Most students arrive with a style already in mind, because they arrive with songs. Each style leans on different skills: classical on reading and the picking hand, jazz on harmony, metal on precise rhythm playing, folk on accompanying a voice. The theory under all of them is the same, which is why a student who changes direction halfway does not start from zero.
Classical
Classical guitar is played on nylon strings with the fingers, from standard notation. The repertoire runs from Bach transcriptions through Carcassi, Giuliani, Sor and Tárrega to Villa-Lobos. Classical piano starts from the same reading and builds hand independence.
Jazz
Jazz is harmony you can improvise on: seventh chords and their extensions, the ii–V–I progression, walking bass, comping (accompanying a soloist with chords), and soloing through changing keys. It works on guitar, bass and piano.
Blues
Blues guitar starts with the 12-bar form, the shuffle rhythm and the minor pentatonic scale, then gets its voice from string bends, vibrato and the space between phrases. It is also the root of most rock soloing.
Rock and metal
Rock and metal rest on tight rhythm playing: power chords, palm muting and accurate alternate picking, then speed. Metal adds drop tunings, seven-string and baritone guitars and gallop rhythms.
Grunge, punk and '90s alternative
Grunge and '90s alternative favour feel over speed: drop D, loud-quiet dynamics, big distorted chords and simple, memorable riffs. Punk is faster and plainer still, built on downstroked power chords.
Folk and acoustic
Folk and acoustic playing is about carrying a song: open chords, strumming patterns, the capo, fingerpicking and open tunings, often while singing. Mandolin, banjo and ukulele all have their place here, and it leads naturally into songwriting.
Fingerstyle
Fingerstyle guitar means playing bass line, chords and melody at once with the fingers of the picking hand, on steel or nylon strings. It sits between folk and classical and borrows from both.
Not sure yet
You don't need to pick a style before starting. Bring a few songs you like to the free intro visit and the style usually picks itself.
Tap a note to hear it; tap a name to read about the style.
