About me... I don't want to bore you with my life story or anything like that, but I thought it might be helpful for you to know a little bit about my musical and guitar-playing background. The first rock-n-roll album I really remember listening to was KISS ALIVE. That album grabbed me and made me love rock music. And then, around 78/79, I got turned on AC/DC. When Back In Black came out in 1980 my dad took my friend Jay Harvey and me to see them in Indianapolis. When I saw Angus Young run all over that stage and play guitar the way he did-I was hooked. I became an instant addict of the guitar. I was thirteen at the time. My first guitars were all "air guitars". And let me tell you, I put on some serious air guitar concerts in my bedroom - Jamming to KISS ALIVE and Back In Black… and loads of other great rock albums! When I was 15 I got a job at Burger King. I saved up $300 and bought my first guitar, a 1973 Fender Telecaster Deluxe, from my friend Jay. To this day it's the best guitar I've ever owned. It's gone through a lot of changes over the years-it's really more of a "Franken-Tele" today… ask me what I mean by "Franken-Tele" some time and I'll tell you -it's a pretty cool story. I had five guitar teachers in my early days-Vic Cook was my "Official Teacher." His lessons were $5 per ½ hour--but hey, that was back in the early 1980s! Anyway-Vic taught me a lot. I think I took lessons from him for about a year… I should have stuck with him longer. I would have learned a lot more in less time, but I just sort of drifted away from him. I got hooked up with some friends-Danny Trice, Don Burrell and Tim Hoenstein. Danny and Don were in a really cool rock band. I hung out all the time at their rehearsals. I guess I was sort of a groopie… except for me it was all about learning how to play! I constantly picked their brains and asked them to show me stuff… "How'd you play that riff? Can you show me that lick?" They were very gracious to me and I learned a lot of cool licks and tricks from them. Then there was Doug Marks of "Metal Method". He was hugely popular back in the 1980s. I ordered several of his lessons and grew a lot as a player under his teaching. And finally there was my record collection. Learning to play things by ear from records was a l---o---n---g - trial and error process. I wore my records (and a lot of needles) out---listening to songs over and over and over again-playing along with them. For years, I spent, literally five, six and some times ten and even twelve hours a day in my bedroom learning from guys like Angus Young (AC/DC), Randy Rhoads (Ozzy), Ace Frehley (KISS), Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Vivian Campbell (Dio/Whitsnake), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Tom Scholtz (Boston), Warren DeMartini (RATT) and just a ton of other great players of the 1980s. I never used tab, for me, learning from records was all about learning to use my ears -- to listen and then to recreate what I heard. Iike I said above, It was a l---o---n---g trial and error approach, but like I also said earlier, I was an addict. I played in a lot of "Garage Bands" - we put on nightly shows for the neighbor kids. We weren't focused enough to ever really get a solid gigging band together-but we made some killer music. When I hit my twenties a lot of things changed in my life. When I was twenty-one I underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and that surgery left me legally blind--we can talk about that some time-- if you're curious about how much I can actually see. It's a fun chat. Anyway-I did college for six years and graduated from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN in 1995. I was ordained into the ministry that same year and served in various churches and in various roles as a pastor. I always found a way to incorporate my guitar playing in the ministry. I've led hundreds (perhaps a thousand or so) worship services with my acoustic. That's a great experience. It forces you to learn a lot of music on a regular basis and perform it regularly. Leading worship isn't exactly the same as "performing" but it is playing in a live setting… so it's close. In 2003 I discovered recording software. That opened awesome musical doors for me. Over time I built a studio in my home, affectionately called, "PB Studio" (i.e. "Pastor Brad Studio). I also became a student of web design and built the Guitar Jams website. I launched Guitar Jams (www.guitarjams.net) and released my first two albums, Get Real and Rock You Up, (both available exclusively as mp3 albums at my SoundClick store), simultaneously in April of 2004. And from that day to this one, I have never stopped learning, stretching, recording and tgrowing as a musician, a guitar teacher, a producer, and most importantly--as a person. I'm still that same guitar addict I was back in the early 1980s. I love rock guitar and I'm constantly looking for new licks to add to my lick vocabulary... new musical insights and new players to inspire me. And I love sharing all that I've learned and my passion for the guitar with my students! I hope that helps you get to know me a little bit. I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your guitar playing goals! Feel free to ask me any questions you have. It's an honor to help you. Metal Blessings, Pastor Brad. pastorbrad@aol.com |
Whether you're a beginner who doesn't know an A Chord from a pick-up... or an advanced
player looking to futher develop your chops, techniques, improvisational abilities,
