Blog

3 Qualities Singer-Songwriters Look for in a Vocal Coach

by Shane Lamb
June 13, 2017February 7, 2018

Hello everybody, and especially you singer-songwriters! Here is a new post from Nashville vocal coach and Green Hills Guitar Studio instructor, Jaime Babbitt.

It is full of love, non-judgement, compassion, empathy and NO PITY! That’s right, it’s time to own it! If you are a singer-songwriter, you know it’s important to work with a vocal instructor that not only understands the mechanics and ins-and-outs of the human voice, but also gets what it means to be a writer, performer and artist developing a style and a voice in many senses of the word.Read More »3 Qualities Singer-Songwriters Look for in a Vocal Coach

Vocal Coach on Musical Self-Criticism and Judgement

by Shane Lamb
May 19, 2017February 7, 2018
1 Comment

I am very excited to have Nashville vocal coach Jaime Babbitt joining us at Green Hills Guitar Studio. Aside from being a really great human being, Jaime is a songwriter, a very experienced singer, an in-demand vocal instructor, speaker and recent author with her book, Working With Your Voice, published by Alfred in 2011.Read More »Vocal Coach on Musical Self-Criticism and Judgement

Ear Training for Musicians

by Shane Lamb
April 5, 2017September 20, 2018

ear training what it is and where to begin

Most musicians do not have perfect pitch and have practiced and employed several skills to improve their ears’ abilities. At the collegiate or academic level, a student is required to test through several levels of ear training to further their abilities and continue their musical study.Read More »Ear Training for Musicians

3 Questions to Consider Before You Begin Guitar Lessons

by Shane Lamb
April 5, 2017November 25, 2019
1 Comment

3 questions for finding a guitar instructor.

Example of Frustrations With Learning Guitar I recently had a student start lessons with me and he has been taking lessons from another teacher for a… Read More »3 Questions to Consider Before You Begin Guitar Lessons

What to Look for in A Guitar Instructor

by Shane Lamb
April 5, 2017November 25, 2019

Shane Lamb with Danocaster guitar recording at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville

In my last post, I talked about what you need to know about yourself before looking for a guitar instructor. In this post I would like to share some thoughts on what to look for in your guitar instructor. This applies whether you are looking to study guitar in your home town or seek guitar instruction online.Read More »What to Look for in A Guitar Instructor

Green Hills Guitar Studio

5.0

Based on 24 reviews

Mitch Davis

2020-05-11T17:19:23+0000

I have been taking guitar lessons from Sam for over a year now, and would highly recommend him to any guitar student,... regardless of age or skill level. He is a phenomenal guitarist, and a very gifted teacher. He is able to instruct and guide you to improve your playing while still encouraging you to focus on the things that interest you most. He has made me a more creative guitarist, a more thoughtful musician, and given me a whole new appreciation for the lifelong journey of mastering an instrument.read more

Nathan David Phelps

2020-04-26T22:51:05+0000

Green Hills Guitar Studio is awesome. Been working with Sam Farkas for a few months now, and he's fantastic at finding... your edge and pushing you past it. He's also great at leaning into whatever style or type of music that interests you. Would recommend this team to anyone.read more

Megan Ashley

2020-04-26T20:03:23+0000

I’ve been taking lessons with Sam at Green Hills Guitar Studio for a couple months now. He’s helped me improve my... guitar playing significantly and makes lessons fun, productive, and enjoyable. He’s great at finding where you are as a musician and helping you take your playing in the direction that is most beneficial for your goals as a guitarist. Really glad I came across this studio on google and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great teacher!read more

Bryant Lowry

2020-04-26T19:26:20+0000

I've been taking guitar lessons with Sam Farkas for about 6 months now. My time spent with him has not only helped me... exponentially grow in confidence and understanding on the instrument, but also all aspects of my job as a full time composer and musician. 10/10 would recommend.read more

Linda Dunnavant

2020-04-26T19:05:45+0000

I have been taking guitar lessons with Sam for almost a year, and I can’t recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio highly... enough. I tried to learn guitar on and off over the years, but I wasn’t able to make much progress on my own. Sam is an incredible teacher — patient, kind, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable. He meets you exactly where you are and is always focused on helping you achieve your personal goals. I was nervous about taking guitar lessons for the first time in my 30s, but it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Also, the transition to remote lessons has been seamless. I think I like remote lessons even better than in-person lessons.read more

