My last post about how much guitar lessons cost has proven to be pretty popular… So I thought I should do a follow-up with a little more detail (for all of you informed consumers).
Last time we gave an overview based on certain criteria (e.g. lesson length, in-studio vs in-home). This time we’ll try to break it down by, “what you get for the money”…
What chords should you learn first on the guitar? Good question.
Answer: G, D, Em, and C
Learn those four chords in that order and you can play a million different songs (see video above for proof**)
Switch up the order of the chords or take one or two out… now you can play a billion different songs.
To make the quickest and most effective progress, start with those four chords.
You can learn to play them here, here, or here.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
School is winding down. It’s getting nice outside.
You know what that means…SUMMER VACATION BABY!!! Oh yeah.
But not for grown ups.
That means the kids are home for the next 3 months. Naturally, you’ll sign them up for summer camps, swimming lessons, swim teams, camping activities, vacations, etc. There’s no shortage of stuff to do. The weather is nice and it’s great to spend as much time outside as possible.
But… what about those rainy days when the kids are all stuck inside?
But… what about when the humidity hits 100% and even the pool doesn’t provide respite?
But… what about when those summer storms strike and the power is knocked out for 24 hours with no TV, no phone, no video games, NO INTERNET!!???!?
Obviously…
Evidently I’m late to the whole Narwals are Jedi’s of the sea party.
That’s ok I guess.
This week, one of my students asked that I teach him the song from the above video. How AWESOME is that??!? It should be pretty easy to learn on the guitar (we’ll stick with the chords first). I haven’t tried to tab it out, but when I do I’ll post it up on the site.
UPDATE: Check out the link for Narwhals chords. I chose the key of G – cause I think it’s easier.
I love my students.
“Don’t practice the guitar”
Period.
The words came out of my mouth during a lesson with a student a few weeks ago. I found myself repeating them to other students as well. At first, I’d get a quizzical look – like I’m luring the student into a trap.
Then, I’d explain myself…
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Should I learn to play the acoustic guitar or electric guitar? Which is better for a child to learn? Which is easier to learn – acoustic or electric? Where can I buy a good child sized guitar?
We get these questions fairly frequently. They’re good questions… with annoying answers…
Ok. Obviously, you should choose an instrument that suits your son or daughter’s style. For example: If your child wants to play heavy metal, a nylon stringed-classical-instrument probably isn’t the way to go… or is it?
No. Probably not.
So – all musical tastes aside – let’s break this down…
Can I learn to play the guitar by playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero?
No.
Ok.
No.
However…
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
So… oftentimes when new students approach me about lessons – they ask if their son or daughter is too young to start guitar lessons. Or they will ask “What is the best age to take guitar lessons?”
And the answer is….
Welcome! I’m Jake Posko and I am a guitar teacher in Annapolis, Maryland. I provide beginner and intermediate private guitar instruction for busy kids and adults.
I provide private guitar instruction in your home. Most of my students prefer this at-home method as it’s low-stress and convenient.
In addition to guitar instruction, I have been performing in the Baltimore-Washington area for over 15 years.
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You are busy. I know. Guitar is supposed to be fun. You shouldn’t feel bad. (Furthermore, your teacher shouldn’t make you feel bad).
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I have spent my entire life performing, and have over 15 years of guitar experience. I have been performing professionally in the Baltimore/Washington area for over 10 years – including local venues like Rams Head and Stan & Joe’s.
In addition to my background in music, I have a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from The University of Maryland College Park, along with professional experience in higher education, in an advising and counseling capacity.
My favorite artists include Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Black Keys, Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Mason Jennings, and the list goes on. But as I mention in my teaching philosophy, I’ll teach you what you want to learn (I’ve played/taught everything from Taylor Swift to Frank Zappa)
I specialize in teaching beginning and intermediate guitarists who want to play rock, pop, blues, or folk music on the acoustic or electric guitar. Some of my students want to be the next Taylor Swift or John Mayer, others dream of strumming Beatles tunes with their family by the campfire (or impressing the rest of your office with some sweet blues licks).
Kids learn differently than adults – this is fairly obvious – though many instructors/schools teach adults and kids in the same way, and with the same material. I take a different approach (in other words, if you’re over the age of 10, I’m not going to teach you “Mary had a Little Lamb”… unless you want me to).
In addition to guitar technique, I incorporate performance and/or recording if my students are interested. One of the biggest motivators in learning the guitar is having something to look forward to – a tangible goal. At least once a year, I try to provide performance opportunities (typically at a local coffee shop or other venue) if my students are interested. Additionally, many students enjoy having their music recorded so they can share with family and friends. I can do both.
It’s really important to teach/learn material that is engaging (and actually interesting) – I want to do what I can to help you stick with it. This approach is a little unconventional, but really effective, and really fun.
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A lot of guitar teachers/lessons run for 30 minutes. I don’t believe that this is enough time to learn, practice, and develop (that’s why my lessons run for forty five minutes to an hour).
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Before our first lesson we will talk about your goals, skill level, and musical tastes. This will help give me an idea of where to start with an organized and tailored plan.
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Click here to e-mail me directly or give me a call: 410-215-7574.
You can also checkout my posting on thumbtack.com: Guitar Lessons that You (or Your Child) Won’t Quit
