FAQ

My curriculum is designed for adults. As a result, the youngest age student I will accept is 16 years old.

Electric Guitar

Acoustic Guitar

Mandolin

I teach Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Pop, Singer-Songwriter, and Fingerpicking.

My primary focus is on teaching improvisation and lead guitar playing.

I teach at my home in NE Portland, Oregon or remotely over Zoom.

You only need an instrument and the desire to learn and practice regularly. For remote lessons, you will need internet access and the Zoom app downloaded onto your computer or phone.

For most genres, any basic steel string acoustic guitar will do. If you want to specialize in classical guitar, you will need a nylon string guitar. For your first guitar, you don’t need to spend more than $250. Look for an instrument that feels good to hold and sounds good to you. Breedlove is a great brand with some less expensive guitars. Additionally, the Fender CC-60S is a solid starter guitar that often comes as a bundle with a case, a strap, and picks. In the $500 to $800 range, I’ve found that Taylor Guitars are an incredible value.

Clip-On Tuner - Any brand will do, but some common examples are the Snark or the D’addario Micro Tuner

Capo - I recommend the brand Shubb. A capo is only necessary for the following guitar styles: Pop, Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Bluegrass, Fingerpicking, and Old Time. Make sure to get the type of capo that is specific to your instrument. A classical guitar capo is different than a steel string guitar capo. You do not need a capo for mandolin.

Binder or Folder - I will give you songs, diagrams, and learning materials which will all be 3-hole punched. It is helpful to keep everything organized in a binder. If the lessons are remote, I will email PDFs.

Picks - I have different pick recommendations depending on the instrument and genre. We will also experiment with different pick styles and widths to find what works best for you.

Instrument Case - A case makes it much easier to transport your instrument and keep it safe.