Joe Klein - ATCL (Associate Trinity College London)
See also singing lessons

Frequently asked questions:

What are your rates for 2010?
$60 per hour of private tuition. You may combine your guitar lessons with singing lessons at no extra cost.

What levels do you teach?
First time beginners (we all have to start somewhere!), intermediate and advanced.

What styles do you teach?
Contemporary, Blues, Pop, Funk, Rock and Classical. I teach on Acoustic (Nylon and steel string) and electric.
You will learn some or all of the following: Tablature (tabs), chords, riffs, soloing, right-hand techniques, finger-picking, theory, musicianship, improvisation.

I know of some great guitarists who were self taught. Why can't I teach myself?
You can teach yourself, but it will take a lot longer, you will always be wondering if you are doing it "right" and will probably get frustrated and give up. 
It is very difficult and time consuming to learn a hands-on skill such as guitar playing from a book or CD. Lessons with an experienced teacher will speed up your progress substantially.

What is the best age to start learning guitar?
My youngest student at the moment is 7 and the most "mature" is 60. It's never too early or late to start.

Do I need to bring my own guitar to lessons?
No, you may use my guitars, but you'll need a guitar at home to practice on.

Which guitar is best for me and how much will it cost?
These are your main choices (prices are approximate new RRPs):

Nylon String (Also known as Classical): Excellent for beginners as the strings won't dig into your fingers as much as steel strings. The sound is mellow and suitable for classical, folk and blues. Available in smaller sizes (1/4, 1/2, 3/4) which makes them an obvious choice for kids.
Beginner: Valencia and Ashton ($100+). Intermediate: Yamaha ($250+). Advanced: Custom ($1,000+)

Steel String: These are good all-round instruments. They produce a louder and brighter sound than nylon string models. Suitable for Blues, contemporary, folk and general purpose "unplugged" playing.
Beginner: Ashton, Ibanez, Yamaha ($150+). Intermediate: Fender, Epiphone, Maton ($500+), Advanced: Maton, Martin ($1000+).

Acoustic Electric: These are similar to steel-string guitars but have an electric pick-up and preamplifier installed. You can plug them into your Hi-Fi system or a dedicated guitar amplifier. They also usually have a cut-away for easier access to the upper frets. Acoustic electrics cost about $100-$200 more than their non-electric counterparts. 

Stratocaster (Strat) style: If you intend to own only one electric guitar, you cannot go past this type. It's versatility will let you emulate the guitar sounds of 90% of the songs you hear on the radio. Famous players include(d) Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton (on his later albums) and John Frusciante.
Beginner: Squier ($250+). Intermediate: Fender - made in Mexico ($1000+). Advanced: Fender USA ($1,500+).

Gibson Style: These produce a fabulous "fat" blues/rock sound. Not as versatile as the Strat, but if you want to sound like Jimmy Page, Angus Young or Slash then this is the guitar for you. The solid Les Paul models are very heavy and can lead to shoulder pain. SG models are lighter and look great.
Beginner: Various Chinese and Taiwanese brands ($300+). Intermediate: Epiphone ($600+). Advanced: Gibson USA ($2,500+)

Heavy Metal Style: Unless you are sure you will play nothing but metal for the next 30 years (believe me, you'll get sick of it a lot sooner), I would stay away from these. They have a hard-edged sound, over the top styling and usually an expensive Tremolo system which you will rarely use. On the plus side, most examples  have excellent action. ESP, Ibanez, Jackson and B.C. Rich are some of the manufacturers. Expect to pay $600+.

Amplifiers: If you are buying an electric guitar you will need an amplifier. Practice units range from $150 to $300. Make sure that the output is at least 15W and that it has a lead switch. Amps suitable for live performance should be rated at 60W+. Brands to consider are Fender, Marshall, Peavey, Behringer and cost $500+. Valve amps sound better than transistor amps but are far more expensive and require a lot more maintenance.

What should I look for when buying a guitar?
Any guitar you buy, regardless of price, must have these three main attributes:
1) It must stay in tune - There is nothing more frustrating than having to constantly retune.
2) It must have good action - This means that the strings should be close to the fret-board all the way up the neck. 
3) It must sound good - This is subjective, but make sure it's a clear, resonant, buzz-free sound.

If you have any other questions or if you want to book a lesson, please call me::

Phone: 9389 8440
Email: joe@bridge.com.au
Unit 3, 125 MacPherson Street Bronte.       

See you soon!

If you are catching public transport, take the 378 bus from Central or from    Bondi-Junction station. Ask the driver to give you a yell at the Bronte RSL stop.