The Glasgow School of Music · Kinning Park
Guitar Lessons in Glasgow
Build the technique. Understand the music. Find your own way of playing.
Thoughtfully structured one-to-one acoustic and electric guitar lessons for children, teenagers and adults at our Kinning Park school connecting rhythm, technique and musicianship with the music each student wants to explore.
Guitar lessons at a glance
Practical guitar teaching within a professionally managed music school.
Guitar lessons are individually taught around age, experience, musical interests, goals and instrument access. In-person tuition takes place at our Kinning Park school, with acoustic, electric, beginner and returning-player routes available.
Who guitar lessons are for
A clear starting route for different players and musical goals.
No two players are drawn to the guitar for exactly the same reason. Lessons respond to age, confidence, experience, preferred style, instrument access and the kind of playing each student wants to develop.
Build technique, rhythm and musical independence.
Younger players can develop coordination, listening, chords, riffs, rhythm, technique and practice habits through material suited to age and motivation.
Start properly or rebuild without going back to zero.
Adults can develop rhythm, chord fluency, coordination, fretboard understanding and repertoire through a route that fits realistic weekly life.
Chords, fingerstyle, rhythm and accompaniment.
Acoustic routes can develop chord vocabulary, strumming, fingerstyle, song accompaniment, rhythm, tone and a more confident understanding of the fretboard.
Riffs, lead playing, articulation and tone.
Electric routes can include riffs, lead technique, scales, bends, articulation, rhythm playing and practical control of amplification.
What happens in guitar lessons
Lessons focus on playing, rhythm, technique and understanding.
Guitar lessons are not only about learning isolated songs. The aim is to help the student understand the instrument, develop secure habits and build confidence through practical playing.
- Posture, fretting-hand position, picking or strumming technique and sound control.
- Rhythm, pulse, coordination, chord changes, riffs, melody and listening skills.
- Acoustic or electric repertoire chosen around level, age, goals and motivation.
- Fretboard understanding, musical memory and increasingly independent learning.
- Practice guidance that fits the student's age, routine and available time between lessons.
- Reading, theory or optional exam support where useful, without making exams the only measure of progress.
For regular progress, students should normally have access to a suitably sized, playable guitar between lessons. Electric-guitar learners will usually also need a cable and access to a small practice amplifier or suitable headphone-based setup. Where size, type or equipment is uncertain, wait for school guidance before purchasing or arranging a rental.
GSofM offers selected guitar rental subject to current stock, suitability and approval on a fixed 3-month basis, with reduced rates available for current GSofM students. Rental and tuition are arranged separately.
View GSofM Instrument Rental Read Acoustic vs Electric Guitar
Lesson lengths & fees
Guitar lesson lengths and fees.
Lesson length is recommended around age, level, concentration and goals. Trial lessons use the applicable published standard rate, there is no registration fee, and ongoing tuition follows the published Teaching Block calendar.
GSofM tuition combines specialist one-to-one teaching with school-led administration, practical instrument guidance, dedicated teaching spaces, tutor oversight and a structured route for continued development. The fee reflects the wider managed teaching environment as well as the lesson itself.
Guitar tutor
Meet the teacher behind our principal guitar route.
GSofM’s published guitar route is led by James Innes. The starting arrangement still considers the learner’s age, experience, musical interests, instrument route, goals, timetable and current availability.
Acoustic & Electric Guitar
James Innes
James leads GSofM’s principal acoustic and electric guitar route, working with beginners, returning players and students developing rhythm, lead playing and broader musicianship.
His musical background developed from blues towards jazz and study at the University of Glasgow. That breadth supports practical teaching which connects chords, rhythm, phrasing, technique and fretboard understanding with the music itself.
Tutor matching remains school-led. The page introduces the current published guitar profile; it is not an availability guarantee. Trial arrangements depend on learner fit, goals, realistic weekly availability and the current teaching timetable.
Start properly
How guitar lessons usually begin.
A paid guitar trial is a genuine first lesson and an initial teaching assessment, not a sales consultation. The student begins playing, experiences the teaching approach and receives a clear recommendation for the next step.
Before requesting a guitar trial
Trial lessons are charged at the applicable published standard rate and there is no registration fee. Tell us who the lesson is for, their guitar experience, instrument access and the times that could support a regular lesson. Any ongoing weekly arrangement is agreed separately after the trial. Read Before You Begin or the Terms & Conditions for the full payment, attendance and cancellation rules.
How guitar players develop
From first chords to increasingly confident, independent playing.
