Online Fingerstyle & Jazz Guitar Lessons

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Personalized Online Lessons

ArtistWorks’ revolutionary Video Exchange™ technology makes it easy to submit practice videos to Martin and enables Martin to respond with personalized video feedback just for you.

How It Works

  • 1

    Join Martin Taylor Guitar Academy

  • 2

    Watch the lessons

  • 3

    Send your practice videos to Martin

  • 4

    Get personalized feedback from Martin

  • 5

    Watch Martin's responses to other students

  • 6

    Become a better player

Features

  • HD Lesson Video Library

    Watch hundreds of HD jazz and fingerstyle guitar lessons from Martin.

  • Notation, Tabs & Tracks

    Download exclusive lesson notation and guitar tablature (tabs).

  • Get Personalized Video Feedback

    Submit practice videos and get personalized Video Exchange™ feedback from Martin.

Even More Features

  • Online Guitar Community

    Learn by watching Martin’s exchanges with other students and meet fellow guitarists.

  • Wherever, Whenever

    Watch lessons on computer, tablet or mobile devices.

  • Worldwide guitar community

    Get inspiration and connect with other jazz and fingerstyle guitarists worldwide.

What Students Are Saying..

"Whether you've just been playing for a short time or you're a seasoned professional, there's something that you're going to learn here for sure. What I like about it is that I started seeing results right away in my playing. I can't tell you enough about how great this is. He'll work with you no matter what level you are."  Bob the Guitar Doctor 

It's really the best format I've run across…anywhere. It's the next best thing as sitting in the same room with [Martin]." - Kent Gunderson 

"I am getting a lot out of Martin Taylor's guitar school. I'm not very active as far as uploading videos (laziness) but I study Martin's lessons and critiques and practice his method every day. I've played guitar since the 1966 and have taken lessons from a few excellent teachers. Martin's instruction is taking me to a level of understanding I never thought I would reach. Thanks to all at ArtistWorks and of course to Martin for making this possible." Larry Mazzocco

"I'm always amazed how Martin stays on top of submissions from students, no big time lapses from student submission to Martin response, no excuses for his grueling travel schedule. I'm so impressed by how Martin is so honestly involved, never projecting any sort of condescension.  He never seems to come off saying 'that's great' in a fake way...a true gentleman :-)" Robert

"I'm a daily visitor of the Fingerstyle Guitar School with Martin Taylor Taylor. Don't be intimated. His lessons (which Martin calls ' the curriculum' ) start rather simple with simple harmonization in tenths and sevenths. His main style is to use moveable lines instead of block chords. Sometimes it comes very close to classical music with interweving lines. There are also some players who play a classical guitar. Right from the start Martin encourages you to make your own little arrangements and the atmosphere is very relaxed with some very good players and also a lot of players who are new to fingerstyle guitar. In 2 years I've learned more than in the ten years before I joined. Highly recommended!" Dutch Courage

"I just want to say thank you for your wonderful website.  You are an inspiring musician and an amazing teacher. Your lessons have taught me so very much and I thank you.  Your interviews are great too.  You really have a knack for helping people."  Francesco

Video Reviews

Get Started Now

Here are just some of the lessons at Martin Taylor Guitar Academy

Underlying Concepts

 

  • Your Playing Position
  • All About Tuning
  • Fretboard Orientation
  • Introduction to Fingerstyle Playing
  • Introduction to the 10ths: The Scaffolding
  • 10ths Anchored by the Sixth String
  • 10ths Anchored by the Fifth String
  • 10ths Anchored by the Fourth String
  • Finding Transition Points When Playing the 10ths
  • Adding 7ths Anchored by the Sixth String
  • Adding 7ths Anchored by the Fifth String
  • Adding 7ths Anchored by the Fourth String
  • Finding Transition Points When Playing the 7ths
  • Moving the 7ths Anchored by the Sixth String
  • Moving the 7ths Anchored by the Fifth String
  • Moving the 7ths Anchored by the Fourth String
  • Finding Transition Points While Moving the 7ths
  • Using 10ths with the Minor Scale
  • Harmonizing the Major Scale and Chord Progressions
  • Introduction to "Satin Doll"
  • Adding a Melody to "Satin Doll"
  • Applying All You've Learned to "Satin Doll"
  • Play a Simple Version of "Satin Doll"
  • Additional Concepts Found in "Satin Doll"
  • Play Another Version of "Satin Doll"

Auxiliary Lessons

 

  • Accompanying a Singer
  • True: Performance with Alison Burns
  • True: Discussion with Alison Burns Part 1
  • True: Discussion with Alison Burns Part 2
  • Kissing Bug: Performance with Alison Burns
  • Kissing Bug: Discussion with Alison Burns
  • Equipment
  • Gear Part 1: Finding the Right Set-up
  • Gear Part 2: Pick-ups, Strings, and DI Boxes
Learn Classic Jazz Standards

Step-by-step lesson on learning a range or fingerstyle and jazz standards on guitar.

