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Begin building your foundations today with Fingerstyle 101 — and be fully prepared for the next Academy intake.
for adults who are tired of guessing and restarting
Finally follow a clear 12-month path that turns you from a stop–start player into a confident, intermediate guitarist with songs you’re proud to play
This isn’t a collection of lessons, and it’s not built for those looking for shortcuts. It’s a structured progression for adult acoustic or electric guitarists who want steady improvement, relaxed technique, and clear milestones that lead to finished music.
By the end of the year, you’ll be a performance-ready player with steady, dependable rhythm, a fretboard that finally makes sense, and five to ten beautiful songs you can perform with confidence, guided every step of the way by a clear daily plan that moves you forward.
A 12-month programme built for adults over 50, backed by 1) An unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee and 2) My stay-until-you-succeed guarantee.
Real Members. Real Songs. Real Progress.
Watch these three students to see the variety of what’s possible — and how the Academy will get you there.
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“With Dan, I've had more progress in one year than in the previous six. Finally being able to play five songs and make them sound good really made me feel great. It’s something I always wanted to do but never thought I could.” - Denise Gillard
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"Your course changed everything for me! I want to learn for my enjoyment and to play for my kids and grandkids... This month has been my best month of learning – I have learned my first actual songs, so I am really stoked!" - Logan Hager
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"I'm a retired 70-yr-old marine biologist. I’ve played guitar since I was 14. I discovered Dan through Fingerstyle 101. That was cathartic, and I joined the Six String Life Academy, and I play better than I thought possible with great joy and passion. I strongly recommend it!" - Tom Herder
These are just some of the dozens of Five Song Club graduates.
They started with things like low self-belief, fading motivation, stiff fingers, arthritis, and years of stop–start progress, but now they play folk, blues and fingerpicking with confidence.
If they can do it, so can you.
The Hidden Problems Silently Holding Most Adults Back
Most adult guitarists experience at least a few of these, often without realising why.
Buzzing notes or strings that don’t ring cleanly
Fingers or thumbs that tense up or ache in minutes
A fretting or picking hand that locks up under pressure
Fingerpicking that never quite “flows” the way you want
Strumming and rhythm that stutters or stops halfway through
Forgetting parts of songs you learned only days earlier
These are not signs you “lack talent.”
They’re symptoms of learning with methods never designed for sore, stiff joints, or busy, adult lives.
The "Stop–Start Spiral" That Quietly Steals Your Progress
(And Why It’s NOT Your Fault)
Many people tell me the same thing:
‘I learn something on Monday, forget it by Tuesday, and by Wednesday I’m starting again.’
This isn’t your fingers or memory failing you.
It’s the method.
Random YouTube videos and “tricks” don’t create progress. They create tension, guessing and overwhelm.
For adults learning a little later in life, progress becomes smooth only when you follow one clear path that removes the confusion.
After Decades of Restarting, This Is How The Guitar Finally Made Sense
Graham first came to me after decades of playing on and off.
He was a successful engineer, used to solving complex problems. But the guitar was the one problem he couldn't solve.
He’d spent years watching his friends make it look easy while he stopped and started, learning more chords and half-finished songs... hoping that one day it would finally click.
It never did.
Songs fell apart. His hands felt tense. Fingerpicking was jerky. Strumming felt awkward. What bothered him most wasn’t just how it sounded. It was the quiet worry that he might be wasting his time — and that in a few years, he’d still be in exactly the same place.
But Graham wasn’t missing effort or motivation. He was missing a path that showed him what to practise, why it mattered, and how the pieces fit — without guessing.
Once that confusion was removed, things changed. His songs sounded recognisable. His hands relaxed. Practice stopped feeling random and picking up the guitar became a daily joy.
That experience is exactly why I built the Six String Life Academy.
Introducing...
The Six String Life Academy
A clear 12-month journey built for adults over 50
If you’re new to my lessons or you've experienced my previous programmes, rest assured this is where everything comes together into one clear path.
Inside the Academy, there are no subscriptions and no endless content. Just one simple, predictable path that gives you the tools to finally:
🎸 Relax your hands
🎸 Build a stunning repertoire
🎸 Steady your rhythm
🎸 Clean up your tone
🎸 Play flowing folk, blues & fingerstyle
And you get a built-in daily practice guide called JamBuddy that tells you exactly what to work on, so nothing feels vague or overwhelming.
The Academy connects everything you already know.
