York Guitar Lessons

Razzamataz Theatre School York
York College Sim balk Lane , Bishopthorpe

Private electric and acoustic guitar lessons in York. All ages and skill levels. I don't have a cookie-cutter approach to teaching music.

Hi, I'm David, and I've been playing both the electric and acoustic guitars for a looong time now! Thirty years to be exact, and I've been tutoring for eight, including both private lessons and workshops. It's been a long and interesting journey, to say the least, and the guitar has taken me to some amazing places. I've played in bands as well as performing my own solo music on the local York folk

scene, though as I write this - October 2012 - my musical adventurings are lessons and home recording. My favourite guitarist is Carlos Santana, though I've been influenced by many great guitarists over the years: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Johnson, Peter Green, John Mclaughlin, Bert Jansch, Steve Howe and many others. As a teacher, I'm well aware of the frustrations that face the novice guitar player and remember all too well my own disappointing encounters with teachers that led me ultimately to find my own way and teach myself. I forged ahead by myself, though missing the support and encouragement that a good teacher can and should provide. Looking back on what I wanted in a teacher, I try to give that to my students today. This essentially boils down to supporting you to play the music that you love and that inspires you, and giving you the necessary guidance and information to be the guitar player you want to be. Everyone is different, will develop in at their own pace, and will find themselves drawn to different aspects of the instrument, be it composition, improvisation, or the modeling of unique sounds with effects. Or any kind of combination. As well as finding their own unique challenges on the instrument. I try to cover all aspects, so whether you're wanting to play the most complicated Joe Satriani solo or a simple folk song, I'm here to help take you where you want to go. It's a great joy to see a student get to that place we all want to get to where you loose yourself in the music and you don't have to worry anymore about technique or where-does-this-finger-go. Passing on that flame is the great pleasure and privilege of teaching music. Parents note that I hold an enhanced CRB check. References are available on request.

"We thought his music was very similar to ours, and we latched on to him amazingly quickly.” Paul McCartney explained how a youthful error led him to write one of his greatest guitar tracks for the Beatles

16/02/2025

One of the first fingerstyle pieces I learned. I believe he got the right hand pattern from Donovan when The Beatles were in India. And John Lennon used a variation on Dear Prudence

"We thought his music was very similar to ours, and we latched on to him amazingly quickly.” Paul McCartney explained how a youthful error led him to write one of his greatest guitar tracks for the Beatles "Blackbird" developed from his and George Harrison's love of Bach's Bourée in E minor and their attempts to master the piece as young teenagers

19/10/2024

28/09/2024

Love this photo! ❤️🎸

David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler

12/08/2024

I was SO happy to see a young person with a guitar at the Olympics!! 😀🎸

Taylor Swift Is One of the 'Most Influential Guitarists' Today According to New Poll, Here's Who Else Is on There

02/07/2024

She's certainly influential!

Taylor Swift Is One of the 'Most Influential Guitarists' Today According to New Poll, Here's Who Else Is on There The list features 20 guitar players who are voted as the most influential in the last two decades.

Brain Scans of Jazz Musicians Reveal How to Reach a Creative ‘Flow State’

31/05/2024

"One striking finding was that high-flow performances were associated with reduced activity in the brain’s frontal lobes, which are associated with executive function and cognitive control. This supports the idea that flow is a state of low cognitive control rather than hyperfocus."

Brain Scans of Jazz Musicians Reveal How to Reach a Creative ‘Flow State’ Both expertise and the ability to release one’s focus can help people enter a state of effortless attention

27/05/2024

It's Not a Phase: Electric Guitar's Return to Mainstream Music Seems to Be Permanent Guitar continues to be front and center in popular music outside of the rock and metal genres.

18/04/2024

This song has the most Googled guitar chords in the world, according to new study The chords for Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah are the most Googled across the world, according to a new study.

12/04/2024

“When I go onstage and have a guitar, I feel like no-one can touch me”: Why Amy Winehouse's passion for guitar was key to her distinctive songwriting style A little-known 2004 interview saw Amy Winehouse wax lyrical about all things guitar

10/04/2024

Nile Rodgers, Bonnie Raitt and John Squire on the Fender Stratocaster How did a radio repair man make an instrument so sublime that it makes giants of music weep with reverence? As the Fender Stratocaster turns 70, we explore its extraordinary life