Progress grows through continuity: regular teaching, consistent practice, carefully chosen repertoire and a developing understanding of rhythm, technique and the fretboard.
Control before speed
Beginners need secure foundations in rhythm, coordination, chord shapes, clean sound, simple riffs, listening and practical practice habits.
Technique and fluency
Students build stronger timing, chord changes, strumming or picking control, repertoire, musical memory and independence over time.
Teaching that adapts with the player
Goals and priorities can be revisited as the student develops, so lessons respond to technique, repertoire, style, fretboard understanding and changing musical interests.
Travelling to guitar lessons?
All in-person guitar lessons take place in Kinning Park.
Regional guides remain available for families, students and adults planning the journey from different parts of Glasgow and surrounding areas.
Explore regional travel guides
Use these guides for travel, location and practical information. They do not represent separate teaching locations.
Pollokshields, Shawlands & Southside
For families and adults travelling from Pollokshields, Shawlands, Strathbungo and nearby Southside areas.
View Southside guideGlasgow City Centre
For adults, students, professionals and families travelling from Central, St Enoch, Merchant City and nearby areas.
View City Centre guideWest End
For families, university students, professionals and adults travelling from Glasgow's West End.
View West End guideEast Renfrewshire
For families travelling from Newton Mearns, Giffnock, Clarkston, Busby, Barrhead and surrounding areas.
View East Renfrewshire guideRenfrewshire
For students travelling from Paisley, Renfrew, Ralston, Braehead and nearby west-of-Glasgow communities.
View Renfrewshire guideEast Kilbride & surrounding areas
For families and adults travelling from East Kilbride, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Hamilton, Bothwell, Uddingston and nearby areas.
View South Lanarkshire guideQuestions
Guitar lesson FAQs.
Answers to common questions about who lessons are for, instruments, equipment, progress, fees and how to begin.
Who are guitar lessons at GSofM for?
Guitar lessons are for children, teenagers and adults, including complete beginners, returning players and students developing acoustic, electric, rhythm, lead or musicianship skills.
Where are guitar lessons held?
In-person guitar lessons take place at The Glasgow School of Music, 542 Scotland Street West, Kinning Park, Glasgow, G41 1BZ. Lessons are by appointment only.
Can complete beginners start guitar?
Yes. Early lessons can focus on posture, rhythm, coordination, fretting, picking or strumming, simple chords, riffs and suitable first pieces.
Do you teach acoustic and electric guitar?
Yes. GSofM teaches both acoustic and electric guitar. The starting route can be shaped around age, musical interests, physical comfort, goals and instrument access.
Is acoustic or electric guitar better for a beginner?
Neither is universally better. The right route depends on age, physical comfort, musical interests, goals and instrument access. The school can advise before equipment is purchased.
Does the student need their own guitar?
For regular progress, the student should normally have access to a suitably sized, playable guitar between lessons. Where the correct type or size is uncertain, wait for school guidance before purchasing or arranging a rental. GSofM offers selected guitar rental subject to stock, suitability and approval on a fixed 3-month basis. View GSofM instrument rental options.
What equipment does an electric-guitar learner need?
Electric learners will generally need a playable guitar, cable and access to a small practice amplifier or suitable headphone-based setup. Requirements can be reviewed during the trial route.
How is progress supported in guitar lessons?
Progress is supported through regular one-to-one teaching, suitable repertoire, rhythm, technique, fretboard understanding, listening and goals that can be revisited as the player develops.
Are guitar exams required?
No. Exams are optional. Reading, theory and qualification preparation can be included where they support the student's wider playing and musicianship.
How much are guitar lessons?
Guitar lessons use the applicable published standard rate for the selected 30, 45 or 60-minute lesson length. Live rates appear in the fee panel and on the Lesson Lengths & Fees page. Trial lessons use the standard lesson rate, there is no registration fee, and ongoing tuition follows the published Teaching Block calendar.
How is a guitar trial arranged?
Tell us the student's age, experience, musical interests, goals, whether they have access to an acoustic or electric guitar, and the times that could support a regular weekly lesson. The trial is a paid one-to-one guitar lesson and an initial teaching assessment.
Who teaches guitar at GSofM?
James Innes teaches the school's main acoustic and electric guitar route. GSofM considers the student's age, experience, goals, musical interests and instrument route when recommending the starting arrangement.
What happens after the guitar trial?
After the lesson, GSofM explains the recommended next step. Any ongoing weekly arrangement is agreed separately, including the tutor, lesson length, regular time and relevant Teaching Block.