Corinne Muha

2020-04-26T19:00:48+0000

I have been taking lessons with Sam for almost a year now. He is incredibly patient and really good at explaining... things. He gives you the freedom to get out of your lesson what you want. He is super flexible and accommodating around your schedule too, even doing lessons over FaceTime. I would highly recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio - I have learned so much so quickly! It's a very comfortable, laid back environment.read more

Miles Barter

2020-04-25T21:44:27+0000

After a fantastic 2 weeks spent at Green Hills Guitar Studio with Shane and his team I felt my experiences absolutely... needed to be shared! My situation could probably be considered as slightly different in that I am not local and am from London, England I reached out to Shane with interest in coming to Nashville to do an intensive 2 week course. Shane expressed absolute enthusiasm for this and took the time to have a video consultation with me so that he could sufficiently understand and cater for what I wanted. Shane’s professionalism gave me complete confidence that I was going to be receiving top level teaching from himself and his two other guitar instructors, Sam and Eddie. Having been educated in music to degree level and having played a few professional gigs in London my expectations of guitar teachers is very high! Having now completed the course I can say that the care and teaching ability of Green Hills Guitar Studio is absolutely astounding! All three guitar instructors Shane, Sam, and Eddie have incredible levels of music theory and instrument knowledge and can cater to the most beginner to the most advanced of players. To add to this each of them specialise in slightly different areas meaning they can offer a large range of different and exciting areas of knowledge. They are also all professionally practising musicians on the Nashville music scene who can give an extra level of professional mentorship that a lot of other guitar teachers cannot give. In 15 years of seriously playing guitar I left Green Hills Guitar Studio with some of the most valuable teaching I have ever received! Whether you are an absolute beginner, an advanced player who needs some professional mentorship and new perspectives, or just a music enthusiast who wants to play for fun. Shane and his team at Green Hills tailor their teaching to fully suit the student’s needs in an incredibly effective and professional way that is second to none!read more

Brandy Ray Lamb

2020-01-01T15:43:48+0000

GHGS has talented professional musicians that taylor each lesson plan to match your personal needs. No cookie cutter... method here. In addition to the regular lesson format they offer online lessons and workshops. The instructors genuinely care about you, your success, and love musicread more

Matt Chalkley

2019-11-11T21:31:17+0000

Shane is a great teacher who understands that the lesson is about you. I came Green Hills Guitar studio after trying to... learn guitar off of youtube. The youtube teachers are good teachers, but they don't compare to one-on-on lessons. Over the past 18 months (I take online lessons), Shane has drastically improved my both my right hand and my left hand technique. He introduced me to my favorite guitar player, Stevie Ray Vaughn. Under Shane's guidance I can now play SRV's Lenny and Little Wing. More recently he's begun to teach me how to play to by ear. Prior to taking lessons, I thought that I it would be impossible for me to play by ear. Shane is a teacher who can teach the impossible. If you aren't sure about taking lesson guitars, then try one lesson. I promise you won't regret it.read more

Roger Illsley

2019-11-06T21:20:08+0000

I am an amateur songwriter and wanted someone to give me input on some of my songs while I was visiting Nashville. ... Shane and I had a very constructive and fun session going over my songs. He brings great knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to the process.read more

Kim Monroe

2019-10-08T18:36:36+0000

I have been taking lessons here from Shane (guitar) and Maureen (Vocals) for about a year and a half. They both have... such a depth of knowledge of their instruments and tons of experience performing live. The thing I think that sets this place apart is that they are there to teach you about more than just playing an instrument or singing. My confidence as a musician has never been better. They both have pushed me to investigate my connection to music. I have learned a lot about myself this way. Every teacher at the studio is a true pro. I highly recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio!read more

Dan Norris

2019-09-29T13:56:50+0000

I decided at age 50, it wasn’t too late to start taking guitar lessons... I’m very thankful that I chose Green... Hills Guitar Studio! Shane is knowledgeable, personable, & flexible. He will lead you to whatever direction you want to go on your musical journey!!read more

Cassandra Bailey

2019-09-16T12:32:13+0000

Our group of small business owners met with Shane for a songwriting workshop during a retreat. It was so far beyond... what we could've expected. Shane got vulnerable with us right away, and we did the same with him. He pushed us to go deep into our feelings. We laughed a lot though it was hard. At the end, we have a song we all love and will remember forever.read more

