GSofM Tutor Profile · Guitar & Ukulele

Guitar & ukulele lessons with James Innes

James Innes teaches acoustic guitar, electric guitar and ukulele at The Glasgow School of Music, helping students develop secure technique, rhythm, tone, fretboard understanding and confident musicianship through structured one-to-one lessons.

Acoustic guitarElectric guitarUkuleleBluesRoots musicContemporary jazzRhythm & phrasing

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About James

A practical musician connecting technique, rhythm and contemporary musicianship.

James combines focused instrumental detail with an interest in how rhythm, harmony, tone and style work together across guitar and ukulele.

James is a guitarist and music student at the University of Glasgow. His musical interests developed from blues and roots music towards contemporary jazz guitar, giving his teaching a useful bridge between accessible guitar foundations and wider musicianship.

At GSofM, James supports the school’s acoustic and electric guitar route and ukulele route. Lessons are shaped around the student’s experience, interests and goals, with technique taught as part of real musical playing rather than as an isolated exercise.

Students can work on rhythm, chord vocabulary, picking or strumming, fretting coordination, tone, phrasing, fretboard awareness and purposeful practice. On ukulele, this can include secure chord shapes, rhythmic accompaniment, melodic playing and song-based musicianship. Where appropriate, lessons may also explore improvisation, stylistic detail and the musical ideas behind the music being studied.

Role: Guitar and ukulele tutor at The Glasgow School of Music
Current study: Music at the University of Glasgow
Instruments: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar and ukulele
Musical interests: Blues, roots music and contemporary jazz guitar
Lesson focus: Technique, chords, rhythm, tone, phrasing, fretboard knowledge and musicianship
Student routes: Children, teenagers and adults, subject to tutor matching

Teaching approach

Technique connected to sound, style and musical purpose.

The strongest foundations help a student play real music more comfortably, accurately and expressively.

Secure foundations

Early work can establish comfortable posture, tuning, fretting, picking or strumming, clean chord changes and a dependable pulse on guitar or ukulele.

Efficient hand position
Coordination and control
Useful practice habits

Rhythm, tone and phrasing

Students learn to listen to the quality and timing of what they play, not only whether the correct notes are present.

Groove and rhythmic accuracy
Articulation and dynamics
Confident musical phrasing

Fretboard and musicianship

Chords, riffs, scales, melodies and songs can become a route into fretboard awareness, harmony, improvisation and independent learning.

Chord and scale relationships
Listening and musical context
Creative application

Lesson routes

Guitar and ukulele tuition shaped around the student.

The instrument and repertoire may differ, but each route develops coordination, timing, listening and musical independence.

Acoustic guitar

Suitable for students working on chord playing, strumming, fingerstyle foundations, song accompaniment, rhythm and a clear controlled sound.

Electric guitar

Suitable for riffs, lead and rhythm playing, tone control, articulation, stylistic vocabulary, improvisation and ensemble-aware playing.

Ukulele

Suitable for learners developing chord shapes, strumming, rhythm, melodic playing, song accompaniment and confident practical musicianship on a compact fretted instrument.

Tutor matching: James can be requested for guitar or ukulele, but placement depends on the student’s age, level, aims, lesson length and weekly availability. Complete beginners and developing players can be considered for either route.

Connected learning

Useful next steps for guitar and ukulele students.

Explore the main lesson route, supporting musicianship and how tuition works at GSofM.

Primary routeGuitar Lessons Glasgow

Acoustic and electric guitar tuition for children, teenagers and adults in Glasgow.

Ukulele routeUkulele Lessons

Chord-based, rhythmic and melodic ukulele tuition for children, teenagers and adults in Glasgow.

Musicianship routeMusic Theory

Develop notation, rhythm, harmony and a clearer understanding of how music is organised.

Choosing the route? New guitar students can read What to Expect in Your First Guitar Lesson or compare Acoustic vs Electric Guitar for Beginners. Learners considering ukulele can go directly to Ukulele Lessons Glasgow.

Guitar & ukulele lessons with James Innes.

The trial process helps GSofM confirm the most suitable tutor, instrument route and weekly lesson arrangement.

Does James teach complete beginners?

Yes. Complete beginners can request guitar or ukulele lessons with James and work on tuning, posture, fretting, picking or strumming, rhythm, first chords and effective practice habits. Final tutor placement depends on suitability and availability.

What instruments does James teach?

James teaches acoustic guitar, electric guitar and ukulele. The lesson route is shaped around the instrument the student plays, their musical interests and the skills they need to develop.

Can children, teenagers and adults request lessons with James?

Yes. Children, teenagers and adults can request guitar or ukulele lessons through GSofM. Tutor matching considers age, current level, goals, lesson length and weekly availability.

What styles can students explore?

James’s interests include blues, roots music and contemporary jazz guitar. Guitar repertoire can develop through those styles, while ukulele lessons can draw on suitable songs, chord-based playing, rhythm and melodic material according to the learner’s level and goals.

Can lessons include music reading, theory or improvisation?

Yes, where useful. Lessons can connect guitar playing with rhythm, notation, chord and scale relationships, fretboard understanding, listening and improvisation according to the student’s aims.

Does a student need their own guitar or ukulele?

A suitable instrument is needed for regular home practice. If the student does not yet have one, tell GSofM when requesting a trial so the school can advise on an appropriate guitar or ukulele route.

Can James support exams or performance goals?

Where suitable, lessons can support repertoire, technical development, musical interpretation and performance confidence. Any exam-board or performance goal should be included in the trial request so the route can be reviewed properly.

How do I start guitar or ukulele lessons with James?

Request a trial lesson and include the student’s age, experience, instrument, musical interests, goals and general availability. GSofM will review the information before confirming the most suitable available tutor route.