Guitar 🎸 lessons with
Mitchell Mclaughlin
Get a free trial lesson
Pay $0 today$71per lesson after trial
Guitar 🎸 lessons with
Mitchell Mclaughlin
Get a free trial lesson
Get a free trial lesson
Pay $0 today$71per lesson after trial✨
Mitchell is getting started on TeachMe.To. We don't yet have enough data to assign this coach a Happy Student Score, but you can read reviews left by their students.
We strictly vet every instructor so you can book with confidence. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
Coach Rating
5.0•5 reviews
✨
Mitchell is getting started on TeachMe.To. We don't yet have enough data to assign this coach a Happy Student Score, but you can read reviews left by their students.
We strictly vet every instructor so you can book with confidence. Satisfaction is guaranteed.
Coach Rating
5.0•5 reviews
About your guitar coach
I picked up the guitar after hearing Blink-182 live and knew instantly it was what I wanted to do. Since then, I’ve written well over 100 songs and played my way through styles ranging from rock ’n’ roll and metal to pop, punk, and blues. What I love most about teaching is seeing that moment when everything clicks and the guitar becomes more than just practice, it becomes passion. My goal is to make learning feel easy, so every student leaves not just with skills, but with a love for the instrument.
👋
Teaches: Kids, Teenagers, Adults, Seniors
🌱
Levels: Beginners, Intermediates
📍
Lives in: Not specified
🎓
Years Playing: 20 years
🔥
Given: 5 lessons
Mitchell's availability
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Mitchell's availability
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We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
We can suggest similar coaches or arrange a different spot (even at home)
Accomplishments
➕Travels to you
🏅Touring Artist
➕Record Deal with Rock Nation
Certifications & Badges
📝Music Degree
Specializations
🎸Bass
🎸Pop
🎸Electric
🎸Songwriting Skills
Beginner training plan
Your first lessonLesson 1 – Getting to Know the Guitar
• Focus: Introduction & Foundations
• Parts of the guitar (headstock, tuners, nut, frets, fretboard, body, bridge, etc.)
• String names (E–A–D–G–B–E, low to high)
• Proper posture & how to hold the guitar (sitting and standing)
• How to hold a pick
• How to tune using a tuner (and by ear, basic)
• Practice: Memorize string names, practice tuning, hold the guitar comfortably for 10 minutes a day.
Lesson 11+Lessons 11–15 – Speed, Songs & Soloing
Focus: Applying everything learned to real music and creative expression.
• Speed Development
• Continue metronome practice with scales, string skipping, and picking exercises.
• Gradually raise tempos to build accuracy and control at higher speeds.
• Second Song
• Learn a second song of the student’s choice (preferably a different style than the first).
• Break it into sections and practice to tempo with the metronome.
• Introduction to Soloing
• Review major, minor, and pentatonic scales.
• Learn how scales fit over chord progressions.
• Explore phrasing, bends, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs.
• Writing Their First Solo
• Use scales to create simple licks.
• Build a solo over a chord progression (example: Am–G–D or G–C–D).
• Emphasize melody and timing over speed.
• Refine solo with phrasing and rhythmic precision.
• Final Showcase
• Perform both student-chosen songs from start to finish.
• Play their original solo.
• Wrap up with feedback on technique, expression, and next steps.
Homework Throughout
• Daily metronome practice with scales and exercises.
• Consistent song practice, section by section, then full playthrough.
• Continue refining solo, polishing phrasing, and playing at different tempos.
Lesson 4-10Lesson 4–6 – Expanding Chords, Keys & Scales
Focus: Building music theory and fretboard vocabulary.
• Learn the remaining natural open chords (C major, A minor, F major, etc.).
• What is a key? – Understanding how chords and notes belong to a key.
• Introduction to sharps and flats.
• Learn the Major Scale (Ionian) and Minor Scale (Aeolian).
• Introduction to the Pentatonic Major and Pentatonic Minor scales.
• Incorporate string-skipping exercises for accuracy and dexterity.
Homework:
• Daily practice of chord transitions between all natural chords.
• Run through major, minor, and pentatonic scales slowly and cleanly.
• Practice string skipping with alternate picking.
Lesson 7–9 – Rhythm, Speed & Timing
Focus: Building precision and time control.
• Introduction to the metronome – how to use it effectively.
• What is a time signature? (Focus on 4/4).
• Apply scales, chords, and strumming patterns to the metronome.
• Speed-building exercises:
• Gradually increase tempo on scales (major, minor, pentatonic).
• Chromatic runs (1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1).
• Alternate picking drills with tempo tracking.
Homework:
• Practice all scales to a metronome, starting slow and increasing tempo gradually.
• Strum chord progressions in both 4/4 time.
• Log daily metronome speeds to track progress.
Lesson 10 – First Full Song
Focus: Application of everything learned.
• Choose a song of the student’s choice (within their skill level).
• Break down the song into sections (intro, verse, chorus, bridge).
• Apply chord knowledge, scales, strumming, and timing.
• Play the full song start to finish with proper technique and timing.
Homework:
• Continue refining the chosen song until they can perform it cleanly.
• Keep practicing scales, metronome drills, and chord progressions alongside.
Lesson 2-3Lesson 2 – Musical Alphabet & Picking Technique
Quick Recap (5 min)
• Review string names (E–A–D–G–B–E), tuning, and holding the guitar.
