1st
National Guitar Competition Winner2017 Ibanez Flying Fingers, USA

Learn guitar the right way from day one

I'm Zach Adkins. I teach every level myself, from beginner to advanced. Start with a free week in my guitar group and play your first song by day 7.

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
Start your free week

Your first 7 days are free. One short lesson a day, about 15 minutes.

I own 4 music schools and have taught hundreds of students.

Players I grew up on

Zach Adkins with Mark Tremonti backstage

"Zach is a tremendous player. His techniques and creativity are TOP NOTCH!"

Mark TremontiCreed, Alter Bridge · pictured with me
Zach Adkins with Paul Gilbert

"(Zach) played some sweep picking things I've never seen before in my life. Astonishing speed and clarity and cool vibrato."

Paul GilbertMr. Big, Racer X · pictured with me
Steve Vai Photo: Kevin Dooley, CC BY 2.0

"I can only say thank you for what you are doing. Because lessons are really, for some people, they are just key."

Steve Vai
Zach Adkins with Tony MacAlpine

"Zach's a killer player. This guy can really shred, you should check him out!"

Tony MacAlpinepictured with me
Bumblefoot Photo: Ed Vill, CC BY 2.0

"Zach is an intelligent, creative player with incredible skill! Students will benefit greatly from his wisdom and expertise."

BumblefootGuns N' Roses
Mark Tremonti interview: asked which guitarist is his biggest influence, he names Zach Adkins
In the press

Mark Tremonti named me one of his newest influences

Asked which guitarist is his biggest influence, he said that lately he's been learning from two players, and I'm one of them.

Zach Adkins with Ace Frehley
With Ace Frehley
Zach Adkins with Nita Strauss
With Nita Strauss
Zach Adkins with Gary Holt
With Gary Holt
Zach Adkins backstage with Mark Tremonti
Backstage with Mark Tremonti
113KYouTube subscribers
4.9Mviews on my lessons and videos
2Guitar Efficiency books
4music schools I own

Your first song in 7 days

One short lesson a day, about 15 minutes. By day 7 you play a famous riff from start to finish. Acoustic or electric, any age.

  1. Hold the guitar and the pick
  2. Tune it in under a minute
  3. Your first two chords
  4. A strum that fits hundreds of songs
  5. Change chords in time
  6. Your first riff
  7. Play the whole riff with the track

What my students say

I own 4 music schools and have taught hundreds of students.

Adults starting out

★★★★★
"Being an older student I was a bit skeptical that my time had passed but with Zach’s help I can confidently tell people that I can actually now play the guitar."
Jason H. · Google review
★★★★★
"I've had a guitar for 20 years and never learned to play it... In just over five months I have learned quite a few songs."
Mike L. · Google review
★★★★★
"As an adult beginner, I struggled trying to learn with online instruction. I’ve made more progress in a few months with Zach than I did during the entire time I spent on my own."
Bryan · Google review
★★★★★
"I am older and have just recently decided to learn guitar... This has been a win for this old dog."
Robert S. · Google review

Stuck for years

★★★★★
"Had gotten as far as I could go on my own being self taught... Learned more in 4 lessons than I have in a half dozen years!"
Taylor F. · Google review
★★★★★
"I've played guitar off an on for about 15 years, but am 99% self-taught and had pretty much reached a plateau... After only a couple of lessons I'm having more fun with the guitar than I've had in years."
Andrew W. · Google review
★★★★★
"I’ve been playing guitar for approximately 35 years... he taught me more in a month than I could’ve imagined."
Barry E. · Google review

Never played before

★★★★★
"Zach has been teaching my 12 year old for a couple of months and his progress has been amazing! He knew an entire song in less than a month."
Alejandro C. · Google review
★★★★★
"I've been with Zach for a little under a year now and am starting to feel comfortable enough with my playing to actually start posting videos and signing up for gigs (no musical understanding at all previously)."
Jake F. · Google review

Pick your level

Each level has one clear goal. Short daily practice, the same way I practiced to win Flying Fingers.

01

Beginner

Never played, or starting over
  • Holding, tuning, first chords
  • Strumming and chord changes in time
  • Your first full songs
  • A 15-minute daily practice plan
Start with the free week
02

Intermediate

You know some chords
  • Barre and power chords
  • Lead guitar and the pentatonic scale
  • Theory you use the same day
  • Classic rock riffs
Free lesson: harmonic minor
03

Advanced

You want speed and control
  • Alternate picking speed
  • Sweep picking
  • Pinch harmonics and vibrato
  • Arpeggios and harmonic minor for solos
Free lesson: sweep picking
Zach Adkins Zach Adkins picking hand close-up

I started in a bedroom with a cheap practice amp

  1. Age 12

    I picked up the guitar for the first time. I've played for over 20 years since.

  2. 2017

    I won 1st place at Ibanez Flying Fingers, a national guitar competition in the USA. Watch my winning run

  3. Teaching

    I opened my first music school in Omaha in 2017. I've added three more since, in Gretna, Bellevue and Elkhorn.

  4. Album
    The Future Isn't What It Used to Be album art

    I recorded my debut album, The Future Isn't What It Used to Be. Watch the 4K playthrough

  5. Today

    I post free guitar lessons on YouTube.

Brands that endorse me

Ernie Ball Music Man logo and guitars
Ernie Ball strings
Strings
Swiss Picks
Picks

Questions people ask me

Am I too old to start?

No. A lot of my students started as adults, some after 20 or 30 years away from the guitar. You can read their reviews above.

I have no musical talent. Can I still learn?

Yes. The First 7 Days course starts at zero: how to hold the guitar and the pick. Many of my students had no music background when they started.

How much time do I need?

About 15 minutes a day for the first 7 days.

Acoustic or electric?

Either one. Everything in the first 7 days works on both.

What does it cost?

Your first 7 days in my guitar group are free. After that it's $29 a month.

What happens after day 7?

You stay in the group and keep going with the level that fits you. The Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced courses are all inside.

Your first song is 7 days away

Start your free week today. One lesson a day, about 15 minutes each.

Start your free week

Start with a free lesson

My guitar books

Start with the Beginner Guide, then move up to the Workbook.

Guitar Efficiency: Beginner Guitar Guide book cover
Beginner

Beginner Guitar Guide

Step-by-step guitar instruction for brand new players. 98 pages.

Get it on Amazon
Guitar Efficiency: Daily Exercise and Tablature Workbook with Journal book cover
Advanced · My best seller

Daily Exercise and Tablature Workbook

Daily exercises, tabs and a practice journal to build speed and accuracy. 216 pages.

★ 4.5 from 82 ratings on Amazon

Get it on Amazon

More reviews from my students

Five-star Google reviews that mention me by name.