Call (925) 695-7060

Call (925) 695-7060

Benecia CA Guitar Lessons

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Guitar Students Looking for Lessons

I was getting gas last week at Benicia Chevron when Joe pulls up behind me and sees my mobile guitar lessons advertising all over my car. He asks for my card and we start to talk about theory.

Joe says he practices1- 3 hours a day sometimes. So I recommended that he sign up for a free hour private guitar at his home. He was excited and yesterday he received his lesson with me.

Joe has taken some guitar lessons  at store a few years ago. I had him play a few chords and songs and he sounded pretty good. Then I proceeded to show him how to hold guitar with strap, how to name notes on all 6 strings on frets 1 through 12.

A great 1st position 1234 left hand finger stretch he does twice a day all 6 strings and gave him right hand flat picking to old song “ The House Of The Rising Sun”.  At end of lesson I gave him his guitar lesson assignment. Joe commented  thatno one showed him what I did and rated his first lesson as  A+.

In closing, he said he will be giving me a 5 star rating on YELP. He was glad to have found a private instructor that could come down to a beginner level and explain the theory behind playing guitar.

Guitar & Banjo Lessons
Benicia  CA
(925) 695-7060

Guitar Lessons – Benicia & Vallejo CA

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Guitar Lessons Benicia Vallejo

 More Guitar Lessons – 40 Years Later

Last Wednesday, March 14, I had just finished a guitar lesson in Benicia when Joe walked up to my mobile guitar lessons wrapped car and said he has seen my car all over Benicia and Vallejo.

Joe use to read music and play guitar 40 years ago and now wants to get back into music. I told him I have a special where the first hour on guitar is free and then purchase one month private lessons and 2nd month is free. He wanted to know what type3 of guitar would be best for his guitar lessons. I suggested the following options:

  • Steel string acoustic guitar by Fender or Martin
  • Acoustic electric steel or nylon string guitar by Godin under $600
  • A beginning electric guitar an d amp package by Fender for $200

We had his first hour free guitar lesson and went over 15 open chords, parts of guitar, naming all notes on fret board and left hand finger stretch and started him on chords to Hotel California. He was excited and loved the music theory.

For the next lesson, I’m giving him Guitar Method Book 1 with CD by Hal Leonard so he can read music. My car sign is getting a lot of calls from Benicia to Walnut Creek asking for Guitar, Bass and Banjo lessons – a true guitar lesson billboard on wheels.

If you’re looking for a great birthday gift, think about my guitar lesson package of one free guitar lesson and 2 months of 1-hour guitar lessons for half price. Most method  books are included and if you refer a student, you receive life time $25  per month discount.

Check out some samples of my guitar playing and hear some of my students as well.

Guitar & Banjo Lessons
Benicia – Vallejo CA
(925) 695-7060

FREE Walnut Creek CA Guitar Lesson

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Father & Son Guitar Lessons

Today I traveled from Dublin to Walnut Creek to teach a free introductory lesson to a 10-year old beginner guitar student, Thomas. His father is a self-taught guitarist.

 I’m one of the few teachers in the East Bay Area of California that will travel to multiple cities around the area to give guitar lessons at the  student’s home – whether Dublin, Walnut Creek or anywhere else in the East Bay.  I also allow more than one student in a family to share lessons.

The son has a Fender electric Stratocaster guitar while dad plays an acoustic guitar. The dad wanted most of the lesson to focus on his son, so I asked Thomas to name the notes of the open strings and tell me the names of all parts of his electric guitar. He was a little confused so I went over all parts of the guitar with him. 

After that I showed both of them what kind of guitar strap to use and how the guitar should be held high up on chest for proper hand position and to always practice with the strap on guitar while sitting or standing which develops a consistent posture and positioning of the hand on the guitar (especially the thumb on the back of the neck).

Then, I showed them a basic left hand finger stretch in 1st position (Frets 1 through 4 ) and how to hold the left thumb behind the middle of the neck. After that, both father and mother commented that they were very happy that I had the ability to motivate their son and the way he was responding to the lesson.

I then proceeded to go over open chords and had him start out picking each string of a chord from the lowest to highest strings and then strumming all strings together and saying the chord names out loud. Next we explored a pentatonic scale in the 1st, 5th and 9th positions and how to properly hold the pick.

