Learn Guitar. Understand the Guitar.
Beginners
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Intermediate
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Advanced
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Acoustic
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Electric
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Online worldwide
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Beginners 〰️ Intermediate 〰️ Advanced 〰️ Acoustic 〰️ Electric 〰️ Online worldwide 〰️
One-to-one online guitar lessons with James Ashbury.
Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time, you've been playing for years but feel stuck, or you want to finally understand what you're doing on the fretboard, lessons are built around you, your goals and the music you actually want to play.
What would you like to improve?
🎸 Learn songs
Learn the songs you actually want to play, while understanding what's happening musically.
🎯 Break through a plateau
Feel like you've been playing for years but aren't progressing? We'll identify what's holding you back.
🧠 Understand the fretboard
Chords, scales, CAGED, intervals, arpeggios and harmony — make sense of how it all fits together.
🔥 Improve your technique
Picking, fretting, bends, vibrato, speed, rhythm and more.
🎶 Lead & improvisation
Learn to move beyond memorised solos and start creating your own.
👂 Ear training
Develop your ability to hear chords, intervals, melodies and rhythms — and learn to find them on the guitar.
📚 Music theory
Understand the theory that actually helps you play better guitar.
Don't just learn guitar. Understand it.
“With the right approach and a clear system, learning guitar becomes more fun, more achievable and a lot less overwhelming.”
HOW IT WORKS
01 — We find out where you are
02 — We work out where you want to go
03 — I build the lessons around you
04 — You practice with a clear purpose
05 — We track your progress
rEADY TO GET GOING?
TESTIMONIALS
“After a few lessons with James, I found my playing technique and understanding of guitar theory had improved quickly compared to when I was trying to teach myself the guitar. Thanks to my tutor’s patience and encouragement, I was soon playing my favourite riffs and songs. What was also great about the lessons was how they were tailored to your own skills and music interests, while also introducing you to new ones.”
““I had 10 months of lessons with James and my playing came on leaps and bounds. I learned so many useful things that I simply wouldn’t have considered if I’d remained self-taught.
We covered everything from learning specific songs and soloing to songwriting, music theory, chord structures and scales. James was always happy for me to suggest things I wanted to work on, but he was also great at suggesting areas that would help me progress.
I always felt challenged by the lessons, but never out of my depth. James has a great way of explaining things and making the lessons feel both structured and enjoyable.
I’d definitely recommend James to anyone looking to learn guitar, improve their playing or develop a better understanding of the instrument.””
“I felt so lucky when I found James to teach the guitar, his playing ability is brilliant. I was in awe when watching him play my favourite songs with ease in front of me. James’s teaching ability is so relaxed but positive. I remember doing things on the guitar I’d never dream of, he seems to have the knack to get the best out of you, and not be one bit critical when you make a mistake. James is very organised and will definitely make you a better guitarist and you will enjoy it at the same time.”
“After many years of fiddling around on my guitar, but basically being pretty stuck in a rut, I struck lucky when a friend recommended James to me. After only a couple of months, I feel like my playing has not only improved, but my understanding of what I can actually do on the guitar has really opened up - for the first time ever I can see real possibilities for developing my playing in the way I want to. James is a great teacher, patient, friendly and incredibly observant, as well as being really skilled at meeting his students where they are. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”
Pricing
One-to-one online guitar lessons
Personalised guitar tuition with James, wherever you are in the world.
Your First Guitar Lesson
£35 · 60 minutes
A full one-to-one lesson to get started. We'll look at your playing, your goals and what you'd like to achieve, then get straight onto the guitar.
No commitment to book further lessons.
Individual Lessons
60 minutes — £45
Ideal for a focused, in-depth lesson with plenty of time to learn, practise and ask questions.
30 minutes — £25
A shorter session for focused topics, technique, songs or regular check-ins.
Lesson Packages
4 × 60-minute lessons — £165
Save £15.
10 × 60-minute lessons — £395
Save £55.
Packages give us the opportunity to build a structured learning plan and work towards longer-term goals.
FAQ
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No. Whether you've never picked up a guitar before or you've been playing for years, lessons are tailored to your current level and goals. We'll start from wherever you are and build from there, at a pace that's challenging but manageable.
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I teach all levels, from complete beginners through to advanced players. I've worked with a wide range of guitarists over the years, so whether you're learning your first chords, trying to break through a plateau, or looking to take your playing to a more advanced level, I can tailor the lessons to you.
