Learn How to Play, Not Just Practice
Whether you’re playing your first chord or refining your technique, these lessons are built for you.
Acoustic Guitar
◈ You’ll learn how to find the right strumming feel for your favorite songs, how to build chord progressions, and tie them together naturally into full songs.
◈ From your first songs to fingerstyle, you’ll discover techniques that help you play with expression and control – hammer-ons, pull-offs, vibrato, slides, bends.
◈ TL;DR: I’ll show you how to pull groove out of wood.
Electric Guitar
◈ Tone, technique, and precision: alternate picking, bends, vibrato, tapping, sweep picking, pinch harmonics.
◈ How to set up your amp, pedals, or Amplitube to shape tones that become part of your own sound – not just another preset.
◈ TL;DR: I’ll teach you to play with attitude, not just accuracy.
Improvisation and Expression
◈ I’ll teach you to understand what you’re playing, not just reproduce someone else’s music. I’ll help you build phrases that carry meaning, dynamics, and tension.
◈ With just a bit of music theory, I’ll show you how to hit “Achievement Unlocked” on the entire guitar. Press Space to Continue. I mean… if you already paid for it, it’d be a shame not to use all the frets. Every. Single. One.
◈ Once you ditch the tabs and start thinking musically, you learn to listen and respond – and eventually, to lead the conversation. Improvisation is a dialogue between musicians. (Hmm… feels like a bassist joke belongs here. I’ll think of one.)
Recording and Production
◈ If you want to start recording at a professional level, I can guide you step by step – from plugging your guitar into an audio interface (and setting it up) and syncing it with a DAW (Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper – free 60 days, etc.), all the way to the final mix, with real-world tips & tricks from experience.
◈ I’ll show you how to record your tone the right way and turn your ideas into complete songs.
◈ We’ll also talk about how not to spend 15 minutes tweaking an EQ, only to realize it’s been bypassed the whole time. Yep, also from experience. You’re welcome.
There's Nothing Here
But you clicked anyway, curiosity always wins.
Respect. I couldn’t have resisted either. Carry on, nothing to see here.
But since you’ve made it this far… tell me 2–3 guitarists or songs you like. What do you see yourself playing two months from now?
The Lessons, in a Nutshell
◈ I have a map, a guide. I can show you the most logical and efficient path to follow so you can progress as much as possible, in the shortest time. It’s 2025, we’re all in a hurry - we start something today and wish we were amazing at it… yesterday. I get it, completely. I find myself in that pattern.
And if I remember to update the site after December 31st, I’ll write that it’s already 2026.
◈ What was the question again? Oh, the map, the metaphors. After I show you the path (cue dramatic music, people clamoring), I adapt the lessons depending on what you want to play.
For example:
- if you want folk: we focus on chords & rhythm (the strumming patterns) and I won’t bore you with the harmonic minor scale or how to build harmonies in thirds like Synyster Gates does on the… well, on every A7X album.
- if you want metal and you’re a Hetfield fan: we focus on rhythm, technique, power chords, palm muting, and downstrokes exclusively (plus a week of hospitalization for the picking hand). If you’re a Kirk fan, we’ll work more on solos, techniques, and scales like the minor pentatonic, natural minor, etc. But if you don’t get yourself a wah pedal (or five), what are we even doing here? Huh? Exactly.
- if you’re a Joe Satriani fan and wanna play his songs... you’ll have to call him directly, because… come on. And if he answers, tell him I want a lesson too. #kthx
- if you want jazz and you’ve heard of Django Reinhardt… respect.
- if you want to play Jinjer, I might end up paying you.
◈ You help me help you if you tell me 2–3 guitarists you like and maybe 2–3 favorite songs you’d like to play on guitar - not just in the shower. That way I can get a clearer picture and structure the lessons better. Connect-R - “Vara Nu Dorm” doesn’t count. I don’t even know that song. Or why the guy doesn't sleep during summer. Still haven’t figured out who Camarero is. Britney Spears - “Baby One More Time”? Now that one I play in the shower too.
◈ I’ll bring all the course materials, both printed and digital. All you need is a pen. I do have pens, but I like them a lot, and... they’re mine. Oh, and you’ll also need a guitar too. Which leads us to the next section. (Ha, see how well that worked out? ^_^)
Choosing Your Guitar
◈ Don’t get a pink one. Or from Temu. If it’s both pink and from Temu, you might wanna rethink a few life choices. Consider fuchsia - it’s more tasteful.
