Guitar Lessons with Carrie Love

Carrie’s guitar classes are wonderful! While there are lots of things I prefer to learn on my own, guitar has proven so much more fun and effective in a group. More fun because it’s social and because playing in a group, especially when you’re a beginner, means that you get to make an approximation of real music instead of a collection of sad off-​time chords. More effective because I now have a (non-​stressful) source of accountability to keep plugging away. For me (and probably for lots of other students), guitar is a secondary hobby, something fun and challenging that I’d like to do but that doesn’t always make it to the top of priority list. Without Carrie’s class every week, I’d definitely fall off the bandwagon. That’s not to say that Carrie’s classes won’t be great if you ARE more serious and driven than I am; I’m just pointing this out because I think it’s a testament to Carrie’s teaching that I’m making progress despite my spotty attendance due to travel and my somewhat, er, lackadaisical approach to practice.
Basically, Carrie thinks the guitar is REALLY AWESOME, and she wants as many people as possible to experience that joy. This means she’s really vested in helping her students succeed. She makes it easy to catch up by posting videos of every class, and if you know ahead of time you’re going to be traveling, she’s accommodating about hooking you up in advance with material you’ll be missing. She’s great about giving you what you need only when you’re ready for it so she doesn’t lose you to glazed eyes and despair; instead, she dispenses music theory incrementally, repeating concepts if necessary until eventually you magically start to understand them. She even goes above and beyond outside of classroom time by doing things like creating a private Facebook group so her students can swap ideas and music, emailing daily quizzes to help you memorize chords, and hosting singalongs in Dolores Park so that you can meet other students and do the thing you’ve been trying to learn how to do: that is, actually make music. Most importantly, Carrie herself is encouraging, talented, and almost preternaturally kind. Seriously, it’s almost hard to believe that anyone could emanate that much genuine enthusiasm, but Carrie is for real, and her excitement for the guitar is contagious. Also, she makes truly amazing puns. (Or horrendous, or both, depending on your point of view. I know where I stand on the matter.) If you’re looking for guitar classes, give Carrie a try!

Carrie not only has a passion for music, but she has a passion for teaching! She loves what she does and she wants you to love it too! She makes it fun and stress free, teaching in a style that is comfortable and engaging.
We learn not only new songs each week but each song has a purpose so we learn (drum roll!) THEORY! Theory is the backbone behind everything so when you know the theory to what chord/​note goes with what and why, you can learn so many more songs that much easier. Carrie makes it very accessible which helps you learn songs and understand the guitar better on your own. And there are also VIDEOS for each sessions for those of us with foggier brains.
I have taken 3 or classes with Carrie and look forward to taking more. Feel lucky to find her!

I’m writing this review on the eve before starting the next level of classes with Carrie. For me, the fact that I’m signing up for another round of 8 classes is testament to the truth of what everyone else is saying here… Carrie is a GREAT teacher… I’ve been playing on and off (like Rob V., mostly «off») for the past 25 years. I’m mostly self taught, but I’ve tried many times to take lessons with various teachers over the years. What I’ve found is that great players don’t necessarily make great teachers. There’s often something missing in the translation… they may have an ocean of talent, but for some reason can’t make it accessible in an organized and simplified manner. It’s surprisingly rare, I think, to find someone like Carrie, who can not only play well but who can also connect with each student, whatever level of skill you may possess, and give you something useful, something that turns the light on that makes you say, «Wow… that really makes sense…» It’s kind of magical to see how it all ties together. I’ve been looking for something like this for years…
Let me also mention that it’s just great fun to be in a class with other people… I’ve been a solo player (mostly fingerstyle) for the entire time I’ve played the guitar. So to be in a relaxed and non-​competitive environment with other players is just a complete joy…
If you want to be a better player, if you want to learn the «why» behind the songs you’ll learn, and if non-​stress is a requirement (as it is for me), then do yourself a favor and take Carrie’s class. It’s obvious that she loves music, she loves what she does, and she’s damn good at it. Doesn’t get much better than that…

Carrie is certainly the coolest guitar teacher ever! I just finished Guitar Level 2 course with her and we ended up learning a lot of new songs! She let me borrow her guitar for the first class as I hadn’t still bought my own guitar back then!
Carrie makes sure no one in the class is left behind and correctly identifies the different places where her students are struggling and helps them get better at it!
The group class setting is a good motivator and encourages everyone to practice and have fun at the same time. I’m looking forward to starting the Level 3 course with Carrie soon.

