by Jeff Swanson | Dec 2, 2024 | Guitar Lessons, Guitar Stuff
34 Years of Teaching Guitar
I was curious after being asked by a student about the number of lessons that I’ve given during the 34…about to be 35… years a teaching guitar full time. So, math… here we go. 🙂
I’ve been teaching guitar since 1986, with an average of 45 - 50 students a week, doing 30 minute lessons for each student. Minus 4 years (touring)… how many lessons have i given? Let’s do the numbers…
To calculate the approximate total number of lessons given, factoring in a range of 45–50 students per week, here’s the breakdown:
1. Determine Total Teaching Years
- Start Year: 1986
- Current Year: 2024
- Total Years Teaching: (2024 - 1986 = 38) years.
- Minus 4 Years Not Teaching: (38 - 4 = 34) years of teaching.
2. Estimate Total Weeks Taught
- Weeks per Year: 52
- Total Weeks Over 34 Years: (34 x 52 = 1,768) weeks.
3. Estimate Lessons Per Week
- Range: 45–50 students per week.
- Lesson Duration: Each lesson is 30 minutes.
4. Calculate Total Lessons
- Lower Estimate: (1,768 x 45 = 79,560) lessons.
- Upper Estimate: (1,768 x 50 = 88,400) lessons.
Result: 79,560 and 88,400 lessons in total over 34 teaching years.
It’s pretty surreal, and I am extremely fortunate do be able to do something that I absolutely love and share that with so many,
by Jeff Swanson | Sep 22, 2024 | Guitar Lessons
Learn A Pentatonic Minor Scales in 5 Positions with a Connecting Riff and Solo Example. In this lesson, you’ll master the A minor pentatonic scale across five positions and see how to connect them with a riff and solo. Perfect for guitarists looking to improve their fretboard navigation and soloing skills!
Download the free tablature here: https://jeffswanson.com/Tabs/apentatonicminor.pdf
Interested in Lessons and live In the Greensboro, NC area? Feel free to contact me at 336.337.3331
by Jeff Swanson | May 25, 2024 | Guitar Lessons
Advanced Soloing - Neo Classical Style
Advanced soloing example, Part 1 and 2, consisting of the B Natural/Harmonic Minor Scale and the G Major/B Minor Arpeggios. Incorporating alternate picking, hammer-ons, pull-offs and the sweeping technique.
by Jeff Swanson | May 25, 2024 | Guitar Lessons
A Natural Minor Scale
The A natural minor scale, also known simply as the A minor scale, is one of the most commonly used scales in Western music. It consists of seven distinct notes, and it is characterized by a specific pattern of whole and half steps. The scale follows this sequence: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A. The interval pattern for the natural minor scale is:
- Whole step between A and B
- Half step between B and C
- Whole step between C and D
- Whole step between D and E
- Half step between E and F
- Whole step between F and G
- Whole step between G and A
This pattern can be summarized as: Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole.
In musical notation, the A natural minor scale looks like this:
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
The A natural minor scale is the relative minor of the C major scale, which means it contains the same notes as the C major scale but starts on A instead of C. Because of this relationship, the A natural minor scale is often described as having a more somber or melancholic tone compared to its relative major counterpart.