◈ At first, you don’t need to sell a kidney to buy an expensive guitar. Keep both - it's nice when they work in stereo. I’m not a doctor, but I saw one on TV. You don’t need a Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop Classic Plus Manhattan Midnight Blue to play Smoke on the Water. Or Wonderwall.
◈ I avoid linking to specific guitars or gear from particular stores, since I’m not affiliated with any of them. Although… that wouldn’t be the worst idea. Gotta love late-stage capitalism.
◈ ACOUSTIC GUITAR ◈
🎵
- Fender CD 60 - not too expensive, but not exactly cheap either. It’s the kind of well-balanced guitar with a solid price-to-quality ratio. Pleasant tone, warm yet punchy; future you will still like it two years from now.
- ⚠️ Careful - if you found a Fedner for 150 RON, you’re probably on AliExpress. Stop. Then check your sneakers - they’re probably Niek. That's how you roll?
- Cort AF510 OP - decent, at a lower price.
- Yamaha F310
- Epiphone DR-100
◈ ELECTRIC GUITAR ◈
⚡
- There’s a lot to unpack here, but TL;DR: I recommend a versatile guitar - one that lets you play both Pink Floyd and Megadeth, for example. Ideally, it should have two single-coil pickups (the thin ones) and one humbucker (the double one). Generally speaking, single-coils are better suited for clean, warm tones (think “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”), while humbuckers are great for heavier riffs like “Symphony of Destruction.” I’ve simplified things a lot and skipped a thousand details, but it’s a starting point. You’ll need to do a bit of research yourself depending on what you want to play. The amp is also very important. We’ll get there.
- Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS – the only electric guitar I wholeheartedly recommend to beginners. It won’t burn a hole in your pocket, and it’s surprisingly good quality for its price. Make sure it has the HSS pickup configuration, for the reasons mentioned above.
- Squier Sonic Strat HSS – an alternative in the same price range. Or the Squier Affinity (a bit pricier).
- Yamaha Pacifica 112J YNS
- Epiphone Les Paul Special Satin E1 VSV
◈ AMPLIFIER ◈
🔊
- Fender Mustang LT25 – the only one I recommend with a clear conscience, because it’s basically future-proof. Intuitive to use, comes with great desktop software, tons of built-in amp models (good ones), effects - you name it. It’s like a shawarma with everything, here or to go. Nothing over the top - it’s there for you on bad days. But yeah, it’s pricier than a shawarma.
- Roland Cube 10-GX – cheaper, but more meh. Not bad though. Considerably less versatile than the LT25.
- Marshall MG10 – just kidding. This one’s better off turned into a mini fridge and used as a nightstand. If you buy that thing, don’t call me for lessons. I mean it. Notice I didn’t even bother writing its name in bold.
- NUX Mighty Plug PRO MP-3 – this one’s a portable little beast for headphones or you can connect it via a 3.5 mm jack to a speaker you already own. It might not be your first “amp,” but it’s good to know this kind of thing exists in 2025 (or 6, depending on when you’re reading this). It’s slick - I have it, I use it, I recommend it. Sounds and looks killer for something that tiny. That’s what she said.
◈ CLASSICAL GUITAR ◈
🎻
- Honestly, I don’t really know what to recommend here - I’ll just mention the differences: compared to an acoustic guitar, a classical one has a smaller body, a wider neck, and plastic (nylon) strings - so it sounds different: warmer, more bohemian. Personally, I’ve only had a classical Hora Reghin (the Dacia of Romanian guitars) and a Lag Occitania OC66. But I sold them, because I started playing guitar thanks to Slash and realized that the November Rain solo doesn’t quite hit the same on a classical :/
👀 For parents: there are also 3/4 and 2/4 size guitars. Not for you - for the kid, obviously. Until around age 12–14 (depending on height), a standard 4/4 guitar isn’t ideal. Quick visual test: if they’re holding the guitar and look like they’re climbing a tree - and the tree is winning - it’s not the right size.
◈ To give you a starting point and save you some time searching, here’s a list of music stores in Bucharest:
- Zeedoshop
- McMusic
- Senia
- Luca – they don’t make guitars, but that “Luca Haiducesc” is worth every penny.
