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Guitar Lessons

Guitar Lessons

Greetings!

Have you or a family member always wanted to play guitar? I teach children, adults and seniors out of my home studio in Parma off Pleasant Valley + Broadview Rds. near I-77 — a mile from Normandy High School.

I am flexible in my teaching style. If you want a more formal approach, I can teach you how to properly read music and play guitar. If you just want to learn the chords and riffs of your favorite songs, we can go in that direction.

Here’s what makes me different from other guitar teachers:

• I book lessons in 30-45 minute increments just in case the student runs a few minutes late or if the lesson exceeds 30 minutes.

• I allow students to make up missed lessons if they are able to re-schedule within a day or two of their original lesson date.

• As a professional event musician, I have a 300+ song sheet music library which I share with my students for free. I also locate free sheet music for my students online and through the public library system.

For more information or to book your guitar lesson, call 440-465-1725 or email me at acousticalguitar@aol.com.

Thank you!

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FAQs

Have questions about booking Rick Iacoboni for your event? We’ve got you covered. Explore our FAQ section for quick answers to the most commonly asked questions about Rick’s performances, availability, and services.

There’s no age limit in learning the guitar. Anyone can learn to play the guitar, at any age, period. In many instances, adult students have less distractions and more time to devote to learning guitar. Making the time to practice is the single most important factor in whether you or anyone at any age will be successful in learning guitar. Guitar playing is not about age. It’s about passion, creativity and just having fun!

If you practice 15 minutes a week, it could take at least a year to learn the basics. However, if you practice 15 minutes daily, you will notice improvement within a couple of weeks. Daily practice is more effective than an hour of practice on a Saturday. Some students find that practicing at the same time every day — i.e. after school, work or dinner; or just before going to bed – is the way to develop a consistent routine.

Sore fingertips are very common for beginners or for those who haven’t play guitar for a long period of time. The more you play, the faster calluses will build up on your fingers. Soreness is natural and nothing to worry about. Over time soreness will go away. If it becomes an issue, take a short break and come back to it later.

The fingernails on the fretting hand (the hand placed on the guitar) have to be short. For the hand used to strum the strings, you have two options: use a guitar pick or finger-pick. In both cases you can have longer nails.

Only you can answer that question. It’s whatever feels more natural to you. An easy way to figure it out is to stop what you are doing RIGHT NOW and play some air guitar for a few seconds. Don’t think about it – just do it! Which hand did you use to strum? If it was your left hand, you should play left-handed, and vice-versus with your right hand.

Regardless on what people say, there is no advantage of playing left- or right-handed. Obviously, being a right-handed world, guitar dealers will stock mostly right-handed guitars. However, they can easily order left-handed guitars, or you can order them yourself online. Don’t let a little inconvenience determine which way to play the guitar. Let nature take its course. FYI: I am left-handed and play guitar right-handed.

Guitar Lessons

Guitars

Here are a few generic rules of thumb when buying a guitar:
• If you want to play rock: buy an electric (which will need an amplifier to be heard).
• If you want to play classical: buy a nylon string classical guitar.
• If you want to play a variety of music – i.e. pop, folk, country, R&B, Top 40, etc.
   — buy a steel string acoustic.
• Small-sized guitars are for young children: 3/4 size, 1/2 size, 1/4 size.

• Classical guitars are smaller than modern acoustic guitars.
• Classical guitars use nylon strings. Acoustic guitars use steel strings.
• Classical guitar necks are wider than the necks of acoustic guitars.
• Classical guitars have softer, mellower tones versus acoustic guitars, which have louder, more resonant tones.

Yes. An electric guitar is easier to play than a classical or acoustic guitar because:
• The strings are thinner.
• The strings are closer to the neck and therefore are easier to press down.
• The neck is thinner on an electric guitar versus a classical guitar.

An electric acoustic guitar is an acoustic guitar fitted with a pickup and a preamp. The pickups are not like the pickups used on an electric guitar. These are like little microphones that catch the sound of the acoustic guitar and send it to an amplifier. You can play an electric acoustic guitar without plugging it into the amp and it sounds just like any other acoustic guitar.

Guitar Lessons

Accessories

Guitar Pick

Picks come in various degrees of thickness. Buy a couple thin, medium and heavy gauged picks and try them out at home. Thin picks will help you learn to strum chords. Medium or heavy picks are better for playing individual notes (scales, improvisation).

Tuner

Keeping your guitar in tune is critical, not only for playing solo but to play with other musicians. Go to your local music store and find the tuner that meets your needs and budget. Eventually you should learn to tune a guitar by ear in the event that a tuner is broken or unavailable.

Guitar Pick

A capo, placed at the top of the guitar neck, is used to change the key of a song. If you sing, a capo can help you find the right key for your singing voice.

Gig Bag

Hardshell Guitar Case Vs. Gig Bag

• Hardshell guitar cases are heavier and offer better protection to the guitar.
• Gig bags are lighter and, thanks to straps, can be worn over the shoulder. Choose one with thicker padding.
• Cost: Hardshell guitar cases are more expensive than gig bags.
• Protecting a guitar:
— When placing guitar in a vehicle, pack it securely so it won’t bounce around
    or nothing falls on it.
— When walking with guitar — i.e. friend’s house, the park, beaches, vacations,
    guitar lessons, etc.
— be careful not to bump into things.
— If you’re not prepared to take extra caution, or your guitar is exposed to danger,
    you may be better off with a hardshell case.

Hardshell Case

Since 2004, Rick has performed at 2,000+ events – from weddings, birthdays, anniversaries TO house parties, fund raisers, corporate, wine tastings TO life celebrations, holiday parties, private clubs, non-profits.

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© 2024 Rick Iacoboni