Guitar lessons with
Bryan Jay
KEEL guitarist Bryan Jay is now offering private one-on-one guitar lessons online or in his home studio
LEARN Guitar the Right Way - Even If You've Never Played Before
What Sets Bryan Apart
Experience
With over 40+ years as a recording artist, songwriter, touring musician, music publisher, licensing specialist, and guitar instructor—bringing insider knowledge and battle-tested techniques to help you succeed on and off the stage.
Tailored Lesson Plans
Custom lesson plans designed specifically for your skill level, musical style, and ambitions—equipping you with the tools and structure to achieve real, lasting results faster, while beginners build a rock-solid foundation from day one.
Guitar Community
Step into Bryan Jay’s Guitar Zone community, where beginners can build the knowledge you need in a judgment-free space. Post your practice clips, get honest but encouraging feedback, ask questions anytime, and watch yourself improve every single day.
Imagine learning guitar from a seasoned pro who's lived the rock life—from KEEL's arena tours and recordings to decades of songwriting and music production. Bryan Jay started sharing his passion early, teaching guitar at young age of 19 at Wilson’s Music in his hometown of Carson, California. He honed his skills at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington, CA, before joining Keel in 1984, and later returned to UCLA and El Camino College in the late 1990s for deeper study. Now based in Canyon Lake, CA, Bryan offers flexible one-on-one lessons online or in his home studio, fully customized to your skill level, goals, and what excites you most about music. From building solid foundations (chords, scales, tuning, rhythm, etc) to exploring lead techniques, songwriting, theory, and more, his approachable, encouraging style makes progress feel achievable and enjoyable. Whether you're starting from scratch, prepping to join a band, conquering your favorite riffs, or simply playing for the pure joy of it, Bryan welcomes students of every age and background. As he says, "I've taught kids as young as 7 years old to retirees in their 70s." Bryan is here to guide you with patience and expertise, helping you thrive and reach your full potential as a musician.
Frequently Asked Questions
What If I’m a Complete Beginner?
That’s perfectly okay. Many students start with no previous experience at all. Lessons begin with the fundamentals and progress at a comfortable pace, so you’ll build skills step-by-step without feeling overwhelmed.
Am I Too Old for Guitar Lessons?
Not at all. Many students begin learning later in life and make great progress. Guitar is something you can start at any age, and lessons are tailored to your learning style and pace. I've successfully taught students from as young as 7 years old all the way up to retirees in their 70's.
What Do I Need for Online Lessons?
All you need is a computer or tablet and a reliable internet connection. I conduct lessons using Zoom Workplace, which is easy to use and free to download. If you play an electric guitar, you’ll also need an amplifier so I can hear your playing clearly during the lesson.
Acoustic or Electric for Beginners?
Either works great—there's no strict "right" choice! Electric guitars are often more forgiving on sore fingers thanks to lighter strings and lower string action (easier to press down), which can make early practice more comfortable and fun. Steel-string acoustics build finger strength and calluses faster while teaching clean technique. For young kids or anyone worried about finger pain, a nylon-string (classical) guitar is usually the easiest on the fingertips—soft strings, less tension, and super gentle for tiny hands. Start with whatever excites you most and matches the music you love (rock/electric vibes? Go electric; folk/singer-songwriter? Acoustic shines).
Do I Need to Know How to Read Music?
Not at all. Many guitar players learn using chord charts, tablature (tabs), and patterns on the guitar.
How Long Are the Lessons?
Most lessons are 30 or 60 minutes long, depending on your preference. This gives us plenty of time to cover new material, answer questions, and work on songs or techniques together.
***COMING SOON***
ON-LINE Guitar courseS
BEGINNER ZONE #101
A step-by-step beginner guitar course that helps you play real songs, understand music, and build confidence with your instrument —no frustration, just fun and real progress at your own pace:
Build a strong foundation so everything that follows feels easier and more natural.
Know Your Guitar — Learn the key components of your guitar (headstock, neck, fretboard, body, bridge, strings, tuning keys, pickups, etc.) so you understand how the instrument works. This helps you follow lessons more easily, communicate with other musicians, and properly care for your guitar.
Tuning Your Guitar — Step-by-step methods using a clip-on tuner, smartphone app, or tuning by ear. You'll learn how to quickly tune your guitar to standard tuning, recognize when your guitar is out of tune, and develop the habit of starting every practice session with great sound.
Holding the Guitar & Proper Posture — Learn proper holding techniques, posture, and hand placement so the guitar becomes an easy, natural extension of yourself (great for avoiding sore hands and bad habits early on).
Easy Beginner Chords — Dive into the easiest open chords first—the ones used in hundreds of popular songs—so you can start strumming real music without frustration.
Smooth Chord Switching — Discover techniques to transition between chords faster and more smoothly—one of the biggest challenges for beginners.
Your First Strumming Patterns — Learn simple strumming patterns that make chords sound like real songs instead of just exercises.
The Major Scale — The Foundation of Music — Learn the major scale, the pattern that forms the basis of most Western music, and How Chords/Scales Are Built From It Unlock the key to understanding almost all music—start simple and build from there!
And so much more!
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