about me

Hi, I'm Nihilist92 — or Jazz, if we're being slightly more formal.

I've been playing guitar since I was 14, when my nan bought me my first guitar. I was your typical young teen who had no major interests and just didn’t seem to fit in. That all changed when my Nan who brought me up bought me my first guitar and paid for me to have lessons hoping it would take.

I wasn't the most confident kid growing up, and music became a huge escape for me. The guitar gave me something that was mine. Somewhere I could switch off, learn something new, get frustrated, get better and, eventually, find a bit of confidence along the way.

Fast forward a few years and guitar became much more than a hobby.

I've played in bands, written and released my own music, recorded my own guitars and spent years figuring out how music actually works. I've played and taught across a huge range of genres and although rock and metal have always been a big part of what I do, It’s always been important for me to teach others how to play the music that they love. And thats what its all about for me. At the end of the day we can learn all the scales and chords we like, but ultimately it comes down to how it applies to the music we love.

I've been teaching guitar for over 15 years, working with students of all ages and abilities. Over that time I've taught complete beginners, experienced players, people learning for fun and guitarists who wanted to take things much more seriously.

I’m most proud of the fact that I've built a successful career around something that started with a kid picking up the guitar his nan bought him on a whim.

These days, you'll find me teaching, recording, writing, making videos and sharing guitar lessons and music theory online through YouTube and social media.

I've always believed that guitar shouldn't feel unnecessarily complicated. There is a ridiculous amount of information out there, and sometimes the hardest part isn't learning something — it's finding someone who can explain it in a way that actually makes sense.

That's a big part of why I created Simple Guitar Theory.

It's the course I wish I'd had when I was learning. A practical, straightforward way of understanding the theory behind the guitar without drowning you in terminology or making you feel like you need a degree in music.

Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time, trying to understand the fretboard, writing your own music or simply wanting to finally make sense of all the theory you've been avoiding, that's what I'm here for.

Music and guitar is a lifestyle for me.

I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.