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Guitar Lessons & Recording Studios

Tuition and recording facilities across Cornwall and Plymouth

Photo courtesy of Rat Trap, Plymouth-based indie rock band.

Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time or working towards an advanced grade, Cornwall and Plymouth between them offer a good spread of experienced tutors covering acoustic, electric and bass guitar tuition. Most cater for complete beginners through to advanced players, and many also teach ukulele, mandolin or bass alongside guitar.

Lessons are typically available either in person, at the tutor's home studio or yours, or online via video call – useful if you're based in a more rural part of the county or prefer to fit lessons around a busy schedule.

Choosing a Tutor

Look for tutors who are DBS checked if lessons are for a child, and consider whether you want informal, song-based tuition or structured lessons working towards graded exams (Registry of Guitar Tutors, ABRSM, Trinity College or Rockschool). Most tutors offer an initial trial lesson, which is a good way to check they're the right fit before committing to a block of lessons.

Guitar Tutors & Studios

Cornwall

  • In-person John Gardner: Guitar & Music Tutor – Truro, St Austell & Newquay area

    A mobile freelance guitar teacher with extensive performance and studio experience, and a member of both the Registry of Guitar Tutors and the Musicians' Union. Covers music theory, composition, improvisation and sight reading alongside standard tuition, with online lessons available via FaceTime or Google Meet on request.

  • Online + in-person Cornwall Guitar Lessons (Darren Richards) – Penzance / Mounts Bay area + online

    Personalised one-to-one lessons built around what the student wants to play, from favourite songs to music theory, with the option to work towards Rockschool graded exams. In-person lessons take place at Mounts Bay Academy, or online via Microsoft Teams; Darren has taught guitar for over 15 years.

  • In-person Scenic Route Music (Steve Harris)

    Private one-to-one tuition in acoustic, electric, bass and ukulele, with a particular focus on fingerstyle acoustic guitar. A self-taught musician with over 25 years' experience across blues, Spanish and fingerstyle playing, Steve also offers flexible, non-weekly booking and access to well-maintained guitars and equipment during lessons.

  • In-person BudeStrings – North Cornwall

    A North Cornwall based music tuition and instrument repair service, teaching guitar, mandolin, bass, ukulele, banjo and vocals. Useful if you also need an instrument serviced, restrung or refurbished alongside your lessons.

  • In-person The Bassist – Truro & mid Cornwall

    Bass guitar tuition specifically, for players of all ages and abilities across Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, Hayle, St Austell, Redruth and Camborne. Lessons are tailored to the student's goals, whether that's joining a band, learning specific songs or working towards grades, with a free half-hour trial lesson available.

Plymouth

  • Online + in-person GC Guitar Tuition (Greg Clark) – Plymouth + online

    Guitar lessons covering pop, rock, blues, jazz, country, neo-soul, R&B and fingerstyle for complete beginners through to experienced players. Greg holds a BMus degree and Higher Diploma in Contemporary Guitar, with over 20 years of performing and teaching experience; enhanced DBS checked and fully insured.

  • In-person Rich Hamer Guitar School – Peverell, Plymouth + online

    Guitar tuition from a qualified professional musician with a BA(Hons) and MA in Music, and over 25 years of teaching experience.

  • In-person Josie Newton Music – Plymouth

    Guitar, singing and songwriting tuition from a Plymouth-based musician, offering one-to-one lessons, small groups and online sessions. Suitable for learners aged 7 and up, with experience teaching Early Years, children and adults.

  • In-person My Guitar Lessons Plymouth – Plymouth

    DBS-certified guitar teacher based in Plymouth with around 25 years of playing experience and 7+ years as a tutor at FLE School. Facebook page for contact and updates.

Find More Tutors

For a wider range of independent guitar teachers across Cornwall and Plymouth, including many not listed individually here, tutor directories such as First Tutors: Music and Superprof list tutors searchable by town and specialism. As with any private tutor, it's worth asking about experience, DBS checks (for lessons with children) and trial lessons before booking a block of sessions.