Yet another 5-​star rave review. There’s a pattern here. My general experience has been in line with everybody else’s: (i) Carrie is a fabulously intuitive, knowledgeable, and warm instructor; (ii) the group setting with like-​minded students, and the resulting camaraderie and motivation, is very inspiring. The net effect has been transformative for my guitar playing in just 8 short weeks.
Probably the only element that partly distinguishes my review from all the other raves is that I’ve been playing guitar on-​and-​off (mostly off) for *over 30 years* of my adult life. What a waste before now. Motivation and inspiration were always my problem. I acquired some OK skills during various periods when I had the time and inclination to focus on my playing, but these were short interludes, and I never stuck with it enough to accomplish much as a musician or sustain my skills. Starting lessons with Carrie was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I jumped in at Level IV, and felt a bit awkward and challenged to get up to speed, but Carrie and the other students have been very supportive, and I’ve improved more in the last 8 weeks than at any other time of my life.
And we’re learning technique (and theory) by playing *great* songs: «Fire and Rain,» «Let It Be,» «Like a Rolling Stone,» «Sweet Child of Mine» (seriously bombastic, but totally fun to play). And «Dust in the Wind» by Kansas? No way! I hated that song in the 70s. But stripped down, the chord progression and finger picking make me feel like a pianist trying to master a Mozart piano sonata (sorry, my apologies to classical musicians!)
Bottom line: from total beginners to practiced guitarists who want to be reinvigorated, Carrie offers an organized, progressive, supportive, and inspiring program. It’s hard to imagine anyone who wants to improve their guitar playing not loving it.

I took level 2 class, Carrie is awesome! Very good teacher, great attitude and the class is fun:)

I was totally that guy with the dusty guitar sitting in corner of my living room for at least a year. «Do you play», guests would ask? «I play a little,» I’d say, lying through my teeth.
Clearly I needed help and a good measure of structure. Carrie Love to the rescue! I started out with her Level 1 lessons and literally zero guitar experience and I’m proud to say that I’m still with it, now at level 5, and able to passably play simple songs without sounding terrible!
As a beginner, I can’t imagine a better teacher than Carrie. She’s incredibly positive, caring and creates a wonderful environment to learn. And don’t be put off by the group lessons; I was skeptical at first but found that at this beginning stage, what you really need to do is just practice, practice, practice and having a group of folks to play with helps keep you moving forward. I found, too, that, if you are individually struggling with something, it’s no trouble to call Carrie over for a consultation. More likely than not, everyone else is struggling with the same thing. Again, it’s helpful to have a cohort of people that can empathize with the things beginners have to tackle.
Unleash your inner Dylan, dust off that guitar in the corner, and hustle yourself over to hang out with Carrie and a fun new group of guitar playing friends. So, now, do I play? «I play a little,» I say, not lying at all.

I just finished Carrie’s Level 1 group series.
I had been wanting to take guitar lessons for YEARS. (I was even grumbling about my rents enrolling me into piano lessons instead of guitar at age 9). As for the guitar, I loved its sound, its application to a wide range of music, it’s portability… I could go on. However, I was wary because I didn’t know if I would enjoy the actual act of playing it and it had always seemed foreign/​difficult to me. Also, I tend to be good teaching myself and so don’t trust most teachers to be on point.
So fast forward a couple of decades and I finally register for Carrie’s Level 1 class. After a few lessons, I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I enjoy the tactility of playing, but that learning wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be AT ALL.
Carrie’s lessons basically remove all unnecessary struggle from learning to play guitar and make it, dare I say it, fun. Sure, your fingers will hurt initially as you develop calluses and you will need practice to develop muscle memory to play chords quickly/​blindly, but this is expected. Setting aside minimal (yet regular) time to practice and attend classes is ALL you will need to do to guarantee success. Lessons are structured in such a logical manner and the songs assigned so engaging, that progress in learning becomes incredibly efficient and continues to instill confidence.
Carrie’s laid back, funny, and warm, yet professional, personality is just the icing on the cake of this fun series.
Highly recommended! Totally impressed.

Friendly, patient, flexible! I fell off the bandwagon because of work/​life but Carrie has always been excellent and understanding. The songs you learn are fun and interesting. A great class for all levels of learning. Carrie is genuinely invested in all of her students and provides an environment where you feel like you can be proud of any little progress. I highly recommend!

