Do you want to learn how to play music but it feels too intimidating to figure out how to start? Have you taken lessons in the past but your teacher made you learn a bunch of music you didn't care about or connect with? Have you been playing for a long time and need to figure out a way to break out of playing the same old stuff?
If the answer is YES to any (or all!) of these questions then I'm your teacher! My name is AJ McKinley and I’ve been a professional musician in the Bay Area for 20+ years. I offer lessons on Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Keyboards (including Synthesizers) and Ableton Live. Whatever your musical objectives are, I can help you figure out how to achieve them in a way that feels tangible and enjoyable and is tailored to you specifically.
Overview
Hired 5 times
Background checked
1 employee
24 years in business
Business hours
This pro hasn't listed their business hours.
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, value, and professionalism.
Exceptional 5.0
6 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Maria O.
Apr 8, 2025
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Hired on Thumbtack
AJ is such an amazing teacher. I look forward to our lessons every week. The best part is seeing the progress every time we meet. I couldn’t recommend him more! If you’re serious about learning guitar, AJ is the best!
Details: 26 - 44 years old • No formal training • No, cannot read music • Electric • Rock • Blues • What the teacher recommends • Yes, the student has an instrument • 45 minutes • At the pro’s location • My home, venue, etc.
Guitar Lessons
Stephen P.
Apr 9, 2025
•
Hired on Thumbtack
AJ makes learning fun, approachable, and has a tailored approach. I have thoroughly enjoyed my lessons and I am satisfied with my progress. Highly recommended!
Details: 26 - 44 years old • No formal training; some self-taught experience • Yes, can read music staff • Acoustic • Folk • Blues • Jazz • Yes, the student has an instrument • 60 minutes • At the pro’s location
Guitar Lessons
Levon M.
Nov 23, 2024
I feel truly lucky to have AJ as my guitar teacher! He has been beyond instrumental in my growth as a guitar player over the past 3 years. He's incredibly patient and creative in trying to help find different ways to get certain concepts to stick. I've found that the way he's helped me learn music theory is very accessible, engaging, and always fun. He's always quick to be able to help me learn specific songs from any genre and can always draw from his endless depth of historical music knowledge to help drive certain concepts home. It seems like every lesson has some mind-blowing musical discoveries. The opportunity to dive deep into the details of whatever you want to learn is always an options with him. He's a great teacher and a super rad dude! I can’t recommend him highly enough no matter where you are in your guitar playing journey!
Alex O.
Dec 2, 2024
AJ's a great teacher. He brings a ton of experience with different instruments and genres, and somehow always has an answer for every music question I have. I've appreciated the flexibility in his teaching - I always have a sense of what I "should" be working on to get better at my instrument, but he's also helped me to simply have fun playing music again.
AJ's a teacher who knows how to make the process of learning an instrument interesting and engaging. Even when we're working on things that are difficult, he helps to break down complicated goals into steps that seem totally attainable.
Best of all, he's really effective. He's taken me from being a self-taught guitarist who had no idea how to look at the instrument to someone who's begun playing in jazz ensembles, improvising, and figuring out soloing. I couldn't recommend him more.
Rita H.
Nov 22, 2024
I have never been able to play a musical instrument. But in early 2020, a friend pressed an ukulele in my hands and said, "you can learn this, take it home and see!" The next month Covid arrived, and so with time, an uke, and YouTube, I learned some basic chords and a few songs. A year later, wanting to go deeper, I started taking lessons from AJ, after a friend recommended him. His teaching is great! AJ is very patient with this non musical learner, and he keeps challenging me with deeper understanding of how music works, while helping me with technique. He has knowledge of and appreciation for all kinds of music - a vast repertoire to draw on when teaching particular things. I have learned so much more than I ever thought possible and highly recommend AJ to anyone wanting to understand music and play well!
Credentials
Background Check
Adam Mckinley
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I offer lessons one at a time or you can also pay for a block of lessons. If you pay for a block of lessons, I'm happy to offer you a discount!
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I've worked with a wide variety of customers! I've taught young children and seniors and everything in between! I've helped people who have never touched an instrument in their life to be able to start making music and i've also helped people that are decades into their music study to find new pathways and break out of old habits. I've coached people in songwriting and music theory and I've helped people prepare for big auditions for school/college/etc.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
