It's Not Too Late to Finally Play the Way You Always Wanted.
If you’re looking for the best guitar lessons in Geauga County / Northeast Ohio—you’re in the right place! I’ll help you fast-track your progress while maintaining a pressure-free, fun atmosphere so you enjoy learning to play.
You’re in the right place if:
- You're brand new to guitar and have no idea where to even start.
- You're the type of person who wants to learn things the right way the first time around, not spend months unintentionally learning bad habits you'll only have to undo later.
- You've played for years, but it's the same few songs every time you pick up your guitar, and the excitement you used to feel is starting to fade.
- You're overwhelmed by the endless (and often generic) free online advice, with no way to tell what's actually right for you.
- You struggle to make real progress on your own and wonder if you're too old, or just not musical enough, to ever really get it.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and it doesn’t have to stay this way
There's A Better Way.
If you’ve been teaching yourself, you’ve probably picked up a few habits that are holding you back. That’s not a failing on your part — it’s what happens to almost everyone without a trained guide, and it’s completely fixable.
With me, you’ll learn what skills you need to work on to be able to play the songs you love, and the most effective ways to practice them, so your practice time starts paying off instead of adding to your frustration.
For over thirty years, I’ve helped people just like you learn guitar faster and skip the wrong turns that cost most people years. And you won’t do it alone. You’ll have steady, encouraging support the whole way, so you always know you’re on the right track.
Know Exactly What To Practice To Get The Best Results
These days it’s easy to spend months, even years, trying to figure out the guitar by piecing together random tips from YouTube or following well-meaning but off-base advice from friends. With so much conflicting information out there, it’s no wonder you feel stuck.
If that sounds like you: you’re normal, and it’s not your fault.
You can only spot a problem you’ve seen before. When your playing sounds off, you know something’s wrong but not what — holding your guitar wrong, a wrong finger angle, a timing habit, tension you can’t feel. I’ve seen each of those thousands of times, so I spot it in seconds and know how to fix it. And more often than not, it’s a smaller fix than you’d think — a few adjustments that clear up something you’d been fighting for months.
Most people who feel stuck start to believe they’re the problem. They tell themselves:
- “I’m too old to learn.”
- “My hands are too small — or too big.”
- “I don’t have rhythm.”
- “I’m not creative.”
- “I don’t have enough time to practice.”
- “I’ll never get my notes to sound clean.”
If any of that sounds familiar, here’s the good news: none of it is the real reason you’re stuck. I’ve taught people of every age, from kids to folks in their late seventies — people with small hands and big hands, people certain they had no rhythm, people nervous they were starting too late in life — and every one of them made real progress once they had the right plan.
The problem isn’t you — it’s the method you’ve been using. What you need is a teacher who helps you uncover exactly what’s holding you back, shows you step by step how to work through it, and keeps it enjoyable along the way.
Trying to learn guitar without a good teacher is like wandering through a maze in the dark — you spend years spinning your wheels, or give up entirely, without ever getting where you wanted to go. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or someone who’s played for years and stalled, the right guidance is what finally gets you moving.
There’s a sign in my studio that says there’s no such thing as falling behind. Everyone learns differently, and that’s fine — you’re never measured against another player or a timeline. And you don’t need hours a day. A few focused minutes, a few days a week, are enough to keep getting better, as long as you know exactly what to work on. Figuring that out is on me, so every minute you practice counts.
I know how overwhelming it can feel learning to play the guitar on your own, because I’ve been there.
When I first picked up the guitar, I tried everything — books, videos, and four different local teachers — hoping to find the one missing piece that would finally make it click. It never came. Two were local kids just out of high school who could really play. The other two taught out of music stores. And here’s what I didn’t understand back then: not one of them had ever been trained to teach — almost none are. They were good players who got asked if they’d give lessons, or took a job at a shop. No teacher training required to start. But being able to play doesn’t mean being able to break things down and teach it. Those are two different skills, and most guitar teachers only have the first.
So the results were about what you’d expect. A couple put me through method books that had nothing to do with the music I wanted to play. Another just showed me what he liked to play, none of it near my level. One sat and ate his lunch while I practiced in front of him — I took two lessons and never went back. They weren’t bad players. But no one had ever taught them how to teach, so I never improved the way I’d hoped — and I started to wonder if the problem was me.
After all that, I finally found a teacher who changed everything. He helped me identify and fix my bad habits, showed me exactly what to focus on, and taught me how to make the most of what I already knew Suddenly, playing the guitar became exciting and fun again — because for the first time I had the right guidance on what actually mattered.
You can save a lot of time and avoid frustration when you study with an expert guitar instructor.
At Guitar Lessons Geauga, you get specialized instruction designed to fast-track your progress. Your lessons are tailored to give you the right information and teach you the essential skills you need to play the music you love. But it’s more than just learning chords, scales, or techniques — you’ll learn how to structure your practice and build real confidence in your playing.
You won’t be doing this alone. I’ll be right there as you play, catching the little mistakes before they turn into habits and showing you the fix on the spot — so you’re never stuck practicing something wrong. Together, we’ll make learning guitar rewarding and fun.
Don't spend another year stuck. Let's get you playing the music you love.
Get A Highly Trained, Professional Guitar Instructor
Here’s something most people never think to ask before signing up for lessons: how was this teacher trained to teach?