I’ve been taking group and individual guitar lessons on and off for over a decade, always reaching a point where things got dreary and confusing until, overwhelmed by work and other commitments, I slacked off and dropped classes for a year or two. But I kept my guitar because, well, it looked cool in the living room. Then last year I saw the ridiculously great reviews for Carrie Love’s classes last year and thought «Hmmm… maybe it’s a conspiracy.» But I went for it anyway.
OH MY GOD THIS WOMAN IS AS CLOSE AS YOU’LL GET TO EXPERIENCING PURE WIZARDRY WITHOUT HARRY POTTER.
This is the first time I’ve not only stuck to lessons and practice, but actually looked forward to them. As a teacher, Carrie’s funny, dynamic, patient, and very, very good at adjusting the speed of her instruction to accomodate moments when some folks (like me) are having a tough time with some ideas or skills without slowing down the pace of the lesson overall (which had been an issue with group classes I’ve taken before). That’s probably the most important aspect for me, as lessons are challenging but I never feel left behind when I’m not getting it nor do I feel impatient because lessons are moving along too slowly.
Another very big deal for me is that the songs and playing styles taught in each class are available afterwards on YouTube. This way, I can focus on the lessons, get immediate feedback, help with difficult maneuvers, etc. instead of freaking out about taking notes in case I forget stuff. Then, throughout the week, I use the videos to practice along with and refer to if I’ve forgotten anything.
Carrie’s also extremely communicative and friendly. She seems to teach a lot of classes so I was surprised at the amount of time she took with me before I started to figure out what level would be most appropriate for me, and since then has responded to email questions very quickly and helpfully.
I’m not sure why, but the people in Carrie’s group classes have been way, way, way more enjoyable folks to learn with than any of the other groups I’ve been in.
I’m now in my third class with Carrie, and I’ve learned more (and gotten better!) in less than a year than I have in a decade with other instructors who were admittedly capable teachers but lacked the good instincts and frothy enthusiasm that Carrie brings to her classes. For the first time I’m actually beginning to intuitively grasp some of the fundamentals of music theory, and that’s huge.
Learning guitar is tough, and as I’m a bit of an easily distractable dullard it’s even tougher. But it doesn’t have to be a drag. I wish I’d known about Carrie ten years ago because I still would’ve had a shot at being a rock star and trashing hotel rooms.

Sometime last year, I finally decided to dust off my guitar and signed up for classes with Carrie. That first class led to many more and before I knew it, I’d completed levels 1, 2 & 3 with her.
Carrie is a fantastic teacher with a great structured approach to learning the guitar. Over the last few months, she has not just helped me learn how to play the guitar but more importantly developed what I believe will be a lasting relationship with the instrument.
Her classes are a great blend of on-​hand training, youtube video’s that one can refer to at home and handouts/​homework to keep practicing. The classes are an ideal size to help learn with people at the same level of expertise. Her personal style makes for a great teacher too — encouraging, patient and a sense of humor.
I highly recommend her to anyone looking to learn or get better at playing the guitar.

Carrie is awesome!
I started taking lessons with Carrie after reading an article that most people regret not playing an instrument on their deathbed! That was enough motivation to get my dusty electric guitar and try taking lessons. I havn’t looked back after two years. It is amazing to see the personal growth you can have when you keep dedicated to something on a weekly basis.
The group classes are a great format. It is nice to have other people around your skill level that push you along and make you want to practice.
If you are new to guitar or want to brush up, you should sign up for Carries workshop. She does a great job of pushing you forward but understands that everyone has busy schedules.

I began taking lessons with Carrie after a 50 year hiatus in guitar instruction. She quickly brought me up to speed through both group and private lessons. I have enjoyed her classes tremendously and have learned so much both about practical instruction as well as music theory. She is a very encouraging teacher, always with a smile and a helpful attitude.

Carrie is a fantastic and generous teacher. A blessing to have her in the neighborhood!

My daughter (9) has been taking lessons from Carrie for a few months now. She’s enjoying learning and her love of guitar is growing. Carrie is gentle and encouraging teacher and my daughter feels very comfortable with her. We’re very pleased and highly recommend Discover the sound of YOU. Happy to have found it on Unilocal

Learning guitar has always been something that I wanted to do, and late last year I finally made the impulsive decision to buy my first guitar. I was really excited to learn on my own at first, but I quickly realized that it was not trivial to do this without a teacher. After a few months of seeing my guitar gather dust in my room, I finally did some research and signed up for a class.
I found Discover the Sound of YOU on Unilocal,and after emailing Carrie, I knew this was exactly what I needed. I signed up for the beginner /​level 1 guitar class. As the session comes to an end, I cannot believe how much I’ve learned in two short months. Carrie is an amazing teacher, and learning with a group of other students makes the experience even better. I found myself looking forward every week to our Wednesday night class, excited to see what new skills we would learn that day.
I highly highly recommend Carrie for anyone who wants to learn guitar. I had absolutely no past experience with any musical instrument, and Carrie does a great job of teaching to the appropriate level. I can’t fully describe how happy I am that I took this class, and I’m very much looking forward to taking the next level in the coming months!

