A guide to membership. What is it and how to book

Hey Rock Star
Thank you for taking out or looking to take out a membership with The Guitar Social. We can’t wait to see you in one of our workshops or at one of our events very soon.
We’ve put your schedule together with loads of love and tonnes of care based on years and years
and thousands of hours of teaching.
We know what works, and we know what doesn’t and the result of our knowledge is the timetable
you’re about explore.
Here’s your guide for navigating your membership with The Guitar Social. We hope it answers any
questions you might have, but if it doesn’t, just come find us.

See you soon

Choosing your workshops by level

Beginner: Someone who has never played before or has very little playing experience. Please do
not sign up to this course if you can do barre chords and scales
Improver: Someone who can play open chords, read tab and chord boxes and feels fairly
comfortable playing a few songs and changing between chords. You are now ready to learn barre
chords, licks, riffs and theory.
Intermediate: You can play E type barre chords and perhaps some/all A type positions. You can
play a few scales and have been using them either to improvise or play solos, licks and riffs. Your
knowledge of the fretboard is good.
Advanced: You feel like you’ve got it. You’re looking for a challenge and can pick up and adjust to
new ideas quickly.

The Songs You’ll play in the workshops

We have between ten and fifteen new songs that we work with every term. You can find a song
book and playlist for these songs on the booking page on the website. You’ll be playing some of
those songs as indicated in the course description. It may well be that you play the same song
twice, or more, in a seven day period, but that’s kind of the point. Repeated practice makes us
sound better.
Please note, some classes will not use any of the songs from the playlist and may use a song
relevant to one subject area.

Choosing your Joy of the Jam

All members are invited to pick a Joy of the Jam group and attend that same group on the same
date and time every week. You will notice that each Joy of the Jam is labelled with a level. Your
joy of the Jam group is for playing songs and connecting with other members.

Getting ready for your session

On the booking page you’ll find a number of links that will take you to videos, playlists and
resources related to your session. To make the most of your session we recommend that you
spend time exploring all links before you attend.

Where to find your resources after the session

Each session has a serial number. Go to the members login and input that number and just like
magic, you’ll find all of your materials right there waiting for you.

In your session and what to bring

We provide a tablet and a music stand to view your resources. We also provide all amps, and ask
that you don’t bring your own amp.
You just need to bring a guitar, a pen, a plectrum and a capo.
After your session we ask that you make way quickly for the next group.

Events and the perks of being a member

Many of our events are for members only and they take place all over London. You can view these
on within the workshop calendar or on the events page
You’re part of the biggest community of musicians in London.

Nicola Cortese

03/02/2022

I started a course in Jan as a beginner with Thomas and I can already play 5 songs!.. with simple chords :) both Thomas and Fiona are really lovely and they really know how to teach whilst having fun! I'd highly recommend dropping at one of their Thursday's open mic! Tons of fun and talent for free!!!

Jonny Pollard

02/02/2022

Very friendly learning environment, was a bit nervous to play with a group having not played socially for many years, but it was super relaxed, and I learnt a lot in the first session. Looking forward to the next session!

Adam J

01/02/2022

Had a great time tonight! I joined on to the beginners course a couple weeks late, but Fiona was great at running me up to speed before the class. Tom was a great instructor, and managed to get us to cover lots of ground in a short space of time. The group was super freindly and relaxed, and im looking forward to going back next week!

Jakub Špaček

Having played guitar in my past within academic environment I have to say The Guitar Social club opened my eyes with their amazing and vibrant atmosphere with company of great people. Lessons are really fun and easy to follow. Feel really motivate just after few classes and my connection to the instrument greatly improved!

Paula Smith

31/01/2022

Unbelievably great, not kidding.

Marcella Puppini

This exactly what I was hoping it would be. A fun and engaging way of learning a new instrument at a lovely venue, with great people and great teaching. Thoroughly recommended.

hashtagobi

Only been going 2 weeks but it's a great environment with good pacing throughout the lessons. The community is quite helpful + open to learn so it's really a great space for anyone wanting to hone their guitar chops!

Kevin S.

27/01/2022

Is it a guitar school? A social events group? A music workshop for all ages and abilities? An open, non-judgemental route to performing? A holiday club that includes jamming on guitars around the campfire? Well–it's all these and more. The Guitar Social is built around founder & lead tutor Thomas (plus TGS Business Director, Fiona, originally one of its earliest students). Patient and passionate, Thomas and his relaxed, friendly temperament get the best from beginners to improvers and beyond. Personally for me, one core strength of The Guitar Social is that Thomas realises what most tutors and courses never do – we can all learn fast and well when we play whole songs together and discover as a group how to make them work. Thomas and TGS guest tutors will always tend to teach music theory for guitar, and focus too on scales, chord voicings, correct rhythm, licks, riffs, parts, soloing etc, but with a tendency to make it about the fun and learning gains when students jam together on great songs instead of staring at a white board and not playing much music. Jamming songs in similar or mixed ability groups helps TGS students become functioning musicians who have built useful real world skills and experience across many sessions similar to how working musicians rehearse and workshop songs. And you will have the opportunity to build live experience too if you wish – solo or with your term group or with others of your choice, in a safe, positive environment, with friendly fellow students as your audience. Never any pressure and just one example of where TGS delivers extra value. They are really worth trying. I haven't even done full justice here to all the different activities they do.

stu smith

25/01/2022

The coolest club in London!

Colin Taylor

I'm back for my second series of the Joy of the Jam. After not playing with others for over 30 years, these sessions are reminding me just how inspiring and enjoyable jamming can be. Thomas leads the sessions with huge enthusiasm and a great deal of humour. The support of his impressive musical knowledge is ever present - but this never gets in the way of our desire just have fun and be playing.