Book Private Guitar Lessons in Memphis

Memphis: A History of Music

It is said that no discussion of American music cannot be complete without a lengthy commendation on the influence that Memphis has had on the development of the modern-day music scene.

The most prominent genres that have developed within the city throughout the 20th Century have been gospel, rhythm and blues, soul and rock & roll.

The infamous song 'Memphis Tennessee' immediately comes to mind, with Elvis Presley's unique dancing style ruminating through my mind.

It is a city that requires no introduction when it comes to the arts, with the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes & Memphis Slim to name just a few guitarist/vocalists that had gained worldwide recognition during their active years.

A broad selection of famous rock 'n' roll singers and guitarists have also opted to use the cities breadth of superior recording studios when creating E.P.'s and full-length albums over the years.

British-based sensation Roy Orbison ('pretty woman', 'crying') regularly performed and recorded in the city, and in November of 1972, his seventeenth studio album simply named 'Memphis', was written in ode to the city's strong influence it had had on his musical career.

Musical enthusiasts flock in high numbers each year to experience the city's long history and influence over various music scenes. Tourist hot spots include The Museum of American Soul Music, Rock and Soul Museum, as well as the Blues Hall of Fame, with the latter containing regular exhibits and iconic pieces of memorabilia that will make the average music fan swoon.

Musicians from across not alone the United States but overseas, also head Tennessee way in the hope of finding like-minded artists to create musical groups, hoping to 'make it' in the town that spawned the King of Rock and Roll.

 The Memphis Scale

The city has been so influential toward the development of guitar playing, it also has its own scale which is recognized by artists across the world.

Although not an actual scale, it is in fact a certain stylistic approach in playing.

It was given the name due to the country's influence and the unique sounds that can be created when approached in such a way.

This stylistic approach gained increasing popularity when Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) implemented this style in his song 'In the Gallery'.

Tutorials can be followed online to help develop your ability to master this way of playing, but although such content is available, one of the most effective ways in developing your guitar playing ability is by performing regular sessions with an experienced guitar tutor.

Guitar Tutors: The Benefits

With such platforms as Youtube, Vimeo, as well as online platforms such as 'guitarlessons' that offer sheet music and tablature to your favorite songs; technology has generated an interest within a new generation of aspiring instrumentalists.

Although such platforms can help students master a new song, usually, they don't act as the main component to effective and sustained guitar playing.

Why?

Well, learning a song is all good and well, but there are various, fundamental components a guitarist must master to gain a stronger understanding of the theory, thus influencing the level of ability a guitarist can then go onto reach.

If you are looking to develop your skills beyond one's ability to play a few tracks on the rhythm guitar, here is what you require:

- A confident ability to read sheet music and tablature

- A fundamental understanding of the various strumming techniques

- A coherent ability to identify and play the 12 notes in multiple ways across your fretboard

- The ability to identify and replicate musical notation from listening to music.

Yes, this information can be found online, but the assistance and facilitation of a trained hand will allow you to progress at a quicker rate, whilst instilling confidence and consistency with your playing ability.

Tutors will allow you to master these fundamental components so you can become a more holistically trained instrumentalist.

With both insight and knowledge, a good tutor will employ various techniques during sessions whilst administering techniques and strategies that can be worked on in between each lesson.

And contrary to belief, in a city such as Memphis, you don't have to burn a hole in your pocket to receive such regular coaching.

Memphis is bustling with aspiring musicians looking to earn an extra buck to keep their dreams alive, and a wealth of guitarists offer their services to less experienced players at reasonable and competitive prices.

Finding a Guitar Tutor in Memphis

There are various strategies for finding a guitar tutor that aligns with your preferences.

Prior to reaching out, however, it is important to establish how much you are willing to pay per week/month, as well as identifying if your availability coincides with your tutor's schedule.

If you wish to progress at a consistent rate, it is advised to set a day per week/fortnight in which lessons can take place. If lesson sequences are somewhat erratic, this can be detrimental to the student's development.

With an average star rating of 5/5, guitar tutors found on the Superprof website are actively looking for new students.

A quick search on their profiles will present you with tutors that specialize in various areas, whilst containing various levels of teaching experience and relatable qualifications.

From multi-instrumentalists that are at an expert level in not alone the guitar but the mandarin and violin, to younger guitarists who offer sessions for students of all age ranges and levels of ability, reading through each of their profiles before making contact is advised.

This will allow you, as the student, to understand if their experience level and specializations are coherent with your ambitions.

Have you been playing for a few years but you still feel your ability to improvise on a jazz guitar is proving a challenge?

If this is the case, hiring someone that specializes in blues music may not be for you.

Also, whilst reaching out to prospective guitar tutors, ensure you mention any particular motivations that you have so the tutor can establish if they have the right knowledge and skillset to support you in achieving your goals.