Carol McComb Guitar Workshops at 211 Lambert Avenue #2, Palo Alto, California.

I've really enjoyed taking guitar lessons from Carol. I was a complete beginner, and she really understands how to pace her group classes so that you are challenged ... but not too much that you're overwhelmed. I think her group classes are especially good if you're shy or have musical performance anxiety, because she doesn't put her students on the spot. The classes work best if you practice at home every day, but if you have to miss a week for some reason, she understands.

A couple things about her beginner class that I was surprised about when I came: (1) She/Griffon will loan you a guitar for free during the class; (2) her class teaches both playing guitar while singing. She doesn't seem to mind if you don't sing well though (that's me).