Dylan is a very talented teacher. As an adult beginner, it's hard to find the balance between having fun and playing some songs, while also learning the less fun but necessary stuff like theory, chord construction, triads, major, minor, dominant chords, etc. Dylan was really able to right away hone in on what level I'm at. We worked together to figure out how to motivate an adult beginner, which is very different from motivating kids. As adults, we tend to be more self-critical. You can hear that it doesn't sound as good as what you know sounds good even after months of practicing, and that is discouraging. His strengths are that he's very patient, good at meeting you where you're at, and finding ways to help you progress without overwhelming you. He's also teaching you enough theory that you're not just parroting a song. His goal is for you to become a true musician, someone who can play with other people, improvise, and not just karaoke through a guitar song. He and I also had similar musical tastes so his song options aligned with songs I loved such as Beatles, Chili Peppers, & Ozzy Osbourne. I highly recommend giving him a shot and seeing if he's a good fit for you. read more

My daughter Lyla has been taking guitar lessons from Dylan DiMartini for a year-and-a-half, since February of 2025. In that time, she has embraced the guitar as never before and is in the process of becoming a complete musician. Maestro DiMartini is the whole package: a superb and superbly trained performing guitarist, musician, and composer, someone who leads by example. But even more than his musicianship, it is Dylan's empathy and psychological insight that make him a true teacher. He understands when to push and when to pull back; when to compliment and when to challenge. And perhaps most importantly, he knows how to listen: to my daughter's playing, yes, but also to what's going on in her life and heart at any particular time, and to adjust her lessons accordingly. As a professional musician myself (a composer and pianist) who, among other gigs, was a professor at the San Francisco Conservatory for 16 years, I know a good music teacher when I see one. And Dylan DiMartini is more than that: he is a great teacher. We are so, so glad to have found him. read more

Dylan is an awesome instructor! My daughter Belle took electric guitar lessons somewhere else before Dylan. She has improved and really enjoyed the lessons here! Highly recommended. read more

Last week I went into a guitar store to pick up my guitar. Of course I had to play the guitar in the store to see if they fixed it right (they did). So, I start noodling. Then I look at the guy next to me; he is trying out an acoustic, hitting some chords, checking the sound the action, etc. just getting a feel. Because of my lessons with Dylan I am able to figure out what key he's playing in and I start playing leads over his playing. He looks at me. We lock eyes. He smiles. He's feeling it. I never would have been able to do that without Dylan. His lessons have given me confidence, a little theory, a better ear, and most importantly he stresses that playing guitar is fun. At the end of the day music is all about having fun with other people even if they are strangers and you never say a word to them. If you take Lessons from Dylan you will be able to have fun and play with all sorts of people for the rest of your life. read more

Dylan is the rare blend of extremely talented musician, and very intuitive and supportive teacher. I met Dylan 7 years ago when my daughter began taking guitar lessons from him. I can remember music lessons as a kid where you were forced to play "Hot Crossed Buns" and other pointless ditties until you finally gave up. Dylan's method is much more fun and successful. For beginners, he asks what they want to play and then creates a simple arrangement with the basic chords. My daughter immediately enjoyed the satisfaction of playing something she liked and wanted to learn more. At my daughter's first recital I could see she was terrified waiting for her turn on the stage. I started to go over to console her and noticed Dylan moving toward her as well. I stood back and watched as he spoke with her for a couple minutes, and she was visibly relieved. When it was her turn, Dylan went up on stage with her, got her tuned up and settled in, then grabbed a bass guitar. They began playing together, then I watched as he turned the volume on his bass all the way down. He kept playing which gave her confidence but he was making almost no sound, so it was all her. He's done several things over the years to provide my daughter with great musical experiences. He's given her the opportunity to try her hand at bass guitar, keyboards and drums. He's also managed to talk her into performing in public quite a few times, both solo and in groups. Also, he set up recording equipment in the studio and introduced her to multi-track recording and the process that goes into creating the music she loves. All the while, he taught her to continually improve her technique and engaged her to challenge herself in different genres and styles. As a parent, I particularly appreciated Dylan's remarkable flexibility with scheduling. He allowed for make-up sessions which is key for the life of a busy teenager. I could go on but there aren't enough good things I can say about our experiences with Dylan. My daughter has always looked forward to her lessons and is going to miss them terribly as she leaves for college...with her guitar. The confidence she has gained over the years from the lessons and jam sessions in Dylan's studio has carried over to other parts of her life. I'm extremely happy with the experience she's had and all she's gained as a result. read more

