Erik has been teaching me guitar for the past 4.5 months. Everything I knew prior was self-taught through YouTube University. While I felt I had a decent amount of knowledge before lessons with Erik, there really is nothing like one-on-one lessons catered to you and your skill level. Erik is very communicative - he always sends me text reminders the day before our lessons. I've given Erik a list of songs that I want to learn and every week we work on my list so I can sharpen my skills. I look forward to my weekly guitar lessons as they are always fun and I've learned so much. I can't wait to keep leveling up my guitar skills. Thanks again Erik for sharing your knowledge and expertise and for also being so patient with me as I continue to grow as a guitarist. read more

I found Erik on Yelp and after 5 months of lessons for my son, I fully support every positive review on here. He is well versed in every genre, and extremely talented in explaining technique. I have seen firsthand what a patient yet firm teacher he is. And he has just the right way to make my son understand his lessons. They play songs my son loves, and he now enjoys practicing at home (that was not the case with his other instruments). If you are interested in learning from scratch or improving your current skill level, I highly recommend Erik. read more

Erik is awesome. This guy has been playing guitar for as long as I've been alive and that is a massive feet of work and compliment and priveledge to be able to study with someone like that. Super passionate and very skilled and is a great teacher. He's the real thing. Patient and helped me a lot with technique. I would recommend him to anybody who is wanting to learn guitar or become more advanced. I think he's incredibly skilled and pretty much knows almost if not, everything about the guitar in my opinion :-) read more

Erik is an exceptional guitar teacher, he is very knowledgeable about music theory, thorough with technique, he knows timing and scales like the back of his hand. He also created many excellent YouTube practice videos where you can practice your blues or pentatonic and other scales along with the video. A true Detroit/Michigan rocker and L.A. shredder, I have yet to find a better guitar teacher to learn from and look forward to future lessons. Papa Het, EVH and the Godfather Iommi would definitely approve!!! read more

The BEST. Our teenage son started taking guitar lessons with Erik, and right away we saw (and heard) a huge difference in his playing. Not only is Erik a great player, but he's an expert at meeting students where they are and making real progress. He's all business and will make you work, and is equally fun, non-intimidating, and totally professional. Our son has gone from minimal playing to playing and singing along to full songs, and loving to practice. Highly recommend lessons with Erik. Side note: great, central location, and we've been pleasantly surprised that we've always found a good parking spot. Definitely give Erik a call! read more

I love working with Erik. Love his passion for guitars. He can teach countless styles and has great knowledge of online tools (mostly free) that have helped me improve my playing. Erik can teach both the playing of guitar as well as theory like scales and chords. My playing has definitely improved. read more

I've been playing guitar for 20 years and Erik has helped unlock major mental and physical roadblocks in my playing. I went from mindless noodling to focused and calculated movements with my improvisation. While I still have a lot to learn, I'm so excited to keep laying a foundation of knowledge that will help me go from good to great! read more

Erik is gifted as an instructor at meeting you where you are in your ability and helping you get to where you want to go. I've been taking lessons from him for 9 months; he has never been anything but patient, kind, and anxious to help regardless of genre or question or issue. Great teacher. Great dude. read more

I have been going to Erik's lessons for about 4 months now and he is an amazing instructor! Any question or difficulty you have, he can help solve within a couple of minutes. He is very patient and makes learning guitar fun as it should be! Highly recommend going to him. read more

Erik is an excellent instructor. He's patient, understanding and respectful to each student's level of training. He's confident in his experience as a musician and aims to see his students achieve their goals. I am a new student and beginning my guitar lessons again after a long absence. Age isn't a factor with Erik. You don't have to be an accomplished guitarist. I'm happy I found him. And his price is great !! read more

I've been taking guitar lessons with Erik since July, and I can confidently say he is one of the best instructors I've ever had. His teaching style is both patient and encouraging, making it easy to stay motivated and inspired. He can pretty much teach any song you want on the spot and also helps you with proper hand positioning to make playing easier. As a self-learner before coming to him, I've definitely improved my skills far more than what I was able to get from YouTube. I highly recommend getting lessons from Erik. read more

Erik is the best. I felt stuck in my guitar learning and didn't know I should be working on next to get better so I came to Erik and it was the right decision. He can teach whatever style/genre it is you want to learn and he'll cater his teaching to what it is you want to learn. If you want to learn how to play certain songs, he'll walk you through those songs and explain everything about them. If you want to learn the theory behind those songs or just general music theory, he'll get into all that too. He doesn't just teach you guitar but he teaches music too. Awesome guitarist and awesome teacher, I couldn't recommend him more. read more

