Online
Learn guitar from a very experienced tutor in one-to-one tuition.
Each lesson is tailored to fit how you learn, so you choose the length and frequency of the lessons. Learn with your favourite songs in any style you like.
Online lessons; take a free taster lesson to see how it works.
Tuition is also available on Bass guitar and Music theory.
18 customer reviews
Anita
Guitar Lessons
John takes time to teach my son thoroughly. He is very patient. He is very nice and flexible with timing.
We are very happy that we found him on Bark.
Monica
Guitar Lessons
I have had a very positive experience with John and his teaching method. I am doing this as a hobby as well as working full time so I really appreciate his endless patience and his flexibility. I also like that he really takes into account your musical preferences and tries to tailor made the sessions to your ability but also expectations and likes. Always professional and welcoming. Would certainly recommend. More...
Mark
Guitar Lessons
John has been teaching my son guitar for over 3 years now and has been pleasure to work with. He is very professional, has a great deal of patience and conveys the material in an easy to understand format. His knowledge and experience are second to none, my son really enjoys the lessons and has benefited a great deal from them. I would highly recommend him. More...
Hannah
Guitar Lessons
My son, Zach was desperate to learn guitar but there was a waiting list for guitar lessons at school which is how we found John at Leadingnote. Initially I wasn’t sure how Zach would adapt to learning over video call compared to face to face lessons but it made no difference to him. He looked forward to every lesson he had with John and remained engaged throughout. John was always flexible with lessons around school, clubs and family commitments. He was also very understanding and patient when we had the odd technical difficulty. When Zach finally got a place for guitar lessons at school, we were sad to have to leave John. His new guitar teacher at school was very impressed with his music folder and what had already been covered by John’s tuition. Thank you once again John, we highly recommend Leadingnote! More...
Emma
Guitar Lessons
I have found the tuition for my son excellent. He really enjoys his lessons. Very professional, he is passing his exams, really happy.
Catherine SEREBE
Guitar Lessons
Just started
But He is professional and kind. Looking forward to a good student teacher experience
Anne Mushington
Guitar Lessons
Enjoyed the free taster session, and looking forward to working with John during actual lessons. He was friendly and professional. I also appreciated the free material shared which has been so helpful already. More...
Anita Anton
Guitar Lessons
Immediately respond to the request. My son had taster lesson and an hour lesson. He is happy with the teaching, so I am happy. The instructor had been very patient with a 12 year old, who did grade 1 and lost touch for nearly 1 1/2 years. More...
Peter Field
Guitar Lessons
John is a very good guitar teacher. Have appreciated his systematic approach and his patience, has helped me to feel that I've made some progress where I was previously stuck or going round in circles.
Mark
Guitar Lessons
Brilliant teacher, excellent techniques.
John
Guitar Lessons
Very good. Well structured with good support material.
Nuno
Guitar Lessons
Very helpful and quick to answer.
Val
Guitar Lessons
Friendly, knowledgeable, value for money.
Lewis U.
Guitar Lessons
First lesson was great.
Great content and also some nice homework to get me started.
Looking forward to my next lessons!
Sandie
Ukulele Lessons
Welcoming and very patient tutor. We look forward to learning with John.
Rachael
Guitar Lessons
We’ve only had one lesson but John is patient and calm and my daughter is very comfortable with him . All well
John
Guitar Lessons
I've had four lessons so far and John is moving me on at a steady pace. He's mixing up the homework between scales and melodies which balances the technical and the tuneful. I will be continuing with his tuition. More...
Ian
Guitar Lessons
1st lesson went very well. John has a very nice and patient manner. Looking forward to the next lessons.
And his hourly rate is very good value.
What do you love most about your job?
I love playing guitar and being able to share my enthusiasm for it is a bonus.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Some friends asking me to show them how to play some songs. They then said I should be a teacher because I'm good at helping everyone to learn.
Why should our clients choose you?
My attitude to teaching. At school I had an 'Algebra moment' which is this: One of the first classes I had in Secondary School – what is now called year 7 - was maths. I was very good at mental arithmetic, I knew the 12 times table by heart and I could calculate very swiftly something like 38 + 49 + 29 by seeing it as 40 + 50 + 30 which is 4 + 5 + 3 with a zero added. So I saw 12 as 120 less 2 + 1 + 1 which is 4 so I had 120 – 4 which is 116. I could do this in seconds, as fast as someone typing in the numbers on a calculator.
In this math class we went in, sat down and the teacher wrote two letters on the board. An ‘M’ and an ‘N’ and then asked what the answer is. No explanation of what this was was given. I hadn’t missed an earlier class, I had absolutely no idea of what this was or that it even had anything to do with maths.
I said I didn’t understand it so she put a ‘+’ sign between them and said now I should know the answer. I said if I knew what they meant, assuming they were values, I could give an answer. She angrily said the answer was MN as if there was something wrong with me for not knowing this, angrily drawing a large MN on the board.
This was an introduction to algebra given by someone who clearly had no concept of the job of teaching.
What I did learn was what I now call the ‘algebra moment’.
In teaching it is important to remember what the student knows and understands as new knowledge is added, as it can only be done so if there is a clear understanding of what they are learning.
Had there been a few simple words to explain what algebra was it would have been plain sailing to get on with it.
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
I teach exclusively online. Music exams are available online. The student submits a video for examination. You send it to me first for an assesment and if it's judged to pass then you submit it. No term times, you submit when you're ready.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
All lessons are online. Online works very well and you can even have your exams online.
Advice and coaching for examinations.
Choosing a syllabus for either classical or Rock & Pop
Help selecting pieces and understanding scales, arpeggios and aural requirements.
Preparing and submitting online exams.
Advice on performing.
The best ways to rehearse.
Arranging songs to fit a vocal range.
Developing interpretation AKA customizing a song.
Music theory
Reading music
Understanding and using transposition (for example; changing the chords to fit a singer’s range)
Advice and coaching for music theory exams
Absolute Beginners
Friendly and helpful guidance to avoid bad habits and direct new students in learning the basics. Learn what you want to play!
Not a beginner?
Intermediate or advanced or just not a beginner? One-to-one lessons are tailored to fit what you want to learn. So whatever 'level' you would describe yourself as I can help you. Unless you're actually John McLaughlin, of course.