Frequently Asked Questions
I don't know how to/forgot how to read music. Do I need to know how to do it before I start taking lessons?
-No. There are a few different ways to notate guitar music. While that can make things confusing, I will help you find one that makes the most sense to you, and take you through the process of reading the notation that is appropriate to the music you are learning. I like to focus on playing music and working on technique, but I do write out songs and exercises to work on at home, and will make sure you can make sense of what I have written out for you.
Do I need a tuner/metronome/capo/any other accessories?
-Everyone should have a tuner. Guitars will go out of tune at times, regardless of the quality of the guitar. The type of tuner doesn't matter as much; get something small and battery powered so you can keep it in your guitar case, or an app for your smart phone. I use a free app called DaTuner Lite, and it works fairly well when I don't have another tuner handy.
I also highly recommend getting a metronome to help with working on rhythm patterns. If you tend to practice with a computer nearby, you can also use a free online metronome, such as metronomeonline.com. As for other accessories, no need to pick them up at first. I will help you decide which of these, if any, will be needed for what you are interested in learning.
Do you teach lessons to younger children?
-Generally, I teach lessons to students anywhere from 8 years old through adults. For small children, it is a good idea to have them learn on a smaller sized guitar. Smaller hands have a very difficult time using proper technique on full-sized guitars. They will have more fun and be more likely to practice on a regular basis if they have an appropriately sized guitar to practice on at home.
Should I play acoustic or electric?
-There are pros and cons to each. Electric guitars are generally a little easier to play, but you'll need an amplifier and a cable. Acoustic guitars are more portable, but require slightly more strength in the hands to play.
It is a common misconception that one should learn on acoustic first, then graduate to playing electric guitar. Get the one that inspires you to play! If you aren't sure, try them both out and compare. If you are interested in learning classical guitar, you'll want a nylon-string acoustic. If you want to learn to do rock guitar solos with a lot of bending, you'll probably want an electric. Otherwise, just play what feels good to you!
Where should I buy my guitar?
-If this is your first guitar, I would stay away from craigslist.com, pawn shops, or Guitar Center. While you MAY find good deals, there also may be problems with the guitars that you won't see or hear until you've been playing for a while. What you save up front can be quickly surpassed by repair costs; Ive seen it happen many times.
Best bets are local music stores. I've personally dealt with American Music and Dusty Strings, both in Fremont, as well as the Guitar Store, close to Green Lake. Take a look at their websites to get a feel for what kinds of guitars they sell, price range, etc. Trading Musician, while it's a used instrument store, generally does a good job of making sure that the guitars they sell are in good shape and good working order. While I haven't shopped there personally, I've also heard great things from Emerald City Guitar. If you have any specific questions beyond this, feel free to drop me a line.
I don't know how to/forgot how to read music. Do I need to know how to do it before I start taking lessons?
-No. There are a few different ways to notate guitar music. While that can make things confusing, I will help you find one that makes the most sense to you, and take you through the process of reading the notation that is appropriate to the music you are learning. I like to focus on playing music and working on technique, but I do write out songs and exercises to work on at home, and will make sure you can make sense of what I have written out for you.
Do I need a tuner/metronome/capo/any other accessories?
-Everyone should have a tuner. Guitars will go out of tune at times, regardless of the quality of the guitar. The type of tuner doesn't matter as much; get something small and battery powered so you can keep it in your guitar case, or an app for your smart phone. I use a free app called DaTuner Lite, and it works fairly well when I don't have another tuner handy.
I also highly recommend getting a metronome to help with working on rhythm patterns. If you tend to practice with a computer nearby, you can also use a free online metronome, such as metronomeonline.com. As for other accessories, no need to pick them up at first. I will help you decide which of these, if any, will be needed for what you are interested in learning.
Do you teach lessons to younger children?
-Generally, I teach lessons to students anywhere from 8 years old through adults. For small children, it is a good idea to have them learn on a smaller sized guitar. Smaller hands have a very difficult time using proper technique on full-sized guitars. They will have more fun and be more likely to practice on a regular basis if they have an appropriately sized guitar to practice on at home.
Should I play acoustic or electric?
-There are pros and cons to each. Electric guitars are generally a little easier to play, but you'll need an amplifier and a cable. Acoustic guitars are more portable, but require slightly more strength in the hands to play.
It is a common misconception that one should learn on acoustic first, then graduate to playing electric guitar. Get the one that inspires you to play! If you aren't sure, try them both out and compare. If you are interested in learning classical guitar, you'll want a nylon-string acoustic. If you want to learn to do rock guitar solos with a lot of bending, you'll probably want an electric. Otherwise, just play what feels good to you!
Where should I buy my guitar?
-If this is your first guitar, I would stay away from craigslist.com, pawn shops, or Guitar Center. While you MAY find good deals, there also may be problems with the guitars that you won't see or hear until you've been playing for a while. What you save up front can be quickly surpassed by repair costs; Ive seen it happen many times.
Best bets are local music stores. I've personally dealt with American Music and Dusty Strings, both in Fremont, as well as the Guitar Store, close to Green Lake. Take a look at their websites to get a feel for what kinds of guitars they sell, price range, etc. Trading Musician, while it's a used instrument store, generally does a good job of making sure that the guitars they sell are in good shape and good working order. While I haven't shopped there personally, I've also heard great things from Emerald City Guitar. If you have any specific questions beyond this, feel free to drop me a line.