Hi, I’m Zac and I've played guitar, bass and drums in various types of punk rock bands since I was 13. I even was in an oldies cover band for a while, and embarrassingly, multiple ska bands.

Let me teach you how to play fast and loud, with passion, precision and skill!

In addition to punk, I can also teach you a number of alternative styles as well as the plain old blues! From emo and indie to metal and hardcore, bar rock to pop punk to grindcore, I want to teach you how to play music! If it’s not a genre or style I already know, I love learning myself and am always learning a wider array of guitar techniques and skills. Right now I’m learning the bass line to Grim Grinning Ghosts! Boo!

I have over 25 years of on-stage and studio experience, performing everywhere from coffee houses, dive bars and local venues to huge corporate parties and art & beer festivals; and recording everywhere from professional studios in Pro Tools HD to making an entire full-length album on an ancient laptop with Windows XP in an old house. DIY, baby.

Learn any song you can think of, how to jam and start a band with your friends, or the basics of music theory. Learn about the guitars and amps that punk and metal guitarists use. Learn the idiosyncrasies that make playing alternative music styles different from normal guitar lessons. Deep dive into palm muting, or how much of punk and metal proficiency is just controlling the massive amounts of distortion used.

Each lesson includes 1 full hour (60 minutes) on private video chat, a custom tutorial HD video tailored made after your lesson addressing whatever your current goal is, and a homework assignment so that you’ll be able to easily track your progress from one lesson to the next. Metronome required - just because it’s punk don’t mean it’s sloppy! Plus they’re free these days.

I can also teach you about songwriting, recording and production and live performance (like tricks for avoiding shady pay to play promoters, or how to convince yourself that $27 for last night’s gig - for your entire band to split - was worth it).

Electric guitar or acoustic guitar, bass and drum lessons all available through Microsoft Teams.

My Teams setup uses crystal-clear audio and video via my HD webcam and MOTU interface. I also tone-match whatever song we are currently working on and provide you with a direct feed from my DAW, so it’s like you’re sitting in the room with me. It’s an awesome and easy way to learn from anywhere in the world!