Recording Studios

For anyone looking to record rather than just take lessons, Cornwall has a surprising concentration of professional studios, including one with a genuine claim to music history. A handful of well-established studios just over the border in Plymouth are also worth considering, particularly for anyone in East Cornwall.

Cornwall

  • Sawmills Studios – Golant, near Fowey

    A residential studio founded in 1974 in a former 17th-century water mill on a tidal creek off the River Fowey, accessible only by boat or a walk along the riverbank. One of the first residential recording facilities in the UK, with a client list including Oasis (who recorded Definitely Maybe here), The Stone Roses, The Verve, Supergrass and Muse.

  • Cube Recording Studio – Perranporth / Truro

    A professional multi-purpose studio built around an SSL AWS Delta console, offering recording, mixing, production and mastering for full bands, solo artists, film and advertising work. Clients have included major labels and recording artists, with credits attributed to over seven million albums sold.

  • Martian Recording Studio – North Cornwall

    A residential studio and countryside retreat with a history of hosting notable artists, including Tori Amos. The site combines the studio with on-site accommodation (four en-suite double bedrooms, private gym and spa), making it geared towards longer residential recording projects rather than single day sessions.

  • Lemonade Factory Studio – Falmouth

    A boutique studio in the heart of Falmouth covering recording, mixing and commercial-grade mastering, plus film sound post-production including ADR and voice-over work. Run by a mastering engineer and Falmouth University lecturer in creative music technology, with a particular reputation for acoustic instrument recording.

  • The Studios (Academy of Music) – Newquay

    A recording studio offering full or half-day sessions for full band or acoustic recording, with a recording booth, drum room and studio engineer included.

  • Sirens Studio – Cornish coast

    A gender-inclusive DIY recording studio, positioned as a more accessible, informal alternative to a traditional commercial studio.

Plymouth & Devon

  • THE DEPØ Studios – Plymouth

    Describes itself as Plymouth's premier music hub, offering vocal recording, music production, mixing and mastering, alongside DJ rehearsal rooms fitted with Pioneer CDJ-3000s. Available for solo hire or with an engineer, and also runs DJ and music education sessions.

  • Shearwater Studios – Plymouth

    A recording studio aiming to offer an honest, professional and creatively satisfying service to musicians across the South West. Also known for developing its own sampled piano plug-in in-house, reflecting a strong technical/production focus alongside standard recording work.

  • Momentum Studios – Plymouth

    A Plymouth and Devon recording and production studio aimed at helping musicians record and produce music to a professional standard, with regular live session recordings published to their YouTube channel.

  • April Media Productions – Stoke, Plymouth

    Established in 1993, a long-running studio just outside Plymouth city centre offering band and musician recording, mixing, mastering and ADR/voiceover work, with free on-site parking. Also runs recording studio "experience" sessions as a gift activity for individuals, groups and parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my own guitar to start lessons?

Not always. Several tutors listed here supply guitars for lessons, particularly for beginners, so you can try lessons before committing to buying an instrument. Check with your chosen tutor when you book.

Can I learn guitar online if I'm in Cornwall?

Yes. Most tutors on this page offer online lessons via video call alongside or instead of in-person tuition, which can be useful if you live in a more rural part of Cornwall or prefer to learn from home.

Can I work towards a guitar grade or qualification in Cornwall?

Several tutors offer structured tuition towards graded exams and diplomas through bodies such as the Registry of Guitar Tutors, ABRSM, Trinity College and Rockschool. Ask your tutor directly if formal grades are something you're interested in.

Are there recording studios near Cornwall for bands and solo artists?

Yes. Cornwall has several professional studios, including the well-known residential studio Sawmills near Fowey, and there are also a number of established studios just over the border in Plymouth for anyone in East Cornwall.

Listings are provided as a guide only and checked against current tutor and studio websites. Availability, pricing and locations covered are subject to change – please confirm directly with the tutor or studio before booking.

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