Introduction

Hi, I'm Stuart Ryan and I'm a guitarist and composer from the UK. I'm here to take you through pieces in the blues and rock genres, ranging from debut up to grade eight.

My Background

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

For the last 15 years, I've been writing the acoustic guitar columns for Guitar Techniques and Guitarist magazines, and I've also contributed to:

• Acoustic Magazine
• Acoustic Guitar in Germany
• Many others across the world

I am also a composer for TV, writing music for various programs and music libraries. Additionally, I am active as a clinician for the Takamine Guitar Company, which involves traveling to perform with their guitars and holding performance clinics.

Teaching Experience

I teach at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music (known as BIM), and teaching is a passion of mine that I've been dedicated to for a long time. Most importantly, I recorded many of the guitar parts on the original Rock School syllabus all those years ago.

For me, it's a real pleasure to get reacquainted with these pieces and to break down the guitar parts in detail to show you how they work.

What We'll Cover

In our lessons, we'll focus on:

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

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