Montebello, CA Bluegrass Guitar Lessons

All styles - strumming, fingerpicking
Improvisation soloing
Proper technique
Repertoire
Music analysis

Fingerpicking is one of my favorite styles of guitar to play! Whether you want to learn the most advanced techniques or are just starting out and want to get down the basics, I'd be more than happy to help you achieve your goals.

After the first lesson, you will understand the essentials of bluegrass guitar and be playing bluegrass! Bluegrass guitar playing requires a knowledge of chords, melody, licks, flatpicking/picking technique as well as knowing songs all of which we will start learning in your first lesson.

With 10+ years as a music teacher and professional musician I have picked up many approaches that will insure you are making the most progress and truly finding your musical voice.

Bluegrass is my bread and butter. Let's study Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Bryan Sutton, fiddle tunes, vocal tunes, and more. Let's pick.

Bluegrass has progressed beyond guitar for me and has now moved into mandolin and banjo studies. There are so many cool licks and sounds!

Would you love to play that song you love and you do not yet know how? you compose songs and want them to be recorded? I will teach you how to play and record those songs that you really love while you have fun doing it. Let me take a look at what you have or/and you want to learn so that we can start working on it. Let's have fun!

I have earned a Bachelor's Degree from Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA. While there, I received extensive training in performance, composition, and music production.

I am currently working as a private instructor for students of a wide range of ages and experience levels. I am proficient in many music styles, and have a in depth understanding of music theory and ear training.

I own a music production business where I work with professional artist to record and produce their music, and make them achieve their greatest possible sound

Besides all that, I love to teach. I have been blessed with many great music teachers who have inspired me and influenced my life. I am glad to be offering the same opportunity to my students, while helping them grow artistically and develop a deeper love of music.

Donovan Raitt has been teaching guitar since the age of 18, and has continued teaching lessons in since 2001. Mr. Raitt holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in guitar performance and his teaching methods have been proven successful from absolute beginners to students at the college level.

Donovan has had a passion for the guitar since the age of 10, and loves sharing that passion with his students. Donovan strives to create the best learning environment for his students and help them achieve their musical goals. He is dedicated to teaching and developing the next generation of professional guitarists. Several of Mr. Raitt's students have gone on to professional careers in music, and have been accepted into some of the best guitar programs across the country.

BEGINNERS:LEARN TO PLAY THE FIVE BASIC CHORDS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW LESSONS ON THE GUITAR. THEN LEARN HOW TO STRUM AND CHANGE BETWEEN CHORDS SO YOU CAN LEARN TO PLAY YOUR FAVORITE SONGS.

INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED STUDENTS: I CAN DEMYSTIFY THE GUITAR NECK, TEACH YOU SCALES , SOLOS AND TECHNIQUES OF YOUR FAVORITE GUITARISTS IN ANY STYLE.

My guitar lessons will teach a strong understanding of fundamentals but are also heavily geared to what the student wants to learn. As a player who is both self-taught and has taken lessons, I understand all the pitfalls and hardships that can occur from trying to learn theory, chord structure, or scales on your own. My goal is to educate new guitar players the point where they can play the songs they love or just get together and help them with their songwriting.