GUITAR LESSONS · MEMPHIS & LIVE ONLINE
Guitar lessons with Ori Naftaly.
Lessons for beginners, returning players and developing musicians.
I'm Ori Naftaly, co-founder and guitarist of Southern Avenue. I teach guitar in Memphis and online. In lessons, we can work on songs, rhythm, technique, improvisation and writing music, depending on what you want to learn.
2 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS · IN-PERSON & LIVE ONLINE · KIDS, ADULTS & ARTISTS
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Your music. Your way in.
Personal guitar lessons, small groups and artist coaching in the Memphis area, with live online options.
FIRST NOTES · BIG CURIOSITYKids & teensA real musical beginning, with room to grow.
BEGIN · RETURN · GROWAdult guitarFrom first chords to your own voice.
MAKE MUSIC TOGETHERSmall groupsThe art of listening and playing together.
GO BEYOND THE GUITARArtist developmentWrite, arrange, rehearse and create with purpose.
LIVE ONLINE · ONE TO ONE · PERSONAL
Great lessons.
Wherever you are.
You don't have to live in Memphis to work with me. We can work together live over video, with guitars in hand, personal feedback and clear next steps, just as we would in person.
Online sessions are especially useful if you have a full schedule, live outside the area, or want to keep learning while life takes you elsewhere. We can work on technique, feel, rhythm, improvisation, songwriting and how to turn ideas into finished music.
Hear a phrase, see how it's played, then get personal feedback as you work it out.
We focus on the next useful step instead of relying on generic video lessons or a stack of exercises.
Learn from home or farther away, with session times arranged around our schedules.
What you need: Your guitar, a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, and a steady internet connection. We'll discuss the video platform and setup before your first session.
A working musician. An educator who listens.WHY LEARN WITH ORI
Real-world music.
Real teaching.
Learning chords is just the beginning. I want to help you hear, feel and understand the music you make with them.
I've experienced music from several perspectives: as a young guitarist finding my way, as a songwriter and bandleader recording with Southern Avenue, and as an educator teaching children in Memphis classrooms. That range helps me meet beginners with patience and curiosity while challenging experienced players to hear their music differently.
We won't just collect chord shapes. We'll learn to feel time, listen closely, create parts that serve a song, and play with intention. For younger students, that may mean joyful, bite-sized activities and an achievable goal to practice. For adults, it's music they genuinely want to play. For developing artists, we can go all the way from a rough idea to an arrangement, a performance or a recording.
Build technique inside songs, grooves and musical ideas you actually care about.
Hear what makes a part work: feel, dynamics, space, tone and how musicians respond to one another.
Leave knowing what to play, what to listen for, and how to move forward between lessons.
FROM THE ROAD TO THE LESSON ROOM
Experience you can learn from.
With Southern Avenue, I've released music on Stax and Alligator Records and earned two GRAMMY nominations: for Keep On (2020) and Family (2026). I've also spent years making music on stages around the world.
The road has included the 2024 Outlaw Music Festival alongside Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp; tours with Sheryl Crow and Tedeschi Trucks Band; and dates with Dave Matthews Band and Trombone Shorty.
Southern Avenue’s debut reached No. 1 on the iTunes blues albums chart and won the 2018 Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album. Keep On reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums chart. Those milestones came from years of writing, rehearsing, recording and playing together.
The real value for a student isn't the name on the bill. It's what those rooms teach: how to prepare, how to listen, how to create under pressure, and how to make other musicians sound better. That's the experience I bring into our lessons.
Career highlights describe Southern Avenue's performances and tours, not endorsements of these lessons.
SEE THE MUSIC
Hear it. Feel it.
Hear how groove, dynamics and listening come together when a band really connects. We'll explore those same skills at your level, whether you're just starting or already writing songs.
Southern Avenue · WFUV live performance · plays only when you choose
Watch on YouTube instead ↗
IN PERSON AROUND MEMPHIS
Looking for guitar lessons in Memphis?
Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time or returning to music after a few years, we can shape lessons around the songs you want to play and the skills you want to build. I teach acoustic and electric guitar, with room for blues, soul, rock, rhythm, improvisation and songwriting.
In-person guitar lessons are available by arrangement in the Memphis area, including Bartlett, Cordova, Germantown, Collierville, Lakeland and Arlington. We can discuss whether meeting at my teaching location or traveling to you makes sense for your schedule. Live online lessons are also available.
Find the format that fits.
- Beginner guitar lessonsLearn chords, rhythm, tuning and how to play real songs.
- Adult guitar lessonsStart fresh, pick the instrument back up, or develop your feel and technique.
- Kids and teensAge-appropriate lessons that build musical confidence.
- Blues and creative guitarWork on groove, phrasing, improvisation and your own musical ideas.
Session length, location and scheduling are confirmed directly. No lesson is booked through this page.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
A few good questions.
Details are confirmed with you directly before any booking or payment.
Do I need a guitar before the first lesson?
Not necessarily. If you're choosing your first instrument, let me know. I can help you think through a good fit before you spend money.
Are lessons right for kids, complete beginners or experienced musicians?
Yes. For younger students we use short, varied activities and plenty of encouragement. Adults can start from zero or return after years away. More experienced players can focus on improvisation, songwriting, band dynamics or their own sound. A parent or guardian should inquire for anyone under 18.
Where are in-person lessons available?
Memphis and nearby communities, including Bartlett, Cordova, Germantown, Collierville, Lakeland and Arlington. We can discuss a suitable teaching location or travel to you where scheduling allows. I'll confirm the location privately; no home address is published here.
How long and how often are lessons?
We can discuss 30-, 45- or 60-minute sessions depending on the student's age, goals and experience. Many students prefer a weekly rhythm, often in four-lesson cycles. Specific scheduling, tuition and cancellation or make-up arrangements are confirmed directly before payment.
Can I learn online? What do I need?
Yes. Live, interactive online guitar lessons are available for beginners and experienced players alike. You'll need a guitar, a phone, tablet or computer with a camera, and a reasonably steady internet connection. We'll decide on the video setup and lesson format together so I can see and hear you clearly. Sessions are scheduled by arrangement.
How do your touring dates affect lessons?
Touring is part of my professional life, so I review confirmed dates before agreeing to a lesson schedule. If a conflict comes up, we'll discuss options under the policy agreed upon before your lesson package begins. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to reschedule or meet online. I won't promise uninterrupted weekly availability when I'm on the road.
Do you teach songwriting, artist development and remote coaching?
Yes. Beyond technique, we can work on arranging, songwriting, guitar parts, rehearsal skills, improvisation, recording preparation and artistic direction. Some of that work can be done live online; the best format depends on the goals and what you're working on.
YOUR NEXT SONG STARTS HERE
Let's talk guitar.
Tell me who's learning and what you'd like to play. I'll personally follow up about in-person or online options, current availability and next steps.
In-person locations and travel depend on availability and distance. Live online sessions are also available by arrangement, including for students beyond Memphis.
No payment is collected, and sending a message does not reserve a lesson.
Prefer email? naftalyblues@gmail.com
A SHORT INTRODUCTION
Ask about lessons.
Having trouble sending? Email me directly.