Crystal Borelli

2019-08-20T14:58:36+0000

The workshop here was one of the absolute best I have ever taken. It was so organized and structured to exactly what I... want to learn. Being able to leave with handouts, books and material to practice is so important and sometime most guitar lessons don’t provide. I would highly recommend here! I can’t say enough great things about my experience here!read more

Charlie Montgomery

2019-06-28T19:15:17+0000

I’ve been going to Green Hills Guitar Studio for about a year now. My knowledge of music theory, music business,... songwriting, and guitar playing have increased dramatically. I started with bits and pieces of songs without much structure. Shane has showed me how to build and structure a song from start to finish. We practice the music that I want to play and every lesson is based on what I want to work on. I truly enjoy and recommend lessons at Green Hills Guitar Studio. I learn so much and best of all I have fun doing it!read more

Beatriz Morales

2019-05-15T19:10:36+0000

My two kids, 11 and 13, have been taking lessons at Green Hills Guitar Studio for about 8 months now and we are all... super happy we chose this studio. Our teachers, Sam (guitar) and Kent (piano) are very talented real musicians that they truly love what they do. They are always very patient and encouraging to my kids since they are both beginners. Learning an instrument for the first time is not easy and I love that they make the classes fun for them and at the same time they are truly learning. Not matter what their skill level is, the teachers know how to adapt the class so my kids feel good and encouraged to keep learning. They are also very understanding and willing to accommodate our busy schedule and this is a big plus for us!. If your kids are asking for music classes, they will be very happy at Green Hills Guitar Studio. I have nothing but great things to say about our teachers, Sam and Kent, and this studio!read more

Sara Lombardi

2019-03-17T20:18:49+0000

I was looking for guitar lessons upon moving to Nashville last fall and green hills guitar studio was the perfect place... to go. I had been self-taught for a few years and upon starting lessons with Sam I learned so much about reading music on guitar and becoming a more well-rounded player. He’s SO patient and SO accommodating to my needs, I appreciated how lessons were always focused around what and how I wanted to learn. Couldn’t recommend this place enough!!read more

Kate Schwartz

2018-03-22T01:54:58+0000

As a novice guitar player who was not sure how to approach lessons for the first time, Sam made lessons feel effortless... and changed the way I understood and viewed music. Going from not being able to put two chords together -- to being able to play my favorite acoustic songs in just a matter of weeks provided me with motivation and enthusiasm to continue to learn and practice. Being a teacher myself, Sam's passion and dedication to personalizing the lesson and meeting me where I was, both inspired to me as an educator as well as a student. I highly, highly recommend in investing in lessons with Green Hills Guitar Studio!read more

Patrick Boyce

2017-12-21T22:30:35+0000

I have Sam as my guitar teacher. He is really great at meeting each guitarist where they are according to their skill.... Open to questions, he's able to answer them in a way that is easily understandable. He's really great at encouraging you and pointing out bad habits that might hinder your playing. With that being said, he has never scolded at me for not practicing when I can't find the time to do so. He can teach you any style of guitar and have a firm foundation of knowledge to do so. I definitely recommend Sam because he cares about the guitar and his students.read more

Chelsea Forehand

2017-12-21T18:49:06+0000

Calling Green Hills Guitar Studio was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I spent almost a year trying to... "teach myself" how to play the guitar, mostly as a new hobby, with little progress and a lot of frustration. Sam has been my teacher for about 7 months, and it has completely renewed my interest in investing the time to learn to play. Sam is extremely patient, makes playing/practicing fun, and offers flexible scheduling (which is extremely helpful when balancing multiple commitments). I have nothing but great things to say about this studio and Sam. I would recommend them to anyone and will be continuing to take lessons here for a long time to come!read more

Kent Toalson

2017-07-30T16:41:35+0000

Sam Farkas

2017-07-18T12:47:08+0000

Marguerite Beane

2017-03-26T22:33:42+0000

Taylor Stewart

2017-03-15T00:55:34+0000

Sam is an awesome teacher. I highly recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio!!!

