Know a good guitar teacher in Manchester?

THR1LLHAU5

Hi folks,

I'm finally fessing up to myself that I probably need to get some proper lessons if I'm ever going to really progress past muddling through pentatonic licks and the same old riffs. For that reason I'm after recommendations for a teacher in the Manchester area. I found a few promising leads on the website Superprof, but that site wants you to pay 30 quid a month for the pleasure of an account, on TOP of the lesson cost with a tutor... Sadly I'm not in a position to do that. 

So, any good teachers in Manc? 

Cheers, 
Nathan

guitarjack66

There's a fella on youtube DM Music tuition(, who sounds like he's from Manchester. Maybe he does lessons and is local enough to you? 

RickLucas

About Mike Walker - Guitarist (mikejswalker.com)

RickLucas

Guitar, bass and piano lessons based in Wilmslow but also on-line. (wilmslowguitartuition.com)

Devil#20

What about the online stuff from Truefire or the other one that is associated with it, whose name escapes me for now. 

Blueingreen

RickLucas said:

About Mike Walker - Guitarist (mikejswalker.com)

I can't vouch for how good a teacher Mike Walker is, but he's a phenomenal player.

Brad

Blueingreen said:

RickLucas said:

About Mike Walker - Guitarist (mikejswalker.com)

I can't vouch for how good a teacher Mike Walker is, but he's a phenomenal player.

If I was to tell you he’s a better teacher, that might give you an idea  

THR1LLHAU5

Thanks for the replies fellas! I'll check out Mike for sure, and I'm also not far from Wilmslow. 

As for Truefire... I find I struggle with online stuff but admittedly I've only really used Youtube and get easily distracted. I wonder how much better I'd be if I had a structured lessonplan from Truefire or similar....not to mention the extra effort I might put in given that I'd be paying for it! 

guitarjack66

THR1LLHAU5 said:

Thanks for the replies fellas! I'll check out Mike for sure, and I'm also not far from Wilmslow. 

As for Truefire... I find I struggle with online stuff but admittedly I've only really used Youtube and get easily distracted. I wonder how much better I'd be if I had a structured lessonplan from Truefire or similar....not to mention the extra effort I might put in given that I'd be paying for it! 

You are always better getting one to one tuition as you can get immediate and personal feedback. Most reputable teachers allow you to contact them,free of charge,between lessons if you stuck on a particular problem or not understanding any 'homework.'

THR1LLHAU5

Great shout @guitarjack66. I'm definitely up for one-on-one and in person if possible. I'm umming and arring a bit because the recommendations I've gotten along with other people I've found online seem to be incredible jazz, fusion player, complex theory buff types - no doubt they can teach the pants off of the really basic stuff that I probably need but ultimately that's not a sound or style that excites me. Perhaps I'm making more of that than need be and any of them would do a great job teaching the basics without any particular genre bent.

guitarjack66

THR1LLHAU5 said:

Great shout @guitarjack66. I'm definitely up for one-on-one and in person if possible. I'm umming and arring a bit because the recommendations I've gotten along with other people I've found online seem to be incredible jazz, fusion player, complex theory buff types - no doubt they can teach the pants off of the really basic stuff that I probably need but ultimately that's not a sound or style that excites me. Perhaps I'm making more of that than need be and any of them would do a great job teaching the basics without any particular genre bent.

Any reputable teacher will be strong on their basics but will probably specialise after that if you want them too. All good teachers can help you with popular songs,their melodies and chords. Don't overthink things and try one or two out and see who you strike a chord with(no pun intended.)

PAL

I'm not local to you but I teach guitar and would say don't go through that website just ask around and you will find someone 
 who can help.
 What I would suggest is find someone who is willing to teach you what you want to learn and not what they are willing to 
 teach you.
 The reason I say this is there are musicians who supplement there living doing lessons as a side line I know because I do this
 but if I'm asked to learn a particular song on guitar or bass I will do just that but some teacher just can't be bothered or
 don't have the time due to their own commitments.
 You will be paying for lessons so you are entitled to learn what you want to learn and by doing this will speed up your 
 progress because you are learning what interests you.
 My other suggestion is don't learn by using TAB I know it sounds odd but you need to develop ears so you can discern
 things as basic as the difference between major or minor chords or scales.
 Also if you can only play from a piece of TAB and you were somewhere and someone asked you to play it would you
 say you can play it but only if you got and get that piece of TAB paper !
 Finally if you think of most of big rock players who play live when was the last time you saw them reading from TAB !
 Don't get me wrong rehearsing and recording using TAB or music is fine I have to do this on sessions but when I play
 live I don't need it I learn what I need and can play it.
 I'm an older musician and feel that there is nothing worse than band where they stand behind a row of music stands
 and I always ask myself is it because they don't know what they are doing or is it because they can't be bothered to
 learn the song! I'm sure many will disagree with me but that's fine. Good luck with your lessons.

octatonic

No but hum a few bars and I will see if I can busk it...

