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Guitar lessons near me in Bakersfield, CA
Progress quickly with professional guitar lessons for beginners
Blues, rock, and jazz guitar lessons in Bakersfield and beyond
Guitar lessons covered fundamentals and techniques in Bakersfield
Guitar students in Seven Oaks, Laurelglen, and Amberton book local sessions
Snehasis taught about 1 month ago
The Student and Tutor worked on finger exercises to strengthen the pinky and explored A major arpeggios and D sus2 chords for soloing. The Student began learning the solo from "November Rain," focusing on specific techniques like pre-bends and slides. They plan to continue learning the solo and to memorize it.
Major Arpeggios
Sus2 Chords
Diatonic Arpeggios
String Bending Technique
Solo Learning and Analysis
Snehasis taught about 1 month ago
The student and tutor worked on the melody of "Autumn Leaves", focusing on chord progressions, finger placement, and the second ending. They also reviewed the blues shuffle using E dominant 7th, A dominant 7th, and B dominant 7th chords. The student was assigned practice to solidify the concepts covered.
Second Endings in Musical Pieces
Chord Progressions and Key Signatures
Chord Voicings and Finger Placement
Dominant 7th Chords
Major 7th Chords
Helen taught about 1 month ago
The session focused on guitar techniques, including reading sheet music, practicing pentatonic scales and guitar licks, and learning power chords. The Student practiced identifying notes, finger placements, and rhythms, and was assigned exercises to improve finger dexterity and chord transitions. The Student was also assigned a song to listen to and sheet music practice for the coming week.
Sheet Music Reading: Note Identification
Fingerpicking Basics
Pentatonic Scales: E Minor and A Minor
Rhythm and Note Duration: Eighth Notes and Quarter Notes
Power Chords: Root and Fifth
Chromatic Technique Exercise
Ruby taught about 1 month ago
Ruby and a learner, who attends Bakersfield College, practiced a guitar tab, focusing on pull-off techniques and playing without looking at the fretboard. They also learned the A minor chord and practiced transitioning between A minor, D, and C chords. The learner was assigned to practice the tab and A minor chord for the next lesson, where bar chords will be introduced.
Pull-off Technique
A minor Chord
Letting Notes Ring Out
Playing Without Looking
Jimena taught about 2 months ago
Jimena guided an individual from Downtown Bakersfield through a guitar lesson, focusing on finger exercises, power chords, and introducing three new chords: E minor, A sus, and D. The learner practiced transitioning between these chords and received a chord diagram for reference. For homework, they were assigned to practice the finger exercises, the new chords, and power chords.
Finger Exercises
E minor Chord
A sus Chord (Movable Shape)
D Chord
Chord Diagrams
Ruby taught about 2 months ago
Ruby Davies instructed Diana Bruce on various guitar techniques, including hammer-ons and pull-offs, alongside teaching her how to read guitar tabs. During the lesson, Diana engaged in finger exercises, tab reading, and executing hammer-ons and pull-offs across different strings and frets. Her assignment for the upcoming lesson was to practice hammer-ons from the second to the fourth fret on every string of her instrument.
Guitar Tablature (Tabs)
Hammer-On Technique
Pull-Off Technique
Finger Dexterity Exercises
Bakersfield students explore instruments beyond guitar lessons
Learn new techniques with trusted teachers in Aurora
A Guitarist's Lessons in the Bakersfield Sound
Learning to play the guitar in Bakersfield isn't an academic pursuit; it's an apprenticeship in a trade born from rebellion. This city’s unique gift to music, the Bakersfield Sound, was a deliberate, raw alternative to the polished, orchestrated Nashville Sound of the era. Forged by blue-collar legends like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Wynn Stewart, and Jean Shepard, this sound was driven by the loud, sharp voice of the electric guitar. Learning the instrument here is about mastering that powerful, no-frills craft and using your six-string to tell the truth with an edge.
Your Required Tool: The Workhorse Electric
The first step in this curriculum is acquiring the right tool. The signature Bakersfield Sound leaned heavily on electric instruments, and the undisputed king was the Fender Telecaster, a simple, tough, reliable workhorse. The guitar was so central to this new sound that during the 1960s, small guitar companies were drawn to the area to supply the scene, most notably Mosrite guitars, which set up shop right in Oildale. The preference for guitars like these wasn't about flash; it was about function. They produced a raw, cutting, high-end sound that could slice through the noise of any honky-tonk, making them the perfect tool for the job.
The Core Subject: Mastering the "Freight Train"
Once you have your Telecaster, the real work begins. The curriculum of the Bakersfield player is built on a specific set of guitar techniques that give the music its signature attitude and drive. Influenced by honky-tonk and rock 'n' roll, the sound features strong backbeats, assertive fiddles, and above all, aggressive guitar work. A student learns to create the signature "twang" with techniques like "chicken pickin'," using both pick and fingers to snap the strings. They learn the "Freight Train" sound pioneered by Buck Owens, which used a loud electric guitar and an upbeat 2/4 tempo to create an irresistible rhythm. Mastering this style is about making your guitar sound sharp, loud, and full of defiant energy.
The Honky-Tonk Stage
The final test for any Bakersfield guitarist is not a recital hall; it’s a packed dance floor. The proving ground is the honky-tonk stage, and the ultimate temple of this tradition is Buck Owens' Crystal Palace. This iconic venue is both a living museum and an active stage where this raw guitar music is celebrated nightly. A guitar player's job here is to connect with a working-class crowd using the direct, honest energy that defined the sound's rebellion against Nashville's polish. The legacy of this sound continues today through modern torchbearers like Dwight Yoakam, who embraced its aesthetics fully. Passing this final exam means earning the respect of that crowd with your skill and the authentic, twangy voice of your electric guitar, proving you’ve mastered the true sound of your city.
Frequently asked questions
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