Dave Dohearty
About
Hi, I’m Dave Dohearty. I’ve been teaching guitar full-time for nearly 20 years, and I love helping students of all ages and levels finally play the music they actually enjoy.
My main styles are Blues, Rock, Jazz, Fusion, Latin, and Bossa Nova. I graduated from Los Angeles College of Music, where I studied with great players like Frank Gambale, Steve Fister, Phillip Bynoe (Steve Vai), Art Renshaw (Joe Pass), and others. I also do freelance editing, transcribing, and arranging work for Hal Leonard, which keeps me sharp at breaking down songs accurately and teaching practical techniques that really work.
Whether you’re just starting out and want to learn your first chords without bad habits, you’re stuck on a plateau, or you want to take your improv, theory, or performance to the next level, I’ll meet you right where you are. Lessons are relaxed, supportive, and always customized to what you want to play and how much time you have.
I teach everything online via Zoom with clear audio and video, so it feels almost like being in the same room. If you’re interested, feel free to grab a free 15-minute trial lesson — we can chat about your goals and see if we’re a good fit.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is relaxed, supportive, and all about you. I listen to what kind of music you love and where you’re at right now, then build a custom plan that fits your goals and schedule — no boring generic method books or one-size-fits-all stuff.
We’ll work on solid fundamentals and music theory, but you’ll learn all of it through playing the songs and styles you actually enjoy. Whether it’s blues, rock, jazz, fusion, Latin, or Bossa Nova, lessons stay engaging and practical. I focus on clean technique so you avoid bad habits, plus improv, lead playing, and performance skills that help you sound confident and have fun.
I’m patient and encouraging, and I love celebrating those “aha!” moments and small wins that keep you motivated to practice. Beginners get simple, exciting steps to build confidence fast, while more experienced players get fresh ideas to push through plateaus.
You’ll leave every lesson (whether 30 or 60 minutes) with clear next steps and real progress. If that approach sounds good to you, I’d love to help you play the music you love — even better and with more enjoyment
Curriculum
My teaching method is flexible and centered around the student. I don’t follow one fixed method book or curriculum. Instead, I create a custom plan based on your goals, current level, and the music you love.
We build strong fundamentals — technique, harmony, theory, rhythm, reading, and ear training — while working directly on real songs in styles like blues, rock, jazz, fusion, Latin, or Bossa Nova. I demonstrate everything clearly on Zoom, explain concepts in plain language, and create custom PDF sheet music or TAB for each weekly lesson so you always have clear written material to practice from. Many students also get short recap notes or quick videos after the lesson.
When it comes to books or texts, I don’t rely on any single one for everyone. If a resource would help, I may suggest from the Hal Leonard Guitar Method series or the Berklee Press Modern Method for Guitar, along with Hal Leonard song collections. I tailor the materials to each student so the focus stays on practical playing combined with real musical understanding.
Credentials & Affiliations
• 20 years of full-time professional private guitar instruction (since 2006) to students of all ages and levels
• Graduate of the Guitar Program at Los Angeles Music Academy (now known as Los Angeles College of Music – LACM), where I studied with renowned musicians including Frank Gambale, Steve Fister, Phillip Bynoe (Steve Vai), Art Renshaw (Joe Pass), Brad Rabuchin (Ray Charles), and Mike Shapiro (Earth, Wind & Fire, Sergio Mendes)
• Freelance editor, transcriber, and arranger for Hal Leonard Publications, having worked on numerous songbooks and guitar collections including Strum & Sing The Who, Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen, and multiple Chart Hits editions