I finished the lesson by creating a worksheet assignment for them from my laptop computer and emailed it to them right there on the spot (isn’t technology grand!).  I told dad to print it out and leave it on the music stand so both of them will see it and be motivated to practice 30 to 60 minutes every day. They were so excited and appreciative they helped me carry all my music gear to car and thanked me for a great guitar lesson.

I told them that in the next lesson we would be learning to read real music notation and reminded dad that if he purchased one month of guitar lessons, I would give a second month of free guitar lesson at no charge. I am the only professional guitar instructor that I know of in the Bay Area that does this.

Guitar & Banjo Lessons
Walnut Creek, Dublin CA
(925) 695-7060

Half Priced Guitar Lessons – Fairfield & Martinez CA

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Give the Gift of Art – Guitar Lessons

I’ve been teaching guitar lessons privately in Bay Area for many years. I started teaching guitar lessons in Fairfield, CA and performing at Travis Air Force base and then taught in Martinez. As my business grew, I found myself working with students all over the East Bay.

My business has now evolved into a mobile service of bringing private guitar instruction to your home on your schedule – as long as my guitar lesson schedule is open!

This morning at 6:30 a.m. I receive a text message from Susan in Martinez asking if I have offer a gift package. She wants to give her husband private guitar lessons for his birthday.

I have unbelievable prices for guitar lessons! I offer introductory guitar lesson packages for all ages and all levels of guitar, bass and banjo. You receive 4 half-hour private guitar lessons for $150  intro package taught by a pro, not a student . Happy guitar jamming to you.

Guitar & Banjo Lessons
Fairfield & Concord CA
(925) 695-7060

Free Guitar Lesson – Richmond CA

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Former Guitar Student in Richmond Reconnects to Take it to the Next Level

Richmond CA guitar lessonsLast week I gave a one hour free introductory guitar lesson to Brian in Richmond near Hill Top Mall. My car is wrapped with info advertising “guitar lessons.“.  When I parked in front of the student’s house, a neighbor ask for my card for guitar lessons for her husband. He has had a guitar for several years and gave up trying to learn on the Internet. I said that’s what I do – Help build guitar students’ confidence.

So, my Richmond guitar student, Brian had taken lessons from me from 1987 to 2003, 16 years.  Then he took a break to work on private vocal lessons and now, 8 years later. we hooked back up. 

I was playing a Godin Synth guitar with nylon strings through a Roland Jazz Chorus amp and Brian had a Ibanez semi hollow jazz guitar a la  Larry Carlton’s Gibson 335. We went over “After Hours” by jazz guitarist Ronnie Jordan on YouTube.

Within 15 minutes Brian could play both the melody and chords watching me. Brian was encouraged because had not picked up guitar in 10 years. Then we went t over songs he could sing like “ Just The Two Of Us” and “Morning” by Al Jareau. Brian has an incredible voice.

Brian  emailed me next morning saying how much he was inspired and looking forward to joining my (RGS Guitar Ensemble) and wants to work on singing and playing guitar at same time. I let Brian know how fun it is for me to work with a student that has amazing talent and just needs a pro to take him to the next level.

Brian’s goal is to start doing solo gigs where he can sing and play or just play solo or do guitar duets with me. It’s always great as a guitar or bass student to set short term goals of picking the correct repertoire that you can have fun with jamming, but at same time forces you to take your bass and or guitar chops to the next level.

Guitar & Banjo Lessons
Richmond CA & East Bay Area
(925) 695-7060

Danville & San Ramon CA – Guitar Lessons at Home

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Mobile Guitar Lessons in Danville & San Ramon California

Everything is going mobile these days thanks to smart phones & iPads. I think I was ahead of the curve with my mobile guitar lessons – meaning I will come to your house in Danville or San Ramon (or anywhere else in the East Bay) and give private guitar lessons. Or if you have a friend or brother or sister that also wants lessons, we could do a small group guitar lesson.

I teach  guitar, bass, uke, mandolin and 4 & 5 string banjo lessons – beginners to advanced. I have developed my own teaching style that makes it easy to learn to play guitar or any of the other instruments I teach. There is very little risk for my guitar students – I offer the first lesson FREE and also offer the first month of guitar lessons at half price. This allows my guitar students in San Ramon and Danville to see if my method is right for them and whether or not we are going to “click” as student and teacher.Another  big plus for my guitar students’ parents in Danville & San Ramon CA is that my lessons are month-to-month – no contracts.

