Top up sessions - face to face students in Romford or Colchester, or online. All of my on-line students are welcome to have face to face from time to time; I normally let people know when I have spare time slots.
I teach children from 5 years old to read music and play guitar using classical technique. Lessons take place in Braiswick, Colchester.
I teach steel and nylon strung acoustic guitar, preferring the old blues players like Robert Johnson, Blind Blake, acoustic player from the pre-war era. I also like John Fahey and Davey Graham from the 1960's.
Open tuning; including G Blues finger style, and a bit of gospel in open D tuning. Use of finger picks and thumb pick.
I am going to put on Youtube some lessons for acoustic guitar. I will talk about tuning, how to get the best sound by using finger picks. I will give some simple exercises, leading to your first 12 bar blues solo.
If you want to learn jazz guitar and comping in a jazz band, there seems to be very little on the RGT, Trinity and ABRSM syllabus before grade 8.
For those wishing to aim towards an RGT Jazz Performance Diploma ( DipLCM, ALCM ) or further such as LLCM or even FLCM, these courses only start after grade 8. This is a huge jump in knowledge, so I am introducing jazz chords and scales to all my students from grade 4
I teach rock and blues electric guitar. I do not teach the more modern metal. I have played lead guitar in a six piece rock band, playing music from the 1950's to the 1980's. These days I have got to like the 4 string Cigar Box guitar.
I use a 4 string guitar in my band , which is tuned to open G. I use this guitar for the rock songs we perform. Songs include,Seven Nation Army and Cold Turkey (John Lennon)
The Harlequin Resophonic model features a unique D+H custom cigar box guitar resonator cone and chrome ‘deco -style’ coverplate, our Waverley-style ‘New Age’ tuning pegs, Abalone and diamond mother-of-pearl fret markers on a 23-fret rosewood or ebony finger board w/ chequerboard binding and matching veneered Paddle-style headstock with diamond mother-of-pearl inlay, solid maple neck w/ 2-way adjustable truss-rod, beautifully chequerboard-bound solid black walnut body, two chrome sound hole screens, chrome strap buttons, 24 3/4″ fret scale, 1920’s nickel coin inset into head, countersunk inset neck ferrules, solid-bone nut, mini-humbucker + matching surround w/ volume control, chrome control knob and tele-style countersunk chrome input jack plate.
3 string cigar box guitars.
I am going to give my students access to 3 and 4 string instruments, to introduce them to playing blues and rock. These guitars are great fun to play, you can even do bar chords with one finger, making a great sound. These guitars are well underrated, I will provide links to UK makers I have used myself.
I like to play wood and metal bodied resonator guitars. My main workhorse for all styles is a c1980's Dobro, this is the instrument I re tune from open G, for blues and open D for Gospel music.
If you are going to learn to play Blues style guitar especially pre-war period, you will need to get used to playing in open G or D tuning. I love this style of music and am happy to teach learners, to play fingerstyle and slide guitar.
This guitar has a very low serial number S-1596 dating to last half of 1930. When searching up the number on Google I did find some previous history, which I have included.
A few years ago I decided to commission a resonator guitar from Kent luthier, Pete Turner. Pete has made instruments for Mark Knopfler and Peter Green. The guitar is made from Koa wood, seen below at the work bench. I keep this guitar tuned to open D, for slide and fingerstyle gospel and blues style. To get the best sound I use metal finger picks with this instrument.
To book a trial, or just enquire just drop us an e mail, or best call Terry or Philippa.
Images of Pete Turner guitar being built.
Guitar lessons Colchester: Braiswick C04 5UH
