Justin C.
Dr. Seth is not only a master of his craft but the most patient and understanding teacher I have ever had. Despite the difficulties of learning a new instrument as an adult, Dr. Seth has helped me so much along the way. I wholeheartedly encourage any student with reservations about learning a new instrument to contact one of the best in the area. Dr. Seth will make sure your experience is a fruitful one as you experience the joys of learning a new instrument and creating beautiful music.
Ian W.
Seth has been teaching my teenage daughter the guitar for the past year, and the results have been fantastic. Like most teenagers, she was reluctant to take music lessons at first, but nowadays, I hear her playing the guitar for fun in her room. Also, aside from being a skilled guitar instructor, Seth has always been very professional and responsive in communications about scheduling, etc. I highly recommend him.
La Verne, CA | Dec. 2019
I found Dr. Seth after trying to take guitar lessons with friends (spoiler alert: it wasn't a good idea to take a lesson with friends). Dr. Seth is a very patient and kind teacher. I like how he really emphasizes the importance of knowing your fretboard. Most guitar teachers will just teach you the shapes - Dr. Seth teaches you music theory and all the notes on your fretboard. He's very good at assessing your skill level and needs as a guitar player. I felt very comfortable with Seth as my teacher. I highly recommend him to guitar players at any skill level.
Christian G.
Upland, CA | Feb. 2023
Colorado Springs, CO | Sept. 2020
Sophie G.
Dr. Seth's extensive and credentialed background in classical guitar, jazz guitar, musicology, and session and live playing gives him a uniquely effective approach to teaching guitar that connects practical exercises and techniques to music theory.
I, like doubtless many hobbyists, have played guitar off and on, self-taught, for many years, and on the odd occasion that I would commit to long hours of self-guided practice, I would experience some degree of improvement on my own. But without any guidance, I was also developing sloppy and unproductive playing habits, and I wasn't developing a sense of musical literacy, which is important to me since I want to be able to write my own music.
It wasn't until my lessons with Dr. Seth that I made the kinds of meaningful strides I had been looking for all this time. Dr. Seth takes into account my past experience, my musical interests, and my personal goals, and by connecting the instrument to the theory, I have improved in both playing and musicianship. He's the real deal; there are no shortcuts, and the results I get between lessons directly result from practice, but now, I have excellent guidance.
Najeeb S.
Irvine, CA |December 2013
Reviews
Berkeley, CA | Aug 2017
I have a 7-year-old boy who, on his own cognizance, exhibited the desire to learn the guitar. That was a year ago. Dr. Greenberg came across as a calm and warm man, and my son took to him immediately. Thus, he began instruction with Dr. Greenberg. Starting from a complete newbie, I quickly began to notice that he was progressing rapidly, and proper tunes were emerging from his strumming! I found this astonishing, not least of all because I had not witnessed such a transition before (not surprising because I don't teach music!). What was more important was that Yen (my boy) stuck to the instrument despite having the typical short attention span of a boy of this age. Thus, we were saddened when Dr. Greenberg eventually moved out of our area altogether. However, he has left a 7-year-old behind who continues to play with enthusiasm (now with another instructor) and remembers his old mentor with great fondness. I owe Dr. Greenberg a lot....he has crafted a burgeoning musician in our family, and this we will cherish for long! Best wishes, Dr. Greenberg!
San Francisco, CA | May 2019
I have been taking guitar lessons with Dr. Seth G. online for about two years. Seth is a great teacher, experienced guitar player, educated at the highest level, and author of several books of the highest quality and depth on music for guitar, on music in general, and about other musicians. Seth's online one-on-one lessons are a delight. Seth is a rare find of an educator of such caliber, dedication, and focus on the fundamentals of music, its structure, performance on the guitar, and understanding the learning process everyone has to go through to acquire and internalize new knowledge, skills, and perceptions. Seth always engages with a positive and encouraging attitude. Even when I lack confidence or quality in demonstrating the material covered, possibly multiple times in the past, Seth provides sound, rational, calm, inspiring, encouraging, and helpful feedback. I am excited to have connected with Seth as my instructor. I have learned a lot, and I am confident Seth can provide even more as I put in time and energy in learning about music in general and guitar in particular.
Philip M.
Fontana, CA | February 2016
Pasadena, CA | January 2012
Edin H.
Dr. Seth Greenberg is a guitar/music teacher/mentor/coach that one stumbles across very rarely. His method of teaching is unique. What you learn from him is not how to play a set number of chord shapes but the hows, whens, and the foundation of the chords. In this way, anyone who is a student of music can apply his/herself to his teaching. I can't recommend him enough. He has also written 2 very successful books, "Billy Bean: The Life and Music of a Jazz Guitar Legend," a highly comprehensive biography about the great jazz guitarist Billy. He also wrote "A Guitarist's Guide to Chord Construction," which offers Dr. Greenberg's unique approach to chord construction on the guitar.
Dr. Seth Greenberg is a consummate teacher/educator. I can't recommend him enough.
Alex V.
I've had a few guitar teachers myself, all of whom have taught me a little here and there, but Seth really gets you to think about the instrument as a musician and not only a guitar player. He's a great teacher with a lot of patience and brings his extensive experience as a performer into his lessons with you. You learn to play with other musicians and to develop the skills to explore the instrument on your own with confidence.
Lessons are customized to what you want to do with the guitar, and Seth brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to do that for a student. He's got a great sense of humor too. I've seen him work with kids (my niece) and late starters like me, and he's been the best teacher I've had the fortune to be around.