About Rich

Originally from the L.A. area, Rich Severson has been playing professionally and teaching guitar for over 50 years. He was one of the first guitar teachers to offer online video lessons and was one of the first jazz guitar players to post lessons on YouTube. He started his YouTube channel in 2006 and has posted over 1,300 videos. 

His education includes years of college and private instruction with a variety of teachers, including Mitch Holder, Ted Greene, Joe Pass, and Charlie Shoemake, to name a few. He feels education is a continuing process. There's always more to learn. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Howard Roberts, Ted Greene, and Larry Carlton have all influenced his playing.

Rich has written three books for a major publisher, Dale Zdenek/ Belwin Mills/Columbia, providing him the opportunity to work with other great artists/authors like Tommy Tedesco, Joe Diorio, and Ted Greene. After teaching for three years at GIT/Musicians Institute in Hollywood, he developed and published his own home study guitar school curriculum available on his website, www.GuitarCollegeLibrary.com, which has helped over ten thousand students improve their playing. 

Rich has won honorable mentions and awards in songwriting and served as president of the Ventura County Producers and Songwriters Guild. Touring for three years with "Dick Clark's Good Old Rock and Roll Show," he had the opportunity to perform with Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Anthony, and many other great, old-time rock and rollers. 

After moving his family to the Yosemite/Fresno area, he taught guitar and directed the jazz band at Fresno Pacific University for two years. Being a well-rounded player, Rich is comfortable playing a variety of styles, including jazz (his favorite), blues, rock, fusion, country, and solo fingerstyle. He performs at local venues in a number of different scenarios, as a solo guitarist, with his jazz trio or quartet or smooth jazz quintet. At home in his studio, he is continually producing new lessons for YouTube and www.GuitarCollegeLibrary.com.   

The years of experience and knowledge he can share with you will

help you be the player you always dreamed you'd be.