It matters more than how well they play. Being a strong player and being a strong teacher are two different skills — and most guitar teachers have only ever worked on the first. No training is required to start teaching students, so most never get any.
That’s why so many well-meaning, talented players can’t help their students see real progress. They teach the wrong things in the wrong order, move on to new material too soon, and can’t spot the real problem — because the basics became automatic for them so long ago they no longer see what a struggling player is actually doing wrong. Their students practice, try hard, feel like they’re getting nowhere — and start to believe the problem is them.
So when you’re choosing a teacher, ask the question: “How were you trained to teach?” Here’s my answer.
I’m a member of EGTIC — the Elite Guitar Teacher Inner Circle, an international group of instructors trained in how to teach.
- I’m the only guitar teacher in Geauga County and Northeast Ohio with Elite Guitar Teacher Inner Circle training.
- You’ll learn from someone who studies year-round under one of the world’s top guitar educators, so you get the best training every lesson.
- I put real time and money into my training every year, so you’re only ever taught the most effective, proven methods.
What this means for you: The people who do best here have one thing in common — they’re willing to try a new approach, even when it’s different from how they’ve always done it.
Give it a little time and you’ll get results, often faster than you’d expect. I’ve spent thirty years figuring out the shortest path for people like you — my job is to hand it to you, and yours is just to trust it enough to try.
If you're ready to find out what's actually been holding you back, let's talk.
What Sets Guitar Lessons Geauga Apart?
✅ Learn the right skills in the right way to confidently play the music you love.
✅ Save time and money by learning from a trained teacher who catches and fixes mistakes on the spot, so you’re never practicing the wrong thing.
✅ Efficient practice routines that get you more progress from the time you have.
✅ Get instant answers to your questions so you always know you’re on the right track.
✅ Time to practice and train with me during the lesson — you’re never just handed new material and sent home to figure it out alone.
✅ Every part of your playing grows together, so no weak spot holds the rest of your playing back.
✅ You get a dedicated teacher who does this full-time and is genuinely invested in your progress.
And if you ever want to play for other people, there are open mics all over Geauga County — a couple of them run by my own students. I’m happy to get up and play alongside you, if that makes it easier.
Whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time or you’ve played for years and stalled, the free introductory lesson is how I see what will help you most right now.
It takes around 45 minutes. Come exactly as you are — don’t worry about impressing me. I need to see where you actually are so I can spot what’s holding you back. Give me those 45 minutes and you’ll leave playing better than you walked in — guaranteed. You get to meet me and see if it’s a good fit — and if it is, we’ll go over how to get started.
I have a limited number of spots available. When I’m full, I’m full — so if you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time to reach out.
Don't put it off any longer. Reach out today.
I had the pleasure to work with Brian in the creation of an online course for rhythm guitar, and I have been amazed at the ideas and competence that Brian brought to the table.
Brian is a veritable expert on a number of topics on guitar teaching - especially on rhythm and its applications -and genuinely enjoys teaching people and seeing students improve.
I recommend Brian to any guitar student who is looking to improve their skills at playing guitar, whether they are beginners or advanced students. Any student would be lucky to have Brian as their teacher"
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT SKILL LEVELS DO YOU TEACH?
We instruct students of all skill levels, from complete beginners who have never held a guitar to advanced players with over 50 years of experience.
WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO LEARN SOME BASICS ON MY OWN BEFORE STARTING LESSONS?
Of course not! Many beginners wonder about this, thinking they should know a bit before our first meeting.
If you haven’t learned to play anything yet, that’s actually wonderful news! You haven’t developed any bad habits, learned things out of order, or felt confused by learning from resources that seem to contradict each other.
Together, we will build a solid musical foundation that will let you play real music with ease and truly enjoy your progress!
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO BEGIN GUITAR LESSONS?
We start teaching guitar to students at age ten.
AM I TOO OLD TO LEARN GUITAR?
Absolutely not! You might be pleasantly surprised to discover that a significant number of our students are adults. We welcome adults of ALL ages. You’re never too old to learn something new.
WHAT KIND OF GUITAR SHOULD I BUY?
Kids should always start out with an electric guitar.
Adults and teens should think about the type of music they wish to play, as this can really help in selecting the ideal guitar for them!
I still suggest starting off with an electric guitar because its smaller body makes it super easy to see and reach the fretboard, and the thinner strings make them much easier to press down.
You can begin by buying the guitar now and purchase the amp and other supplies later.
That being said, you should buy the type of guitar that fits you best. If you’re eager to learn acoustic guitar, then buying an acoustic is the way to go.
Feel free to contact us, and we can help you choose the guitar that best suits you!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO GET “GOOD”?
It really depends on the individual, their interest, goals, and how quickly they want to make progress. You can progress in as little as 10-20 minutes of practice 4-5 days a week if you have the proper training from an experienced guitar teacher on a consistent basis.
It’s important to remember that your understanding of an instrument goes beyond just the number of songs you learn to play. We not only help you cultivate your talents but also assist you in developing real-world skills.
HOW LONG SHOULD I TAKE LESSONS FOR?
As long as you still have the desire to learn and improve, we have students who have been with us for over ten years and still continue to master their instruments and improve their skills.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE I FIND THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR ME?
Check out this helpful free article, “Guide On How To Choose The Best Guitar Teacher For You”