San Ramon Danville Guitar instructorI am probably one of the most experienced guitar teachers in the East Bay. I have developed a unique teaching system. I have toured with many well known entertainers. I have studied at some of the most prestigious music schools and with some of the finest guitar players in the world (all styles). Over time, my guitar lessons will cover all the bases to help my students grow from a casual guitar player to a professional guitar player that will have an extensive understanding of music and what is involved in a professional music career.

My website is updated frequently with all kinds of tips on guitar playing, music theory, how to build guitar confidence on strum patterns and how to use modes, scales and chords.

There’s really nothing to lose – except the opportunity to become an awesome guitar player or professional musician. Call me now to book that first guitar lesson FREE of charge.

Guitar Lessons
Danville – San Ramon – East Bay Area
(925) 695-7060

Below is my version of Shakedown, a classic jazz fusion song by Spyro Gyra. All solos are transcribed from the original recording. I had a hard time transcribing the original recording organ solo but I did and Christopher Milne did a great job. My rock ensemble students did a great job in helping to pull this one off. I love the sax and guitar leads in thirds and I’m playing the guitar solo which took some practice.

 

Guitar Ensemble for Guitar Students

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Join Our Ensemble & Play Guitar in Front of the Crowd!

As a professional guitar instructor since I started teaching at age of 16 years old in New Jersey and New York City back in 1997, 15 years ago I wanted all of my students have an opportunity to experience jamming in a large ensemble format.

Most instructors, including me, would teach weekly for 1/2  hour private guitar lessons. On average I had 80 to 100 guitar students per week I love teaching guitar. 

I want all of my guitar students to be able to play solo and read music (so they can teach themselves after about 3 years of guitar study). Taking group guitar lessons may lead to feeling lost in the crowd. Private guitar lessons help you to learn what scales to solo over and playing in front of your peers.

This is what inspired me to assemble a 50-piece rock ensemble consisting of 30 guitar students ages 7 to 75 and a 20-piece horn section consisting of  soprano,alto,tenor,baritone sax as well as flute and trumpet players.

Since my  major in college was music arranging, composing and conducting I would take popular songs from the 1950’s to current pop, jazz and fusion and do custom charts.

Every guitar student I teach starts out reading music. Playing tab and by ear takes too much time and most student’s ear training is inadequate. So I would have rhythm guitar and lead guitar parts. Then, I added my own horn arrangement and I would customize the stock arrangement (record copy), and feature world renowned percussionist  “Orestes Vilato” whom was on the first 4 hit albums of Carlos Santana .  I would also hire local Bay Area professional sax instructors and professional keyboardist Christopher Milne and Gary Minadeo on drums. Myself and Bay Area monster  Blues guitarist, Adam GabrielI, would play lead guitars but my arrangements would also feature guitar solos by my guitar students.

I would have the students in for guitar lessons the first 3 weeks of every month,  then no lessons for the 4th week because I would offer students a chance to play on Monday or Tuesday nights 7-9p.m. at Spitzer Music Store in Concord (now relocated in Stockton).

All students brought their guitars and amps. I would provide celebrity musician friends of mine to fatten up the sound and pitch problems.

We started this in 1998 and within one year we had a agent  booking us to perform at professional NFL games and professional Major League Baseball games.

If you want to get better on your guitar and learn how to read and solo come join us  (925) 695-7060 Rex@GuitarConfidence.com.

San Ramon CA Bass Guitar Lessons

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San Ramon CA Bass Guitar Lessons

Keeping the Bass Guitar Beat in San Ramon

I was giving a guitar lesson to one of my bass guitar students from San Ramon who has been reading Hal Leonard’s Bass Method Book I.  He had not been practicing his reading assignments regularly for two months because he was rehearsing a 35 song playlist for a paying gig and only had so much time for practicing.

So today, we were back to the work on reading music for bass guitar.  Bass guitar uses the bass clef as compared with regular guitar that uses the treble clef. We started where we left off two months ago on techniques taught to music majors at the college level where you practice sight reading daily.