New Concepts (20 min)
• Musical Alphabet: A through G, no H, repeats after G.
• Learn natural notes (no sharps/flats yet) on each string up to the 3rd fret:
• Low E string: E (open), F (1st fret), G (3rd fret)
• A string: A (open), B (2nd fret), C (3rd fret)
• D string: D (open), E (2nd fret), F (3rd fret)
• G string: G (open), A (2nd fret), B (4th fret)
• B string: B (open), C (1st fret), D (3rd fret)
• High E string: E (open), F (1st fret), G (3rd fret)
• Proper picking technique: how to hold the pick, motion from the wrist.
• Downstrokes vs. upstrokes, intro to alternate picking.
Exercises (20 min)
• Play each natural note on every string while saying the note name out loud.
• Open-string picking exercises (all downstrokes, all upstrokes, alternate picking).
• Finger-strength drill (1–2–3–4 chromatic exercise) on each string.
Homework
• Memorize the natural notes on all six strings (up to the 3rd/4th fret as shown above).
• Practice 5 min all downstrokes, 5 min all upstrokes, 10 min alternate picking.
• Finger-strength exercise (1–2–3–4) across each string daily.
Lesson 3 – First Chords & Strumming
(mostly unchanged, since this one flows perfectly after the new Lesson 2)
Review (5–10 min)
• Check note knowledge: open strings + natural notes on E and A.
• Check picking technique and finger exercises.
New Chords (20 min)
• Introduce G major, E minor, and D major.
• Show chord diagrams, correct finger placement, and common mistakes.
Strumming (15–20 min)
• Basic downstroke strumming on each chord.
• Practice switching between G → Em and G → D.
• Add simple rhythm patterns (down, down-up, etc.).
Homework
• Review notes on E and A strings.
• Practice chord changes: G ↔ Em, Em ↔ D.
• Strum each chord for four beats, then switch.
• Keep rhythm steady—don’t stop between changes.
Advanced training plan
Your first lessonAdvanced Training – Lesson 1: Evaluation & Foundations
Goal: Identify the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and knowledge gaps before customizing their advanced curriculum.
1. Knowledge Check (10–15 min)
• Ask the student to explain the parts of the guitar and demonstrate proper posture/hand position.
• Review their knowledge of the musical alphabet, notes across the fretboard, and chord construction.
• Have them identify a key and the chords that belong to it.
• Ask them to explain what a time signature is and demonstrate counting in 4/4 and 3/4.
2. Playing Assessment (20 min)
• Evaluate their ability to:
• Tune the guitar quickly and accurately.
• Play open chords and barre chords.
• Play major, minor, and pentatonic scales cleanly.
• Demonstrate rhythm and timing by playing with a metronome at different tempos.
• Ask them to play a song (or riff) they already know to gauge technique and style.
3. Technique Check (10–15 min)
• Observe picking technique (alternate picking, downstrokes, upstrokes).
• Check left-hand position for clean fretting, minimal buzz, and efficient movement.
• Assess finger independence and dexterity with a short chromatic or scale run.
4. Wrap-Up & Plan (10 min)
• Provide feedback on their current level: strengths, weaknesses, and gaps.
• Discuss their goals (e.g., faster solos, songwriting, advanced theory, shredding, genre-specific skills).
• Decide whether they’re ready to move into true advanced lessons or if they need reinforcement of specific beginner/intermediate concepts first.
Homework:
• Based on weaknesses, assign targeted exercises (scales with a metronome, chord changes, theory worksheets, etc.).
• Prepare for next lesson by practicing one area you highlighted as needing improvement.
Youth players
Working with kidsWhen I teach kids, I keep things slow and steady from the very beginning, focusing on simple, clear concepts that they can fully understand. I’d introduce the guitar in a way that feels approachable and fun—using relatable examples, easy-to-follow explanations, and interactive exercises. I make sure to answer every question they have, no matter how small, and keep the energy positive so they never feel overwhelmed.
To spark excitement, I’ll also demonstrate some of my own playing—showing them what’s possible on the guitar and motivating them to imagine where they could go. The lessons stay structured but playful, with the goal of building confidence, curiosity, and a love for music right from the start.
Working with teenagersWhen I teach teenagers, I approach them with respect but also make sure to challenge them. Teens often come in with confidence that they “already know” certain things, and my role is to show them how to deepen that knowledge and apply it in ways that actually grow their skills.
I’m upfront with them: just playing an instrument doesn’t automatically make you cool. What it can do is give you an outlet for your feelings and emotions. I encourage them to channel whatever they’re going through—stress, excitement, frustration, or creativity—into their guitar playing. This not only helps them cope with the world around them but also gives them a lifelong tool for self-expression.
My goal is to strike a balance where they feel respected as young adults but still guided toward discipline, growth, and a real appreciation for music.
What you need to bringElectric guitar with cable and small Amplifier or an Acoustic Guitar.
What I can bringIf needed I can provide electric guitar, cables and picks.
Frequently asked questions
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Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!
If you need to cancel your lesson, no worries! You can get a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of making your booking. We want to make the process as hassle-free as possible for you.
And if you simply want to reschedule your lesson, change the date and time, or adjust the number of students joining, we've got you covered there too. You can easily make these changes within 24 hours of booking, and up to 72 hours before your lesson starts.
Our goal is to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and worry-free. So go ahead and book with confidence, knowing that we're here to accommodate your needs every step of the way!