The execution hand
Build pulse, subdivision, articulation and a rhythmic foundation that makes every note feel intentional.
Become the guitar player you actually want to be.
Online worldwide and in person by appointment in South Austin. For adult guitarists who know more than they can reliably use, every lesson is built around your goals, your influences, your hands and the music you want to make.
Private guitar coaching
Choose your first step
Start with a no-charge conversation, or book one working session. You can compare the longer coaching plans below.
Book a free fit call30 minutes to discuss goals and fit. No payment or obligation.Book one $90 Clarity Session60 minutes of focused coaching. No ongoing agreement.
Considering The Year mentorship ($6,000)? Book a fit conversation.How the teaching works
Guitar does not have to be complicated.
Playing guitar is supposed to be fun. Practice is allowed to sound bad because that is where new coordination is built. Music is not a competition, and the only player worth comparing yourself to is the one you were yesterday.
Two hands. One musical idea.
Technique serves the sound in your head. We train the two sides of playing together until the work becomes unconscious competence and you can follow your ear.
The conception hand
Navigate one connected fretboard so the ideas you hear have a clear place to land.
Your musical identity
Use repertoire, improvisation, songwriting and composition to sound more like yourself, not like an exercise book.
The Melodic Pathways framework
Four pillars keep every lesson connected to music.
The five Landmarks give us shared coordinates. Map, Ear, Rhythm and Motion keep the work from turning into disconnected exercises.
- 01Map
Know where you are and how the neck connects.
- 02Ear
Hear the direction before your hands chase a shape.
- 03Rhythm
Make pulse, subdivision and phrasing feel dependable.
- 04Motion
Build the coordination that lets the musical idea come through.
The first lesson starts with your story.
Before prescribing exercises, Doug learns the player in front of him. The session feels like a musical hang with a purpose: understand your foundation, identify the friction and define what becoming a better guitarist means to you.
Where you want to go
Goals, aspirations, songs, gigs and the musical experiences you want to be ready for.
What shaped your ear
Favorite bands and players, shows you have seen, church teams, jam sessions, bands and open mics.
Where the roadblocks live
The little ideas you collected along the way, what already works and what keeps breaking down.
Your next playable action
A logical practice direction sized to your schedule, your current ability and the music that motivates you.
Your lessons become a personal reference library.
You do not have to remember every detail from a call. Each session leaves a trail you can revisit, hear and practice from.
Proof you can hear and feel
We track progress in music, not in completed worksheets.
The goal is not to look busy. It is to make a specific musical result more reliable, then carry it into another song, position or performance.
Prepare past the point of panic.
The best way to reduce performance anxiety is to overprepare. Doug helps players turn songs and set lists into clear, usable information so they can walk into a rehearsal, church service, open mic or show knowing what happens next.
- Custom lead sheets and accurate guitar tablature
- Lead-sheet reading and the Nashville Number System
- Set preparation, arrangement decisions and show-ready repetition
- Songwriting, composition and multiple ways into a new idea
The Year
Built for players ready to be coached.
This is a focused mentorship for players who want a clear musical direction, consistent accountability and a fretboard system they can apply for life.
It fits if you are ready to
- Practice between sessions with a defined purpose
- Bring real songs, solos and musical problems into the work
- Build lasting fretboard fluency instead of collecting shortcuts
What the mentorship includes
- Private sessions every two weeks
- A personal practice direction and lesson archive built around your music
- The Landmark System, a weekly check-in and accountability between meetings
Your player profile session
Start with the whole player.
Bring your guitar, your questions and the music that matters to you. We will map your background, goals and roadblocks, work on a real problem together and choose a direction you can use.
- 60 minutes online with Doug, recorded with your consent
- $90 session investment
- Recording, written recap and custom fretboard diagram included
- No long-term commitment required; the session is useful on its own
Book the $90 Clarity Session
Already looking for year-long coaching?
Apply for the Melodic Pathways YearQuestions before you book
Are lessons online or in person?
Both. Doug coaches online worldwide and offers in-person guitar lessons by appointment in South Austin. The complimentary coaching-fit call is a 30-minute video conversation.
What styles can we work on?
Doug coaches blues, classic rock, alternative, math rock, metal, progressive guitar, worship music, improvisation, songwriting, composition, fretboard navigation and the technique needed for your music.
Do I need to know music theory first?
No. Theory is introduced when it solves a musical problem, so you can hear and use the idea instead of memorizing it in isolation.
Am I too old to make real progress on guitar?
No. Doug works with adult players at different stages, including people returning after years away. Sessions are paced around your hands, your music and a practice direction you can actually sustain.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is a relaxed player-profile conversation and working lesson. You will talk through your goals, roadblocks, influences, favorite players, musical background and the experiences that shaped you. Doug then helps you choose a practical first direction.
What if ongoing coaching is not the right fit?
The Player Profile & Clarity Session stands on its own. You still leave with the recording, written recap, custom fretboard diagram and a usable next direction. There is no obligation to join a coaching plan.
Is the 30-minute coaching-fit call free?
Yes. It is a complimentary, no-pressure video conversation for people considering a six-month coaching plan. You will discuss your goals, roadblocks and readiness so both of you can decide whether the coaching relationship makes sense. It is not a guitar lesson or diagnostic session; choose the $90 Clarity Session when you want Doug to work on a real problem and create a recording, recap and custom diagram.
What do I receive after a lesson?
With your consent, the lesson is recorded for your private reference. You also receive a written summary and a lesson-specific fretboard diagram. When Doug builds an exercise, arrangement or part, you receive the Guitar Pro source file plus PDF and MP3 reference exports.
Can you help me prepare for a show or church set?
Yes. Doug can create and explain lead sheets and guitar tablature, teach the Nashville Number System, organize a set and help you overprepare so the musical decisions feel familiar before you step onstage.
Why do the weekly plans cost less per session?
Weekly plans reserve more recurring calendar time, so they include a modest frequency rate. The 75-minute upgrade is priced consistently at $120 per additional hour. Every coaching price also covers preparation, custom materials, recordings, summaries and between-session accountability, not only live call time.
What is the rescheduling policy?
Please reschedule at least 24 hours before a session. Because lesson time is reserved for you, late cancellations and missed sessions are not refundable.