Geoff Arnold

Frequently Asked Questions

• What will a lesson be like?

  **If you are new to guitar, we will begin with the basics, and you will learn a few chords and have exercises to learn to play the chords in "progressions", which are groups of chords played together. And you will learn about what to expect, what kinds of things you need to be aware of to help you learn good playing habits. **For them that have been playing a while, the first lesson will be an assessment of where you are, what you already know, and how well you know it. From there we design a guideline to help you get moving forward toward your greater goals. It differs with every student. But chords, scales, strumming and other issues will be addressed, and training your ears better will also be involved, just for starters. **For more advanced players, again, assessing where you are at is first, then developing a guideline to address the areas in which you are needing help and improvement, finding where you are lacking in knowledge, technique and skill. More attention to detail is also going to be part of the program, just as a basis for you to get an idea what will be covered.

• How long will it take to get "good" at playing the guitar?

  This question is pretty typical. But the answer is rarely one you want to hear. It will take time, to be sure. How much time is dependent upon how much you play, and how attentive you are to learning the necessary foundational elements involved to help you become a good player. The short answer is that within a year you will be playing songs. How many and how hard they are is, again, dependent upon you and your playing habits. I can't be more specific than this. But rest assured, I am always honest with all students about expectations and goals. That's part of how I operate, to give you realistic expectations based on your dedication and the time you actually spend in not just learning, but playing the guitar.

• What styles can be learned?

  I teach almost any style, except Classical Guitar. With a lifetime career in music, I've covered a lot of different styles of music, and so am familiar with most. Any style I don't "know", I can still help you learn because music is a language I understand.