Learn from a working Cape Town guitarist.
One-to-one rock, blues, indie, jazz and acoustic lessons with James Kibby. Just starting out, or an intermediate player ready to break through a plateau? Decades on stage and in the studio. Lessons at his studio in Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, or online from anywhere.
A lifetime of playing, shared one lesson at a time.
Born in England and a Capetonian since 1980, James started out playing in church groups and his high school rock band. He turned professional when he joined Sabenza, and has since led blues bands, recorded his own albums, and played on sessions for other artists.
Today he performs solo with a loop station, hosts a weekly jazz radio show, and teaches guitar online. His playing draws on everything from Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Queen to Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and John Martyn, and his lessons are just as wide open: whatever your level, you learn the music you actually want to play.
Lessons built around your playing.
Picking up a guitar for the first time, or years in and stuck on the same few licks? Lessons start where you are. Bring the songs you love and the thing you can’t quite crack.
Beginners
Solid foundations from day one: chords, rhythm, clean technique and your first full songs.
Intermediate players
Break out of the pentatonic box, understand the theory behind what you already play, and find your own voice.
Returning players
Dust off old habits, fill the gaps, and get back to playing with confidence.
Rock
Riffs, power chords, lead lines and dialling in tone, from classic rock to modern.
Blues
Shuffles, bends, the 12-bar form and the phrasing that makes a solo speak.
Indie & alternative
Arpeggiated parts, alternate tunings, effects and textures beyond the usual chord shapes.
Jazz & improvisation
Chord voicings, reading changes, and finding your own lines over them.
Acoustic & fingerstyle
Strumming, fingerpicking and open tunings for songs you can play anywhere.
Looping & performing
Build a one-person show with a loop pedal, the way James plays live.
Start free. Stay for the progress.
Trial lesson
Trial & planning session · first timePlay for James, talk through your goals, and leave with a clear plan for your level. No payment needed.
Book free trial6-lesson pack
6 × 60-minute lessonsR3,000 total. Six weeks of steady lessons, with time between each to practise and actually improve.
Book the 6-packSingle lesson
60 minutes · pay as you goBook whenever you’re ready, with no commitment.
Book a lessonInternational online lessons, paid in US dollars via PayPal
How to pay: book your lesson, then send payment in US dollars on PayPal to
Prefer to play in the same room?
If you’re in Cape Town, you can learn with James face to face at his studio in Three Anchor Bay. Same styles, same approach, with the energy of playing together. Most students start with a 6-lesson pack: six weeks of steady progress.
- Lessons: 60 minutes, weekly. The 6-lesson pack is best value.
- Where: James’s studio, Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town
- Payment: In person or by EFT
- Levels: Beginner to intermediate
How it works
Book your free trial
A free trial and planning session with James.
Choose your lessons
Pay as you go, or save with the 6-pack.
Pick your time
Choose a slot that suits your time zone.
Play in the studio or online
Come to the studio in Three Anchor Bay, or join on Google Meet.
I’ve improved so much in 16 lessons with James. It’s been a fun time and a pleasure learning from such an experienced guitar player. James is a great person to hang out with for an hour each week.
See James play.
Loop-station sets, quick licks and tips from the lessons. His latest TikToks show up here automatically.
Good questions
- Is the trial lesson really free?
- Yes. Your first session is a free trial and planning session with James, and there’s no obligation to buy more.
- What level do I need to be?
- Any. Beginners start from the ground up. Intermediate players work on whatever is holding them back, whether that’s theory, improvising, technique or the songs they’ve always wanted to nail.
- What time zone are lessons in?
- James is in Cape Town (GMT+2). Afternoon slots there fall in the morning for students in the US, and the booking calendar shows times in your own zone.
- What do I need?
- A guitar (acoustic or electric). For online lessons, a laptop or phone with a camera and a steady internet connection.
- Can I reschedule?
- Yes. Just give at least 24 hours’ notice to reschedule or cancel.
- How do I pay?
- In South Africa, pay in person at your lesson or by EFT. International students book first, then pay in US dollars on PayPal to james.kibby@gmail.com.
Your next song starts with one free lesson.
Beginner or seasoned player, book your trial and find out what you could be playing in six weeks.
Book your free trial Questions first? Contact James