Lestratcaster

Not local either but also a teacher. For anyone not local I teach online.

Agree with most of what @PAL referred to. If the first thing a teacher asks at the start of a lesson is "So what do you want to learn today?" you should run a mile. This shows they haven't done any prep work or bothered to find out what you're interested in learning. Usually its pretty good players who aren't necessarily good teachers and all they care about is making a bit of side money in relation to their main career. Also if they are tabbing it out during the lesson its just laziness as they haven't bothered to learn it first. Its our job to be giving students the songs they like otherwise they aren't going to be motivated to practice.

Learning by ear is very important too, a few of my students depend heavily on a piece of paper to play a song, they generally cannot read and play quick enough to keep up with it and end up getting lost as they read the wrong line or aren't anticipating the next section. Its more there to remind them after the lesson where everything is played and the correct rhythm etc. 

Also make sure you learn your rhythm stuff as it equates to 90% of guitar player. Yes the solos look cool and get the limelight but for the most part you will be playing chords and rhythm. Riffs will sound terrible if they're not right rhythmically and not played with any groove/feel. So subdivisions, counting bars and stuff like that.

Hope you find a good teacher.

PAL

Thanks Lestratcaster you are right rhythm and chord work is so important along with timing unfortunately this does get 
  overlooked.  

guitarjack66

PAL said:

I'm not local to you but I teach guitar and would say don't go through that website just ask around and you will find someone 
 who can help.
 What I would suggest is find someone who is willing to teach you what you want to learn and not what they are willing to 
 teach you.
 The reason I say this is there are musicians who supplement there living doing lessons as a side line I know because I do this
 but if I'm asked to learn a particular song on guitar or bass I will do just that but some teacher just can't be bothered or
 don't have the time due to their own commitments.
 You will be paying for lessons so you are entitled to learn what you want to learn and by doing this will speed up your 
 progress because you are learning what interests you.
 My other suggestion is don't learn by using TAB I know it sounds odd but you need to develop ears so you can discern
 things as basic as the difference between major or minor chords or scales.
 Also if you can only play from a piece of TAB and you were somewhere and someone asked you to play it would you
 say you can play it but only if you got and get that piece of TAB paper !
 Finally if you think of most of big rock players who play live when was the last time you saw them reading from TAB !
 Don't get me wrong rehearsing and recording using TAB or music is fine I have to do this on sessions but when I play
 live I don't need it I learn what I need and can play it.
 I'm an older musician and feel that there is nothing worse than band where they stand behind a row of music stands
 and I always ask myself is it because they don't know what they are doing or is it because they can't be bothered to
 learn the song! I'm sure many will disagree with me but that's fine. Good luck with your lessons.

Some of us haven't got very good memories,well at least I haven't! What was I saying again?

AntonHunter

Mike Walker is the single best teacher I've ever had. Just shines a spotlight on the next thing you need to do in a very clear and motivating way. Loads of the UK's jazz musicians (not just guitarists) have been taught by him.

My friend Rob is also a great teacher, he was very patient with me when I thought I wanted to learn how to sweep pick. https://www.guitar-lessonsmanchester.co.uk/ the site's a bit old, but his email still works, and he's written a few guitar books too. 

88CuzJ

Has anyone got any experience of Andy Rees please? I was thinking of going to him for lessons. 

RedRabbit

88CuzJ said:

Has anyone got any experience of Andy Rees please? I was thinking of going to him for lessons. 

My niece has been going to Andy for lessons for a few months now and seems to be progressing well.  I've met him a couple of times when I've picked her up and he seems a genuinely nice guy.

merlin

Glenn Sharp. 

musteatbrain

@88CuzJ only just spotted this post.
I had lessons from Andy over a decade ago. Lovely bloke, great player and great teacher.