A lot of people who want to improve their English try the most obvious thing: conversation lessons. And sure, they can help. But if you’ve ever done eikaiwa-style conversation practice, you probably know the problem: Sometimes it doesn’t feel like real communication. It feels like… performing conversation. I should know. I worked at a one of the big boy Eikaiwas for a while when I first moved here! So here’s a question that’s way more interesting (and honestly, more practic

Let’s get a little uncomfortable for a second. A lot of guitar frustration has nothing to do with finger strength, talent, or “having a good ear.” It’s the ego. Not ego in the “I’m better than everyone” way. More like… the part of you that really wants to feel competent right now . The part that hates sounding bad. The part that feels a little embarrassed when you can’t play something that looks “easy” on YouTube. If you’ve ever felt any of this, you’re normal: “I should be

(…well, “any” in the practical, jam-session survival sense.) Most people think jazz guitar means memorizing a million chords. And yeah… if you Google “jazz chords,” it definitely looks that way. But here’s the truth: if you can comp cleanly through the four main 7th-chord types , you can get through a huge amount of jazz repertoire without falling apart. Those four types are: ✔Maj7 ✔min7 ✔7 (dominant) ✔m7♭5 (half-diminished) And if you learn two usable voicings for each , th

Most guitar players learn solos in one of two ways: They memorize a bunch of random licks and hope it magically turns into “improvisation.” They chase difficult solos for ego points. Both can be fun, but if your goal is to actually get better at soloing, there’s a more efficient way: Learn solos that teach you reusable vocabulary. Not necessarily the “hardest solos ever.”Not even the “best solos of all time.” Just solos that are so well-written (and so commonly referenced) t

Mixolydian is one of the first “modes” most guitar players learn. And weirdly… it’s also one of the first things people learn how to make sound kind of awful. Not because the scale is bad. Mixolydian is great. It’s usually because people learn the shape before they learn the sound . So they run the pattern up and down over a dominant chord and think,“Why does this sound stiff… or like an exercise?” If that’s you, no worries. This is a super common stage. For me, Mixolydian

When most people start learning guitar, they usually want to do one thing as quickly as possible: play something that actually sounds like music. That’s why simple riffs can be such a great starting point. Before full chords, barre chords, or longer songs, a good riff can help beginners start building coordination in a way that feels fun and satisfying. You get to work on finger movement, timing, picking, and string crossing, but without the frustration of trying to change be

Jazz fusion can be a weird category. Depending on who you ask, it either means electric jazz with funk and rock influences , or basically anything with a Fender Rhodes and a backbeat . Some players use the word very loosely. Others act like there’s a strict fusion council handing out official approval stamps. So for this list, I wanted to take a practical approach. Instead of trying to define fusion in the most academic way possible, I’m focusing on tunes that the fusion worl

R&B has produced some of the most beautiful and memorable songs ever written. From smooth soul ballads to groove-heavy classics, this style of music has influenced everything from pop to funk to modern neo-soul. But here’s the good news for guitar players: many of the classic R&B songs are surprisingly simple to play. Unlike some rock or jazz tunes that rely on complex harmony or fast playing, a lot of R&B music focuses on feel, groove, and strong melodies . The chord progres

I think for most guitarists who start looking into scales, it can feel overwhelming, especially online. It looks like there are a bajillion scales . It’s hard to figure out where to start… and more importantly, why you should even learn some of them. At the same time, maybe you’ve watched a great guitarist play something incredible and thought: “I wanna do THAT.” So in this post, I’m giving you 12 guitar scales you actually need. My criteria for a “needed” scale is simple: I

If you’ve been playing guitar for a while, there’s a good chance someone told you this at some point: “Just learn the CAGED system and the whole fretboard will open up.” And on paper, that sounds great. Five shapes. Connected across the neck. Suddenly, everything is “mapped.” But if you’re honest, you might also recognize this feeling: You know the shapes…You can move them around…But when it comes time to actually play music , you still feel stuck. So let’s get this out of th

If you play guitar, you’ve probably had this thought at least once: “I should probably learn how to read music…” Not because you want to, but because it feels like something you’re supposed to do. And if you haven’t learned yet, there’s often a quiet guilt attached to it. Like you’re missing some essential step. Like you’re not a “real” musician yet. So let’s clear this up early: Yes, it’s okay if you don’t learn how to read standard notation on guitar. And for many guitar

If you’re an anime fan and a guitarist, welcome back. 😄 This is a follow-up to my first “5 anime songs you can play on the guitar” post — same idea, same format: 5 iconic (or sneakily awesome) anime picks , with performance videos + tabs so you can actually learn them instead of just thinking about learning them . 👉 Haven’t read the first one yet? This post is a continuation of my original article, “5 Fun Anime Songs You Can Play on the Guitar.” If you want even more beg

Another wonderful group of guitarists just completed the Jam Session Workshop! Everyone was very new to the concept with "playing in a group", let alone improvising in front of other people! It was great to see everyone grow over the three classes. For this workshop, the great Daryl Baker joined us on drums at the end. A fantastic time as always! Check out the Jam Session Workshop page for info on how you can attend the next one! -R

If you’re an intermediate guitarist, you probably know this feeling: You can play a bunch of things. You’ve learned scales. Chords. Licks. Maybe even some theory. …but somehow you still feel stuck . And the worst part is: you’re practicing. You’re putting in time. So why doesn’t it feel like you’re getting better? Here’s the truth: Intermediate progress becomes quiet. Beginner progress is loud (new chords, first riffs, first songs). Intermediate progress is more like… the s

If you just started playing guitar and everything feels awkward… good. 😄 Not because you’re doing it wrong , but because the first few weeks are basically your hands learning a new language. It’s clumsy at first, and then one day you realize you’re doing things that felt impossible two weeks ago. (And if you’re currently thinking “Wait… is it supposed to feel this hard?”, I wrote a separate post about that here: “Is it normal for guitar to feel difficult at first?” ) Th

Your 2025 Ontario Guitar Studio recital performers! Once again we had the Ontario Guitar Studio Christmas recital, and it was a blast for everyone! The 2025 Ontario Guitar Studio Christmas Recital Program As always, we enjoyed performances of all genres from classical, Jazz, Funk, R&B, and rock. Ontario Guitar Studio recital stage It was held at the Noah Studio Takadanobaba location in the big C room. A great cozy space for performers and attendees. Performers of all ages we

So in this blog, I'd like to talk about a tune I get a lot of questions about from students in my lessons, which is Stevie Wonder's ...

A realistic guide for parents of beginner students So your child is starting guitar lessons. Awesome! Whether they begged for it or you...

Most players think they need more time to get better. But in my experience teaching, that’s rarely the real problem. The issue isn’t...

So in today's blog, I wanted to share some words of wisdom and advice that have stuck with me and really helped me out in my life of...