1) the strings are generally lighter (2) the strings are usually closer to the fretboard of the guitar (3) the body is thinner (4) the neck of the guitar is usually thinner and strings closer together (less of a stretch and allows a better grip)
- The amplifier can be quite powerful so the player does not need to press down quite as hard
- Access to higher frets usually due to the way the body is cut away from the neck
- Certain equipment can emulate an acoustic guitar using an electric guitar but not vice versa
- Despite being heavier electric guitars are easier to carry because they are not as bulky
- More choice of sound with the vast array of effects on modern amplifiers and guitar pedals
- Headphones can be plugged into some amplifiers for midnight practice sessions!
Conclusion
Electric guitars are considerably easier to play than acoustics and it is often a misconception that the acoustic guitar is the guitar designed for beginners and the electric guitar is one to upgrade to. In most cases it would be wise to start on the electric guitar for the beginning and then get an acoustic when you have covered the basics.
In my experience as a guitar teacher, adults with large hands tend to excel quicker on the acoustic guitar due to the larger scale of the neck.
Be careful as a lot of sales assistants may be more interested in the commission than helping you choose the right guitar. It is best to bring along an experienced guitarist or ask your guitar teacher for a recommendation.
Happy purchasing!
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- Karen Hubbard
I have been having guitar lessons with Rob for six months or so. He is really welcoming and friendly and sessions are relaxed and are at a pace that works to suit me. I get to choose the stuff I enjoy playing rather than being told what to play which makes a big difference to me and means I learn because I’m enjoying it and want to practice inbetween sessions. I have really come along way since starting with him, because I think he believes in
me and my capabilities and cares about his students and tailors sessions to the individual.
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- Mandy Martin
Thanks Rob. Wish the school teachers were more like you, think they would get better results!!
I like the way you really care about Oli
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- Paul vale
Rob is an outstanding teacher and has helped me enormously with his flexible, patient and professional approach
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- Justin Fisher
Having started as a complete beginner I found Rob to be very friendly, taking the time to find out what I wanted to learn.
Lessons are adapted to suit what it is you want to play. Rob is very knowledgeable and offers plenty of support when there are elements I do not understand. I would highly recommend anyone willing to try Rob as a teacher.
You will be rocking in no time….
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- Vic Roberts
Hi my name is Vic and i have been taking lessons from Rob for a coulpe of months now. I have tried a few teachers in the past but I think Rob is an excellent teacher by comparison. He is friendly easy going and makes the lessons enjoyable. Also it is nice to take lessons in a proper studio rather than someones front room. If you want to learn guitar or already play and want some advanced lessons I highly recommend Rob as a teacher.
