douglasjnoble.com

I have been a self–employed Guitar Instructor, freelance Music Journalist and Musician from 1989 to present, and an Examiner for RSL, formerly Rockschool, from 1993 to present.

As a guitar instructor working in schools and privately I have taught pupils of all ages, all abilities and in all styles. I have prepared pupils for Grade exams from all the main awarding bodies (Associated Board, RSL, Trinity College, Trinity Rock & Pop), and for both Scottish and English Music exams (Nat 5, Higher, Advanced Higher; GCSE, A level).

Former pupils have pursued tertiary level studies on both classical and electric guitar, with some embarking on careers as performers, session musicians, guitar instructors and music teachers.

And some pupils just want to have fun!

I am available for private tuition in Marchmont, Edinburgh. I teach all styles, all levels and all ages, from beginners to advanced. Since March 2020 FaceTime and Skype lessons are available.

I can be contacted here or on 07941 555513. First lesson free!

I have been a member of Musician’s Union since 1989, with the accompanying Public Liability Insurance. I hold an up-to-date Disclosure Scotland certificate and I am registered with the online Disclosure & Barring Service. My Child Protection Training is current, and updated every 2 years.

My particular teaching interests include developing sight reading, improvisation, ear skills, memorizing music and transcribing. I have much experience of working with pupils with a Specific Learning Disability.

As a Music Journalist I have contributed to over a dozen guitar and music magazines, including interviews with many top players – Queen’s Brain May (who described me as ‘very impressive’), Mark Knopfler, John Williams, Martin Taylor, Pat Metheny, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, plus members of the Rolling Stones, Metallica, the Police and Rush. And many lesser known but equally interesting musicians…

Besides interviews, I have contributed technical analysis ('a brilliant technical column', ‘Record Collector’ magazine), tuition columns and numerous transcriptions (typeset in Finale).

Alongside magazine work, I have written four books including ‘The Right Way to Play Guitar’ (2002; 'crisp, lucid and helpful', 'The Guitar Magazine') which draws together much of the self-penned material that I use with beginner guitarists.

Specialist interests includes Jimi Hendrix, including the transcription book ‘Instant Hendrix’ (1988; 'highly rated', Making Music) and the co-authoring of 'Jimi Hendrix: The Man, The Music, The Memorabilia' (1996, Dragon's World) with renowned Hendrix expert Caesar Glebbeek.

I have contributed to many books including 'The Fender Stratocaster' (1995, IMP), 'The Jimi Hendrix Companion', (1996, Schirmer Books), 'Guitar Facts', (2002, The Foundry), ‘Jimi Hendrix: The Musician', (2003, Backbeat) and ‘The Billboard Encyclopedia of Music' (2003, The Foundry).

I received credits in ‘Jimi Hendrix Electric Gypsy' (1995), 'Peter Green – The Biography' (1995), 'The Great Rock Discography', 3rd edition (1996) and 'Jeff Beck - Crazy Fingers' (2001).

Miscellaneous journalism work includes writing sleeve notes for many CDs ('wondrously notated rock musicology', Q), contributing to DVDs and BBC Radio.

As a guitarist I have played both classical and electric guitar in a wide range of musical settings – blues, rock, classical and minimalist. Recent engagements include a 7 year stint in the Edinburgh Gang Show at the King’s Theatre. I have also played in many musicals including ‘West Side Story’, ‘High Society’ and ‘Grease’ on guitar, and ‘Hot Mikado’ on bass.

Besides the sometimes tricky task of earning a living from music, I’m keen on my own on-going professional development. My qualifications include:

BSc in Psychology 1985

ALCM in Classical Guitar 1986

LLCM (TD) in Classical Guitar 1987

DipRSL Perf in Electric Guitar 2014

Associated Board Theory of Music Grade 8 1985

Associated Board Classical Guitar Grade 8 1986

Trinity College Guitar Duet Grade 8 1987

Trinity Guildhall Snare Drum Grade 8 2010

Trinity Rock & Pop Bass Grade 8 2013

Trinity Rock & Pop Electric Guitar Grade 8 2013

RSL Popular Music Theory Grade 8 2017

Trinity Rock & Pop Drums Grade 8 2017

RSL Acoustic Guitar Performance Certificate Grade 8 2020

I studied Psychology at Edinburgh University – where my Director of Studies was the late and controversial Dr Chris Brand. Psychology is still a major interest, especially in relation to learning a musical instrument. Other psychological interests include psychopathology, addiction, psy-ops, the mystical experience and ‘leftism vs rightism’.

Non-psychological interests include vegetarianism, politics, comedy (Stewart Lee, Andrew Lawrence, Jerry Sadowitz in particular), film (Coen Brothers, Michael Winterbottom, Steven Soderbergh), red wine, investigative journalism and property maintenance – I co-manage the maintenance of over 80 properties.