I wrote some of my best music because of Erik. Erik is an awesome Teacher, instructor and influencer! He gave me so much inspiration as a songwriter. Within a few months of working with Erik he taught me that one chord can write a whole song (yes I was eager at that time to write my own songs on my guitar without learning to play yet LOL, I was tired of waiting for other musicians to help me write songs the way I wanted them to sound), he taught me that you could write a whole song with one to three chords and then he gave me examples of so many artist that did, and he was right I could go home and start writing my own songs at that moment if I wanted to. I may write most of my songs in "A" Erik but you inspired me to just go for it and that I could start where ever I was and just go for it. I really hope after all these years that you have kept inspiring people of all ages to just go for it! I really need your instruction again but you moved on to a much warmer climate :). Too bad you can't clone you and send your clone back to Michigan. There hasn't been a cool Place like Axis since you left all those years ago. Every time someone ask me why do I write everything in "A" I tell them Your Story, it's all my little finger's could play at the time LOL and happened to be my best key to sing in LOL! The band can Blame you! I told that story tonight when the Fella's asked me why the majority of my songs are written in "A" lol www.mariawade.com if ya don't believe me. I may have to write a song about you Erik! read more

Erik Lessons - Me back in the Day out side my gig at the Eastern Market Practicing after one of my lessons with you. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been taking lessons with Erik for a couple of months now and it's one of the best decisions I made in my music journey. I've had a guitar around me since I was 16, and save for a couple of weeks of lessons at high school, I've been largely self taught (pre-YouTube days!) from tabs and from my own ear. I've gone for a long time with never picking the instrument up, but I always know whenever I make time to play - I always enjoy it! So after making the decision to actively dedicate more time to actually learning, Erik has been fantastic in providing some foundational instruction, guidance on scales, chords and technique. The reason why I always look forward to his lessons is that it's fun, relatable, at my level and it inspires me to want to keep practicing, building on those basics and to keep playing! He always finds a way to weave in rockin tunes to apply the latest lessons to. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend taking lessons with Erik! Rawk! read more

Erik's the man! I've been playing guitar my whole life but wanted to take the next step. Gladly, Eirk was up for the task. He teaching me my way around the entire neck of the guitar and revolutionizing my playing. He's kind, patient and fun to be around. Highly recommend read more

I've been playing guitars on and off for 25+ years, and I know that I have a lot of bad habits that I've accumulated over the years. I looked on Yelp, and I found Erik who shared the same love for metal. I've taken guitar lessons in the past, and what differentiates Erik from the others is that 1) he teaches you how to break down solos into segments to learn the techniques of the original guitarist (Zakk, Angus, Slash) 2) he values the basics of scales across the fretboard so that you get familiar with all positions 3) he notices little details such as pick angles, hand and wrist positions, bending, vibrato techniques, etc... The lesson is usually an hour, and the time flies. It has been tough to go every week due to busy schedule, but I always enjoy learning from him, as well as talking about metal history. read more

Erik is a top level instructor at a fair price. He's the best. I had been "playing" for about a year learning from YouTube videos. I definitely learned a bunch and started playing better but I reached a point where I needed an in-person professional to connect my dots of knowledge and also see how my technique was progressing. Erik figured out where I was within the first lesson. He setup a curriculum based on my skill level and goals and off we went. Within four lessons, Erik opened the door for me to play "music" instead of just playing scales. This has made a world of difference to my development and ENJOYMENT and there's no way I could have come to this place using YouTube. Erik can definitely shred but he's also a music theory guy if you want that. (I do.) And he's not only a guitar teacher, he plays in a killer band that Dave Mustaine recently played on his radio station. Legit! You should know that he's not just a metal guy, he's into many genres of music and he can play basically anything (by ear.) I give Erik the highest recommendation. read more

Erik does a wonderful job combining music theory and learning the scales with the practical use and how it's all incorporated in the songs and riffs you know and love. He'll meet you where you are in your playing and figure out what you need to take your current abilities to the next level. I would definitely recommend! read more

Erik is the real deal! Great lessons from a patient teacher who understands the feel/mechanics behind every note you play.

Erik is awesome! If you're thinking of taking lessons you should definitely give him a try!

