Online guitar lessons that really work
Live, one-to-one lessons from your own home: the same teacher, the same plan and the same progress as lessons in Northamptonshire, Bozeat (near olney), with no travel. Ideal for your Duke of Edinburgh's Award Skills section and for steady week-by-week learning.
Six reasons online lessons help you progress
No travel, no missed weeks
No lifts to arrange and nothing lost to traffic or bad weather. Lessons happen even in a busy week, and turning up every week is what makes progress.
Learn where you practise
You learn on your own guitar, in the room where you'll practise. What we work on carries straight into the week, and nerves settle quickly.
Clear and focused
Close-up camera angles for chord shapes and picking, notation and tab shared on screen, and nothing to distract you. Every minute is one to one.
Notes after every lesson
Practice tasks, links and PDFs are sent straight after the lesson, so you, or a parent, always know exactly what to work on next.
Fits round school and work
Weekday evenings and Sundays, with no travel time to add. Busy terms, exam season and shift patterns are much easier to fit around.
Switch whenever you like
Online one week and in person in Bozeat the next, on the same weekly slot. Many students mix both.
Why online lessons suit your DofE Skills section
The Skills section is about regular, steady effort over 3, 6 or 12 months. Weekly online lessons are one of the easiest ways to keep that going, alongside school, exams, the Volunteering and Physical sections and the expedition.
- Consistency is built in. No travel means fewer missed weeks, so your hours keep adding up.
- Goals set together at your first lesson, ready to add to your eDofE programme.
- Progress you can show. Each lesson has clear targets, and you can record your playing to show how far you've come.
- Your Assessor's Report is written by me at the end, as a personal account of your effort and achievement, never generic wording.
- Not near Bozeat? Online lessons work wherever you're doing your Award – at university, elsewhere in the UK or abroad.
- Guitar, bass or music theory, complete beginner or already playing.
For parents: lessons are live and one to one, and you're welcome to be in the room or nearby. Practice notes are sent after every lesson so you can see what's being covered.
More about DofE guitar lessonsSteady weekly progress, for any age
Whether you're 8 or 80, a nervous beginner or coming back to the guitar after years away, online lessons give you a routine that's easy to keep up. That routine is what makes the difference.
- Songs, pieces and styles you want to play: rock, pop, blues, fingerstyle, classical and more
- Technique, rhythm and reading built step by step, at your pace
- Graded exams if you want them: Trinity and RSL guitar and bass, and ABRSM theory
- Monthly Direct Debit on the same weekly slot, just like in-person lessons
International guitar and music theory lessons
Online lessons work just as well from Spain, Dubai or Singapore as they do from down the road. Wherever you live, you get the same one-to-one teaching, the same structured plan and the same preparation for UK graded exams and music theory.
Lessons run in UK time, and I'll help you find a weekly slot that fits your time zone. Lessons are taught in English, so they also suit students who want to practise their English through music.
- Families living abroadKeep up with UK graded exams and a British-style music education wherever you're based.
- Moving or travellingKeep the same teacher and the same weekly slot through a move, a gap year or time working overseas.
- International examsTrinity and RSL guitar exams can be taken as video exams, and ABRSM theory exams are online – ideal for students outside the UK.
- Music theory for any instrumentTheory is especially well suited to online lessons, for pianists, singers and players of any instrument, anywhere.
What you need
Nothing complicated. If you can make a video call, you're ready. I'll help you set up at your first lesson.
Your guitar
Acoustic, electric, classical or bass, plus a tuner app. Not sure what to buy? Ask me before you buy one.
A device
A laptop or tablet is best (a phone works too), propped up so I can see both your hands.
Zoom
Free to download. You'll get the link when you book; just click it at lesson time.
A quiet space
Somewhere you can play without interruptions. Electric players: a small amp near the device is perfect.
Three parts to every lesson
Check in & tune up
A quick play-through of last week's practice, so we pick up exactly where you left off.
Learn something new
Demonstrated close up, broken into small steps and played together until it sits comfortably.
Practice plan
Clear tasks for the week, sent after the lesson with any sheets, tabs or backing tracks.
Online lessons: common questions
Are online lessons as good as in person?
For most students, yes. The teaching, the plan and the one-to-one attention are exactly the same. Many students find they practise more because the lesson happens where they practise. If you'd like to, you can mix online and in-person lessons.
Do online lessons count for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?
Yes. Learning an instrument is a Skills activity, and regular weekly lessons with a tutor are a great way to complete it at Bronze, Silver or Gold. I'll help you set your goals and write your Assessor's Report at the end. If you're unsure, check with your DofE Leader before you start.
Can a complete beginner learn online?
Absolutely. Beginners do very well online. I'll guide you through holding the guitar, your first chords and tuning, one small step at a time.
What age can my child start online?
Usually from around 8, with a parent nearby for the first few lessons to help with setting up. Younger children often do better in person. Get in touch and we can chat about it.
What if the internet drops?
It rarely does, but if it happens we simply reconnect, and any lost time is made up.
Can I have lessons from outside the UK?
Yes. Students can join from anywhere in the world with a reliable internet connection. Lessons are in UK time, and we'll find a weekly slot that works for your time zone.
Can I take grade exams if I learn online?
Yes. Trinity and RSL guitar exams can be taken as recorded video exams, and ABRSM theory exams are taken online. I'll prepare you fully for both.
Try an online lesson
Book an intro lesson on Zoom. We'll talk about your goals, set up your camera and play some guitar.
Alex PartingtonYour teacher- 07746139814
- alex@mkguitartuition.com
- In person in Bozeat (NN29) & online via Zoom