The guitar is definitely not losing any potency as an instrument for the youth of today. I am glad to see this being the case! It appears that many younger people are preferring the guitar-driven music of the 1960’s-1990’s to get inspired by, rather than many contemporary offerings. ‘Dad rock’ has made a massive comeback.
A number of recently released Marvel inspired films feature classic soundtracks that include AC/DC, Black Sabbath and others among them. Jack Black, in School Of Rock, made sure that younger listeners couldn’t escape the sheer majesty of good old Rock music. Contemporary TV series’ like Supernatural, conjure fond memories of guitar driven rock from the 1970’s.
Also, playing the Ukulele is cooler than it ever was in its 1920’s heyday… more teenagers seem to be taking up this little instrument than ever before! We also have incredible performers like The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain creating dazzling, inspired music and performing to sell-out audiences the world over.
“I really enjoyed my lessons with Leon. He supported me in learning the kind of music I like. He had so much experience, he had lots to teach me.”
(Arwen – age 15)
I offer one-to-one Guitar and Ukulele tuition to all ages
My prices are £20 for one hour, or £10 for half an hour. Half-hour lessons are recommended for younger pupils (aged 6-9).
During 30 years, I have taught all styles of guitar music to people of all levels of ability. Whether you are a total beginner or somebody who may have picked up the guitar at a younger age, left it for years, but want to start up again – or a more advanced, seasoned player, who wishes to expand their playing repertoire and refine their playing techniques – I can help.
As I have found after 37 years of playing, the learning process itself and the continuing strive for improvement never stops.
I offer Ukulele lessons too. Please go to my contact page and you can call me or send an email if you prefer. I’m always happy to talk through specific needs and individual lesson requirements.
Lessons take place in the picturesque surroundings of the Kent Downs AONB, right between Canterbury and Ashford. The room I teach from is very inspiring – surrounded by colourful, musical, retro-themed decor and historic music imagery! In finer, warmer weather I might suggest we do the lesson out in the garden. (So long as any neighbours refrain from mowing their lawns!).
Younger guitar players
All students are different. My method and approach to tutoring an 8-year-old will be very different to my teaching a 20-year old (who may have taught themselves a few things during their teens). A child’s hands are a lot smaller, so certain chords are trickier to master for them. For those younger players, I will simplify chord shapes. We’ll cover a few simpler scale exercises to get independent finger movement and co-ordination going. I have some music to recommend to younger players for learning that will make things fun too.
The Ukulele is a great instrument for little hands, but do bear in mind that chord shape patterns are not the same as on a guitar. Also that a guitar has 6 strings but a Uke only has 4 strings. The two instruments are tuned quite differently too. There are similar chord shapes used on both instruments, but they are different chords relating to different musical keys. For example, a D major chord played on a Guitar is a G major chord on a Ukulele.
Rudimentary right-hand guitar techniques with a pick/plectrum and finger style techniques are covered. Posture and finger positioning (for both hands) is absolutely key at the early stages. Left hand fretting techniques are vital for chords, arpeggios and melody soloing, but so too is the position of the right hand, or picking hand. Too many guitarists can end up adopting poor habits with regard to the very basics of their instrument. It is much harder to knock out the bad habits further down the line than it is to instil good practice at an early stage.
“I enjoy playing guitar, having fun on the guitar and learning more songs. I have been having lessons for a year and a half with Leon. I know lots more songs now and get to learn the tunes I want to play – like the James Bond theme, Back In Black, Harvest for the World, Here Comes The Sun and Stairway to Heaven.”
(Ossie – age 9)
Intermediate and more advanced guitar players
For the more accomplished player, looking to further their playing techniques or styles this demands another approach. Initially, I talk through with you about what you already know and where you want to go with furthering your playing. From this, I can gauge where a good jump off point could be, to suit and further your abilities.
More in-depth right-hand techniques, such as sweep picking, alternate picking, fingerstyle, double-stop picking, claw hammer, one and two-fingered touch tapping, harmonics and the subtlety of artificial harmonics are all covered. This variety of skills can vastly improve your tone palette and enrich your musical vocabulary.
All too often, the right hand is overlooked, under-developed or worse still, neglected. Versatility and dexterity in right-hand techniques can open several doors to an expansive range of music.
Efficient left-hand (fretting) techniques are covered in detail too. How to play efficiently, using the correct fingerings for chords and lead parts, efficient wrist positioning, multiple chord inversions, string vibrato techniques, string bending and how you can vary finger pressure to get different tone or ‘touch’.
Personality, style and emotion
I do my very best to explain musical ‘feel and emotion’ to players with their own (and other guitarists) playing. It’s a tough one to convey, as each person is affected or stimulated by certain guitar phrases and tones in a particular way. Only after years of playing was I truly able to put more feel and emotion into my own playing, whether performing jazz, blues, rock or classical styles. Timbre, timing, quality of notes, choice of notes – and above all, tone and phrasing, is really where it’s at.