Erik is a wonderful teacher-- he makes lessons so much fun, and that's because he genuinely loves playing guitar. I loved that we moved onto different songs, and learning from Erik made guitar much less intimidating. I'd highly recommend Erik. He's clearly great at the guitar, and he's a great teacher too! read more

This guy ROCKS!! on and off over the years have taken many lessons from Erik and love the way he teaches. He breaks things down and fits things to your personality and abilities as well making it fun! Extremely talented and can learn anything from classical to metal to country to rock he knows his instrument. Would highly recommend him for beginners to advanced who need a little push or more in depth knowledge or specific needs to your goals he's your man! read more

Erik is a true expert of his craft. He clearly has a mastery of guitar, but more importantly, he knows how to communicate the skills he displays to even beginners like myself. He's able to adapt to your growth and isn't rigid with the path you're on. That being said, he does have a structure to his lessons that are equal parts technical and fun. His rates are more than fair and I encourage anyone looking to learn and improve to give him a shot. And aside from all that, he's a laid back and interesting guy. I've really enjoyed my 3 months of learning from him. read more

I've been taking lessons with Erik for the past few months and am very pleased with the results. He's affordable, very patient with beginning learners with myself, and all too happy to customize the sessions to my taste in music. I started off knowing nothing and in three weeks I was using guitar in my own songs. He's right in the heart of Hollywood but has a free parking spot which makes dropping by for a lesson super easy. Whether your just starting out or just wanting to up your game Erik's the man. read more

Erik is the best! I have a busy schedule so not much time to practice on my own and I still picked up the guitar so fast! He is very patient and I have fun every lesson. Erik had some tips he gave my on technique that I know I wouldn't have learned online or anywhere else. Check out his Iron Maiden solo lesson on YouTube, you'll see what I'm talking about!! read more

I found Erik through Yelp about a year ago and have been attending weekly lessons since. I was stuck in a rut of playing the same things over and over, never really progressing in my skill or understanding. Erik was able to identify my skill level and tailor an approach to get me back on track. He uses popular rock and roll songs everyone knows to maintain interest and most importantly, make it fun. Make no mistake though, theory and scale understanding is reinforced throughout, guaranteeing a deep understanding of the material. I am so pleased with my progress that I plan to continue weekly lessons and perhaps increase the frequency to twice a week. I can not recommend Erik more highly. read more

Erik is a very knowledgeable and talented musician. He is patient and has a tailored plan for his students based on their weaknesses and what they like. read more

I've been playing guitar for years but kind of hit a dry spell where I needed to refresh my technique and inspiration. Met Erik through the local music scene and hit him up for lessons, it was a fantastic decision. He is an incredibly talented player and really easy to work with, every lesson was practical and fun and I came away with exactly what I was looking for. Sharpened up my chops, learned some iconic solos, and hit the ground reinvigorated and ready to rock and roll. Whatever your level of skill or experience, I would wholeheartedly recommend Erik as a guitar instructor. He is not only knowledgable in theory and technique, but truly understands what it means to be a great well-rounded performer with the instrument. If you're looking for first-rate, world class instruction, look no further. read more

I have had such a great experience with Erik. We meet about once a week, and he always keeps it interesting and just-challenging enough to motivate me to want to get better! read more

Erik is awesome! He's a very patient teacher, but will also push you when he knows you can be even better. His instructional YouTube videos are perfect supplemental material to use while practicing at home. I've been taking lessons with him for three months now and he has always been great about communicating and confirming practice times and any scheduling changes I've thrown at him. Friendly and a very fair price! He definitely knows what he's talking about! read more

I wanted beginner level bass guitar lessons. I'm an adult woman and had never played any musical instrument before, so I was pretty intimidated. Erik was very kind and patient, and he was helpful in teaching me in a way that was very approachable for someone with no prior music experience. After just a few lessons with Erik, I was able to play along some songs by Guns and Roses and White Stripes, and learned to play with different techniques. It was very cool and I'm excited to continue learning. read more

Erik is a very talented and masterful guitarist. I've been taking lessons from him for about a month and I'm really enjoying them. He can pick up any song you want and play it by ear. His lessons are structured/systematic and push you to learn the guitar faster wherever you are on your journey. He is patient and has so much knowledge about the instrument. I really look forward to learning more from erik and totally recommend him to anyone looking for a guitar teacher. read more