Clint Nelson

2016-11-15T02:35:59+0000

Denis O'Shea

2016-10-06T21:08:32+0000

Fantastic tuition and advice from Sam. I learnt heaps and even got to see him play live at Acme on Broadway one... evening. That was inspiring.read more

Paul Harris

2016-09-29T10:47:02+0000

I've been taking lessons from Green Hills Guitar Study since for about 9-months and couldn't be happier. My initial... call with Shane started with a conversation about my interest in learning. Shane used this information to pair me with Sam who is really quite phenomenal as an instructor. My guitar playing has definitely improved and I've been really impressed by Sam's ability to assess my progress and make 'course correction' suggestions as I hit roadblocks. More important, Sam has taught me to think about music --- moving beyond learning guitar tabs and individual songs/riffs to learning musical notation and theory. Sam is a great instructor and extremely talented as a musician. I'd recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio to anyone looking to take their guitar playing to the next level.read more

Danielle Livellara

2016-09-19T02:04:20+0000

I'm a total newbie to guitar, and Sam has been awesome! He's been patient and understanding of my slow learning... process, and I am excited to be making progress! I would highly recommend him and the folks at Green Hills Guitar Studio.read more

Jennifer Stokes Morgan

2016-09-16T02:17:08+0000

I started playing classical guitar almost two years ago. I came to GHGS six months ago when my former instructor... stopped teaching and I started taking lessons from Sam. Not only is Sam helping me further develop my classical skills (not bad for a guy who has a jazz background) but he is also helping me to explore a contemporary sound as well on my new acoustic guitar. I highly recommend Sam for a beginner or expert player. He is very knowledgeable of the guitar and he is very professional.read more

Marcus Wanner

2016-06-30T07:27:33+0000

Rachel Martin

2016-05-20T00:57:55+0000

Best teacher I've ever had, and I'm not just talking about guitar.

Lena Anthony

2016-02-17T12:18:31+0000

Shane is teaching my 4-year-old son how to play guitar. He really gets through to him, by being so nice, so patient... (very important when you're 4-years-old) and so encouraging. We're still learning the basics, but the way Shane presents the material makes it very easy to learn. It's laid back, but we're learning! He's also very accommodating to my 2-year-old daughter, who patiently sits at his piano watching videos on my phone during the lesson. As for the location, parking has been an issue for us on occasion, so give yourself a few extra minutes beforehand to find a spot. Overall, very pleased. I found him via Google and signed up on a whim, but as far as I'm concerned, he's Nashville's best guitar teacher for kids.read more

Wyatt Wallace

2015-10-27T00:00:50+0000

Wow, how could I possibly recommend Shane more highly?! Besides being a phenomenal guitarist, he's also an amazing... songwriting instructor. I moved here 2 years ago with the dream of making music that hit charts but didn't have a clue how and what I've learned with Shane is a true respect for the craft as well as a desire to write music that means something and comes from my soul. I was just nominated for New Songwriter of the Year with the Tennessee Songwriters Association International; that, paired with my music now on the radio in a mid-market, has been such a blessing. I can absolutely declare that Shane's guidance and instruction got me to this point and will carry me far beyond! Please call him. You can't go wrong with Green Hills Guitar Studio. The proof is in the pudding and now I have an industry nod to prove it! Thank you, thank you Shane! -Wyatt Wallace, 2015 Horizon Award Nominee, TSAIread more

Ty Clark

2015-10-19T13:36:04+0000

I have been playing guitar now for around 5 years. Being self taught, I felt I had plateaued out and learned as much as... I could teach myself. I started lessons with Shane at Green Hills Guitar Studio and all that changed. He has opened my eyes to a whole new side of music that I never understood before. He is an extremely knowledgeable and great teacher, with the patience of job. I would give him 10 stars if I could.read more

Cassidy Best

2015-10-19T01:36:42+0000

I'm a singer/songwriter and a freshman Songwriting major at Belmont University. I looked into taking guitar lessons... after realizing that I didn't know enough theory or enough guitar to keep up with others I wrote with. In just the few short months of lessons, Shane has gone above and beyond to help "fill in the gaps" of my guitar/ theory knowledge. He's excellent guitarist and teacher, and has helped to not only improve my playing, but also my songwriting and my confidence in music theory. Highly recommended!read more

