Study the Art of Improvisation with Jazz Guitar Lessons
Study Jazz Guitar online with one of the UK’s most in-demand guitar instructors. 30 years professional experience. Former Head of Jazz Studies (LCoM. UK)
Why Study Jazz Guitar Online? - My Teaching Philosophy
To offer you some of my own background, I began studying jazz guitar seriously as a music student in the 1980s, although I had taken some 1-1 jazz lessons beforehand in my hometown of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Like many guitarists, I initially found the whole language of jazz music quite alien especially as I came from a blues and rock background. Over time and with the help of some excellent teachers however, I found that it was indeed possible to play jazz and in fact it was not as daunting a prospect as I had once feared.
As I remember this period of my own development only too well, I make sure with all my jazz guitar students that we work at a level (and at a pace) that is comfortable and has clear goals between each lesson. I do this as it is very easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information that now exists regarding the study of jazz guitar.
I believe in learning jazz guitar through the music itself, rather than by endless exercises (although exercises certainly have their place in the process) I emphasise learning songs (and instrumentals) that are at the core of the music, such as jazz standards and popular progressions such as the blues and ‘rhythm changes’.
From my own studies with jazz pedagogues such as Charlie Banacos (and later Garry Dial) I have also learned the importance of studying in all 12 keys and this forms a central part of my teaching approach. I encourage all my jazz guitar students to be really thorough in their approach to learning the fingerboard.
I also encourage all my jazz guitar students to listen to the real masters of jazz (on all instruments) and if possible transcribe some of their playing. To my mind, this is really how one learns the language of jazz.
Planning your musical development carefully is also very important. I address this all the time with my students (as I do myself within my own practice regime) You have to know where you stand currently as a musician and where you want to be in the future to really progress.
Work hard but have fun too. Being dedicated to becoming a better jazz guitarist is great but it mustn’t become a chore or cause endless stress. This is a very important part of my overall teaching philosophy.
If anything that I have written above resonates with you musically, or simply sounds like a good introduction to you, then please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you!
Online Guitar Lessons
"…the best jazz guitar lessons I've ever had, with everything clearly explained..."
Learn jazz guitar from the comfort of your own home. Lessons are now available worldwide and you only require a broadband internet connection and some form of video call software such as Zoom Google Meet or Microsoft Teams (which is replacing Skype)
All jazz guitar lessons are one hour long, accompanied by high quality PDF/Guitar Pro lesson notes, MP3 backing tracks and with software like Zoom you can record the entire lesson on video to keep forever.
(n.b. This is a brand new website and I’ll be adding much more information in the next few weeks!)
3 Levels of Study - Jazz Guitar Lessons
In the different level sections seen below, I have listed some of the more common subject areas from my online jazz guitar lessons that I teach at three student levels: Level One (Starting) Level two (Intermediate) and Level Three (Advanced)
These subject areas are merely offered as indicative content and not as a complete representation of the material I may cover in lessons. Please do feel free to contact me if you are interested in Skype Jazz Guitar Lessons, but not sure what level you might be at the moment. I am happy to answer any questions you might have on the lessons.
I also generally ask all potential new students to send me a short audio/video performance of your playing. This needn’t be more than a couple of minutes long, but must demonstrate some chord work and single-line playing (either improvised or from a transcription) You can also send me links to a YouTube or Soundcloud channel if you have recordings there.
Level One Skype jazz guitar lessons topics may include:
Easy Jazz Standards
The II V I progressions
Drop 2 and 3 chord forms
Jazz rhythm and time-feel
Basic scales and arpeggios
Chord melody essentials
Learning songs
Learning the fingerboard
Jazz blues progressions
Chord extensions and alterations
Understanding Jazz chord symbols
Guide tone playing
Basics of chord substitution
Chord/Scale theory
Level two Skype jazz guitar lessons topics may include:
More Jazz Standards
Turnarounds and Cycles
More extended and altered chords
Time-feel, swing and groove
Symmetrical scales
Approach notes and chromatics
Jazz language and vocabulary
Using modes correctly
The Bebop scales
Pentatonic scales in Jazz
Fixed note groupings
Solo guitar and chord melody playing
Chord on chord substitutions
Quartal Harmony
Level Three Skype jazz guitar lessons topics may include:
Advanced Jazz Repertoire
Coltrane Cycles
Modern voicings for the II V I
Triads over Bass Notes
Advanced rhythmic concepts
Alternative scales for improvisation
Transcription analysis
Using motifs in soloing
Advanced chord melody playing
Using clusters and set intervals
Advanced chord substitution
Triad pairs and hexatonics
Transcription analysis/projects
Pete Sklaroff - Background
My musical career began in Edinburgh, Scotland playing in blues and rock bands and then years later I was heavily involved in teaching Jazz and Popular music at Higher Education level principally at Leeds College of Music (now Leeds Conservatoire) I was Head of Jazz Studies and Assistant Head of Music at Leeds and also coordinated the Guitar and Bass Department.
I have studied Jazz Improvisation and Harmony with Charlie Banacos, Jeff Andrews and Garry Dial in the US and many fine teachers in the UK including Adrian Ingram and Neil Munro. I have taught hundreds of guitar students since the 1980s and many have gone on to have highly successful careers in music. I began offering online guitar tuition in 2010 and to date have taught students from over 20 different countries worldwide.
Guitar Video Samples
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your online jazz guitar lessons suitable for complete beginners?
Unfortunately I don’t currently teach complete beginners, however I welcome students who have a basic knowledge of common chords, some scales and have facility playing with a pick. If you are unsure of your current playing standard please do get in touch for an informal chat.
How long are the online jazz guitar lessons?
I prefer to teach in a single one hour online lesson, however if you’d like a longer or a shorter session I would be happy to accommodate either for you.
Do I have to be able to read music to study with you?
No, although I use both tablature and regular music notation in my lessons, there is no requirement for you to be able to read music before starting the lessons.
What if I have questions between lessons?
You are very welcome to email me in between lessons if you have questions regarding the material we have been studying.
What jazz guitar styles do you teach?
I teach classic swing and bebop guitar styles right through to more modern styles including fusion and jazz-rock..
Have Additional Questions?
If you have any further questions about studying electric guitar online or would simply like to know more about what I can offer, then please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!
0774 223 9312 (UK)