I always wanted to take guitar lessons… in fact, I took the initiative to buy a starter acoustic and a second-​hand electric guitar but they just sat in their stands for years. As soon as I had the crazy idea to play and sing a special song to my husband at our wedding this year, I knew the only way I could pull it off was through proper lessons with a rockstar teacher. And since I only had a few months to learn guitar and the actual song, I figured I’d have to hire a pretty strict, mean and stuffy instructor…
Enter Carrie. Mrs. Love is one of the best investments I have made on myself and definitely for my wedding. First of all, she was the most professional and responsive with her follow ups during my search for the perfect guitar teacher. And when I met her, she came with such a sweet and encouraging disposition and it was clear that she lived and breathed music. Her last name is a testament to her passion and it is always present at each lesson. I never feel like it’s just another hour, just another student or just another lesson in her day. She gives me the encouragement and full instruction each time. Not only did I learn my song and personalize it through strumming and picking, she started with proper guitar 101, just like I wanted. If I was going to do this, I wanted to do this right. I learned about the guitar strings, rhythm, time, and theory along with the chords. She provides recognizable songs that make learning chords and practicing/“homework” fun. She also provides tools to ensure your continued success such as your own password protected website that she loads with video after each lesson. The video is of her breaking down the songs she gives you so that you can have access to a «refresher» in case you forgot the strum or need tips on transitioning from chord to chord, etc. It’s all there! You truly get so so so much more than what you pay for. Talk about dedication to her profession and passion. It truly inspires me to also be dedicated and tackle each lesson.
Finally, the big day… Again, I only had a couple of months to learn guitar and sing the actual song. And I am a far cry from an actual artist or performer. I certainly have never done anything like this before. Play guitar and sing a song all by myself with no sheet music or lyrics to cheat from in front of 100+ people?! In fact, I wasn’t sure I could even do it when I started taking lessons. But Carrie helped me breakdown the song, make it my own and be so comfortable and confident with the song that everything was on autopilot when I finally got up on that stage. To be honest, I surprised my husband and everyone standing in that room. There were screams, huge smiles, shocked faces and tears. But you know what? I really surprised myself. It was one of the best moments in one of the best days of my life. And it couldn’t have been near possible without Carrie. Thanks to her, I was a rockstar for one night. And delivered such a meaningful gesture to my husband and will have an amazing memory to look back to for a lifetime. (I uploaded a photo for proof!) I’ve continued my lessons with Carrie and look forward to advancing my knowledge and ability of guitar and of course, many many more special memories incorporating music in my life.

Playing guitar with Carrie has been one of the greatest joys of my life thus far. I mean that honestly. I have always wanted to play guitar and, previously, anytime I had attempted to learn, I had failed. Usually my excuse was not enough time. But, with Carrie, I have been able to stick with it for almost three years and while I am not always the best student (traveling a lot for work, busy schedule, etc.), I still come back to guitar with Carrie and look forward to it as one of the greatest hours of my week.
Carrie is a great teacher– a truly great teacher– which is a very hard skill. She listens when she needs to, pushes when she needs to, applauds you when you need it and critiques you in way that never makes you feel bad, but inspires you to work harder.
I am thankful to have found her and grateful that she puts up with my often hectic schedule of travel. She is laid back, fun, and encouraging. I don’t think you can ask for more than that when trying to learn something new!

First off, Carrie is a doll. She’s about the sweetest, kindest, most encouraging human you could ever hope to have as a guitar teacher. She doesn’t judge, even when you suck (which is sometimes me, due to a lack of time to practice).
I’ve been taking guitar lessons with her for over a year now, so this review is overdue. In that year she has taken me and my cheapo Internet special guitar from not knowing a thing to sounding pretty darn good sometimes.
She focuses on teaching songs that are pretty familiar (think the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash), I assume so that you already know what the songs are supposed to sound like. She does not teach «how to read sheet music,» but rather teaches you how to read tablature, which is easier and leads you being able to play a song pretty much straight away.
I can’t say enough about Carrie’s patience and ever charming demeanor. And her encouragement always seems sincere, even when you’ve just massacred some poor helpless song.
As far as the less touchy-​feely side, Carrie is super punctual, never late and does not waste your time. She’s prepared for class with a lesson plan and handouts ready. And I don’t know what other people are charging for similar lessons, but hers seem reasonable. If you want to learn guitar, I really don’t think you can do any better.

Love Carrie Love, I am a terrible student: I come late, miss classes, took a 6 week break, I practice sometimey and than sometimes a lot. Carrie never bats an eye just picks up where ever I’m at. I love the guitar, have improved and can play a few tunes and have noticed when I practice regularly how much better those tunes sound.
Go see Carrie you won’t be sorry. Tell her Dee sent you, yes, I’m a real student, no there isn’t any incentive.