Developing Technique

 

  • Learning To Play "True"
  • Learning To Play "True": Performance Of A Simplifed Version
  • Right Hand Technique In Depth
  • Using Thumb Upstrokes
  • Martin's Nail Salon
  • Using A Pick
  • Left Hand Expressive Technique
  • Advanced Expressive Techniques
  • Using Harmonics
  • Incorporating Single String Playing
  • Walking Bass Lines with Comping
  • Comping for Other Musicians
  • Phrasing
  • Phrasing Applied to Somewhere Over the Rainbow
  • Jazz Blues Part 1
  • Jazz Blues Part 2
  • Jazz Blues Part 3
  • Jazz Blues Part 4: Summary
  • Improvisation Part 1: Using Both Hands
  • Improvisation Part 2: Listening
  • Improvisation Part 3: You're On!
  • Improvisation Part 4: Flow Of Ideas
  • Improvisation Part 5: Opening Your Mind
  • Improvisation Part 6: Example "My Romance"
  • Improvisation Part 7: Melodic Improvisation
  • Improvisation Part 8: More Melodic Improvisation
  • Improvisation Part 9: Melodic Improvisation Single String Introduction
  • Improvisation Part 10: Melodic Improvisation Single String 2-5-1
  • Improvisation Part 11: Melodic Improvisation Single String 2-5-1 Examples Part 1
  • Improvisation Part 11: Melodic Improvisation Single String 2-5-1 Examples Part 2
  • Improvisation Part 12: Melodic Improvisation Single String 3-6-2-5 Part 1
  • Improvisation Part 12: Melodic Improvisation Single String 3-6-2-5 Part 2
  • Using Parallel Fourths
  • My Funny Valentine - Performance
  • My Funny Valentine - Bossa Feel Part 1
  • My Funny Valentine - Bossa Feel Part 2
  • The Fair Haired Child - Performance
  • The Fair Haired Child - Breakdown
  • The Fair Haired Child - Chords
  • The Fair Haired Child - Melody and Root
  • The Fair Haired Child - Adding Harmony

About Martin Taylor

Martin Taylor is a Grammy nominated fingerstyle guitarist, solo jazz guitar virtuoso and online guitar teacher.  Pat Metheny says Martin Taylor is "one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument" while Jeff Beck thinks Taylor "out-shred’s all of us put together….I’ve never seen anything like it".  As one of the world's most popular online guitar teachers and providers of guitar lessons online, Taylor now helps people in over 80 countries learn how to play guitar and become better guitarists. He has collaborated with the biggest names in guitar music including Tommy Emmanuel, Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins, Frank Vignola, Barney Kessell, Earl Klugh, Herb Ellis, Scotty Moore, Julian Lage, Andreas Oberg, Albert Lee, Ulf Wakenius, Tony McManus, Martin Simpson and Laurence Juber.  In addition to this he has been awarded two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, an IAJE Jazz Educators award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and UK, a record 14 British Jazz Awards and in 2002 he was appointed MBE 'For Services to Jazz Music' by the Queen of Great Britain. Today his online jazz guitar lessons and fingerstyle guitar videos have been watched by guitarists around the world.

Awards and Recognitions

  • 2012 – Lifetime Achievement Award, Ards International Guitar Festival
  • 2012 – Scottish Jazz Awards, Best Live Jazz
  • 2010 – Honorary Doctorate Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
  • 2008 – International Association For Jazz Education, Outstanding Service to Jazz Education
  • 2007 – Lifetime Achievement Award NWJS
  • 2007 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 2007 – BBC Radio 2 ‘Heart Of Jazz’ Award
  • 2005 – Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, City of London
  • 2003 – Pioneer to the Life of the Nation, awarded by HM the Queen
  • 2002 – International Guitar Foundation, Best Album: Solo
  • 2002 – Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), awarded by HM the Queen for Services to Music
  • 2001 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1999 – Honorary Doctorate University of the West of Scotland
  • 1999 – British Academy of Composers and Songwriters ‘Gold Badge of Merit’
  • 1999 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1998 – Freedom of the City of London
  • 1997 – British Jazz Awards, Best Small Group: Martin Taylor’s Spirit of Django
  • 1997 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1995 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1993 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1991 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1990 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1989 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1988 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1987 – Grammy Nomination: Best Country Instrumental, ‘Together At Last’ (Grappelli-Clements)
  • 1987 – British Jazz Awards, Best Guitarist
  • 1985 – Music Retailer’s Association Award For Excellence

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