Required Materials

  1. A good guitar (it is too hard learning guitar on a difficult instrument…it’s like learning to drive with a car having a flat tire. If you need some advice, please let me know and I’d be happy to make some recommendations.

  2. A good, solid, three ring binder (Approximately 1 ½ “)

  3. Dividers with Tab (5-10 will suffice)

  4. A digital chromatic guitar tuner. I would recommend brands such as Snark, Korg, and Peterson. There are many guitar tuner apps on the app store that can work well.

  5. A Metronome (A must!!! Students who regularly and effectively use will progress light years faster. Seiko, Wittner, Tama Rhythm Watch, are all good ones. The app store also has many great choices!

  6. Guitar Strings:

    • Electric Guitar - D’Addario NYXL 09/42

    • Steel String - D’Addario XS 12/53 Phosphor Bronze

    • Classical/Nylon Guitar - D’Addario EJ46TT Titanium series (I use the Hard tension but you may prefer medium or normal tension)

  7. Picks:

    • Acoustic Guitar - Fender Light, Medium, Heavy, or Extra-Heavy Picks. For Bluegrass guitar I also recommend Dunlop 208 or Blue Chip Picks TD60 (Expensive but great)

    • Electric Guitar - Fender Heavy or Dunlop Jazz Tortex H3 Picks, sharp point.

  8. Guitar Capo - Shubb Capos are preferred (Please get the correct model for either steel string, Nylon, or Electric)

  9. Guitar Humidifier - Music Nomad (If you have a solid top acoustic guitar, you need this!!!!)

  10. Guitar Polish - Formula 65 or Music Nomad

  11. Music Stand - Manhasset Music Stands are my preferred.

  12. Guitar Slide - Dunlop Glass, Porcelain, Ceramic, or Brass!

  13. If you are playing classical guitar, you will need a guitar footstool.

  14. Guitar Stand

  15. Electric Guitar - A good amplifier. I can help you to choose the correct one!

  16. I recommend having an account with www.sheetmusicdirect.com

  17. Books/Written Materials

    1. Electric Guitar - It depends on your desired style. Consult your instructor

    2. Classical Guitar - Aaron Shearer Classical Guitar Technique Book 1 and/or 2

    3. Sightreading - Mastering the Guitar Book 1A by William Bay and Mike Christiansen

    4. Bass Guitar:

      • Bass Playing Techniques (HL00695207) by Alexis Sklarevski

      • Slap It! Bass Book by Tony Oppenheim

      • Bass Guitar White Pages

    5. Guitar Theory - Music Theory (Hal Leonard 00695790)

    6. Guitar Hymns - Beloved Hymns for Guitar by Michael Dowdle

    7. Fingerstyle Guitar - Fingerpicking Pattern Encyclopedia by Lou Manzi

    8. Bluegrass Guitar - Bluegrass Guitar by Happy Traum;

    9. Jazz Scales/Improvisation - Jazz Scales for Guitar by Corey Christiansen