enjoy around 3 or 4 minutes of completely tasteful Floyd Rose whammy-ing that isn't completely ridiculous or over the top and garish at all! but jokes aside this was super fun to play and almost felt like a digital rage room #floydrose #80smetal #80smusic
short Ambient Loops piece titled "I'm Punk." dedicated to all the teenage edgelords coming onto my page for making fun of Fugazi/pointing out that Ian Mackaye's dad worked for the Whitehouse. very punk! #ambient #loops #brianeno
check out this short creepy electronic piece I made today while I waited for Ableton to reindex. think it kinda sounds like the score to Halloween #edm #halloween #electronicmusic
my sister thought these were the lyrics she also thought the Weakerthans were called the “Wheat for thins” but that was my fault bc i never corrected her after she misheard me. but this was 100% her #thekillers
my sister thought these were the lyrics she also thought the Weakerthans were called the “Wheat for thins” but that was my fault bc i never corrected her after she misheard me. but this was 100% her #thekillers
enjoy this tutorial custom-made for one of my students! he's been learning a simplified version of the rhythm guitar of Roots Radical by Rancid and today we got to the solo. acoustic because that's what the student is learning on! every lesson includes 1-full hour on Teams as well as a custom-video like this one! #rancid #punkrock
ok, so i love a good conspiracy theory - and many are true - but the ones that are clearly dogshit really bother me. i started this book with an open mind, after all the son of the 5th Beatle is doing the narration! but i don’t know if i can fi
ok, so i love a good conspiracy theory - and many are true - but the ones that are clearly dogshit really bother me. i started this book with an open mind, after all the son of the 5th Beatle is doing the narration! but i don’t know if i can finish it (which i usually finish books no matter what). maybe 5% is interesting and/or fun to consider its truthfulness - like the idea that Paul was a twat and nobody liked him. but the rest is just nonsensical rambling from an egomaniac. the nitty gritty of how he actually replaced Paul is so boring and just a constant eye roll. but you know what? here’s my new conspiracy theory: Paul did die in an auto accident and it was worth it to Apple to replace him (money rules everything so yeah, that is believable) but the details of that will never ever be known, and this book was written to obfuscate the truth since it’s so clearly not true. stranger things have happened! #thebeatles #paulisdead
A.B.P. (always be practicing). reminds me of a popular quote - “somewhere right now your guitar opponent is practicing and when they meet you in guitar battle they will dominate you like Steve Vai dominated himself at the end of Crossroads&rdqu
A.B.P. (always be practicing). reminds me of a popular quote - “somewhere right now your guitar opponent is practicing and when they meet you in guitar battle they will dominate you like Steve Vai dominated himself at the end of Crossroads” #inspiration #onlyonesetoffootprints
been away on vacation at Disneyland! about to spam the hell out of those photos so prepare. but to get back into the hellish routine of posting regularly, here's a cool synth jam from this afternoon. #synth #ableton #afternoon
got our @beevive_uk all ready for Disneyland! if we see any bees struggling around the park, we may be able to help them if they’re overheated and thirsty. #savethebees
got our @beevive_uk all ready for Disneyland! if we see any bees struggling around the park, we may be able to help them if they’re overheated and thirsty. #savethebees
we are going to Disneyland! @gretatheghostbooks has never been and it’s been many years for me (had an annual pass though during the before times). we’ve been dreaming of this since we first met! only possible thanks to the generosity of
we are going to Disneyland! @gretatheghostbooks has never been and it’s been many years for me (had an annual pass though during the before times). we’ve been dreaming of this since we first met! only possible thanks to the generosity of my family - who also got us these killer DL threads! thank you guys 🙏 🥰 #disneyland #disneyland70thanniversary PS i picked this shirt because it looked like something @jamesbjones87 would wear. what do you think of that James? do you agree this is that of your style?
heard this for the first time watching A24’s Opus and can’t stop listening to it. Eddie Hazel is my new favorite guitarist. sounds like an unhinged Hendrix #funkadelic #maggotbrain
heard this for the first time watching A24’s Opus and can’t stop listening to it. Eddie Hazel is my new favorite guitarist. sounds like an unhinged Hendrix #funkadelic #maggotbrain
old Genre photos @m_k_extra sent today! playing at the Bisbee Grand for @sideponyexpress 201? memory from this time period is hazy at best. i do remember a man coming up to me after playing at Poco and saying something like “i’ve worked w
old Genre photos @m_k_extra sent today! playing at the Bisbee Grand for @sideponyexpress 201? memory from this time period is hazy at best. i do remember a man coming up to me after playing at Poco and saying something like “i’ve worked with a lot of the greats and you have “it” - don’t give up.” which was really nice and i never would’ve forgotten it anyway, but then years later i recognized him while editing AZHghwys TV - i’d met @daverosephoto! when he said he worked with the greats - he meant it. his Springsteen credit alone was enough to floor me. i wish he’d been more prophetic and that Genre, the Legendary Rock Act, would’ve reached the success he was familiar with, but alas twas not to be. but hey, at least i’m still alive and (California) sober - i was a total mess during this period. probably(definitely) got in our own way. sorry dudes! #storytime #bisbee #genregenregenre
sharing an email from a new student! Dave has loved punk rock his whole life but felt he always hit a barrier whenever trying to learn to play it himself. by carefully breaking down a song from one of his favorite artists, Rancid, he’s learning
sharing an email from a new student! Dave has loved punk rock his whole life but felt he always hit a barrier whenever trying to learn to play it himself. by carefully breaking down a song from one of his favorite artists, Rancid, he’s learning all the techniques and concepts “Roots Radical” utilizes - so far power chords and palm muting. sign up for an online lesson today! #punk #guitarlessonsforbeginners
earlier today after a lesson, my interface glitched out and i thought "hey, that sounds kinda cool!" #glitchart #glitchmusic #glitchguitar
Axe Stable: Part XII, Fender AVII 1966 Jazzmaster - Wanted one since I saw an interview with Fat Mike where he said NOFX used Jazzmasters in the studio, because the pickups were “direct” or “clear” - something like that. The r
