Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

UPDATED 28 JUNE 2025

Thank you for choosing Guitar Wisdom as your learning platform! Do you need help with finding your learning path? We think this post will point you in the right direction.

Before we begin . . . if you would like to know more about Tomo, please visit Tomo Fujita | Official Website [https://www.tomofujitamusic.com] at any time.

If you are curious about the structure and objectives of Guitar Wisdom, please click here [https://tfujita.today/1st-Welcome-Post] to see an overview in an earlier “Welcome” post.

Now, about your learning path . . .

First, do not be overly concerned about your current “level” as a guitarist. There is no good reason to judge yourself by the number of years that have passed since you started playing, or by whether or not you used to perform with a band.

Here are the questions that you should ask yourself: What do you really know? What can you play well? What needs improvement? What are your goals? Tomo’s questionnaire, shown here [https://tfujita.today/Questionnaire], may help you with these questions.

As you pursue answers to these questions, start the Guitar Wisdom lessons from the top with Essential Chords. How are you doing? If your playing needs improvement, spend a little more time on these lessons. If your knowledge and technique are good, move quickly through this section and on to the Essential Theory lessons. Use the same approach with the Essential Theory section and subsequent sections: take your time when necessary and move on when you are ready. And frequent review is the best way to hold on to the progress you have made!

Do not underestimate the value – or the difficulty – of the foundational lessons on music theory, triads and technique. These elements are the keys to melodic soloing, clean playing and learning new music without notation or tablature. And developing good technique is sometimes more difficult than it first appears to be.

For examples of technical elements that are more difficult than they seem, please look at the Chromatic Scale Exercises in the Foundation: Technique section, and then check out these 2024 November Challenge posts/videos in the Forums:

• Week 1 - https://tfujita.today/NC-Week-1
• Week 2 - https://tfujita.today/NC-Week-2
• Week 3 - https://tfujita.today/NC-Week-3
• Week 4 - https://tfujita.today/NC-Week-4
• Assignment & Contest - https://tfujita.today/NC-Assignment-Contest
• Contest Winner & Video - https://tfujita.today/NC-Winner-Video

The challenges and progress that our members shared in these posts and videos will likely be helpful to you, and we think Linda’s performance video in the “Contest Winner” post will touch your heart!

Let me add just a few words about sight reading. We acknowledge that many of you are less than enthusiastic about sight reading. However, in three decades of teaching, Tomo has found that students dramatically improve their technique (alternate picking, muting) and self-discipline by working on at least some of Bill Leavitt’s Volume 1. Working through this book (see the lessons in the Sight-Reading Series) takes some time, but we think it is a worthwhile investment.

Of course, if you are truly an advanced player, you can jump right into the Applied Theory lessons or the Jazz Standards. But if you find these lessons too difficult, the best approach is to work on the Essential Theory section and the triads lessons. There is no shame in stepping back and learning what you may have forgotten or missed along the way. At Berklee and other music schools, guitar players with obvious talent do this all the time!

Share your guitar journey with our international community in the Forums. We hope to see your posts! “Don’t worry! Don’t compare! Don’t expect too fast! Be kind to yourself!”

For the Guitar Wisdom Team,

GM

Thank you George!

Enjoy the journey, Chris!

Thank you George , great organization and really encourage me to moving forward !

Thank you George! What a guy and This is pretty cool. Now to have instructions on how to get started or ‘restarted’ at TFGW is huge. I’m just going to start over as I’m reading this and feeling energized. Reviewing is so good. Thanks again for putting this together for us.

Thank you, Jiayang and Jeffrey, for your kind words. Your contributions in these Forums make Guitar Wisdom an exceptional community, while your energy and enthusiasm are, for the Guitar Wisdom Team, the best indicators of our success! We are very happy that you are here!

New here to thank you george! I stopped play things that seems difficult for me, instead I work on the Essential Chords and triads, follow these practices and learn routine make me feel I'm improving. I fully agree with Don’t worry! Don’t compare! Don’t expect too fast! Be kind to yourself!”

Great job! Enjoy your accomplishments and keep having fun with your guitar!

Hello, I just joined today, I've been playing for six years (starting at age 55) and have enjoyed it immensely, just looking to broaden and strengthen my skills.

Hi... I just joined yesterday and I'm enjoying your lessons so much! I'm a longtime (40 years) trombone player. I taught myself how to play "campfire" chords back in the 90s, but now my son is playing electric bass and I really want to be able to play guitar with him. I'm starting with the foundational exercises, but I couldn't help taking a peek at the first funk lesson — so much fun to play that E7(9) like Tower of Power! Looking forward to learning from you. 日本（東京、福岡）で留学、仕事したこともありますが、よろしくお願いします。

hey im new here my names Dalton...more blues more blues

Subscribing to GW was less as a result of Tomo's scope as a musician and guitarist, with all of his accolades and experience, and more as a result of me just being swept up by his incredibly tranquil and humble approach to the journey of musical expression through the medium of guitar. Thank you Tomo, for who you are! If you read this, I wish you every blessing.

Guitar has never not been a part of my life, but I've not always been a part of it's life. I have for the longest time said to anyone who asks me if I can play, "no, I can't play... i'm the type of guitarist that picks up a guitar and plays stairway to heaven, or sweet child o' mine... BADLY".
I find myself, in my practice sessions, jamming and improvising, but sounding so mechanical, like i'm just riding scales with a lick thrown in here and there, i don't feel, "musical". I'm not entirely sure if i should therefore work on my technical proficiency, or my musical theory, or maybe i'm thinking about it all wrong.
Either way, i'm so glad i've found this and thank you to everyone who works with Tomo to make such a platform possible. What a time to be alive.

Hi - I just signed up a few days ago. I've watched several of your videos with my son. And he encouraged my to sign up, which I did a few days ago. I've been playing guitar on and off for 40+ years. I always felt I reached a plateau and never advanced any further. I could play a lot of songs - acoustic and electric - but lately I've really been wanting to learn more, and advance my level of playing. I'm happy to be here and have enjoyed and learned some new things already just from the first few lessons. Looking forward to making progress and becoming more proficient on the guitar.

Hello, my guitar teach told me about Tomo and so I've been watching Tomo's youtube video. I just joined today! Also, I see that the Forum is so active and there's also JULY weekly challenge. (I'm also doing the NOVEMBER challenge). I've been playing guitar alone and I hope having like minded guitar learners will help me stick to guitar and not give up!. Yea!

Hello everyone,

I’m 57 years old and I live in Japan. I’ve been playing drums for over 40 years, and recently I decided to take on a new challenge: learning the guitar.

As a drummer, I’ve always been watching the backs of guitarists, so I thought it would be nice to step out in front for a change. My goal is to be able to play Just Funky by Tomo Fujita by the time I turn 60.

I find Guitar Wisdom very clear and inspiring, and I’m truly glad that I joined this community. I look forward to learning together with you all and sharing the journey.

Thank you!