Eric Varillas
Discover the Joy of Guitar with a Fun, Encouraging Teacher Who Makes Every Lesson Engaging, Confidence-Building, and Enjoyable for You!




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Eric Varillas
Bachelors degree
/ 55 min
Eric - Know your guitar teacher
I believe every student learns differently, so I take time to understand their individual strengths, needs, and interests. By meeting students where they are, I create a supportive environment that builds confidence and encourages growth. My lessons prioritize clear communication, real-world connections, and opportunities for students to think critically and take ownership of their learning. I strive to make learning engaging, inclusive, and meaningful for every student. I have great skill and passion for music theory. My wife (who is a music historian) thinks it's "weird" but I love to learn how music is put together, why certain notes and chords fit better together than others, understand how the harmonic series works on guitar, and just 'nerd-out' with my scales and key signatures! When I teach guitar, I bring that same nerdy enthusiasm to help you understand why things work, not just what to play. Whether you're crushing your first chord or mastering complex fingerpicking, I'll break down the theory in fun, bite-sized ways that actually make sense. Expect plenty of "aha!" moments, zero judgment, and maybe a few funny analogies about food or pop culture. My goal? To make you a confident, creative guitarist who loves playing as much as I love teaching!
Your guitar teacher expertise
Music theory
Guitar Techniques
Fingerstyle
Chord Progressions
Chords and Rhythms
Songs and Repertoire
Scales and Modes
AI modules
Summary
Podcast
Quiz
Learnings
Flashcard
Spotlight
Zero Risk Guaranteed
15-days refund
Free tutor swap
No cancel fee
1-yr validity
24/7 support
Learner for guitar lessons
Guitar for adults
Guitar for intermediate
Guitar for beginners
Guitar for kids
Rated 5 stars for engaging guitar lessons
94% students find the lessions fun, focused, and easy to follow
Guitar lessons have strong results in a short time
91% Parent feel they kids have started playing songs within weeks
Guitar lessons that balance theory and fun
Includes just enough music theory to support practical learning
Types of guitar lessons
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar

Guitar concepts taught by Eric
Student and Tutor worked on guitar techniques and song performance. They focused on the intro riff of Metallica's "Enter Sandman," practicing palm muting and note sliding using a provided tab. Additionally, they introduced and practiced power chords with Nirvana's "Come As You Are," concentrating on finger placement and smooth transitions. The Tutor advised on hand stretching and consistent practice.
Reading Guitar Tablature
Palm Muting (PM) Technique
Guitar Slides (`/`)
Power Chords
The Student and Tutor practiced guitar chords and riffs from songs including "Paperback Writer," "Enter Sandman," and "Come As You Are." The Tutor introduced and explained guitar tablature notation, along with efficient finger placement techniques. They also discussed the use of a metronome and a Chrome extension to adjust audio pitch and speed for effective practice with recordings. The Student is encouraged to continue practicing the learned riffs with these tools.
Ergonomic Guitar Holding for Comfort
Optimized Finger Placement for Riffs
Metronome Training for Rhythm and Timing
Reading Guitar Tablature (Tab)
YouTube Playback Control with Transpose Extension
The Student and Tutor discussed the Student's guitar background and goals to advance beyond basic playing, focusing on ear training and understanding how to identify a song's key and associated chords. They analyzed a Grateful Dead song, clarified the application of major versus minor pentatonic scales, and explored the Circle of Fifths as a tool for chord prediction. A long-range learning plan, including topics like slide guitar and various techniques, was also outlined for future sessions.
Finding the Key & Home Base Chords
Applying Major vs. Minor Pentatonic Scales
The Circle of Fifths: Predicting Chords
The Student and Tutor discussed the Student's existing guitar skills, including their experience with tabs and basic open chords. They practiced playing the song "Knocking on Heaven's Door" to develop chord transitions and strumming rhythm. The Tutor also presented a flexible lesson plan for future sessions, emphasizing chord expansion and personalized song learning.
Basic Song Sheet Navigation & Chord Progressions
The Art of Musical Creativity & Breaking Rules
Accurate Chord Voicing & String Selection
Rhythmic Strumming & Keeping Time
Essential Open Chords & Transitions
Guitar Tablature Interpretation
The Student and Tutor spent most of the session troubleshooting the electric guitar setup and tuning, ensuring the amplifier and online tuner functioned correctly. They then briefly reviewed the G7 and C chords, with a homework assignment to practice these chords by strumming along to "Paperback Writer" and to explore different tuning apps for their phone. The Tutor offered to not count this session due to the technical difficulties.
Tailoring Your Musical Journey
Introduction to Chords: G7 and C
Ergonomic Guitar Posture & Injury Prevention
Electric Guitar Amplification & Connection
Guitar Tuning Fundamentals & Troubleshooting
Student and Tutor worked on guitar techniques, reviewing power chords and understanding sharps and flats. They focused on playing Linkin Park's "Numb," practicing chord progressions, a specific verse variation, and the bridge section. The Tutor introduced tablature and taught the song's intro riff, emphasizing efficient finger placement; Student was advised to print the lead sheet and write fret numbers for practice, with plans to start a Metallica song next session.
Power Chord Fundamentals & Fretboard Navigation
Understanding Sharps (#) and Flats (♭)
"Numb" by Linkin Park: Main Chord Progression
"Numb": Verse Chord Variation
"Numb": Bridge Chord Progression
Introduction to Guitar Tablature (Tab)
"Numb" Intro Riff & Efficient Finger Placement
Learning tools used in guitar classes
Guitar Tuner Apps
Metronome Apps
Chord Diagram Apps
PDF Sheet Music
Backing Track Libraries

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