I've taken guitar lessons from other instructors that just went nowhere and provided very little excitement. Once I started lessons with Erik my playing greatly improved! After 2 lessons I easily surpassed where I left off. Erik is very patient, talented, and easy to learn from. I would and will recommend Erik for anyone looking to start learning guitar, or for people looking to take there playing to the next level! Thanks Erik, looking forward to our next lesson! read more

After dead-ending trying to learn guitar from YouTube posts, I found Erik through a referral. In the first lesson Erik assessed my skill level and started getting my fundamentals in place. He helped me understand the foundation I needed to achieve my goals. Even though I only spend an hour a week with Erik, he knows exactly what I am working on and where I should be after a week working on that lesson plan. The most important thing for me has been knowing that the lessons are tailored to my learning ability. Erik has a knack for choosing the right song for a weeks lessons that offers a challenge, and is fun to play. He assigns songs appropriate to my skill level and expects me to meet it, which is the hallmark of a skilled, engaged teacher. Erik's work ethic is rock-solid (pun intended) and he will coax the best out of your skills. read more

Erik gave me the exact experience I was looking for and the complete opposite of the bad prior experience I had with lessons as a kid. He makes learning guitar relatively simple and easy...he breaks it down into common sense and practical application methods that are pretty simple to follow. All I have to do is practice to become better. He's very adept in noticing how much you have practiced and genuinely wants to help you learn and not just impress you with how fast he can play. Erik is obviously experienced teaching a variety of ages and people of all skill levels because I had NONE and he showed great patience with me. He's easy to schedule time with and reasonably priced. Will definitely be scheduling more lessons once my work schedule slows down again. read more

Eric is a very talented guitar teacher! I met him in 2009 when he started teaching my 10-year old son. In less than 6 months my son started playing some songs better than I expected. Eric is very passionate about teaching guitar and was able to influence my son to play guitar with passion. My youngest 12-year old son started taking lessons in the past few months with Eric. He really enjoys his lessons. Eric as always very much patient, friendly, fun and yet highly professional teacher. He is very punctual and the rates are very reasonable. My son says (in his words): "I like one-on-one lessons with Eric because I learn faster and already know how to read notes. He always emails me materials and it's easy to understand.He teaches me any song that I like to play. It's fun for me." I highly recommend Eric to anyone who wants to learn playing guitar! read more

Erik is a terrific teacher. He's fun and keeps the information totally manageable, which is the best thing about a great music teacher. I was very intimidated going in because guitar has always felt like a huge challenge, but he was encouraging and made everything simple and straightforward. He's great at giving me a challenge as a student while still making sure that I feel accomplished and that I'm making progress at a good pace. We play a mixture of different songs, along with some general lessons. I've made strides as a guitar player since taking lessons with him. Acoustic and electric. Great teacher. Great guy. Great taste in music. All around great. read more

Erik is awesome and I definitely recommend him. He makes sure to go over all of the fundamental stuff such as the scales in different positions and how you should strum so that you really nail it and have a strong foundation for playing. He's patient and makes sure you enjoy what you're playing by asking what kind of music you like and want to play. He communicates well and always double checks the day before the scheduled lesson. read more

For the past year or so I felt like my guitar skills had plateaued. I found Erik on Yelp and saw great reviews. Since I started taking lessons from him I have noticed a big improvement in my playing. Erik is an awesome guitar teacher who knows a lot about music. He is great at assessing your skill level and setting up a practice plan for you. If you put in the work, Erik's lessons will be a great help. read more

I found Erik from a Yelp review, and I'm glad I did. I'd taken lessons as a kid and it had been decades since I'd played. After a few years of struggling to get back into it, buying lessons online, watching YouTube videos, etc., I knew it was time to get some real help. I went to see Erik with some very specific goals in mind. I'd spent years learning scales and theory and didn't want to go down that road again. What I wanted was to learn songs. My goal was to learn the entire GnR Appetite album and Erik was super enthusiastic about that goal and we've been working hard at it for the last 6 months. Recently, I've started to write some riffs and songs based on what I've learned from spending so much time on Slash, so we've organically jumped back into a little theory. Needless to say, my lessons are going exactly as I'd hoped and there isn't a topic that Erik can't help me with. Erik's super nice and professional - always sending me a "See you tomorrow at 10:30 a.m." text the night before, etc. If you're looking for a cool guitar teacher, Erik's the one. read more