Introduction to Blues and Rock Guitar

Hi, I'm Stuart Ryan, a guitarist and composer from the UK. I'm here to guide you through pieces in the blues and rock genres, from debut level up to Grade Eight.

My Experience

• I've been playing guitar for nearly 30 years.
• I've worked as a professional guitarist for the last 15 years.
• My roles include:
  • Studio musician
  • Concert guitarist
  • Composer

Contributions to Music Publications

For the last 15 years, I've written acoustic guitar columns for:

• Guitar Techniques
• Guitarist magazines
• I've also contributed pieces for:
  • Acoustic Magazine
  • Acoustic Guitar in Germany
  • Numerous other publications worldwide.

Composition and Teaching

I work as a composer for TV, creating music for various programs and music libraries. Additionally, I'm active as a clinician for the Takamine Guitar Company, traveling to perform and hold clinics.

I teach at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music (BIM), and teaching is a passion of mine, something I've been dedicated to for a long time.

Connection to Rock School

Most notably, I recorded many of the guitar parts on the original Rock School syllabus years ago. So, it's a real pleasure for me to revisit these pieces, breaking down the guitar parts to help you understand how they work.

What We Will Cover

In this series, we will focus on:

• Important stylistic elements
• Techniques for the picking hand and fretting hand
• Improvisation over these pieces
• Approaching solos
• Scales and techniques to prepare for each exam

So, get your guitar, tune up, and let's have some fun with these pieces!