Learn Guitar your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Christopher A. - Charleston Guitar Teacher

Charleston, South Carolina is one of the busiest music cities in the South. As a guitarist, you have the opportunity to see many styles of music in some of the nicest settings. If you’re eager to try your hand at materials you’ve been practicing during your guitar lessons in Charleston, there are ample places to showcase your skills with other musicians. You'll have the chance not only to apply what you've been working on, but also gather insight into live performance with other musicians. The receptive environment of these venues can take your learning to a whole new level.

Whether you’re checking out local Darius Rucker at the Charleston Music Hall or watching up-and-coming acts at the Music Farm, there are venues of all sizes within Charleston that bring you live music from different genres to give you a taste of what you can learn as a student. Downtown offers rooms with local cover artists playing in both solo and band settings. Wet Willie’s Charleston, Molly Darcy’s and Queology all have live music on the weekends and are within walking distance of one another on East Bay Street. If you’re on upper King Street, you can stop in Silver Dollar or Charleston Beer Works to hear local bands bringing their blend of covers and originals. For the jazz aficionado, there’s The Mezz; or, one can check out the Charleston Jazz Orchestra at the Charleston Music Hall.

West Ashley has the local blues jams on Wednesday evenings at Home Team BBQ. Show up early, and put your name on the list to sit in with some of the area’s finest bluesicians. A short walk next door to the Tin Roof affords you the chance to hear all original bands in an intimate setting. The Tin Roof and Pourhouse both host original bands and are great places to meet the next generation of music makers.

Mount Pleasant has several smaller rooms ranging from The Shelter, The Black Sheep and Art’s Bar & Grill, all of which have bands Thursday through Sunday. If you venture north of Mount Pleasant to Awendaw Green, you can hear loads of original acts. Or, come down on Wednesday evenings for the barn jam, where you’ll have an opportunity to meet and network with other local musicians in the acoustic vein.

As you cross the Isle of Palms connector from Mount Pleasant, you can check out regional and national acts at The Windjammer. Local heroes Drivin’ and Cryin’ and Cowboy Mouth both hold court at the Jammer. Coconut Joe’s has live music outside on the roof and has a great menu to fill yourself with tasty treats while watching the folks on the beach below. The Dinghy, located across from the Windjammer, has live music in an intimate setting. These venues give you access to the musicians, so you can speak to them and get some tips and tricks on what inspired them to learn and be successful.

In the three years I’ve resided in Charleston, I’ve seen national acts at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, opened for national acts at the Windjammer on the picturesque Isle Of Palms, performed at weddings under the 100 year old live oaks at Boone Hall Plantation and shared music with over 40,000 runners at the Cooper River Bridge Run. The city is bustling with chances to hear other musicians and grow as a guitarist and musician.

So, if you’re interested in taking guitar lessons in Charleston, then you are in a great place with a thriving music scene that is sure to inspire. Start your lessons today, so you can play "Wagon Wheel" or some beach music and join in on the fun. From beginners to pros, the Holy City has ample chances to implement what you've gathered in your lessons, affording you the chance to mature as a musician and student of guitar.