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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Profile photo of Eric, Guitar tutor at Wiingy
Profile photo of Eric, Guitar tutor at Wiingy
Profile photo of Eric, Guitar tutor at Wiingy
Guitar learning materials by Eric

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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 icon

Music theory

Guitar Techniques icon

Guitar Techniques

Fingerstyle icon

Fingerstyle

Chord Progressions icon

Chord Progressions

Chords and Rhythms icon

Chords and Rhythms

Songs and Repertoire icon

Songs and Repertoire

Scales and Modes icon

Scales and Modes

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AI modules

Summary

Podcast

Quiz

Learnings

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Zero Risk Guaranteed

15-days refund

Free tutor swap

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1-yr validity

24/7 support

Learner for guitar lessons

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Guitar for adults

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Guitar for intermediate

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Guitar for beginners

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Guitar for kids

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Rated 5 stars for engaging guitar lessons

94% students find the lessions fun, focused, and easy to follow

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Guitar lessons have strong results in a short time

91% Parent feel they kids have started playing songs within weeks

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Guitar lessons that balance theory and fun

Includes just enough music theory to support practical learning

Types of guitar lessons

Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic Guitar

Electric Guitar

Electric Guitar

Bass Guitar

Bass Guitar

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Guitar concepts taught by Eric

Student learned 12 days ago

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

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Student learned 19 days ago

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

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Student learned 22 days ago

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

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Student learned 23 days ago

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

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Student learned 26 days ago

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

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Student learned 29 days ago

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

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Learning tools used in guitar classes

Guitar Tuner Apps image

Guitar Tuner Apps

Metronome Apps image

Metronome Apps

Chord Diagram Apps image

Chord Diagram Apps

PDF Sheet Music image

PDF Sheet Music

Backing Track Libraries image

Backing Track Libraries

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