The fragments and half-learned pieces all come together into one clear path, so progress becomes smooth, predictable, and genuinely enjoyable.
...While you learn at a pace that suits you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The 5-Star Roadmap
At the heart of the Academy is the revamped 5-Star Path.
Your step-by-step journey to smooth, relaxed, confident guitar. It's a clear and concise, enjoyable plan that shows you:
✅ Exactly what to practise
✅ Precisely how to progress
✅ How to build real musical confidence
Each star builds on the last with no confusion, and no doubt. Here's what it will give you when you achieve each star:
Star 1
Foundations
Relaxed hands, clean notes, and early confidence.
Star 2
Skills
Smoother changes, steadier rhythm, better coordination.
Star 3
Musicality
Your playing sounds expressive and musical.
Star 4
Intermediate Ability
More tone, feel, expression, practical knowledge, and control.
Star 5
Graduation & Confidence Review
By this point, you’re no longer “learning guitar”.
You can confidently play complete songs start to finish, you have the fretboard "unlocked", and you're a true intermediate guitarist who knows what you’re doing.
⭐ The Five Song Club
Your first big breakthrough
The first big goal I give to students is to learn at least five beautiful pieces.
This gives you confidence, self-belief, a milestone, and a set-list of songs to perform. Instead of feeling nervous or panicking when someone asks you to play, you'll be ready and confident.
Inside the Academy, you get folk, blues, and fingerstyle pieces designed to:
🎸 Sound beautiful even at steady tempos
🎸 Build confidence fast
🎸 Work naturally with your hands
🎸 Make you finally say, “I sound like a real guitarist.”
You get a choice of over 40 beautiful arrangements to learn from inside the Academy (including new ones) and guidance inside on which to learn.
Optional: You can send in your video of you playing to get your Five Song Club certificate and a celebration in the community.
We're here to cheer you on and celebrate achieving special goals like this.
Most students feel the difference after the first song, where your hands sync up, rhythm settles, and practice becomes something you look forward to.
🤝 Monthly Group Coaching
supportive guidance so you never stay stuck for long
Each month, you’re invited to a relaxed live group coaching session with me.
It’s where we calmly troubleshoot timing, tension, technique, and confidence together.
You can ask questions, get personalised guidance, or simply listen and learn from others going through the same journey.
There’s no pressure to perform, no spotlight, and no expectation to “keep up.”
If you miss a session, full replays are always available.
🎸 Fix sticking points before they turn into frustration
🎸 Get reassurance you’re practising the right way
🎸 Personal guidance, without private-lesson pressure
Many members tell me this coaching is what keeps them consistent, confident, and moving forward, especially during slower or busier months.
Watch students Hit Breakthroughs You Can Repeat
These videos are from everyday adults, not teenagers, playing the same folk & fingerstyle pieces you’ll learn inside the Academy.
▶️ Watch Logan's before → after:
From Years of Dabbling to Flow in Weeks
Logan previously struggled for years. Now he plays flowing pieces with confidence.
The Support Tools That Make Your Progress Stick
Everything inside the Academy works together. Each part appears only when it’s useful for your stage.
JamBuddy
Your Daily Practice Plan Inside the Academy
Ask it anything. It's like having a digital version of me on hand 24/7.
✅ Get a step-by-step plan for each day or when you need it
✅ Get instant answers when stuck
✅ And it's always aligned with your goals and the 5-Star Path
Monthly Spotlight Lessons
New Breakthroughs Each Month
Fun lessons designed to develop your acoustic skills, songs, and playing without overwhelm.
✅ Real wins that actually stick
✅ 3 x levels for every adult learner that you can complete
✅ Builds confidence month after month
The In Focus Essentials Course
Your Technique Transformation System
Fix the hidden issues that have held your playing back for years.
✅ Get smoother, cleaner chords and melodies
✅ Fix all your bad habits
so playing feels natural
✅ Fun fingerpicking, blues, strumming, and Travis picking lessons
Community Support
Friendly Help When You Need It
An adults-only space where you’re never learning alone.
✅ Gentle accountability from month to month
✅ Supportive members rooting for you
✅ Priority help from real people
Plus, to keep you motivated, we also...
Celebrate Your Progress Along the Way
Inside the Academy, we also celebrate student milestones in a relaxed, encouraging way.
From your first flowing song, cleaner chords, smoother changes, progress is noticed and appreciated. It’s never competitive. Just positive reinforcement that helps you stay motivated and proud of how far you’ve come.
