Free Introductory Lesson
Guitar Lessons in Colorado Springs, Taught by Working Musicians
The guitar may be the most popular instrument in the world, and for good reason. You can strum along with friends around a campfire, accompany yourself while you sing, play a fingerstyle ballad, or tear into a rock solo. We teach private acoustic, electric, and classical guitar lessons for kids, teens, and adults at our studio on North Academy Blvd near Union, with Dan Swanagon, Benito Vena, Daniel Smith, and Nathan Mays, working musicians with decades of performing and teaching between them. Your first lesson is free, so you can meet your teacher and see how lessons work before you commit. Our guitar students range from kids in Falcon D49 and Fountain-Fort Carson D8 to adults across Colorado Springs, and many go on to play in our rock band program.
Who Guitar Lessons Are For
- Complete beginners who want to learn their first chords and songs the right way
- Kids and teens. We use fun, age-appropriate lessons that keep young players excited to practice.
- Self-taught players who’ve hit a plateau and want to fill in the gaps in their technique and theory
- Singer-songwriters who want to accompany themselves and write their own songs
- Players in a band, or players who want to join one
- Adults starting fresh, or picking the guitar back up after years away
What You’ll Learn
Lessons are built around your goals and the music you love, whether that’s rock, blues, country, folk, pop, worship, jazz, metal, or classical.
Beginners
- Holding the guitar and pick, tuning, and basic posture
- Open chords and switching smoothly between them
- Strumming patterns and keeping steady time
- Reading tab, chord charts, and the basics of standard notation
- Your first complete songs, chosen around the music you love
Intermediate and Advanced Players
- Barre chords, power chords, and moving shapes up the neck
- Fingerpicking and fingerstyle arrangements
- Scales, pentatonic patterns, and soloing
- Improvisation and playing by ear
- Music theory that makes the fretboard make sense
- Advanced techniques like bending, vibrato, legato, and hybrid picking
Every student moves at their own pace, and lessons are built around your goals.
Meet Your Guitar Teachers
We’ll match you with the teacher who best fits your style, goals, and schedule.
Dan Swanagon
Contemporary and jazz guitarist with more than 25 years of professional performing, including bluegrass banjo, and over 15 years of teaching guitar, bass, drums, and more. Read Dan’s bio
Benito Vena
Owner of the school and a working jazz and classical musician, composer, and producer who has taught in Colorado Springs for more than 10 years. Read Benito’s bio
Daniel Smith
Guitarist and bassist with 20 years on stage in rock, blues, jazz, Latin, and folk, and more than a decade teaching students of all ages. Lessons build on the Hal Leonard method for a solid start in technique and reading music. Read Daniel’s bio
Nathan Mays
Teaches guitar and piano, along with upright and electric bass in every style. Meet Nathan
Book Your Free First Lesson
Tell us a little about the student, and we’ll email you within 24 hours to find a time. Prefer a call or text? Just let us know.
After your free lesson, private lessons start at $149 per month for a weekly 30-minute lesson, with no long-term contract. Rather talk? Call 719-722-0248
“Benito is an excellent, positive teacher who understands how to meet his student exactly where they are and tailor lessons to be engaging and informative. … The place is casual, lively, and full of happy students. Great value for the price.”
Acoustic, Electric, and Classical Guitar
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
The steel-string acoustic is the most widely played guitar today, and it’s at home in folk, country, pop, rock, and worship music. Acoustic lessons focus on clean chord changes, strumming, fingerpicking, and accompanying singers, which makes it a great choice if you want to sing and play.
Electric Guitar Lessons
The electric guitar took over popular music in the 1950s, from Chuck Berry’s rock and roll to the blues of B.B. King, and it has shaped rock, blues, funk, and metal ever since. Electric lessons cover riffs, lead playing and soloing, rhythm guitar, and getting great tones from your amp and effects pedals.
Classical Guitar Lessons
The nylon-string classical guitar has a warm, intimate sound and is the instrument of classical and flamenco music. Classical lessons with Dan or Benito focus on fingerstyle technique, reading standard notation, and solo repertoire. It’s a great path for students who want a structured, traditional approach.
A Little Guitar History
The guitar’s ancestors include the lute, the vihuela, and the gittern, which were played across Europe in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The modern classical guitar took shape in Spain in the 1800s. Steel strings arrived in America in the early 1900s, and archtop guitars became the sound of jazz and big bands. Amplification then let the guitar be heard over a full band. The electric guitar became the voice of rock and roll, and effects pedals and amps kept expanding what it could do.
Play With Other Musicians
The best way to grow as a guitarist is to play with others. Our students can join our rock band program or our jazz ensemble and perform in student recitals. Already in a band? Our band coaching can help your group tighten up. We also offer voice lessons for guitarists who want to sing, bass, banjo, and mandolin lessons, and recording and music production lessons if you want to record your own songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can my child start guitar lessons?
Many kids start around age 6 to 8, often on a smaller 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar. Adults are welcome at any age. It’s never too late to start.
Should I start on acoustic or electric guitar?
Start on the one that fits the music you want to play, because that’s what will keep you practicing. Electric guitars are often easier on beginners’ fingers. Acoustics are great for strumming and singing. The skills carry over either way.
Do I need my own guitar?
Yes, you’ll need one for lessons and practice at home. A well set-up instrument makes learning much easier, and we’re happy to help you choose a beginner guitar.
My fingers hurt. Is that normal?
Yes, a little soreness is normal at first while you build calluses. A teacher can also make sure your guitar is set up properly and that you aren’t pressing harder than you need to.
I’ve taught myself for years. Are lessons worth it?
Yes. A teacher can spot habits that are holding you back, fill in theory gaps, and show you new styles and techniques, helping you break through a plateau.
How long are lessons, and what do they cost?
Choose 30, 45, or 60-minute private lessons. Your first lesson is free, and lessons start at $149 per month for a weekly 30-minute lesson after that, with no long-term contract.
Schedule Your Free Guitar Lesson
Meet your teacher, talk about your goals, and see if lessons are a good fit. Call us at 719-722-0248 or send us a message to book your free introductory guitar lesson.
Rocky Mountain Academy of Music · 5426 North Academy Blvd, Ste 101 · Colorado Springs, CO 80918