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Yes. I teach both acoustic and electric guitar, and we can focus on the instrument and style of playing that you're most interested in.
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I teach a wide range of styles, including rock, blues, pop, indie, metal, funk, reggae, acoustic and singer-songwriter music. If there's a particular artist, song or style you want to learn, just let me know and we can build it into your lessons.
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That really depends on you and what you want to achieve. We can work on learning songs, chords, scales, rhythm, lead guitar, soloing, improvisation, technique, songwriting, music theory, the fretboard and much more.
If there's something specific you've always wanted to learn, we can work on that too. I'll also suggest areas that I think will help you develop as a guitarist, so you always have a clear direction and something useful to work on between lessons.
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Absolutely. Learning music you actually enjoy is a big part of learning guitar, so you're always welcome to bring songs you'd like to learn.
We'll use the song as a starting point, and where useful I'll also show you what's happening musically — whether that's the chords, scales, rhythm, technique or theory behind it — so you're learning more than just how to play that one song.
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Yes. Everyone comes to guitar with different goals, interests and experience, so I don't believe in giving everyone the same lessons.
We'll work out what you want to achieve and I'll tailor the lessons around you, while also suggesting areas that I think will help you progress. The aim is to give you a clear direction while keeping the lessons enjoyable and relevant to your playing.
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Not at all. You don't need any previous knowledge of music theory to have lessons with me.
If you'd like to learn more about theory, I'll explain it in a practical way and show you how it applies to the guitar and the music you're playing. And if theory isn't something you're particularly interested in, that's fine too — we'll focus on what will help you become a better player.
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Absolutely. Understanding the fretboard is a big part of my approach to teaching guitar.
We'll look at things like notes, intervals, chords, scales, CAGED, arpeggios and how they all connect. You'll still learn the shapes and patterns you need to play, but we'll also look at what's happening within those shapes and how they relate to the rest of the fretboard. The goal is to give you a deeper understanding of the guitar, rather than simply memorising patterns without knowing how or why they work.
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Yes. This is something I work with a lot. Sometimes you can reach a point where you know plenty of songs and techniques but don't feel like you're really progressing.
We'll look at where you are, identify what's holding you back and work out what you need to focus on next. Often, having a clear direction and understanding how things connect can make a big difference.
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For most people, I recommend having a lesson once a week. This gives you enough time to practise what we've covered while keeping your progress moving forward.
That said, there's no set rule. Some people prefer lessons every two weeks, while others may want more frequent sessions. We can work out what suits your goals, schedule and how much time you have available to practise.
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Lessons take place one-to-one online, so you can learn from wherever you are. We'll connect by video call and I'll guide you through the lesson just as I would in person.
I'll demonstrate things for you, watch your playing, give you feedback and make sure you understand what we're working on. You'll also have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and work through anything you're finding difficult.
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All you need is your guitar, a device with a camera and microphone, and a good internet connection.
A laptop or tablet is ideal so we can see each other and the guitar clearly, but a phone can work too. If you're playing electric guitar, you can use your normal guitar setup — you don't need any complicated equipment to get started.
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You can use a computer, laptop, tablet or phone for your lesson. A larger screen can make it easier to see demonstrations, but the most important thing is that your camera gives me a clear view of you and your guitar.
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Absolutely. Online lessons mean you can learn with me from anywhere in the world. We can arrange a lesson time that works across different time zones, so you don't need to be based in the UK.
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Your first lesson is about getting to know you, your playing and what you'd like to achieve.
We'll talk about your experience and goals, then get straight onto the guitar. I'll get a feel for where you're currently at and we'll start working on something useful straight away.
By the end of the lesson, you'll have a clearer idea of what you should be working on and where we can take your playing next.
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No. There's no requirement to commit to a block of lessons. You can book individual lessons as and when you need them.
If you'd like to work towards a specific goal or make consistent progress, lesson packages are available and offer a saving compared with booking individual lessons.
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I understand that things come up. If you need to cancel or rearrange a lesson, just give me as much notice as possible and I'll do my best to find another suitable time.
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That's absolutely fine. I understand that work, family and everyday life can make it difficult to find lots of time to practise.
I'll help you focus on the things that will make the biggest difference, so even short, regular practice sessions can be worthwhile. There's no point giving you hours of homework that you simply don't have time to do.
The important thing is that we work at a pace that fits your life and keep making progress.