Plus, from time to time, optional lessons and creative extras are added for variety and inspiration.
They’re there if you want them, and easy to ignore if you prefer to stay focused on the core path.
See these everyday players in their 50s to 80s...
Bill — From Hesitant to Confident, Smooth Playing
Bill is 80. He thought his fingers were “too stiff.”
Now listen to the confidence in his timing and tone as he sings and fingerpicks wonderfully.
Sharon — Playing Music She Thought Wasn't Possible
Sharon wanted more of a concrete plan, songs that sound musical, and more clarity.
Now she plays with flow, control, and real expression.
What Playing the Guitar Can Finally Feel Like
Picture sitting with your guitar. You start to play. Your first chord rings clean. Your rhythm settles.
The music resonates down your spine. It finally feels musical.
And possibly for the first time, you think: “I can actually do this.”
Whether you’re playing for someone you love or enjoying a quiet moment alone, you feel the pride, the achievement, and the joy of being a guitarist, not just someone who is 'learning guitar'.
That's a feeling that will stick with you for good.
Why This Works Better Than $3,000 a Year in Private Lessons
Many private teachers charge $40 to even $100 per hour.
A full year of weekly lessons can cost anywhere from $3,000–$4,000.
And between lessons you’re usually on your own with no support, no community, and no guidance. I don't take on new private students in a one-to-one traditional manner anymore.
My time is valuable, so is yours, and that's why the Academy gives you more support, more structure, and more results.
…for a small fraction of the cost of private lessons.
And you’re protected by the only guarantee that keeps supporting you until you reach your goal. Private tutors and online courses do not offer this. Only here will you get a guarantee like this.
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How the 5-Star Path Turns Low Motivation into Real, Confident Playing
BUILDS
Smoother and calmer technique
BOOSTS
Motivation and desire to practice
DEVELOPS
Songs you're proud to play and your loved ones recognise
TRANSFORMS
Your musical skills and confidence from day 1
CREATES
Rock-solid practice routines
Your Bonus Support System (Built to Keep You Moving Forward)
($491 Value Included Free)
These bonuses support you at different stages of your journey, from easing tension early, to remembering music, to building a beautiful repertoire.
#1 - The Soulful Songbook
Beautiful flowing pieces that build confidence fast
Value: $147
#2 - The Brainy Guitarist
Remember songs, chords, and shapes easier
Value: $197
#3 – Breakthrough Beginner
Rebuild the foundation so things are easier
Value: $97
The above bonuses are yours to KEEP forever.
Each will help you at different points of your journey, from rebuilding your foundation, sharpening your practice, and giving you beautiful songs.
What about the music you will learn?
It's built on the Timeless Acoustic Styles You Grew Up Loving
My teaching, arrangements and methods are shaped by the warm acoustic feel of players like:
James Taylor, Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and even the acoustic side of Jimmy Page. These are timeless, soulful, friendly guitar styles — the music many of us grew up loving.
If you're like me and you enjoy relaxed folk, gentle blues, steady Travis-picking and expressive storytelling songs, you’ll feel right at home inside the Academy.
Still On the Fence?
Here’s What a Handful of Students Say About My Methods
“It's like taking baby steps but you get it down so well.”
— Ronnie, Texas
"Dan is a wonderful teacher. It feels like he’s presenting just for you.”
— Don, Georgia
🎶 Watch me and students play to hear what this actually sounds like
Here's a short demo of me and some members playing the pieces you’ll be learning inside...
Okay, but what if you have arthritis or other injuries?
Some people tell me:
✅ “My fingers are too short.”
✅ “I have arthritis.”
✅ “My thumb is weak.”
✅ “I have carpal tunnel.”
✅ “My wrist doesn’t bend like it used to.”
✅ “My fingers just won’t stretch.”
The Academy is built around tension reduction, gentle technique, and movement patterns that feel good in older hands.
I call these lessons the 3Ps (Posture, Positioning, Pressure). These are some of the first lessons you’ll see and will make an instant difference.
a 12-month programme that will...
Change Your Playing
For Good
You get the full year’s path and all support.
✅ A clear 12-month path built specifically for adults over 50
✅ Step-by-step guidance so you always know what to practise
✅ Learn at your own pace, with no pressure to “keep up”
✅ Stay-until-you-succeed guarantee if you need extra time
✅ Real songs, real progress, not drills or random exercises
If you need longer to confidently play your five songs, you simply continue at no extra cost until you reach that level.
