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Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons

Play the Songs You Love, Fingerstyle

I'm Dan Holloway. I've taught guitar for more than 50 years, and I still teach the way I always have: you learn songs you love from start to finish, with the melody, bass, and accompaniment together. You won't drill scales or read notation. And when you get stuck, email me and I'll write you back myself.

One Teacher, Not 400
50+ Years Teaching
400+ Songs, All Arranged by Dan
$14.95 Per Month

Guitar lessons from
a teaching artist

I built this to be the opposite of the big lesson sites. Instead of thousands of videos to pick through, you start with one thing: a song you want to play. Then we work on it until you can. That's the whole idea.

One Teacher Who Knows Your Name

I arrange every song on this site myself, and I teach every lesson myself. After more than 50 years of teaching guitar, I know where students get stuck and how to get them through it. When you join, you're studying with me, not browsing a catalog.

Learn Songs, Not Scales

You won't drill scales or slog through theory here. You learn whole songs from start to finish, with the melody, bass line, and accompaniment together. Every lesson comes with complete tab, and no music reading is required.

Complete, Rare Arrangements

Full solo fingerstyle arrangements of songs you actually know: Dylan, Lightfoot, James Taylor, and plenty of traditional and gospel standards. Good fingerstyle song arrangements are hard to find anywhere. I write these myself and add new ones every month.

Email Me and I Answer

Stuck on a measure? Want to request a song? Email me at dan@dancholloway.com and I'll write you back myself. I've been answering my students' questions for more than 50 years, and I'm not about to stop now.

Learn from
Dan Holloway

I've been teaching guitar for more than 50 years, and my approach hasn't changed in all that time: you learn guitar by learning songs you love from start to finish, not by drilling scales or learning to read notation.

Every arrangement on this site is one I made and taught myself. When you join, you're not buying access to a library. You're studying with a teaching artist, somebody who plays this music and teaches it. Email me a question and I'll answer it personally.

  • More than 50 years of teaching guitar
  • Learn songs you love, with no music reading required
  • Every song personally arranged and taught by Dan
  • Email Dan and he answers you himself

How it works

1

Start with Dan

Try three complete song lessons free, or become a member in a couple of minutes.

2

Pick a Song

Choose from 400+ complete arrangements organized by difficulty. These are songs you actually know and want to play.

3

Learn It Start to Finish

Watch my step-by-step video, follow along with the tab, and email me if you get stuck.

What our members say

Dan's lessons are well thought out and the arrangements are complete and pleasing. His easygoing manner and ability to communicate his thoughts on video have been a tremendous benefit. The tab is complete and well written but it leaves room for me to add my own style to the arrangements.

TO
Tim O'Neill Binghamton, NY

I came across this website by chance, and am I ever glad I did. Tired of strumming along to songs, I've been trying to learn fingerstyle guitar but could not find a teacher or even a decent book with arrangements of songs I'd actually like to play. Dan's site changed all that. In less than a month, I could pick up a guitar and play full songs, by myself, including the melody, bass line, and accompaniment.

BV
Brian Ventrudo Ottawa, Canada

Your website lessons are great and challenging. Songs I know and can relate to. While I've been playing guitar for many years I am very rusty and haven't kept up. Your choice of songs and teaching methodology keep me interested, disciplined and focused. I'm rejuvenated again! I can also learn on my own time due to a very busy work schedule.

CN
Charley Nix Gainesville, GA

Great lessons, I'm an intermediate player and it is good how the lessons rightly assume that you know the basics and just get on with the job of showing tasteful fingerstyle arrangements of songs that are great to play. The tabs used in conjunction with the video lessons are very helpful.

E
Errol Brisbane, Australia

Choose your plan

One membership, everything included: every lesson, every tab, and me on the other end of the email. No hidden fees, no upsells.

Fingerstyle Guitar Series · Monthly
$14.95 / month

Less than the cost of a single private lesson

  • Every one of Dan's 400+ song lessons
  • Complete tab for every song
  • New arrangements every month
  • Email Dan anytime and he answers
  • Cancel anytime, no commitment
Start Learning with Dan

Secure payment via credit card or PayPal

Fingerstyle Guitar Series · 6 Months Save 13%
$77.70 / 6 months

Comes out to $12.95 a month

  • Everything in Monthly, plus:
  • Save $12 every 6 months
  • $2 less per month than monthly
  • Lock in your rate for 6 months
Start Learning with Dan

Secure payment via credit card or PayPal

Signing up takes a couple of minutes, and canceling is just as simple. You can do it yourself from your account page anytime. No phone calls, no hoops to jump through. Join for a month and see how it feels.

12-Lesson Program

Never played before?

Start here. My 12-lesson Beginner Guitar Series takes you from opening the case to playing your first songs. Every lesson teaches a song you know — "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," "Hotel California," "Layla" — so you're playing real music from day one.

The Beginner Guitar Series is $12.95/month. When you finish, you'll be ready to graduate to my fingerstyle arrangements, and the full library will be waiting for you.

  • Guitar Tuning
  • Open Chords
  • Strumming Patterns
  • Using a Capo
  • Power Chords
  • Barre Chords
  • Fingerpicking Basics
  • Reading Tablature
  • Playing Songs
  • Frequently asked

    You get all 400+ of my complete fingerstyle song lessons, the full tab for every song, and step-by-step video for each one. I add new arrangements every month. And you can email me a question anytime; I'll answer it myself.
    No. Every lesson uses guitar tab, which shows you exactly where your fingers go, and I walk you through each song step by step on video. No music reading is required. I've taught this way for more than 50 years.
    Everything from complete beginner to advanced. If you're brand new, start with my 12-lesson Beginner Guitar Series. From there, work your way up through six levels of fingerstyle arrangements at whatever pace suits you.
    I do. Whether it's a question about a lesson, trouble with a tricky measure, or a request for a song you'd love to play, write me at dan@dancholloway.com and I'll write you back myself. And yes, you can cancel your membership anytime.
    Log in to the members area and everything is there: the full song list, every video lesson, and every tab. Lessons work on any device, so you can practice wherever you keep your guitar.