etc.-- I CAN HELP YOU! Guitar Lessons are a dime a dozen on the web. But committed Guitar Coaches who care about students... who will take the time to get to know you & mentor you through each step of learning to play aren't quite as easy to find. This is what I offer you. And this relational coaching format will allow you to absorb information about the guitar and master it a lot faster than you ever could by working through a book or a dvd by yourself ... or by surfing around from one youtube guitar lesson to another. THE RESULT? You will learn and develop as a player FASTER! "Pastor Brad really helped me learn the essentials of guitar. He helped me with correct finger positioning, chord structures, chord progressions and strumming patterns. He made beginner guitar concepts easier so that the progression to more difficult guitar theory was much more natural and fluid. He's extremely nice and down to earth. He's willing to work with you and answer any questions you might have regarding your learning of guitar. I highly recommened him." Chris Bianchi, Philadelphia, PA |
I believe THIS is why you'll really benefit from, and enjoy taking lessons from me... I won't just teach you guitar... I will coach and develop you as a guitarist. READY TO GET STARTED? Email me. CLICK HERE? |
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Beginner... Intermediate... and Advanced Level Rock Guitar Lessons Based in the Altoona, Johnstown, State College, PA area-- Servicing the World! Private, Class and Correspondance Guitar Lessons |
Beginners: I know that learning to play the guitar can be a real struggle-- especially at the beginning when you can't get that "D Chord" to ring out... By the way---if you are a beginner--because I know how important it is for you to experience some success on the guitar right away---I've designed the first 6 lessons to get you up and playing 4 classic rock tunes ASAP. After we get you playing... we'll begin to really build on that foundation and move onward and upward toward total rock guitar mastery! And I'll guide you every step of the way. The thing I want you to get here is this-- when you sign on to be one of my students---you'll get my full-attention and support... I will be your biggest fan. You see, I really want you to succeed and grow to love the guitar and be able to play it like a pro... think baout it--that makes you happy and it gives me great satisfaction! learning to play the guitar--answering any questions you have, offering insights, practice tips and helpful guidance. I've been a musician for a lot of years and I've taught a lot of people how to play guitar. I've learned that each student is a unique, one-of-a-kind individual. All of us have our own unique set of hopes, dreams, strengths, weaknesses, circumstances, interests, goals, etc. So I will never "cookie-cut" you. When you work with me it will be all about helping you get to where you want to be as a player---as quick as possible!. |
Intermediate and Advanced Players: If yoI're reading this---I know you're at least a little bit frustrated with your playing right now... And that's a GREAT THING---we GROW when we become frustrated... it motivates us to seek out new information... new insights, etc. That's a good thing! So, what do you want to do? Would you like to--- ...improve speed, dexterity and technique? ...enlarge your vocabulary of licks and tricks? ...learn how to improvise? ...learn how to write your own songs and leads? ...work with a coach who will help you get from "point A" (where you are now) to "point B" (where you want to be) as quickly as possible? I would love to help you do all of those things & MORE! And I'm very confident that if you have the desire and the drive---I will be able to get you there! If you're ready to truly master the guitar so that you can play lead in any key and improvise with a group at the drop of a hat... and do it with more confidence, speed, passion and feel than ever beforel? Contact me--I will help you get there! |
One last word... When I say that I want to coach you--I don't mean I want to just sell you a book or a DVD and leave you all alone to struggle through. I mean, I am more than willing to walk with you through the entire journey--week by week--as your teacher, mentor, cheerleader and coach. I will help you connect the dots of master the the guitar--answering any questions you have, offering insights, practice tips and helpful guidance. I've been a musician for a lot of years and I've taught a lot of people how to play guitar. I've learned that each student is a unique, one-of-a-kind individual. All of us have our own unique set of hopes, dreams, strengths, weaknesses, circumstances, interests, goals, etc. So I will never "cookie-cut" you. When you work with me it will be all about helping you get to where you want to be as a player---as quick as possible!. |
I can't believe I have only been playing for 7 months & within that time, I went
from just plucking a string to being able to play the intros of my favorite songs...
On top of that, I have even been able to play some really smooth riffs!" Brendan Baker, Altoona, PA |
Beginner... Intermediate... and Advanced Level Rock Guitar Lessons Based in the Altoona, Johnstown, State College, PA area-- Servicing the World! Private, Class and Correspondance Guitar Lessons |
"Hey pastor brad, This is esdras, I just wanted to get in touch with you and let
you know that i have done lesson 3 and am finishing lesson 4. They are great
and I'm having fun playing the guitar... thanks alot for your encourement I'm
still pumped to learn more." Esdras, in CA |
"Guitar Notes" Once a month or so, I send a short note out to all of my guitar playing friends with a helpful guitar playing tip--something that will help you grow as a player--no matter what level you're at right now. If you would like to receive "Guitar Notes" click below and send me an email with GUITAR NOTES in the subject line. Be sure to include your first name in the email. And feel free to ask me any questions you have! I look forward to connecting with you and helping you learn how to play! CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!. |