Cost of a Year of Private Lessons = $3,000+
Your special price today:
$597
Or Pay in instalments
(Choose between 4 x $157 or 6 x $109)
Discounted price and bonus for paying in full. All prices are in U.S. dollars.
Access is for 12 months. If you need longer to confidently play your songs, you continue at no extra cost through the guarantee.
⭐ The Play-With-Pride Guarantee
(All the Risk Is Mine)
Here's my unique two-part guarantee.
1) 30-Day Money-Back Refund Guarantee
Join the Academy and explore the full programme. If within the first 30 days you decide it isn’t the right fit for you, simply let us know and you’ll receive a full refund.
No pressure. No awkward conversations.
2) Stay-Until-You-Succeed Guarantee
The Academy is built around clear performance standards — one of them being that you can confidently play at least five full songs.
Your access lasts 12 months as standard. If, by the end of that time, you’ve followed the structured path and haven’t yet reached that level of confidence, simply let us know and your access continues at no additional cost until you do.
No forms.
No expiry.
No extra fees.
You stay until you can sit down and play your songs with control, flow, and confidence. That’s how strongly I stand behind this programme.
This will give you the transformation you have always wanted, and I know these methods will work for you. That’s why I’m willing to make this guarantee.
Why Join Now?
Let's face it, if nothing changes, your playing will look the same next year. It will likely be the same after that.
If you join now, you get:
✅ The full 12-month path
✅ The special bonuses
✅ Everything you need to finally move forward
The longer you wait, the longer progress takes.
You can pay in full (or in 4 or 6 payments), but if you pay in full, you get a discount for doing so, plus this...
⭐ An Extra Bonus when you choose the Pay-in-Full option
🎸 A Personalised Mini Lesson
A custom video lesson tailored to your hands, goals, and experience, so you start the Academy with clarity, confidence, and the right focus from day one.
Let's make this the best year of your playing yet...
Choose your preferred payment option on the secure checkout page.
Best Value
Option 1
Join and Pay In Full: $597
Includes a discounted price and the pay-in-full bonus lesson
Option 2
Join with the Payment Plan:
4 x $157 or 6 x $109
Same access & results.
Both options give you the full 12-month journey. By paying in full, you simply unlock the extra bonus and pay less.
Secure checkout • Instant access • No subscriptions
✔ Backed by the Play-With-Pride 12-Month Guarantee. If you follow the path and don’t confidently play at least five songs you love… you stay for free until you do.
"I can say I finally feel like a real guitar player."
Been practicing daily for six years. If I had only had this in the very beginning, I’d be much further along by now. All the time is paying off. Thanks again.
— Robert Myler
⭐ This Is For You If…
...But This Is NOT For You If…
– You want quick tricks or shortcuts
– You’re not willing to practise at all
– You enjoy jumping between random lessons
The Academy is for adults who want steady progress, and to finish what they started.
What Happens the Moment You Join
✅ You'll get a welcome email with your login details.
✅ You get the "start here" introduction video to help you get oriented.
✅ Over the next 5 days, you get an onboarding sequence of emails so you can confidently begin.
✅ JamBuddy tells you exactly what to do tonight.
It's simple wins that stack… and finally stick. This is where real progress begins.
You didn’t pick up the guitar to dabble
You picked it up to actually play music you love
On this page you’ve seen stories and demonstrations from students like Logan, Sharon, Larry, and Denise.
There are many more successful players like them.
You can join them too.
Whether you play for yourself or you want to jam or perform, you are in safe hands.
The Six String Life Academy is the clear, grown-up-friendly path that finally takes you there.
Let’s begin.
Dan Thorpe
"I could write ten paragraphs on everything that's so wonderful about your program"
"I never thought I would be able to play. You are a huge part of my success so thank you!"
— Nancy Saber
...That's what Nancy said about my old Academy. The new Six String Life Academy is bigger and better.
P.S. Here's a recap.
This is a 12-month programme where everything comes together and you can use it at your own pace. You're also protected by my strongest guarantee ever, where you get 30 days to see if it's for you and the "stay until you can play confidently" guarantee.
Choose your pricing plan on the checkout page below.
And join us now while the bonuses are still available.
Secure checkout • Instant access • No subscriptions
You're covered by my strongest guarantee. I stay with you until you can play with confidence.
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