The best way to get started on this subject is to listen to some amazing music with guitar players who excel at ’emotional’ playing. A couple of popular examples would include Dave Gilmour – Pink Floyd or Peter Green – Fleetwood Mac. There are many others across all genres of guitar music of course. For Jazz playing, Wes Montgomery is my go-to for inspirational feel. His phrasing – and the spaces he leaves between his notes, makes for inspiring listening.
“I wish I could have guitar lessons with Leon every day.”
(Freddy – age 8)
Emulation of other guitarists
Perhaps there are certain guitar riffs or solos you wanted to master? Perhaps a chord sequence? “How did so-and-so do this.” “I could never play like that.” “Just what ARE they doing there?” …Just a few among many frequent questions and statements that arise from the aspiring guitar player. I will point out, that whilst imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, your own learning journey should be individual to you, so I recommend that players try not to become hellbent on copying someone else’s sound and playing style for the sake of impressing their mates or guitar buddies. However, learning how your guitar heroes play and nabbing from their trick bag of riffs and licks, is always something you can take or leave with you, as your own personal guitar style evolves. Listening, and really, really hearing what you’re listening to, is a skill in itself. It can be a very inspiring experience mastering a famous solo or riff note-for-note (and I’m sure there will be many) – but, be mindful not to get too bogged down in that side of things, or to neglect your own guitar voice. I will always share any music recommendations I have, that will help inspire and captivate you.
Learning hurdles
In all stages of learning a stringed instrument, certain hurdles have to be overcome to be able to progress to the next level. With my pupils, I work out what their individual strengths and weaknesses are at each stage of their learning journey (regardless of playing/ability level). For one, it could be that their body posture is all wrong. for another, it could be that they are not positioning their left-hand wrist correctly to enable fretting trickier chord shapes. For another, it could be the frustration of not being able to control their right-hand flat picking or fingerstyle techniques. Some may wish to run before they can walk. This is all too common. With my teaching approach, I listen to what my pupil wishes to learn and I try to figure out the best and most rewarding route for them to get there. This does not mean taking any short-cuts, instead it’s more a case of suggesting particular exercises to try, which will lead to the style/riff/sequence/solo part they desperately want to learn. Generally speaking, the more novice a student is, the easier it is for me to set them on the right path from the outset. With a more seasoned player who may have got into inevitable bad habits over a period of years, it’s more difficult to have them re-learn or train them out of awkward-looking postures and less efficient playing techniques.
“Leon was a very attentive and supportive teacher for my daughter. She learned quickly and developed impressive new skills. Outside of lessons, Leon passed on lots of links and further material for her top keep progressing. Altogether a great experience, with skills Arwen will no doubt continue to enjoy for a lifetime.”
(Arwen’s mum)
Cruising around the block
Sometimes all musicians suffer ‘blocks’. They can reach a certain level, then plateau, only to often fall into a rut. Worse still, they decide to give up! It can be very difficult and frustrating to progress to the next level. Usually, this is borne out of a combination of lack of time and a lack of self-confidence – therefore motivation. I completely identify with this and have some methods that will help a player go past any barrier he/she may have set up for themselves. Above all, making time for practicing or focussing on certain things is really key.
Substitute watching that TV programme you don’t really enjoy, for half an hours worth of time with your guitar. Even if you sit there cradling it quite absent-mindedly, noodling some combination of notes quite unconsciously, you can allow any moods to lift and help open a creative channel. Listening over and over to that really inspiring piece of your favourite music on decent headphones can be a huge cleanser and helps your brain to reboot. Commit the sounds you hear to memory. Visualisation techniques can help too.
During any prolonged learning process, inspiration can hit at very unpredictable, infrequent times. The catalyst for moving forward could be as simple as learning a new lick, fancy trick, or integrating a complex voiced jazz chord into a sequence you’ve heard in a tune. Perseverance is critical in order to attain these achievements – however small they may seem to be. Every little target achieved becomes part of the whole ‘player’ experience. I think this is the lesson here, the key word is ‘play’ as in player. Not ‘learn’ as in learner. Allowing the learning experience to be fun is much more enjoyable than seeing it as a chore.
As children, we didn’t know how to ride a bike. We were shown. We watched. We learned. We were taught – somehow through play. When learning the guitar, once committed to fingers and memory, the new material you practice is rarely forgotten. I think of all the difficult material I have persisted with over the years, and it is so incredibly rewarding to attain those goals after months and years of slog. (Sorry, play). To be able to continue to play and perform those same complex pieces of music years later provides so much enjoyment and smiles for miles. Much like riding a bike!
To arrange lessons, whatever level you are at, please get in touch by phone or email me from my contact page.