There are so many reasons why I give Dylan 5 stars. When I had my first lesson, I was worried that I would want to switch teachers again. I was wrong. I immediately knew that I would progress so much with Dylan as my teacher. Now, in the span of i think half a year, I have learned more then I could have ever learned with anyone else. Aside from the skills I have learned, Dylan is one of the nicest coolest person I have come to know. He is patient when I make mistakes, and he even took time out of his day to help me look at guitars. I would fully recommend Dylan Dimartini if you want a reliable guitar teacher and friend! read more

Dylan has been the best guitar teacher for my 14 year old daughter. She loves being able to bring her musical ideas to him and have his help unlocking new musical skills to play the songs she feels passionate about. She has come so far since she picked up a guitar and started studying with him in the fall, I am honestly astounded. She even braved an open mic night and made her first tips playing music! I know he's a great teacher because my daughter comes home from lessons brimming with inspiration. Thank you Dylan! read more

I came into guitar lessons with several years of experience fingerpicking and strumming on classical and acoustic guitar. Luckily during the pandemic I had the chance to improve my technique on electric, and I'm so glad I picked Dylan as a teacher. After a few months I am now in a much different place in terms of my ability than I would have been watching YouTube videos. He has taught me a variety of ways to hold my hands properly to get the right sounds, and worked with me slowly through the details when I'm unsure. He gives great homework assignments for songs I can now play much easier with new techniques. His library of music knowledge from different genres is very helpful... he makes smart connections between songs and offers different styles of playing the same song to help get you unstuck. He also has infinite patience, which to be honest is helpful for me as an experienced player who gets easily frustrated when I have to reorient myself. The things we've worked on have also helped me expand a lot in my songwriting! Which has translated to more confidence on stage for me as well. No matter how much you're struggling, he always makes you feel that you can do it on your own. If you're an advanced or intermediate player who feels confident in their skills but knows there are certain things they still want to "unlock", Dylan is a wonderful choice. read more

Dylan is an extremely knowledgeable and patient teacher! He is very thorough and always manages to make sessions fun even when we are covering a lot of material. He puts in a lot of work outside of sessions to make sure we can pack a lot into a short period of time. He has been really helpful in filling in the gaps in my knowledge from on-and-off self driven internet guitar lessons and in tailoring lessons to my specific needs as a songwriter. I highly recommend Dylan for motivated folks with a diversity of musical interests! read more

Dylan is working with my 12 year old daughter who developed a love of guitar. She loves him, he is very responsive to her interests and meets her in her style. He is great at figuring out how to approach things in a way she can engage with and learn without frustration. He is resposive and flexible! Definitely call him if you are looking for a guitar teacher! read more

I've taken guitar lessons from Dylan for two years and I couldn't recommend him enough. He's a stupidly talented musician and songwriter but it's who he is as a person that makes him a great teacher. He is genuinely encouraging, endlessly patient and non-judgmental. I continue to grow and lessons continue to be a source of joy, so I will continue to give him my money. read more

Dylan is a committed guitar player and teacher. He's an accomplished and educated musician with a skill at translating what he knows technically, intuitively and musically to the student. He has an easygoing and supportive style that makes learning accessible and fun. I'm a beginning adult guitar student and I have found him diligent, easy to work with, helpful and motivating. Greg H read more

Dylan is a great teacher! A talented musician and a patient instructor. Good with kids and adults. Would highly recommend.

Dylan is a fantastic teacher who really knows how to connect with his students. We were seeking a beginning guitar teacher for my teenage son who loves music but had had some prior negative experiences with music lessons. Dylan immediately drew him out by figuring out the kind of music he likes and designed some introductory exercises that built on his favorite tunes. This definitely motivated my son to practice. Dylan is also patient and encouraging but also clear about what he wants my son to work on. He also relates well to my teenager, while also being professional and easy to communicate and schedule with. We're so glad we found Dylan as a teacher! read more

I have been one of Dylan's students for about nine years! (since I was in fourth grade). I started guitar lessons with my dad and with Dylan's help quickly progressed to be able to join a band that Dylan oversaw. Recently, Dylan has been amazing at encouraging me to expand my musical skill set. He has really helped develop my original songs and has even shown me the editing process. Whether you are new to the guitar or have been playing as long as I have, I couldn't think of a better teacher. read more

Dylan has been teaching my 8yo for a few months now. He was the first in 3 teachers to actually show her how to tune her guitar and a rhyme to remember the strings names. She has learned a lot from him already. He is always patient and engaging and picks songs she actually likes and wants to play!! read more

Dylan is amazingly talented. He is a sick guitar player, writer and singer, and those skills carry over to his ability to teach. He is good at helping you explore the instrument and different ways of playing it by working patiently on a wide range of songs. He is flexible and creative in his approach - when something isn't working, he can find a different way to explain or teach the song. And, it doesn't hurt that he's an all-around good guy. My son loves his lessons with Dylan as much as I do. read more