Beaverton, OR Blues Guitar Lessons

I feel that if a guitarist doesn't know and play the blues that they are missing out on one of the most enjoyable styles to play. Blues is a huge world within music, yet the techniques are true for all styles within the blues. There is a long history of improvisation and I teach you to be able to play with anyone, in any key, and express yourself free flowingly.

Whether just starting out, or having played for years, the focus will be on helping the student become proficient - or to improve - in their ability to express themselves in the Blues.

Everything you need to achieve the styles of Blues you want to play, learning the chords, scales, finger picking, hybrid picking and how to apply them into the Blues as a style, so you can achieve your goals, even developing your own style and approach.

Experienced guitar teacher available for eager beginning students of all ages! I structure my lessons so students learn what they want to learn, while also building a strong foundation of musical skills. I taught myself to play guitar in high school, so just know the basics. I played keyboards, my main instrument, in several rock bands, so know some blues riffs that could transfer well to guitar. I enjoy helping people to find the fun in playing guitar!

Minor pentatonic, sixth-string root blues scales, transposing sixth-string root scales to other keys, blues scales, fifth-string root connecting scale positions, transposing fifth-string root scales to other keys, major pentatonic, fifth-string root alternating between minor and major pentatonic, 12-bar shuffle rhythm patterns, walking bass lines, how to add fills to rhythm patterns, using hybrid picking and palm muting, classic blues turnarounds, and expressive elements, such as finger slides, sweeps and bends and much more.

Kenny has been playing guitar since the age of 14, has received awards and grants from the Canada Council, and is an instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His approach to teaching guitar helps students learn quickly and maximize musical potential.

I'm a guitar player and singer songwriter from Montreal, Canada, have been living in Chicago for five years, and have been playing electric, dobro, and acoustic guitar in the studio and on the stage for 20+ years. I play fingerstyle in a variety of tunings and am also a proficient flatpicker covering folk, bluegrass, electric, blues, and country picking techniques.

Whether you are a songwriter looking to improve your basic skills to perform a wider range of material, or a flatpicker looking to refine your improvisation skills or learn fingerstyle and open tunings, I can help you learn the correct approach to help bring your playing to a new level.

We all have within us, the ability to be an excellent player. With ...

I like to format my guitar lessons based on what style of music my students would like to play. We could learn how to hold the guitar and use our fingers in the most efficient ways to build and learn chords, we could be tackling tabs and learning about finger picking techniques, or we could focus on songwriting, song structures, chord families, and theory. Whatever fit your style, you'll be able to play your favorite songs after we work hard together!

My lessons are super fun and full of learning the skills that will get you to play songs right off the bat! We'll learn songs as soon as possible, so you can experience the enjoyment of learning music fast, and you'll also build the skills that you need to play guitar. I like to center my lessons around the interests of my students, but if you're not sure the direction you'd like to go into, I have lots of different ideas of avenues we can explore.

I've been teaching in the Portland Metro area for over 10 years. I am knowledgable with many styles and very experienced with all skill levels. I have an Associate of Science in Music from North Idaho College, as well as musical instruction from the University of Oregon School of Music and Portland State University.

I've taught through Ethos Music Center, Youth Music Project, Chordination, as well as maintain my own studio.

My main objective is to find an angle that will help the student cultivate a love for playing the guitar. I incorporate classical notation as well as reading tablature, playing and understand scales, and helping you execute the style and songs that most interest YOU.

We will also be covering, but not limited to, how to transcribe guitar parts from recorded music, music theory, singing while playing, songwriting and guitar maintenance.

I also regularly perform locally and nationally. Past and present, I play with groups Ages and Ages, Rio Grands, Hockey, ...

I can teach all styles, all levels, you'll learn to play songs, basic to advanced chords, learn to read music, music theory, but most importantly have fun doing it!