Jimmy Cypher is a fantastic guitar teacher. After playing for years, I had reached a comfortable plateau — able to play most of the music I liked, but stuck in the pentatonic box patterns I had grown up with. Within 6 months Jimmy helped get me “out of the box” and helped me take my playing to a completely different level — whether you want complete scalar fluency, advanced technque, or theory, Jimmy can help you get there quickly and effectively. What sets Jimmy apart is not just his amazing skills on the guitar — but his skills as a TEACHER. He is able to gauge where YOU are and want to be, and customize his approach accordingly. Given my schedule, I have relatively limited time to devote to music. I think of Jimmy as a “personal trainer” for rock guitar, and find the time I spend with him to be incredibly productive — we’ve worked together for 7 years now!

Guitar lessons Atlanta

Guitar Teachers Atlanta

Atlanta Guitar Lessons

Wow! I’ve tried several teachers, most of whom wanted me to work out of Mel Bay books teaching 100 year old folk tunes. Jimmy assessed my playing ability and goals in the first 5 minutes, then wrote out a custom lesson plan. He then explained that all these cheesy beginner books print old school songs so they don’t have to pay publishing royalties to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix etc.

By the end of the first lesson, I had learned more than I had in the past 6 months. If you want to learn guitar and really get somewhere with your playing, try Jimmy, you won’t be disappointed.

Guitar lessons Atlanta

Guitar Teachers Atlanta

Atlanta Guitar Lessons

Bravissimo!‎‎

By Tiara -

Jimmy is an awesome teacher! He is very patient with me as a beginner. He challenges you and has faith in your skills even if you do not. You can tell he loves playing and teaching guitar. I learn new skills and techniques every time I go. I bet I am his most “talent challenged” student but he never makes me feel that way. It is amazing how he can teach even me to play! He is a great guy, very skilled guitar player and you can tell he wants you to learn and become better. His music is pretty cool too!‎

Guitar lessons Atlanta

Guitar Teachers Atlanta

Atlanta Guitar Lessons

I called Jimmy about learning traditional blues. He wasn’t the first person I called because he doesn’t exactly look like a bluesman! We dove into John Lee Hooker, Hendrix, Gatemouth Brown and Stevie Ray Vaughn to name a few. Within a couple of months I had a complet undertsanding of the blues scale all over the fretboard and six months later, my phrasing and that ever elusive “feel” of the blues is better than I ever expected it would be. It’s really a pleasure taking guitar lessons with Jimmy.because he’s a great teacher, fantastic with scheduling and just an all around nice guy.

Atlanta Guitar Lessons

I was skeptical at first because it’s not obvious from his website that he is a metal guitarist. However, I gave him a try because it’s clear he knows his stuff if you watch his videos. I went to Jimmy Cypher for guitar lessons to help improve my soloing ability and in the 18 months I’ve been studying guitar with him, he has never disappointed. I’ve brought in Children of Bodom, Dream Theater, Death, Nevermore, and Jeff Loomis and he has shown me how to play it ALL. Bring all your solo questions to this guy — he knows every scale in the book, how to play it fast and how to phrase it. Highly recommended! — John L

Pros: Knows his Metal Music
Cons: none

Guitar Lessons Atlanta Bio

By Carly – Jun 11, 2010

I took guitar lessons at another place for like 7 months and couldn’t even play a song. Maybe that was because i was working on Jingle Bells and ol mcdonald. After four weeks with Jimmy i was playing aerosmith and led zeppelin, the music that’s on guitar hero. Jimmy rocks and helps you rock too. thank you Jimmy! –Carly‎

Guitar teachers Atlanta

By Mickey – Jul 5, 2010

I have studied with Jimmy for two years now. The guy is just awesome when it comes to progressive rock which is what I like. There’s almost nothing he can’t figure out and the few times I’ve stumped him (usually with dream theater or Protest the Hero) he researches it and shows me the following week. By far the best teacher in Atlanta that I have ever found and my playing has improved dramatically. – Mickey‎

Atlanta Guitar teachers

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLY6AryWU3E

“Everything you need to know about rock guitar”

I studied with Jimmy for about two years and I can tell you this: Whatever you want to know about rock guitar, Jimmy will show you. Even more important is that he has a method that ensures that his guitar skills will translate to YOU as opposed to just sitting around watching a “show off session” as I have encountered with past teachers. Cypher gives you a work out like a boot camp sergeant and has you playing the guitar for most of the hour. He’s also a very honest person and doesn’t try to string you along to simply get more money out of you. He gives you all the material you want and then some! What really stands out is that he often knows your guitar limits better than you do and his lessons take you to the very edge of your capabilities. Also noteworthy is that when I expressed interest in Flamenco guitar, he referred me to another teacher… even though Jimmy plays nylon string guitar quite well. He’s a perfectionist in what he does and told me nylon string was not his forte. As others have said, he really is more of a guitar performance coach than an instructor. If you’re in Atlanta and want to take your guitar playing to the next level or even just visiting, give him a try.

– KEVIN SMITH

WINNER — Best Guitarist: COLUMBIA RECORDS/Emergenza USA Finals
WINNER — Guitar Center’s GUITARMAGGEDDON (Atlanta) — 2003, 2004, 2005
Recorded with Platinum Producer KEVIN “SHE’KESPERE” BRIGGS (TLC, PINK, DESTINY’S CHILD)
Recorded with Grammy Award Winning Producer DON MCCOLLISTER (INDIGO GIRLS, SHAWN MULLINS)
Recorded with Platinum Remix Producer DJ FORD (MICK JAGGER, MICHAEL JACKSON, LUDACRIS)
Recorded and Remixed with Dance Icon PAUL OAKENFOLD @ Perfecto Records
Performed with JEFF CARLISI (.38 Special)
Performed with ED KING (Lynard Skynard)
Performed with DERRICK SAINT HOLMES (Ted Nugent)
Three Time MUSIC MIDTOWN Performing Artist (250,000 in attendance)
Performed with Billionaire/Reality TV star SIR IVAN at NEW YORK MEGAJAM (15,000 in attendance)
Featured Artist: NAMM 2009
Featured Artist: 2009 WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE CD compilation

TEACHING BACKGROUND:

Former student:  Joe Satriani, Musician’s Institute (GIT), Doug Doppler (Featured Guitarist: GUITAR HERO video game;
Steve Vai’s Favored Nations recording artist, Paul Chapman(UFO)
Master Class Artist/Instructor: Jeff Carlisi’s Camp Jam

QUOTES:

“Damn. That guy can play!” — English Nick: DJ — Atlanta’s 96 Rock; 105.3 (the Buzz); Metalsome Monday Host.

“Great Guitar Player!” — Jeff Carlisi (38 Special): guitarist, songwriter, platinum selling recording artist.

“…one of the best live acts we have ever invited to perform on the Music Midtown cultural stage.”
– Suzanne Shaw: Artist Director, Music Midtown (Atlanta)

“impeccable timing and precision guitar playing” — DJ FORD (platinum recording artist, producer and remixer)

“the ‘Joe Satriani’ of electronic dance music” — Z Morse: chief technologist — Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto Records.

“conjures the infinite, wailing arena-ready reverb passed from David Gilmour to the Edge.” – Creative Loafing (Atlanta)

“Bridges the gap between guitar rock and electronic dance.” – Atlanta Journal and Constitution

“Pulse-pounding electronic beats and scorching electric guitar fretwork” – Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Great Guitar Tones! If you are looking for a pulsating, relentless groove, Jimmy Cypher is the ticket you have been waiting for! –Doug Doppler, guitarist/recording artist: Steve Vais Favored Nations Records