Axe Stable: Part XII, Fender AVII 1966 Jazzmaster - Wanted one since I saw an interview with Fat Mike where he said NOFX used Jazzmasters in the studio, because the pickups were “direct” or “clear” - something like that. The rhythm circuit was on when I first plugged it in, and right away I understood why it’s a go-to for fat rhythm tracks, and is so popular in shoegaze and other genres with a big sound. The range of tones between the circuit and the three pickup positions is truly astounding - maybe even more variety than a Strat. But to consider Fender created the sounds of the Tele, Strat and Jazzmaster all by 1958 is mind-blowing. He changed the world forever! #leofender #jazzmaster
California in the Arizona sun #guitar #homestudio #calico
California in the Arizona sun #guitar #homestudio #calico
Axe Stable: Part XI, Squier Esquire Deluxe - I’d always dreamed of owning a true sparkle guitar, but I only ever saw them coming out of custom shops, or as refinishes, both prohibitively expensive. Then I saw this baby! As inexpensive as guitars get, really. I mentioned before that the cheaper the guitar, the nicer its finish, and that couldn’t be more true here. It’s super lightweight, an increasing concern for me, and it has a lot of tonal options even with just the single WRHB - I can split that into a single coil, run it with the tone and volume knobs engaged, or without, which is like fullblast. So I usually knock back both knobs a touch, and then I have access to 3 different tones using the chicken head knob - almost corresponding to gain levels, clean, overdrive, distortion. In the future I’d love to own tons of sparkles - I know somewhere in the world is a vintage sparkle offset, probably a Jaguar, just waiting for me to find it (and afford it, ha). #sparkle #sparkleguitar #paranormalseries
started telling any cool band stories I have on Threads! next up, is @of_montreal and I getting screamed at by the owner of the Tempe Clubhouse.
started telling any cool band stories I have on Threads! next up, is @of_montreal and I getting screamed at by the owner of the Tempe Clubhouse.
Harmonics riff! Both pinch harmonics and regular harmonics can add a really interesting dimension to your playing. #guitar #pinchharmonics
Spent all day hanging Squishmallow nets and guitar hangers! That poster may or not be covering a hole(s) ala Andy Dufresne, hiding a shameful and aborted DIY abomination. Sometimes you find the stud, sometimes it evades you. Like 6 times. Slowly but
Spent all day hanging Squishmallow nets and guitar hangers! That poster may or not be covering a hole(s) ala Andy Dufresne, hiding a shameful and aborted DIY abomination. Sometimes you find the stud, sometimes it evades you. Like 6 times. Slowly but surely finishing moving in. So grateful to live where we do now.
enjoy around 3 or 4 minutes of completely tasteful Floyd Rose whammy-ing that isn't completely ridiculous or over the top and garish at all! but jokes aside this was super fun to play and almost felt like a digital rage room #floydrose #80smetal #80s
short Ambient Loops piece titled "I'm Punk." dedicated to all the teenage edgelords coming onto my page for making fun of Fugazi/pointing out that Ian Mackaye's dad worked for the Whitehouse. very punk! #ambient #loops #brianeno
check out this short creepy electronic piece I made today while I waited for Ableton to reindex. think it kinda sounds like the score to Halloween #edm #halloween #electronicmusic
my sister thought these were the lyrics she also thought the Weakerthans were called the “Wheat for thins” but that was my fault bc i never corrected her after she misheard me. but this was 100% her #thekillers
enjoy this tutorial custom-made for one of my students! he's been learning a simplified version of the rhythm guitar of Roots Radical by Rancid and today we got to the solo. acoustic because that's what the student is learning on! every lesson includ
ok, so i love a good conspiracy theory - and many are true - but the ones that are clearly dogshit really bother me. i started this book with an open mind, after all the son of the 5th Beatle is doing the narration! but i don’t know if i can fi A.B.P. (always be practicing). reminds me of a popular quote - “somewhere right now your guitar opponent is practicing and when they meet you in guitar battle they will dominate you like Steve Vai dominated himself at the end of Crossroads&rdqu
been away on vacation at Disneyland! about to spam the hell out of those photos so prepare. but to get back into the hellish routine of posting regularly, here's a cool synth jam from this afternoon. #synth #ableton #afternoon
got our @beevive_uk all ready for Disneyland! if we see any bees struggling around the park, we may be able to help them if they’re overheated and thirsty. #savethebees we are going to Disneyland! @gretatheghostbooks has never been and it’s been many years for me (had an annual pass though during the before times). we’ve been dreaming of this since we first met! only possible thanks to the generosity of heard this for the first time watching A24’s Opus and can’t stop listening to it. Eddie Hazel is my new favorite guitarist. sounds like an unhinged Hendrix #funkadelic #maggotbrain old Genre photos @m_k_extra sent today! playing at the Bisbee Grand for @sideponyexpress 201? memory from this time period is hazy at best. i do remember a man coming up to me after playing at Poco and saying something like “i’ve worked w sharing an email from a new student! Dave has loved punk rock his whole life but felt he always hit a barrier whenever trying to learn to play it himself. by carefully breaking down a song from one of his favorite artists, Rancid, he’s learning
earlier today after a lesson, my interface glitched out and i thought "hey, that sounds kinda cool!" #glitchart #glitchmusic #glitchguitar
Axe Stable: Part XII, Fender AVII 1966 Jazzmaster - Wanted one since I saw an interview with Fat Mike where he said NOFX used Jazzmasters in the studio, because the pickups were “direct” or “clear” - something like that. The r California in the Arizona sun #guitar #homestudio #calico
Axe Stable: Part XI, Squier Esquire Deluxe - I’d always dreamed of owning a true sparkle guitar, but I only ever saw them coming out of custom shops, or as refinishes, both prohibitively expensive. Then I saw this baby! As inexpensive as guitar
started telling any cool band stories I have on Threads! next up, is @of_montreal and I getting screamed at by the owner of the Tempe Clubhouse.
Harmonics riff! Both pinch harmonics and regular harmonics can add a really interesting dimension to your playing. #guitar #pinchharmonics
Spent all day hanging Squishmallow nets and guitar hangers! That poster may or not be covering a hole(s) ala Andy Dufresne, hiding a shameful and aborted DIY abomination. Sometimes you find the stud, sometimes it evades you. Like 6 times. Slowly but

Here are some bands most popular with my students (so far!): Nirvana, the Distillers, the Pixies, Jeff Rosenstock, Blink 182, Green Day, Social Distortion, the Thermals, the Descendents, Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Clash, Black Flag, Rancid, Bad Brains, Alkaline Trio, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Against Me! Minor Threat, Cro-Mags, Type O Negative, Weezer, the White Stripes, Ten Foot Pole