Guitar, Bass & Ukulele Lessons

We Welcome Kids Ages 7+ and Adults of All Abilities

Private Lessons are $140/month (4 lessons)

200px-spacer.png

Guitar & Ukulele Lessons

What if I have no experience with playing guitar? Does Natomas Music Square teach beginners?

We love to help new students begin to learn guitar! We can teach students at any level.

How old should a student be to learn guitar or ukulele?

7 years and up is about the earliest age recommended for learning to play guitar. Strength is crucial to guitar playing; That being said, some children this age may still have some growing to do before they have the strength to press down on the strings. To help gain strength in preparation for guitar classes, there are children’s books tailored to younger students; We recommend Mel Bey, Hal Leonard, Progressive Guitar or Alfred’s children’s guitar method. The book 1 in each series of these recommendations is designed for kids. Children should start out reading and playing notes because this allows them to gain strength in their fingers as well as play musical melodies sooner.

Where do I buy a guitar or ukulele for music lessons?

A. Let’s start with where NOT to purchase your instrument: the worst place to buy an instrument is Craigslist. Most instruments purchased on craigslist are very poor quality and are sold as a “deal” or “bargain.”; But, they end up creating a negative experience for a new student. The BEST place to buy a guitar or ukulele is in-person at your local music store. This is because prices can be more competitive, and they offer a wide range of sizes and quality. Buying locally also ensures the guitar can be “set up”; A guitar should be set up properly in order to be tunable and playable.

Some other helpful tips include:

  • Avoid Craigslist or Amazon “Deals” or guitars that are essentially toys. Anything with cartoons, or in the $75 range or below, will most likely be very difficult to play and halt the learning process.

  • Be willing to budget for spending approximately $125 to $150 for a guitar, or $50 to $120 for a ukulele.

  • Ages 12 and under do well with a ¾ size guitar steel or nylon string. For a ukulele, look for soprano size strings.

  • A good suggestion for 12 and under size ukulele is the Yamaha FG Junior, which runs about $140; This same rule applies when purchasing an electric guitar and amplifier.

Should I buy an electric or acoustic guitar?

Great question! Both are fine for music lessons. Acoustic guitars offer more mobility vs. an electric guitar that requires an amplifier. In our experience, most people prefer acoustic to begin their guitar lessons with. When the student is ready, transition to electric is pretty simple. In most cases, people eventually switch to electric when they pursue the heavier rock style.

Bass Lessons

At what age should potential students start bass guitar lessons?

Bass, like any other instrument, can start as early as you like; But, it is a large instrument that requires a wide wing span, so it is more conducive to students who have reached near 5′ tall.

Is the discipline needed for electric bass similar to the discipline required for upright bass.

That’s a great question! Though the notes on the fretboard of both are the same, the discipline and technique for plucking are completely different. The styles and genres that each instrument serves best are also very different.

Can I use a guitar amp for playing my electric bass while taking bass lessons?

If you can plug it in, then you can play your bass through a guitar amp; But, be advised that it is not the recommended speaker style for playing this type of instrument. Most guitar amps use either 8 or 12 inch speakers and have built in reverb tanks. Alternatively, most quality bass amplifiers are made out of 10 inch, 15 inch, or sometimes 18 inch speakers that have no built in reverb.

Who are some notable bass players that I could listen to and aspire to play like?

We definitely have some favorites to recommend! A great bass player, James Jameson, was the session bass player for Motown Records throughout the 60’s and 70’s and played on a large percentage of their hits during the golden era of R&B. Most rock bass players will also cite Geddy Lee of “Rush” as one of the greatest bass players in history. Flea of “Red Hot Chili Peppers” and Les Claypool of “Primus” are also some of the most notable bass players in modern funk/rock music.

Are bass strings tuned differently than guitar strings?

Standard 4 string bass tuning is E,A,D,G, similar to guitar; But, the strings are much thicker and are tuned one whole octave below a guitar. You’ll learn all about this during your bass lessons!

If I own a 5 string bass, what is the lowest string tuned to?

Generally, you tune the lowest to a B to keep up the pattern of bass string being tuned in fourths.