Guitar

Guitar Lessons in Grants Pass

Guitar is one of the most popular instruments, with about 2 million sold every year in the U.S. Whether you dream of playing in a band, strumming by the campfire, or just making music at home, guitar lessons at Southern Oregon School of Music will help you get there!

Private Guitar Lessons

Weekly Lessons - 1 Student

Choice of:

30 minutes

45 minutes*

60 minutes*

*For advancing students.
Beginners generally enroll in 30 minute lessons.

Book a Guitar Trial

Guitar Classes

60 minutes | Weekly Classes

3 to 6 Students

The basics are more fun to learn in a group - plus learning with others is very motivating! Join the wait list for our Intro to Guitar Class today!

Join the Wait List!

What you Will Learn in Guitar Lessons:

Whether you're interested in acoustic, electric, or bass guitar, the foundational skills you’ll learn in our lessons can be applied to any style of music. In the early stages, students will learn proper posture, tuning, basic chords, and simple strumming or picking patterns to start playing real songs quickly. As they progress, they will develop rhythm, finger strength, and an understanding of how music works on the guitar. Our teachers take the time to get to know each student, their personality, goals, and musical taste, and guide them in building the skills they need to play the music they love.

A Little Info About the Guitar:

What many people don't realize is that the guitar – or some version of it – has existed since the dawn of time. The instrument originally had three strings and was typically played with a plectrum, which is an early version of the modern pick. Modern guitars come in three basic types - acoustic steel string guitars, classical nylon string guitars, and electric guitars which can be solid body or hollow body electric guitars. There are also acoustic-electric guitars which are regular acoustic steel string guitars that can be plugged into an amplifier allowing them to be used in a band with other amplified instruments and drums.

FAQs:

How much will I need to practice?

You will need to play the guitar regularly to make progress in lessons. We recommend that beginners practice 15-30 minutes every day. Playing the guitar results in sore fingers at the beginning, so it is best to split practice time into two sessions a day for 10 minutes with several hours in between to give sore fingers time to rest. As you practices regularly, you will eventually develop callouses on your fingers so that they no longer hurt. At that point, you can play for longer periods of time. The more time a musician practices, the faster they progress in their playing.

What accessories will I need?

-Medium Picks (start with 5 or so) -A guitar strap -A tuner or tuner app on your phone -A guitar stand or wall mount for home. Keeping the guitar out and ready will help you practice regularly. -Eventually, a capo will also be needed

What size and type of guitar will my child need for beginner lessons?

Below are general size guidelines. It is better for the guitar to be a bit small than for it to be too large - even adults play the small ukulele! The classical guitar with nylon strings is the most common to find in smaller sizes and It is also best for young beginners since it is easier on their fingers. After your child has built up some callouses and is ready to move up a size, they can change to a steel string guitar if that is their preference. GUITAR SIZE HEIGHT 1/4 Size Guitar - up to 3'9" tall 1/2 Size Guitar - up to 4'3" tall 3/4 Size Guitar - up to 4'11" tall 7/8 Size Guitar - up to 5'1" tall Full Size Guitar - 5'2 and taller When you invest in guitar lessons for your child it is very important that you also invest in a quality guitar. Inexpensive guitars often have a higher action (distance from string to the fretboard) that makes the guitar difficult to play. A quality guitar will be much easier to play, and your child will be proud of the beautiful sound it makes. Since it will be more fun to play, your child will enjoy practicing more and make better progress in their lessons.

Is it possible to schedule lessons every other week (biweekly)?

It could possibly work during the school day, but not after 2:00 pm since these times are in such high demand. Also in our experience, we have found that although it can work for adults, biweekly lessons with children are generally not successful. They need the consistency of weekly support from their teacher. The classical guitar with nylon strings is the most common to find in smaller sizes and It is also best for young beginners since it is easier on their fingers. After your child has built up some callouses and is ready to move up a size, they can change to a steel string guitar if that is their preference. GUITAR SIZE HEIGHT 1/4 Size Guitar - up to 3'9" tall 1/2 Size Guitar - up to 4'3" tall 3/4 Size Guitar - up to 4'11" tall 7/8 Size Guitar - up to 5'1" tall Full Size Guitar - 5'2 and taller When you invest in guitar lessons for your child it is very important that you also invest in a quality guitar. Inexpensive guitars often have a higher action (distance from string to the fretboard) that makes the guitar difficult to play. A quality guitar will be much easier to play, and your child will be proud of the beautiful sound it makes. Since it will be more fun to play, your child will enjoy practicing more and make better progress in their lessons.