Introduction

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

Background

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

Writing Contributions

In my professional life:

• I've written acoustic guitar columns for:
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Guitarist magazines
• I've also contributed to Acoustic Magazine and Acoustic Guitar in Germany, among others worldwide.

Composition Work

I compose music for:

• Various television programs
• Music libraries

Teaching

I am an active clinician for the Takamine Guitar Company, which involves:

• Traveling to perform with their guitars
• Holding performance clinics

Additionally, I teach at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music (BIM).

Teaching is a passion of mine, something I've been deeply involved with for a long time.

Connection to Rock School

Most importantly, I recorded many of the guitar parts for the original Rock School syllabus many years ago. It's a real pleasure to reconnect with these pieces and break down the guitar parts to assist you in detail.

Learning Objectives

Throughout our lessons, we will focus on:

• Stylistic Elements: Key aspects of blues and rock playing.
• Picking Hand Techniques: How to effectively use your picking hand.
• Fretting Hand Techniques: Insights into fretting hand positions.

Improvisation and Soloing

We will also delve into:

• How to improvise over these pieces
• Approaches to the solos
• The scales and techniques that will help you prepare for each exam

Get Ready!

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