Richard Newport

Hello, I’m Richard “Rich” Newport, a British professional guitarist, songwriter and guitar teacher currently based in Águilas, Spain. I offer personalised online electric and acoustic guitar lessons to students in the UK and worldwide. With more than three decades of experience as a guitarist, I bring together professional training, international touring, live performance, recording, songwriting and many years of teaching experience.

I studied at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, completing its professional guitar programme in 1994. This intensive training developed my knowledge of technique, improvisation, harmony, rhythm, ear training, performance and contemporary guitar styles. My professional background includes touring Europe in 2007 with former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley and appearing as a performing guitarist on the Alive in Poland concert DVD. I was also featured in Guitar Nine’s Undiscovered guitarist spotlight and contributed instructional material as a columnist for the specialist guitar website Chops From Hell.

My teaching experience includes working as a guitar instructor at Music Lyceum in Milan from 1997 to 2004, where I taught individual students and group classes. After returning to England, I taught at Harrogate School of Music from 2004 to 2009. During those years, I worked with students of different ages, musical interests and ability levels, creating individual lesson plans and helping players develop technique, musical understanding and confidence.

Today, I remain an active guitarist, composer and recording musician. I write and record instrumental progressive rock and metal through my project Silent Alpha, perform lead guitar and vocals with the hard-rock project One Down Five Up, and play acoustic material through Midnight Rider. Remaining active as a musician means that the subjects covered in my lessons are connected to genuine playing, songwriting, recording and performance experience.

I teach complete beginners, intermediate and advanced guitarists, as well as adults returning to the instrument after a long break. My principal styles are rock, classic rock, hard rock, metal, progressive rock, blues, fusion and acoustic folk-rock. Lessons can cover chords, rhythm guitar, timing, lead technique, scales, fretboard knowledge, improvisation, phrasing, songwriting, applied music theory, ear development, tone and performance skills.

For lead players, I can provide focused guidance on alternate picking, legato, string bending, vibrato, speed, accuracy, coordination, melodic phrasing and creating expressive solos. Rather than treating technique as a collection of mechanical exercises, I show students how to apply each skill to riffs, songs, improvisation and original music. Music theory is taught directly through the guitar so that students understand how it can improve their playing without becoming overwhelmed by abstract terminology.

My teaching style is patient, encouraging, practical and centred on the individual student. We begin by discussing your present ability, the music you enjoy and what you genuinely want to achieve. Lessons are then shaped around those goals rather than forcing every student through the same rigid programme. I use songs, riffs, solos, exercises and backing tracks that connect with your interests while still addressing the areas that will help you progress.

Beginners receive clear, manageable guidance in tuning, posture, chord changes, rhythm, timing and fundamental technique. Intermediate players can identify and overcome the habits or gaps that have caused their progress to stall. Advanced guitarists can work in greater depth on technique, improvisation, phrasing, theory, composition and developing an individual musical voice. I particularly understand the challenges experienced by returning adult guitarists who may feel rusty, frustrated or uncertain about where to begin again.

Online lessons include clear demonstrations, personalised exercises and realistic practice targets. Where helpful, I can also provide tablature, chord or scale diagrams, backing tracks and short supporting materials. My aim is to make every lesson useful, enjoyable and connected to real music. Students receive honest, constructive feedback in a relaxed and judgement-free environment.

Whether you want to play your favourite songs, become a stronger rhythm guitarist, improve your soloing, understand the fretboard, write original music or simply enjoy playing again, I will help you build the technique, knowledge and confidence needed to move forward. Every student has different strengths and ambitions, and my role is to help you develop into the guitarist and musician you want to become.