Welcome, Guitarist
If you're a fan of guitar music and exploring the world of classical guitar, then CGS is made for you.
Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced player, we have hundreds of structured lessons to help you play beautifully.
Over 25 years of teaching have shown me that the ability to play with ease is not about natural talent or starting young. It comes from practicing two principles:
Structure knowing what to practice.
Awareness knowing how to practice.
And that’s exactly what the entire CGS philosophy is built on.
"This is masterful teaching in that it not only gives you individual technical skills, but it provides you with a whole way of learning, even like with a whole way of being in the world."
—Mark Weiner
What to Expect from Classical Guitar Shed
At Classical Guitar Shed you'll find free lessons, guided courses, and a structured program (The Woodshed®) — all designed to help you build technique, phrasing, and musical understanding with clarity and awareness (whatever your level).
Every lesson reveals how technique serves expression. You're not grinding through isolated exercises. You're seeing how patterns repeat across the fretboard, how small movements unlock big sounds, and how understanding turns into flow.
There are 4 main components to Classical Guitar Shed:
1. Free Classical Guitar Lessons, Resources and Tips
Helpful tutorials on technique that eliminates pain and tension, phrasing methods that bring music to life, and complete piece breakdowns.
Start here:
Plus thoughtful essays, and a massive free sheet music library (with TABs, if you like that).
2. In-depth Courses
Deep dives into specific pieces that advance your phrasing and musicality, not just note accuracy.
Popular courses:
Ferrer: Ejercicio (perfect for beginners)
How to Read Music for Guitar (to get started with notation)
Pachelbel: Canon in D (a well-loved favorite)
Asturias/Leyenda (an advanced concert classic)
Unlike anything else online.
3. Weekly Email Newsletter
Saturday morning insights on practice and music, delivered to 150,000+ guitarists.
Click Here to Sign Up Now
You could keep practicing the same way and hope something clicks. Or you could start with one free lesson and see what changes when technique finally serves your musical vision.
4. The Woodshed® Classical Guitar Program
The Woodshed® gives you exactly what to work on, every single session.
You get 30 structured levels that build on each other. Each practice session is already planned out so you’re not left wondering.
What happens when your practice has direction? You start seeing connections, you break through plateaus.
And we’ll help you the whole way:
- Guided videos keep you focused during practice
- Live Q&A sessions 7 times per month
- Expert teachers review your playing via video
- 2,000+ adult learners sharing the journey
The Woodshed turns your discipline into artistry. Every session becomes real progress you can hear.
Ready to know exactly what to practice next?
Learn more about The Woodshed
The CGS Support Team
Zak Pleet has been part of the CGS Support Team since 2017.
Zak completed two Master's Degrees in Guitar Performance (University of Ottawa and University of Alicante, Spain). His undergraduate degree in Music is from Carleton University in Ottawa.
He has taught private lessons and worked for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Conservatory "Leandro Martínez Romero", and others.
Away from the guitar, Zak runs a vegetable garden during summer months and uses his homegrown tomatoes and peppers in recipes for paella and other Spanish dishes.
Tim Beattie has been on the support team since 2022.
Tim's performance career has taken him across North America and Europe, both as a solo artist and in ensembles. He has been featured on radio and TV broadcasts in Holland and the UK (BBC, others).
He has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, St. Andrews University, and community music schools.
Tim has studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Apart from music, Tim enjoys drinking good coffee or craft beer, playing and watching ice hockey (especially the Toronto Maple Leafs), and traveling.
Thanks for stopping by. If you have a question or need anything, email us at support(at)ClassicalGuitarShed.com. We're here to help.