Scott Paul Johnson
A few quick details about Scott:
SPJ Guitar Lessons
Scott runs a YouTube channel with videos featuring The CAGED System, music theory, and other helpful stuff for guitar players interested in learning to play a guitar solo, write music, and understanding the fingerboard.
SPJ Guitar School
Scott also runs a guitar school with dozens of courses that go deeper on some of the topics covered on his YouTube Channel and more. Participate in the weekly writing challenge and ask Scott anything in the weekly live Q&A .
Private Lessons
Scott offers private guitar and bass lessons. In-person lessons are available in Kitsap County, but I also offer Zoom lessons featuring my full livestreaming setup. Learn more about in-person guitar lessons or Zoom guitar lessons
About Scott
I’ve been teaching guitar for 25 years - most of my life. I started learning guitar at 10 years old in 1997. My grandfather showed me how Chet Atkins played bass, rhythm, and melody all at the same time and I became obsessed with figuring out how to play like that. Once I had enough tunes memorized, I began performing for tips at the local farmers market. At age 14, I started teaching lessons to my peers and quickly realized that being a good guitar player has nothing to do with being a good guitar teacher. I became obsessed with figuring out how to communicate concepts clearly, pace lessons appropriately, and help people understand what to expect from the process without overwhelming them.
I kept teaching through highschool and college, graduating with a degree in Music Composition in 2009. I kept teaching as I started the band Hot Bodies in Motion, writing songs for an album, an EP, and a few TV shows and a movie. I kept teaching as I began to branch out and write music with other Seattle artists.
In 2014, I decided to make teaching my full-time job, specializing in adult learners and intermediate guitarists looking to level up their skills and develop their musicianship.
In 2018, I started making YouTube videos, mainly to show potential students my teaching style. In 2019, my YouTube videos began attracting a lot of attention and in 2020 I started my online school.
Throughout this process, I’ve refined and developed my teaching style to focus on a few core concepts:
Music is a language
• Imagine learning Spanish without ever having a conversation in Spanish. It doesn’t make sense. In the same way, it’s GREAT to learn songs, but it’s kind of like memorizing a poem in Spanish without knowing what it means. Memorizing songs is great for developing technique, but you’re not communicating your ideas. Writing music in SOME WAY is how you communicate your ideas. This doesn’t mean my students have to write full songs and perform them. If you want to be a good rhythm guitarists, I’ll help you learn how to write rhythm guitar parts. If you want to be a good lead player, I’ll teach you how to write lead guitar parts. If you want to be a good bass player, I’ll show you how to write your own bass parts. And if you want to write full songs, I’ll help you learn how to do that!
Music is personal
• YouTube videos like “10 Things Every Guitarist Should Know” make it seem like there is a standard, normal way to learn guitar. This is not true. YOU are a unique individual with specific interests, taste, and style and the way you play guitar should feel like a reflection of YOU. My lessons don’t focus on should or ought. They focus on what you WANT, and I help you get there.
Skill can’t develop without specific, personal goals
• It’s hard to tell what improvement looks like without goals. If you’re not moving toward a specific goal, it’s hard to tell if you’re moving at all. Together, we’ll explore your musical interests, develop specific goals, and make a plan to reach those goals.
If this sounds fun, check out my YouTube Channel, my online school, or contact me for private lessons.