Before you play a new exercise for the first time, make sure you speak it out loud without out picking up the guitar and say each note from left to right. You should say the name of the note and the fret location. For example, on a 4 string bass if the note was string 4 fret 1 you would simply say F1. This programs your built in computer that God gave you known as your brain to remember the note locations on the fretboard.

THEN SLOWLY AT ABOUT 75 B.P.M. on the metronome tap your right foot, if your right handed, or left foot if left handed and count out loud 1,2,3, and 4 and try to play the exercise without stopping. Try not to keep looking at your fret board and hand but keep your eyes on the music so you don’t get lost. If you are still not making it through the exercise without making lots of mistakes, try naming each note out loud as you play instead of counting each beat and just say the name of the note and not the fret location. More to come.

To get started with learning to read sheet music for guitar, I highly recommend Hal Leonard Method Books.

Guitar Lessons – Chord Progressions

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San Ramon CA Chord Progressions – Guitar Lesson

I was giving a guitar lesson to a student in San Ramon who wanted to know about chord progressions.

When learning a new song, it’s best to first analyze the chords of song known as the chord progression. This will help with your memorization skills to learn and remember the song much quicker. You will also start to recognize typical chord progression patterns in songs that are similar to other songs you have already learned, which will make it easier to assimilate the information. 

For instance, a common progression like the one used in La Bamba in the key of C would start with the C chord followed by F and G. 

Chord progressions are typically notated with Roman numerals such as I, IV, V.  In this progression, C would be the I (1), F would be the IV (4) and G would be the V (5). You would call this song a I, IV, V progression. The reason to use this system is because you can quickly transpose the song to any key.  

Let’s say you want to play the song and the key of C is a little out of your vocal range.  You can then easily transpose the progression to let’s say the key of G.  G would now be the I chord, C would now be the IV chord and D would now be the V chord. 

If you know scales, you are simply taking the starting note of the scale as your I Chord, the fourth note of the scale as your IV chord and the V note of the scale as your V chord.  Taking our example above, the G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#.  So as you can see, G is in the 1st position, C is in the fourth position and D is in the fifth position.  More to come.

First Step in Learning to Read Sheet Music

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Learning to Read Sheet Music for Guitar Players

In follow up to my previous posts about learning to read music, the first step is to learn where the C Major notes are in the first position on the fret-board and then subsequently on every fret of the guitar.

Second, you need to learn timing and how long to hold each note or rest (symbols that tell you when not to play).

Third, you need to learn to keep steady time and should tap your foot and say the name of each note as you play each exercise. 

And fourth, you should practice with a time keeper device known as a metronome. 

Start off slow and increase the speed as you get better.  Too many guitar beginners want to skip this process and try to play songs and just read basic charts or tab notation.  This can be okay for the person who just wants to play for their own enjoyment or as a non-professional.  However, if you want to build the confidence that comes with being a true musician, these are important steps. 

I started taking guitar classes at age eight and later had the opportunity to study advanced jazz guitar lessons with Ron Parker at New York Guitar Studio. He taught me advanced techniques in reading and playing by ear and I played in a Jazz Band and sang in choir. I later attended Berklee College Of Music where guitar greats like Al Dimeola, Pat Matheny, John Scofield and John Mayor studied, just to name a few. Each week, we would have daily guitar sight reading classes, rhythmic dictation, ear training, music composition, arranging, recording techniques and even film scoring and conducting.  

My big break came when I got the chance to audition for Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five. It was this training that allowed me to get the job and perform with artists like Michael Jackson, Wild Cherry, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand and many others.  

I highly recommend finding a private instructor that you see weekly or at least twice a month that will teach you to read music, not just tab.  If you are looking for guitar lessons in the Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton or any areas nearby, I would be happy to work with you.  Reading music will build your confidence and you will find yourself taking huge leaps forward within six months to a year.

To get started with learning to read sheet music for guitar, I highly recommend Hal Leonard Method Books.

Learn to Play Guitar in the Privacy of Your Own Home

Our guitar instructors come to you to give you personal one-on-one lessons in the privacy of your own home. We cover Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Livermore and all cities in east and south bay

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Contact us for guitar lessons or more information at:

Guitar Confidence
4101 Dublin Blvd
Suite F, #537
Dublin, CA 94568

(925) 695-7060

guitarconfidence@gmail.com

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