Your introductory
What to expect
Guitar Tuition • Alex Partington · One-to-one tutoring
Guitar & music theory tutoring
One-to-one lessons in electric, acoustic fingerstyle, classical and bass guitar, plus music theory. Whether you're working towards a grade, completing your DofE or playing for the love of it, lessons run in person in Northamptonshire, Bozeat (near olney) or online.
What are you aiming for?
Lessons built around your goal
Grades
Trinity, RSL and ABRSM theory exams with a clear plan, mock exams and help with booking.
Exam preparation →DofE
Your Skills section at Bronze, Silver or Gold, with goals set at the start and your Assessor's Report at the end.
DofE lessons →Just for you
No exams, no deadlines. Learn the songs and styles you love at a pace that suits you.
Start playing → Online or in person
Learn wherever suits you
In person
Lessons in Northamptonshire, Bozeat (near olney). Ideal for beginners and younger players, where hands-on help with posture and technique makes a real difference.
- Hands-on technique correction
- Play together in the room
- A regular, focused weekly slot
Online
Live one-to-one lessons over Zoom, from anywhere. Perfect for busy timetables, students away at college or university, and music theory.
- No travel – learn from home
- Screen-shared notation, tab and backing tracks
- Easy to fit around school, work or study
A mix of both
Combine in-person and online lessons. Keep learning through holidays, exam season or a busy month without losing momentum.
- Switch week to week
- Same teacher, same plan
- No missed progress
Tutoring
Electric guitar
Rock, blues, pop, indie, funk or metal. Learn the riffs and solos behind the music you love, with the technique to play them properly.
- Riffs, power chords and palm muting
- Pentatonic and major scales across the neck
- Bends, vibrato, slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs
- Improvising and writing your own solos
- Getting a great tone from your amp and pedals
Tutoring
Acoustic guitar (fingerstyle)
From your first chords to full fingerstyle arrangements, where bass line, chords and melody all come from one guitar.
- Open chords, barre chords and smooth changes
- Fingerpicking patterns and Travis picking
- Fingerstyle arrangements of songs you know
- Playing and singing at the same time
- Capo use and working out songs by ear
Tutoring
Classical guitar
Beautiful tone, secure technique and fluent music reading, with repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.
- Reading standard notation fluently
- Rest and free strokes, arpeggios and tremolo
- Left-hand accuracy, shifting and slurs
- Scales, studies and pieces for every level
- Sight-reading and aural skills
Tutoring
Bass guitar
The link between rhythm and harmony. Learn to lock in with a drummer, drive a band and know exactly which notes to play.
- Finger and pick technique, muting and tone
- Timing, groove and playing to a click
- Root-fifth patterns, walking bass and arpeggios
- Slap and pop, ghost notes and funk grooves
- Reading bass clef and tab
Tutoring
Music theory
Understand how music works and read it with confidence. Open to players of any instrument, not just guitarists, and ideal for online lessons.
- Rhythm, time signatures and note values
- Clefs, scales, keys and key signatures
- Intervals, chords and cadences
- Harmony, chord symbols and how songs are built
- Exam technique for the online theory exams
Lesson lengths
30, 45 or 60 minutes
30 min
Getting started
Ideal for beginners, younger players and Bronze DofE.
45 min
Building up
More time for pieces and technique as you progress, and for Silver DofE.
60 min
Going further
For higher grades, Gold DofE and serious players who want to cover everything.
Not sure which length to choose? We'll decide together at your intro lesson.
Getting started
Three easy steps
Get in touch
Tell me your instrument, your experience and your goal – grades, DofE or just for fun.
Intro lesson
We meet in person or online, have a play and agree a plan that suits you.
Start learning
Regular one-to-one lessons with clear goals, so you can hear your progress every week.
FAQ
Tutoring questions
Do online lessons really work for guitar?
Yes. With a webcam and a decent internet connection, online lessons cover everything in-person lessons do. Notation, tab and backing tracks are shared on screen, and music theory works especially well online.
What do I need for online lessons?
A laptop, tablet or phone with a camera, a stable internet connection, Zoom, and your instrument. A stand to hold the device so I can see your hands is a big help.
Can I learn more than one instrument?
Yes. Lots of students mix guitar and bass, or add music theory alongside their playing. We can split lessons or alternate weeks.
I play another instrument. Can I take music theory lessons?
Absolutely. Theory is the same for every instrument, so pianists, violinists, singers and anyone else are very welcome.
What's the difference between acoustic fingerstyle and classical guitar?
Fingerstyle acoustic is usually played on a steel-string guitar and covers popular songs, folk and blues arrangements. Classical guitar uses a nylon-string guitar, focuses on reading notation and traditional repertoire, and has its own exam syllabuses.
Do I have to take exams or do DofE?
Not at all. Many students learn purely for enjoyment. Grades and DofE are there if you want them.
Ready to start?
Tell me which instrument, your experience so far, and whether you're aiming for grades, DofE or just want to play.
- alex@mkguitartuition.com
- In person near Olney (NN29) & online via Zoom