Elevate Your Guitar Skills: Professional Lessons from an Instructor with Over 15 Years of Experience

Find out more about SEBASTIAN

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  I really fell in love with music as a teenager, and guitar quickly became the thing that felt like mine. I started playing at 16 and got hooked on the combination of rhythm, melody, and the pure physical and mental feeling of playing. Guitar is still my favorite instrument because it can be everything at once: percussion, harmony, lead, texture. It’s endlessly expressive.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Metal, and metalcore in particular, has been that “never gets old” lane for me. I’m drawn to the mix of precision and emotion: the heavy riffs, the rhythmic detail, the dynamics, the tension and release. I’m the kind of person who can replay an album for weeks, because every time I come back I catch a new guitar layer, a production choice, or a groove detail I didn’t notice before. A few of my favorite artists are Children of Bodom, Pantera, Parkway Drive, August Burns Red, Lamb of God, Metallica, and Alpha Wolf. That being said, I’ve played many different styles throughout the years, and I have a deep appreciation for all genres.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  A course I love teaching, and that can be really transformative, is “Modern Rhythm Guitar Mastery: From Tightness to Taste.” It’s difficult because it’s not just notes, it’s timing, feel, muting control, pick attack, and playing locked to a click and/or drums.
  
  It covers:
  
  Right-hand control (tight palm-muting, pick depth, attack consistency).
  
  Syncopation and odd groupings without “mathy” playing.
  
  Groove-first riff writing and arranging (how parts support vocals and drums).
  
  Recording mindset: playing cleanly enough that a take sits in a mix.
  
  It’s riveting because students don’t just “learn riffs,” they start sounding professional.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I’d say saxophone, and wind instruments in general, are some of the most complicated to truly master. With guitar, you can “set” a note and focus on articulation. On sax, your body is part of the instrument. Your tone, pitch, and dynamics depend on breath control, embouchure, airflow consistency, and endurance, and small changes can completely alter the sound. On top of that, you’re controlling phrasing and musicality in real time while managing breathing like an athlete. That combination of physical control and musical expression is what makes it such a demanding instrument to master.

• What are your keys to success?

  -Consistency over intensity: small daily progress beats random grind sessions.
  
  -Practice with a purpose: every session should answer “what am I improving today?”
  
  -Slow = fast: the best players build speed by mastering control first.
  
  -Record yourself: it’s the quickest way to reveal what’s actually happening.
  
  -Musical priorities: tone, timing, and dynamics matter as much as technique.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, for their songwriting and the art of downpicking through an entire song with power and consistency. More than that, they were a huge reason I stuck with guitar in the early and middle stages of my journey. The kind of influence that keeps you practicing when you’re still building your foundation and figuring out your sound.
  
  Dimebag Darrell, for his combination of savage grooves, fearless lead playing, and that larger-than-life energy that made every riff and solo feel iconic. He’s the kind of guitarist who reminds you that tone and personality matter as much as technique.
  
  Alexi Laiho, for his melodic aggression and the way he blended speed, precision, and memorable hooks without losing attitude. His playing is a masterclass in making technical guitar sound musical and unmistakably him.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  One of the biggest lessons I learned was that “good” isn’t the goal, repeatable is. I remember realizing that the difference between a strong player and a reliable musician is whether you can deliver the same level under pressure: on stage, in a studio, or when you’re tired. That mindset completely changed how I practiced: less “trying to impress,” more building a foundation where timing, tone, and control don’t disappear when it matters most.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  -I tailor lessons around what the student actually listens to, so motivation stays high.
  
  -I break big goals into simple weekly targets (so progress is obvious and measurable).
  
  -I teach the why behind the technique: timing, tone, and musical context, not just shapes.
  
  -I give clear practice plans and quick diagnosis of what’s holding someone back.
  
  -I use real-world experience (band and recording) to help students sound confident, not just correct.