Learn the basics of the guitar...
From posture and stance to fingering, picking & strumming your favourite songs with the most trusted experts
You are welcome to talk to a Riyaz expert before you start learning the guitar. Create a learning journey that works best for you!
The techniques were excellent and I would strongly say that this should be a compulsory lesson in every music curriculum.
- Srividya Krishnamurthy, Workshop attendee
It was informative and also enlightening. Pushed boundaries and opened up an endless canvas and immense possibilities for creating and learning.
- Aparna Vijayan, Workshop attendee
Both the guitar and the ukulele have similar looking bodies and some even have the same number of strings. But they are essentially different instruments. Let’s see how.
The most obvious difference is the size. Guitars come in various sizes and shapes, typically with six strings. The ukulele is a much smaller instrument (about half the size of a guitar) with four strings, which makes it easier for children to wrap their smaller fingers around.
The strings of a guitar may be made of metal (steel), or nylon. The ukulele’s strings are made of nylon.
A guitar can reach much higher ranges than a ukulele, which, as a smaller instrument, has a lower sonic range.
The guitar has a richer and louder sound; the ukulele sounds lighter.
You can start with the steel-stringed acoustic guitar as it is a good guitar for beginners.
You can start learning with the electric guitar. But to get a clean sound and learn some hard techniques, the acoustic guitar is a good place to start learning. You can, then, slowly transition. There are also electro-acoustic guitars where you can amplify sound.
Yes! We have guitar classes for beginners that will start you off with the basics - for children and adults alike. You don’t have to know music. Book a slot now and we will handhold you through the process.
The curriculum of the Western guitar classes includes theoretical and practical aspects of Western music and the guitar. You will learn Western notation, basic notes, scales, chords, fingering techniques, and, of course, songs - in a systematic manner and at your own pace.
Once you learn the basic notes and some chords, you will be able to learn to play songs with those chords within a few months. Naturally, the more you practise, the faster your progress will be.
String instruments can be tricky to learn especially for young children. We would recommend that your child be about 6 years and get a guitar as per our recommendations on size. Leave the rest to Riyaz’s educators!
You can refer this size guide for buying guitars:
7-8
19 (48)
31 (78.7)
9-10
23 (58)
34 (86)
11-12
23 (58.4)
36 (91)
Above 12
25.6 (65)
41 (104)
*Scale length means the length of the guitar from the bridge to the nut. These are approximate measurements as the length of the guitar will vary from maker to maker.
The right size of guitar will also depend on the height of your child. So, if your child is taller than the average height of that age category, consider a category higher. And similarly for if your child is shorter than the average height in his/her age category.
Riyaz has a structured syllabus that will help you progress systematically. However, if the song is within your learning capability, your educator would be happy to teach you!
Within a few months, you will be able to play songs with one chord or some basic chords. So, you will be able to perform at small gatherings. If you are looking at performing on a bigger stage, give it a year at least. Do make sure you practise regularly. Naturally, if you want to become a performer, a lifetime would be the best timeline!
Both are string instruments and to that extent some of the techniques and styles are similar. So, it will give you a little bit of insight into the guitar. However, the feel and sound of the ukulele are very different from the guitar and so there will definitely be some new techniques to learn that you will have to get used to.
Riyaz will assign an educator to you based on your interaction with our expert. Don’t worry, we will assign the most suitable educator. And all our educators are well-qualified, experienced, and super friendly. :)
We can understand where you are coming from. However, we have had online classes throughout the pandemic! And students and teachers alike had a great time with the lessons!
Once you have signed up for the course, a Riyaz representative will reach out to you, after which the classes will be scheduled by Riyaz on platforms like zoom or skype.
Currently, we have both online and offline classes going on. Some classes have shifted to our physical centres. So, if you are looking for Western guitar classes in Bangalore, please get in touch with our expert to find out the class timings to learn the Western guitar.
Yes, absolutely. We help students with all aspects of a performance. Stage fright is the most common issue performers have! As our educators perform themselves they can share workable and practical tips to help you or your child overcome stage fright. Apart from this, we also teach you about other technicalities such as placement of a mike next to the guitar, stage presence, and connecting with your audience while playing. Expect a 360 tutorial on performance when you join Western guitar classes at Riyaz!
We do accommodate rescheduling requests but kindly postpone a class only for an emergency. And if possible, do inform your educator 24 hours in advance. Having said that, we would like to emphasise that learning happens best with regular classes and practice.
