Guitar Workshops with Michel Lelong
Acoustic blues, country-folk-bluegrass and Celtic — in the Loire Valley or wherever you are
Workshops are organised on request, in private or small-group format, in the heart of France's Loire Valley — or in your own area if you'd rather host. Three thematic programmes are available, each adapted to your level, instrument and goals. Beginners welcome.
Featured: Interview with Michel Lelong — TheCountryBlues.com (2021) — “One of the primary blues preservationists in France.”
Workshop formats
Residential in the Loire Valley
Spend a few days in Tours or nearby — daily guitar sessions combined with sightseeing in the Loire Valley. Ideal for visitors who want to mix study and travel.
Private one-to-one
Tailored programme built around your level and repertoire goals. Most efficient format for fast progress on a specific style or technique.
Small group
Bring your own group of friends or fellow players. Sessions can be split between playing-together exercises and individual coaching time.
On location / abroad
Michel travels for workshops abroad on request. Get in touch to discuss dates, venue and group size.
Distance lessons
Personalised online lessons via video for guitar, banjo, ukulele, autoharp and bass. See distance lessons.
Coaching
Targeted sessions for stage preparation, repertoire building, recording or arrangement work.
Styles & techniques covered
Acoustic Blues & Ragtime — all levels
A deep dive into the great blues traditions, from the Delta to the Piedmont, blending finger-picking, solo work and accompaniment. Michel Lelong is the author of « La Guitare Blues Acoustique » (Éditions Play-Music, 1999).
Programme content
- Traditional finger-picking and solo techniques
- Regional styles (Delta, Piedmont…)
- Building rhythm accompaniment
- Improvisation: scales, arpeggios, phrasing
- Transposition, chord substitutions and extensions
- Harmonic analysis of themes
- Learning by ear
- Finger-picking accompaniment
- Arrangement (alternating, monotonic and contrapuntal bass lines)
- Slide (bottleneck) and open tunings
What people are saying
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“Michel Lelong from Tours, France, is a great guitarist and a highly skilled teacher.”
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“Our good friend Michel Lelong in Tours has written a blues guitar instruction book called La Guitare Blues Acoustique. It is one of the best I have seen.”
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“Beyond the method itself, the accompanying CD is a real pleasure for blues guitar lovers. Anyone learning the blues with Michel Lelong has chosen a tutor who knows his subject.”
Country, Folk & Bluegrass — all levels
Michel is the author of the Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop methods on Merle Travis, Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, plus « La Guitare Country » (Éditions Play-Music, Paris).
Programme content
- Playing together (duo and small ensemble)
- Traditional finger-picking and solo techniques
- Study of regional styles
- Building rhythm accompaniment
- Improvisation: scales, arpeggios, phrasing
- Transposition, chord substitutions and extensions
- Harmonic analysis of themes
- Learning by ear
- Finger-picking and flat-picking accompaniment
- Building your own arrangements (finger or flat-picking)
- Open tunings
What people are saying
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“With Michel Lelong, we discover through this video a musical style uncommon in France — and that's a shame.”
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“Each exercise is a real lesson rather than a mini-concert: simple, precise comments and a slow pace. Michel Lelong makes you want to sharpen your fingerpicks.”
Celtic Guitar — all levels
Michel is the author of « La Guitare Celtique » (Éditions Play-Music, Paris). The programme covers the Celtic repertoire in standard tuning and DADGAD open tuning, with both flat-pick and finger-picking approaches.
Programme content
- Standard tuning and DADGAD open tuning
- Finger-picking and flat-pick solo techniques
- Building rhythm accompaniment (reel, hornpipe, jig…)
- Harmonic analysis of themes
- Learning by ear
- Finger-picking accompaniment
- Arrangement (alternating, monotonic and contrapuntal bass lines)
What people are saying
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“Few teachers cover this style. After the excellent Country Guitar instructional video, Michel Lelong takes up the same challenge with Celtic Guitar. The arrangements are made for folk-guitar players, in both finger-picking and flat-picking.”
How to book from abroad
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1
Get in touch
Email or call us. Tell us your level, the styles you'd like to focus on, the format you prefer (private, group, residential…) and your preferred dates.
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2
Build the programme
Michel will reply with a tailored proposal: content, daily schedule, total hours and pricing.
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3
Confirm & prepare
Once dates are set, we share practical info on travel to Tours (1h from Paris by TGV), accommodation suggestions and what to bring.
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4
Arrive and play
Workshops take place in Tours (72 rue Febvotte), Joué-lès-Tours (rue de la Marbellière) — or at the venue you've chosen.
Practical information
Who can attend
All levels, from absolute beginners to advanced players. The teaching is adapted to your starting point and to the goals you set.
Instruments
Acoustic and electric guitar. Banjo, ukulele, bass and autoharp also possible depending on the programme.
Languages
Lessons available in English or French. Written materials and tablatures supplied.
Location
Tours, Loire Valley — 1h from Paris by TGV. Workshops also possible in your own area on request.
Get in touch
To design a workshop that fits your level, your goals and your dates — or to ask about pricing and availability — contact Michel Lelong directly.