We offer private instruction for Guitar at all levels.  Electric and Acoustic offered. Beginners Welcome! Lessons are customized for your needs. Styles covered include: Rock, Jazz, Metal, Classical, Blues, Bluegrass, Country and Slide.

Dave Taylor: With a picking hand that seems to stroll along on its own. Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and a broad understanding of music to the team, having studied everything from jazz, blues and rock to folk, ragtime and bluegrass. After graduating from the Art Institute of New England, Dave traveled the country playing guitar and banjo, absorbing as much local music as possible. He teaches all styles of electric and acoustic guitar, bass, bluegrass banjo and dobro, and offers expert knowledge of modern recording techniques. Dave has played with a variety of bands in styles ranging from punk to gospel, and can currently be heard playing at venues and open jams all over New England. Teaching Philosophy "I love bridging the gap between different types of music. Often a theme, idea or chord progression that we find in one type of music can be found in a variety of other styles. By looking at similarities like this we can develop a broader understanding of music itself and its inner workings. In this way, students are learning how their instruments work rather than learning just bits of songs. My lessons are always catered to the music and songs a student wants to learn, but by teaching the instrument rather than the song students can play whatever style they like, even if their taste in music changes."

Guitar Lesson with Dave Taylor

Shea Ellis Shea teaches guitar and mandolin for all ages and levels at North Main Music.  His insatiable musical thirst has led him to study numerous guitar styles such as rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and fusion.  Shea holds a BA in History with a concentration in Music from the University of Maine at Farmington.  In college he was lucky enough to study electro-acoustic music composition and recording under Dr. Steven Pane, and came away with a wealth of knowledge in the field of digital audio recording.  Shea also studied guitar under Fred Zinkgraf and blues master Dan Hudson and has won awards and acclaim for his skills in improvisation.  When he isn't teaching he performs regularly around New England with his original indie rock band, "Old Abode."  In his spare time he enjoys playing classical mandolin and finds himself perpetually striving to achieve the ultimate guitar tone. Teaching Philosophy "Every player has their own goals and idea of what they want to be as a musician.  To achieve these goals it takes time, dedication, and practice.  But who says it can't be fun?  I strive to make every lesson unique to the player, and to focus on what I believe to be the four foundations of great musicians: rhythm, tone, phrasing, and technique.  I truly want to help my students fall in love with performing music."

Guitar Lesson with Shea Ellis

Jason Latham Jason has been playing guitar for nearly twenty years and has a diverse interest in styles that range from American roots music, to modern rock and instrumental fusion.  His passion was ignited by playing in his Tucson, AZ, high school music programs, and later, the Tucson and Phoenix area band scenes.  With experience teaching in vocational settings Jason honed the skills needed to teach a range of students from beginners to advanced players.  Jason’s ability to combine these teaching skills with a true passion for many types of music makes him a great resource for anybody who wants to learn how to play the guitar.  Jason currently plays in a professional praise and worship band, a local hard rock band, and he performs solo acoustic roots shows.  He stays busy writing and recording his own musical projects, as well as keeping availability open for studio session work with other musicians.  Jason also plays and teaches lap-style slide guitar, open tunings, and finger picking techniques. Teaching Philosophy With my students I always stress the four “Ts”: tuning, timing, touch, and tone.  With these skills mastered, you will always sound good, - without them, you will never realize your potential.  I encourage students to play with everyone and anyone, and to explore their instruments using different types of music, different techniques, and different equipment.  Most of all, I keep students motivated by encouraging the fun and friendship music has to offer.  I want them to know that music lasts a lifetime.

Guitar Lesson with Jason Latham

Joe Hartnett Joe specializes in classical guitar, but his talent and versatility extends to advanced rock solo and shred techniques on the electric guitar.  Joe holds a B.A in Music from Keene State College, where he studied under Dr. Jose Lezcano for classical guitar.  He also had the privilege to study with acclaimed guitarist/composer Frank Wallace, as well as world-renowned flamenco guitar virtuoso Grisha Goryachev.  Joe has participated in master classes for the Boston Classical Guitar Society, and is always looking for opportunities to enrich his performing and teaching skills. Teaching Philosophy "Teaching for me is all about trying to make the student better in every way.  Whether we are studying technique, theory, composition, or just playing a song, I love making music easier for the students - breaking down the barriers to make it more enjoyable.  I value listening to why music interests them, and through musical exposure try to inspire them and develop their understanding."

Guitar Lesson with Joe Hartnett

Guitar FAQ's

Do you teach acoustic or electric?
Both.

Do you teach students to read music?
Yes we do, but we do not require it and we don't teach it to beginner students. In the beginning, we feel it is more important to get familiar with the mechanics of the instrument (This can be a challenge itself) and to start making music rather than worrying about whether the note is C or C#.  In this case, we will use TAB which is very easy to understand.

What do I need for my first lesson?
Bring your guitar and any other materials you have been studying. You DON’T need to bring an amp or cable as we have them here. 

Do I need a guitar to start?
The short answer is yes. You will need to work on the assignments given by your instructor with your guitar. However, it is possible to do an introductory lesson without a guitar.

Do you recommend acoustic or electric guitar to start off with?
There is a myth that acoustic guitar is easier to play; this is absolutely NOT TRUE. An electric guitar has smaller/thinner strings that are easier to get sound out of, and the string height is almost always lower, enabling easier fretting. Outside of that, we suggest getting a guitar that is close to the music that you want to play. For example, if you are playing heavy metal, an electric guitar would be appropriate if you are playing folk music, and acoustic guitar would be appropriate.

Do you take children?
Yes 6 and over.

Do you rent guitars?
As of now, no. There hasn’t been any real demand for it. The good news is guitar starter packs are pretty cheap and retain their value pretty well. So if you find that you don’t stick with it, you will be able to get most of your money back by selling it.

Where do you recommend purchasing guitar packs and accessories?
We sell metronomes, tuners, strings, and other guitar accessories here at North Main Music. For guitar starter packs, I recommend Guitar Center on DW Highway in Nashua. They have great stock and helpful salespeople.