Robert Joseph

2015-10-14T00:20:22+0000

Shane Lamb is an outstanding musician and an excellent guitar instructor. He has helped me take my playing to the next... level and improved my skills tremendously. Shane has tailored lessons for the style that I like to play, which is helping me to reach my personal goals. He has greatly improved my knowledge of music theory, guitar technique and songwriting. I recommend Green Hills Guitar Studio for all ages and levels of experience.read more

Skip Orem

2015-10-12T20:46:28+0000

Shane is an exceptional guitar instructor. His musical talent as well as his in-depth knowledge of music and the... guitar has been invaluable in my guitar learning. He has an uncanny ability to challenge the student to excel while at the same time providing a relaxed and encouraging instructional environment. I highly recommend Shane to anyone interested in learning guitar at any level.read more

Wendy Wilson

2015-08-11T01:01:24+0000

Shane is a talented musician who is very relatable. He's easy-going, but also knows how to challenge you. He's able to... highlight little things I never thought about that have helped me improve my skills and love playing the guitar even more.read more

Emmet Seibels

2015-08-06T17:06:32+0000

Shane is a terrific instructor for my 8 year old son - the improvement we've seen is directly due to great instruction.... Plus, it's fun!read more

Alexis Ivy Mendelsohn

2015-08-04T01:22:55+0000

Not only is Shane a great guitarist, he's also a great teacher and person as well! My guitar playing and skill has... improved far faster and better than I could imagine and I'm really enjoying myself. Shane really teaches the instrument and not just how to play songs. Overall, I'm really pleased with how consistently my abilities are improving.read more

M Yvonne G Hope

2014-09-06T01:37:22+0000

Don Lazas

2014-01-16T20:29:48+0000

Mike Luker

2013-11-01T19:46:30+0000

Renae Schmaltz

2013-10-26T15:25:06+0000

Next Reviews

Green Hills Guitar Studio

5.0

Based on 22 reviews

Mitch Davis

17:21 11 May 20

Heather Schoch

19:48 27 Apr 20

We love lessons with Sam at Green Hills Guitar Studio! My daughter looks forward to her lesson every week and has... learned an impressive amount of music theory in addition to notes and chords in her first year. Sam is great about picking up on the pieces and types of music she enjoys and using those to teach concepts. Highly recommend.read more

Nathan Phelps

22:51 26 Apr 20

Megan Golden

20:04 26 Apr 20

Linda Dunnavant

19:03 26 Apr 20

Christopher Sigmund

21:29 25 Feb 20

Sam Farcas and Green Hills Guitar Studio are fantastic! Great location and a comfortable environment to learn in. Sam... is a great teacher at all levels. Highly recommend.read more

Jahnavi Goldstein

15:49 14 Feb 20

Shane is extremely knowledgeable and broke down complex music theory in a way I could understand - a great musical... resource.read more

Lorraine Morgan Scott

02:44 12 Feb 20

Shane mentored our group in music theory 101, and took a confusing subject and explained theory in easy to understand... chunks. In little more than an hour, he filled in a couple gaps of knowledge holes I’d had about key signatures, function and the double sharp. I so look forward to the next lesson.read more

Matt Chalkley

21:29 11 Nov 19

Roger Illsley

21:12 06 Nov 19

Eric Griffin

03:27 17 Sep 19

Somehow Shane led our group of 7 entrepreneurs, with virtually no musical talent, in writing and signing a complete... song! How he accomplished this in just a few hours I will never know, but I am forever grateful. We now have our own song, that we came up with, and I can’t get it out of my head! Shane is incredibly talented, knowledgeable, and patient. He truly accomplished the impossible!read more

Taylor Dubray

22:30 20 Jul 19

I studied bass under Patrick Atwater for about a year, and could not have been more pleased with my experience. He is... an extremely patient, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher and I would highly recommend him for any student beginner to advanced wanting to grow as a player!read more

charlie montgomery

19:09 28 Jun 19

Daniel Teel

18:21 17 Jun 19

I have been a student of Shane’s for almost a year now. He does not teach every person the same way. He tailors his... entire session of teaching specifically to you. He is also a master in regards to keeping his students grounded and encouraging them through frustrating lessons, whether that be a life lesson or guitar lesson. He is an all around exceptional teacher -without even bringing up what he can do with a guitar.read more

Tamara Scott

16:58 26 Feb 19

Shane and his teachers are really committed to giving their students the kind of music lessons they want. I bought my... dad a set of online guitar lessons for Christmas, and he really enjoys working with Shane.read more

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