My name is Ed Nakayama, and I am a Chicago-based guitarist. Hello, and welcome to my website.

The purpose of this site is to provide a one-stop-shop for the tools necessary to become a competent and versatile contemporary music improviser, starting from square one.

At the outset I faced two main challenges - on one hand, I wanted to reach beginner musicians and give them the foundational tools I wish I’d had when I was first learning music. On the other, I wanted to write about advanced topics like approaches to playing difficult tunes, stuff that requires prior knowledge/practice.

My solution was to build out two main sections to the site:

• Education - a step by step music education that goes through topics like scale construction, ear training, practice techniques, beginning improvisation, etc.

• Blog - any and all topics that capture my attention, including those that require some existing understanding

I have played in professional and non-professional contexts for the last 20 years. I studied classical music in undergrad and spent 1.5 yrs at Berklee in Boston.

I would love to connect and hear suggestions, comments, etc. If you are in Chicago, I’m always looking for opptys to play, time permitting.