Frustration Free Guitar Lessons

Designed For Online Learners

What is Olicana Music?

I’m Alasdair and welcome to Olicana Music – your resource for frustration free guitar lessons.

I’ve played guitar for 23 years, been learning guitar online since 2010, and I make my living as a professional guitarist. As someone who learned to play guitar online, I understand the struggle of finding quality educational content. I believe this happens because most people teaching online didn’t learn online. As such they don’t understand what independent learners really need to get the most out of their lessons.

I think there’s a better way to teach and learn music online. I want to use my experience as a teacher and a guitarist to develop music education content that guides learners to real results at an affordable price. This is why I started Olicana Music and I am hoping this is why you are here.

How I Help You Reach Your Potential

I want to help other people become the best musicians they can be by fixing the problems that come with learning guitar online. I do this by ensuring my lessons meet the following criteria:

  • Taught by a teacher with active students. I’ll always have an ongoing roster of face-to-face students because it’s the best way to improve as a teacher.
  • My lessons are comprehensive and well designed so that you never feel like there’s missing information.
  • I signpost to relevant subjects because I don’t assume you know something already.
  • I use evidence based approaches to ensure that your practice returns the results you want.
  • All the required resources are included in each lesson. If something’s missing I’ll add it.
  • I’ll show you not just what to practice, but how and why you should work on the material you’re learning.
  • I will provide personalised feedback on your playing and answers to your questions if you’re a member of our community.
  • Fair prices – My products are affordable. If you’re not happy with your purchase you can get your money back no questions asked.

What I Provide

Guitar wisdom that simply includes something to think about, something to practice, and something to enjoy. When you sign up I’ll also send you a free copy of my eBook, Perfect Practice – How To Practice Like the Pro’s, so you can get the most out of my lessons.

Single lessons on key topics to help you learn the most important aspects of playing guitar. These are free and contain everything you need to learn and practice the material. Topics include:

  • How To Play Guitar Fast
  • Guitar Phrasing Explained
  • The CAGED System

In depth courses on playing the guitar that are designed from the ground up to help you master the subject at hand. No stone is left unturned and all the materials you need are included. Courses I offer include:

  • Learning How To Learn
  • How To Play The Blues
  • Fretboard Mapping

How Much Does It Cost?

Whether you want to explore for free, or are serious about developing your guitar playing I’ve got lessons that will meet you at your level.

Casual Enthusiasts
Independent Learners
Ambitious Students

Lesson Packs

Completely Free

  • An in depth video on the subject matter.
  • An accompanying PDF guide which includes exercises, diagrams, and any tab required.
  • Audio files, Guitar Pro files and printer friendly versions of the resources.
  • A backing track and companion lead sheet.

Courses

£50

  • Lifetime access to the course.
  • A comprehensive and structured sequence of modules and lessons.
  • Each lesson in a course contains a complete set of resources just like a lesson pack.
  • Guidance on exactly what, why and how to practice the material.
  • Milestone projects so you can tell when you’re ready to move on.

All Access Pass

£29 / month

  • Faster progress with personalised feedback on your playing directly from me.
  • A private space to get your questions answered in our community.
  • Learn what you want, when you want with access to all my courses.
  • Track your progress through any course.
  • Backing tracks in the course materials are available in all 12 keys.
  • No long term commitments – unsubscribe easily at any time.

People Like How I Teach

Don’t take my word for it, here’s what my students think about my teaching.

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Tony Reed

Current Student

I’ve been receiving lessons from Alasdair for the past 12 months now. For anyone looking to learn the guitar from scratch (as I did) or as an improver I can’t recommend Alasdair highly enough. He is friendly and very supportive but what impressed me most was his ability to identify techniques to help me overcome particular stumbling blocks I may have encountered along the way which unlocked my learning and moved me along on my improvement curve. Alasdair offers support outside of the tuition time with learning materials online specific to me. He is extremely talented and will without question help you on your path to learning to play the guitar. Thank you Alasdair.

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Mandy Butterworth

Current Student

As an adult learner who previously had a few false starts in picking up the guitar, I couldn’t be happier than to recommend Alasdair. I have found him to be a most patient, knowledgeable teacher who really cares about my progression on the instrument. He has always been able to answer my questions, and is always able to give demonstrations of any techniques, in the context of any musical genre. I always look forward to our lessons as an opportunity not only to increase my own proficiency, but also to absorb Alasdair’s obvious enthusiasm for music in general. I wish that I had started lessons with him years ago!

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@willwillis1444 

YouTube

In my 40 years of playing I have never heard nor seen this concept. The breakdown and explanation are so thorough and easy to understand. I would have expected to pay for such a valuable lesson. I’m most grateful for this! Thank you

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@acrobertson7865

YouTube

I’ve watched 100s of hours of guitar YouTube in the last year and frankly, if someone wanted me to boil it down to my top 5 or so, this would be in it. I knew about chunking, but you’ve laid it out so plainly and simply that now I feel I can use it much more effectively.

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Paul

Current Student

Our 16 year old son has progressed hugely over the past few years with Alasdair’s excellent teaching and guidance, both in terms of his playing ability and his growing confidence. Alasdair’s boundless encouragement, enthusiasm and patience has allowed our son to progress beyond any of his or our expectations and he has gone from being reserved and unwilling to play anywhere other than his bedroom into someone who has now performed numerous times in front of sizeable audiences and who is now enrolled onto a music performance course at college. Alasdair’s technical ability and holistic approach to teaching mean that we would have no hesitation in recommending him to others.

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@andreastrilling7771 

YouTube

This is a brilliant example of how to translate state-of-the-art understandings from Neuroscience into applied guitar practice! Well explained and presented and all required aspects covered. I find it very motivating when there is an idea about why certain advice would work and how exactly it would work. I’ll try it out immediately and hope to see more content from you on that basis. Thanks a lot!

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@tazanddo

YouTube

Wow, you’ve opened my eyes. I’ve been playing for decades. I didn’t know what you’ve been teaching until today. Thanks a whole lot.

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Adam Harper

Current Student

Our eldest son Alex has been having guitar lessons from Alasdair for a few years now, he has been brilliant. Aside from the fact that Alex has improved immeasurably, Alasdair’s encouraging approach and the way that he makes it enjoyable has been fantastic. More recently he has also started giving Alex bass guitar lessons. Can’t recommend any more highly.

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Russell Bragg

Current Student

Alasdair has been my guitar teacher every week for nearly 4 years now. He communicates clearly, encourages when necessary, sticks to the brief, and backs up the lessons with additional support. As a result, an old passion has been rekindled and my guitar playing has come on in leaps and bounds. He is an excellent teacher and I can thoroughly recommend him.

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@buke45

YouTube

One of the most outstanding and HELPFUL educational guitar videos i’ve ever seen!!!! thank you!

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