Arizona Guitar School Creates Musicians

The Arizona Guitar School was founded by long-time musician & songwriter Chayton Alo to offer an affordable opportunity for Phoenix Valley residents to learn how to play guitar in a professional and supportive environment in historic Downtown. Our learning approach is innovative and immersive, and includes vocal coaching and song covers. And, we will gently explore the basics of music theory and songwriting. We offer a variety of Lesson Packages.

Every guitar student is unique and we first establish learning goals. Some of our students want to strictly play the guitar, some want to cover songs, while others are seeking music theory for songwriting. All students will learn the 'workings' of a guitar, how to strum and how to finger-pick. And, we offer vocal instruction and the ability to cover almost any song. We will work on the three elements of music: Rhythm, Melody and Harmony. And, we teach basic knowledge of the piano keyboard. Our goal with every student is to create a passion for music in their lives.

The AGS guitar studio is located in the Portland/Roosevelt historic district of Downtown Phoenix. Our daily lesson hours are from 10am through 8pm. Lessons can be held at the student's home and/or work although the optimal location is at our studio. Virtual lessons can also be arranged.

Chayton Alo founded Arizona Guitar School to bring guitar playing and the joy of singing to the Phoenix Valley for kids of all ages. Over the last three decades, Chayton has played, taught, and performed guitar from the Middle East to the Colorado Rockies. He covers over 1,000 songs on acoustic guitar from Motown to Metal with a bluesy vibe. Chayton has performed at The Arizona Center in Phoenix as well as local eateries & events. Mr. Alo is also training to build acoustic guitars by hand. Chayton's passion is to coach students of all ages into a love for musical expression and an understanding of the guitar.

Simple. Call us at 828-808-7000 and speak to us directly. We are sure you will have some questions, and we will want to hear about your guitar learning goals. We will present you with your Lesson Options and synchronize your desired learning schedule with our available lessons slots. We accept payment online through either Venmo, Paypal, or Zelle (or cash). We maintain a "No Cancellation" policy but lessons can be re-scheduled with 24-hour notice.

All types of human beings! Our chief instructor Chayton Alo has taught students from the ages of five to eight-five. We have experience introducing children to the world of music, helping teenagers find their musical legs, and working with seniors taking up a new hobby in retirement. All that is required is the desire to learn and a small dose of patience and perseverance.

No problem! Until you acquire your first guitar, we have guitars that you can play at our studio. We also have a "Guitar Buyer Assistance" program. For any student that commits to a one-month lesson package, we will assist in their first guitar purchase and identify purchase options within the student's budget and playing needs. The right guitar is critical to a student's success!

Yes we do! And that is quite a bonus of learning at AGS. One of Chayton Alo's strengths as a guitar teacher (and a performer) is his ability to cover over 1,000 songs on acoustic guitar from Metal to Motown. Our school offers vocal instruction and coaching at no additional cost. We will be more than happy to help you cover your favorite songs. However, for students that prefer "not to sing" and focus entirely on guitar instruction, your learning program will not include vocals.

We have developed our Intensive Performer Course which is a one-one-one curriculum of five, 90-minute sessions. Playing guitar covers that make people sing, laugh, and cry is only one element in performance success. In this course, we will cover Stage Mindset, Crowd Connect, Gear & Amps, Song Selection (oh so important!), Getting Gigs, and Stage Setups.

Absolutely! Learning in groups is remarkably fun and provides savings to each student. Our Group Lesson Plan is only $200 for a 90-minute session and can include up to 5 students. AGS can tailor the learning program for kids of any age group, for adults or for seniors. It is never too early or late to learn guitar and it is a hobby and a passion you can carry into your later years!

The Arizona Guitar School was founded in mid 2025 and does not qualify for financial aid. While we do not provide full scholarships, we will NEVER refuse a musical student of any age solely based on financial abilities. Our current rates are below the hourly market rate and we offer 90-minute lessons to all students. However, if you can only afford a portion of our enrollment fees, we will consider accepting students after conducting an initial interview. Our school motto and life guidance is: music before profits!

AGS's founder Chayton Alo has been training to become a luthier over the last years and is fully-qualified to handle most new guitar setups. We also will work on your existing guitar and perform intonation adjustments via truss rod and/or saddle height, deep cleaning and conditioning the fretboard, and other setup-related operations. One of the most critical success elements in learning guitar is playing the right guitar that has superb intonation, that is, the ability to hold & sustain proper string tuning at the exact pitch.

AGS's founder Chayton Alo has been performing live for decades from the Middle East (for troops) to the Colorado Rockies, Taos and now in Phoenix. Chayton has performed at The Arizona Center in Phoenix headlining an event and has experience playing for event crowds, wineries & eateries as well as providing musical accompaniment at intimate gatherings. Reach out to us & let us know how Chayton can fill your venue or event with musical energy. Chayton covers over 1,000 songs from Motown to Metal and can create a setlist tailored to audience & event vibe.