Do you offer lessons for complete beginners?

Absolutely. In fact, beginners have an advantage because they don't have any bad habits yet.

Do you teach adult students?

That's actually my specialty. I work primarily with adult learners, including many in their 60s and 70s. As far as I know, I'm the only guitar teacher in Arkansas who's studied how playing guitar improves cognitive function — which is especially valuable for my older clients.

What styles of music do you teach?

All styles. I grew up playing rock, metal, blues, country, fingerstyle, steel string guitar, singer-songwriter, etc. I also have two degrees in jazz guitar and formal training in classical. I teach everything from heavy metal to acoustic fingerstyle.

What types of instruments do you teach?

I teach all types of guitar — electric, acoustic, classical, and more. I also teach bass guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, tenor guitar, dobro, and improvisation on any instrument.

Do I need to know how to read music?

Absolutely not. I've created my own curriculum based on how guitarists actually learn — primarily through tablature. But I can teach standard notation or any format you're most comfortable with.

Do you offer in-person or online lessons?

I only offer in-person lessons. Each lesson is 30 minutes long. Advanced students may be eligible for hour-long sessions, but that's something we'll discuss case by case.

What makes your teaching different from other instructors?

I've been doing this for 28 years. I wrote my own curriculum, called Street Guitar, and I'm the only teacher in Arkansas who's taught guitar at the university level and now teaches to the public full-time.

What's your background as a teacher?

I started teaching when I was 19 at Atomic Guitars in Little Rock, then at Saied Music in North Little Rock. I spent 19 years teaching guitar at four universities, was Creative Director at Little Rock Jams for 13 years, and I've been running my own lesson business for the last six years.

What is Guitar Wars and how does it relate to your teaching?

Guitar Wars is Arkansas' only and premier amateur guitar competition. I founded it as a nonprofit to give away guitars and lessons to underprivileged teens. I don't do traditional recitals, but Guitar Wars offers students a more exciting and rewarding way to perform — especially for those who want that outlet.

What kind of commitment do you expect from students?

I meet adult students where they are. I understand busy schedules and never pressure anyone beyond their limits. Teenagers are expected to practice about 30 minutes a day. Adults can often get by on three to four days a week — but like anything, the more you put in, the more you'll get out.

Why “Both Sides” Matter: The Advantage of a Dual-Trained Guitar Instructor

David Dunavant

In the world of music education, you often find a divide.

On one side, you have the "Street" players, musicians who grew up in bars and clubs, playing by ear, but often lacking the deep theoretical knowledge to explain why they do what they do. On the other side, you have the "Academics," instructors with advanced degrees who can analyze a fugue but struggle to find the "soul" in a blues solo or a rock anthem.

For my students in Little Rock, I bridge that gap. I grew up playing rock, blues, country, metal, folk, and modern fingerstyle. I then went on to earn two degrees in jazz guitar and received formal training in classical guitar. This "dual-citizenship" in music allows me to offer a curriculum that is technically bulletproof but stylistically limitless.

The Evolution of a "Street" Player to a Master of Music

I didn't start in a conservatory. Like many of you in Central Arkansas, my roots are in the music of the people. I spent years mastering the grit of the blues, the precision of metal, and the storytelling of folk. However, I eventually hit a ceiling. I realized that to truly master the fretboard, I needed to understand the "math" behind the magic.

Earning an M.M. in Jazz Guitar wasn't about leaving popular music behind; it was about bringing back "academic armor" to the music I loved. When I teach a student a rock solo today, I’m not just teaching them where to put their fingers. I’m teaching them the intervallic relationships, the modal choices, and the rhythmic displacement that makes that solo iconic.

Street Guitar: Popular Music with Professional Mechanics

While my Street Guitar curriculum is focused on popular music, it is built on a foundation of elite technique. Most "popular music" instructors skip the fundamentals of hand health and music literacy. I don't.

Whether you are an adult professional looking to play your favorite 80s rock hits or a teenager aiming to be a "valuable commodity" in the local indie scene, you need professional mechanics. We focus on:

The Ergonomics of the Pick: Mastering the "down-up" economy of motion used in high-level jazz and metal.
Fingerstyle Independence: Using classical techniques to master modern folk and ambient textures.
Hybrid Picking: Combining the pick and fingers for that modern "Nashville" or "Prog" sound.
Advanced Styles Upon Request: Jazz, Classical, and Beyond
Although the 80/20 split of my roster focuses on an adult-first model of popular music, I am one of the few instructors in Central Arkansas capable of teaching advanced Jazz and Classical guitar at a collegiate level.
It is surprising how often my "Street" students eventually ask to dip their toes into these worlds.
Jazz: We can dive deep into chord melody, bebop scales, and the complex substitutions that make jazz the ultimate mental workout.
Classical: We can work on the counterpoint and "piano-like" approach of the nylon string guitar, focusing on the discipline of the masters like Tarrega or Sor.

Even if these aren't your primary goals, having an instructor who can teach them means your "Street" education is being guided by a much higher standard of excellence.

A Spectrum of Sound: From Worship Music to Metal

The guitar is the most versatile instrument on the planet. My goal is to ensure you aren't limited by your instructor's tastes.

Worship Leaders: I help you master the ambient textures and "swells" required for modern worship environments.
Metal Players: We focus on the "shred" mechanics—alternate picking, sweep picking, and the theory behind "darker" scales like Phrygian Dominant.
Indie & Folk: We work on open tunings and the percussive fingerstyle techniques that define modern acoustic music.

The "Win-Win" of Music Literacy

You get the benefit of my years as a college professor, but we apply that knowledge to the music that actually moves you. It is a win-win situation: you practice more because you love the songs on your "20-Song List," and I ensure you are developing the superior technique that will last a lifetime.

If you are tired of instructors who only know "one way" to play, it is time for a more holistic approach. Whether you want to play in a local Little Rock bar or you want to understand the deepest levels of music theory, I have been on both sides of that journey. I have the map, and I can show you the way.

LEARN MORE

Guitar Lessons with David Dunavant

Little Rock Music Academy

11220 North Rodney Parham Road

Little Rock, AR 72212

Phone: +1-501-291-1171

The Highest-Rated Private Instructor in Central Arkansas

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