There are more, but honestly, I’m too lazy to look them up. And now I’m actually craving a Luca Traditional.
◈ GUITAR REPAIRS ◈
🛠️
◈ I recommend this place with more warmth than a Bucharest apartment in winter 👉
Panda's Guitar Repair Shop
.
Mihnea
from
RoadKill Soda
is an awesome guy and a killer
luthier.
‘Nuff said.
Oh, and he’s the only Romanian luthier who’s worked with both Gibson Romania and Fender Romania.
‘Nuff said – Part 2: The Sequel Returns.
I brought him three guitars - it was like leaving him three toasters running Windows ’98 and getting back three Alienware laptops with RTX 5090s running
Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K at a steady 120 fps. And with new strings. Bought by me, because duh.
◈ Completely optional stuff, but it exists ◈
💡
- Dunlop String Cleaner Ultraglide 65 (it might sound like something else, but it’s for guitar strings)
- D’Addario Varigrip Hand Exerciser – epic. 5 stars on TripAdvisor.
- Gyro Ball – great for strengthening your wrists. Brilliant invention. That and Nutella. Both best used in moderation.
- Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46 strings for electric guitar. Pro tip: they work fine on acoustic too.
- Vox VGS-30 guitar cable
- 3 picks: light, medium, heavy
- 1 bottle of milk
- 10 eggs
- Toilet paper
🎸 Since you made it this far, how 'bout some lessons - in Bucharest or online?
I promise I won’t sell you a Fedner.
Later edit: Besides still not knowing what a Wonderwall actually is, I also don’t get why it’s the universal mating call of beginner guitarists. I have other existential questions too, but they go beyond the scope of these lessons...
Exercises and Video Tutorials
Covers
Wandering in Night City
Cyberpunk 2077 - New Dawn Fades
Phoenix – Balada
by Ciprian Porumbescu
Max Payne Theme
Noir Guitar Remake
Soon: Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You (Cover)
The groove/progressive metal Jinjer-esque version.
Feedback From Fine Folks ^_^
About Me
◈ I’m Shumu. I started playing guitar in October 2005, right after starting 11th grade. It was the pre-YouTube era, and my parents couldn’t afford lessons, so everything I learned, I learned on my own - no tutorials, no “how to play the solo from…”. Just my ear, curiosity, and many hours spent trying to figure out “what the hell did Slash do there, in that Tokyo ’92 concert I downloaded from ODC at 240p quality? Let’s zoom in a bit.”
My first guitar was a 12-string Hohner acoustic (but it only had 6 strings), a warped neck, and string action high enough to slice bread. With no point of reference, I played it anyway. Happily.
The reason? Slash. That scene in the “November Rain” video where he walks out of that little church and launches into that epic solo… that’s when I said to myself: “That. That’s what I wannna do” - play guitar, not go to church. Four years later, in 2009, someone asked me: “Hmm… do you think you could show others how you do it?” And that’s how I started teaching.
◈ Over the years I’ve worked with people aged 7 to 54. The lessons have a relaxed vibe - humor and patience, but also with logic, structure, and clarity. I like explaining theoretical and technical concepts in a simple, down-to-earth way. It’s not a teacher–student atmosphere, but two people exploring the same pieces of wood with six metal strings. When I teach, I try to make people obsess over the joy of playing and understanding the guitar. Sure, technique and theory matter, but what’s truly valuable is that moment when you forget all the rules and just… play. When you realize that among all the complicated things in life, this - touching strings and making them sound good - is one of the simplest and most beautiful.
◈ Between 2015 and 2020 I composed, recorded, mixed, and mastered my own album - Watch This - 14 songs made with passion and obsession. I’m releasing it in 2026, pinky swear.
I’ve been in several bands over the years, toured across the country, and currently play in Vicii - a band that fits my style. And has some fine folks too. In the past year, we’ve played fests like LaRock (main stage ^_^), Republik Fest, and Republica de sub Castani. We’ve opened for bands such as Robin & the Backstabbers, Șuie Paparude, and Cargo. Also this year, we recorded four songs in the studio and released a proper video for one of them - a track where I wrote a melodic solo that’s “only” one minute long.
Contact
More stuff I created:
📲 RCG – Guitar App📸 Shumography
🌐 Web Design
📖 Life Map – (Audio)Book
🔴 YouTube – riffs, solos & other noises