Hi, I'm John Mullen, and I've been playing and teaching guitar for over 50 years. My journey with the guitar started in 6th grade, but it really took off when I was 18. In 1972, I started practicing seriously, and within months, I was teaching — not because I was a natural, but because I worked hard and stayed committed.

I picked up the electric guitar in 1977 and started teaching that too. At first, I wasn’t drawn to it much, but everything changed in 1980 when I saw Mike Hamilton play with Kenny Loggins' band before they hit the road. That performance inspired me to dive deeper into electric guitar, and I haven't looked back since. After that, I went on to tour with Phil Keaggy and others, also playing in many local club bands doing weekend gigs.

I've had to put in more hours than some, but I've been fortunate to learn from some incredible players along the way. Now, I'm passionate about sharing that knowledge with others. I teach students from age 10 to 99, covering everything from acoustic fingerstyle to flatpicking, strumming, classic rock, scales, jazz, and breaking down songs to understand their core.

Alongside teaching, I also offer professional guitar repairs and maintenance. Over my decades playing and teaching, I’ve worked at several respected shops in Southern California, including The Guitar Shoppe in Laguna Beach. I assisted Kirk Sand in building top-end custom acoustics for Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, and Richie Sambora, to name a few. Whether your guitar needs a full setup, fretwork, or more involved repairs, I take pride in making sure every instrument plays and sounds its absolute best.

No matter your starting point, I'm committed to sharing what I've learned and helping you achieve your musical goals. Whether you're looking to master the guitar or keep your instrument in top shape, I can't wait to hear from you!