Adam Rafferty

Adam is a virtuoso guitar player and teacher born and raised in New York City. He currently spends most of his time touring in the US and Europe, and conducting workshops. In 2006, he got "way deep" into fingerstyle guitar after hearing the one and only Tommy Emmanuel. And since then, he's toured worldwide (Bangkok, USA, Germany, Italy, Austria, Scotland, Bermuda, Singapore, Malaysia, Czech Republic), released several fingerstyle instruction DVDS (teaching Stevie Wonder, Jackson Five and Jazz Guitar), and amassed over 10 million YouTube views.
Adam and Goldfinch Publishing
In order to produce his guitar instruction DVDs and streaming videos, Adam turned to Goldfinch Publishing (known simply as "Dircks" at the time). Already a publisher of his own work (Crescent Ridge), he needed help with video production. With our multi-camera setup, professional ProTools audio and Final Cut video studio, we've been able to help Adam publish a very successful line of DVDs and streaming media:
- How To Play Stevie Wonder for Fingerstyle Guitar Vol 1
- How To Play Stevie Wonder for Fingerstyle Guitar Vol 2
- How To Play Jackson Five for Fingerstyle Guitar
- Learn to Play Fingerstyle Favorites with Adam Rafferty
From Adam's Blog:
How to Access Your Inner Guitar Genius When Learning a New Piece
Recently a student of mine on StudyWithAdam.com asked me an question which showed his honesty and vulnerability, and it really resonated with me. It’s part of the mental game that many of us face when working on our music. Adam, I have a teenage daughter who learns guitar songs off …
Want Better Guitar Technique? Embrace Your Authenticity
The way that many of us have been taught to think about learning music is like this: we function like computers if we get musical data input, and practice it enough, we should be able to play it back if we can’t play it back, it means we need to …
3 Tips for Breaking Out of Your Guitar Comfort Zone
Lately I have been working on some new guitar techniques that are taking me “outside my comfort zone.” Working on new things can be very unsettling – for all of us. Sometimes feeling like a beginner is fun, but at other times a lot of mental resistance comes up. (If …
Tour News – Australia “Acoustic Guitar Spectacular” Aug 14 – 22, 2015
Hey Gang, I hope that if you are an Australian fan and guitar picker, you can come to one of these very special concerts! Michael Fix, Andrew Veivers and I will be doing the “Acoustic Guitar Spectacular” from August 14-22, 2015 in Australia. 14 August – Mt Tambourine 15 August …
How to Practice Guitar Like Bruce Lee
When I am asked about practicing guitar, I usually preach the gospel of repetitive mindful practice. However – I have been wondering lately…”do I really know what the heck I am doing?” You can usually find me on tour in a hotel room practicing the pieces I play on stage …
What do People See in YOUR Guitar Videos?
I recently had a guitar student upload a video to Study With Adam for coaching, the title read “In My Life, The Beatles, Arranged by Adam and Butchered by Craig” I had to laugh out loud. LOL!!!! It’s important to know that what we HEAR in our playing is different …
8 Tips for Playing Fingerstyle Guitar Without Making Mistakes
Here’s a question I get from a lot of readers: “Adam, I can’t seem to get through a piece without making mistakes.” Well, neither can I! There are a few tips and insights I can give you though – on how I practice and “problem solve.” If you want to …
How to Get More Paying Gigs Playing the Guitar
This article is about some of my early struggles as a pro guitar player and how I overcame them…I hope you like the info here. As a young jazz guitar player I really struggled making ends meet. I taught, played weddings, did little gigs and in NYC it was a …
iPad Giveaway and Bonuses End Tonight at midnight
First off…big big thank you for being a friend, fan and part of my guitar community. Students are going nuts over the lessons in Study With Adam, and some “trail blazers” are posting videos to me already! There are only a few hours left to take advantage of the special …
Only 3 days left to win an iPad Mini from Adam
It’s been totally busy (in a wonderful way) at “Study With Adam”. My web techs are on call, answering questions and working around the clock. So far, the response has been INCREDIBLE! Register before April 21, 2015 (midninght) you’ll be entered for the contest & the free On-Demand download bonus …
Media by This Author
Learn to Play Fingerstyle Guitar Favorites – Vol I
by Adam RaffertyThey'll love listening to you play these superb NEW fingerstyle pieces! You’ll learn spectacular solo pieces while developing invaluable insights into grooves, fingerstyle technique, inner harmonies, harmonics, boom-chick thumb picking, walking bass lines, bluesy jazz chords and more…
How to Play the Music of THE JACKSON FIVE For Solo Fingerstyle Guitar
by Adam RaffertyThey'll be amazed when YOU start to play… I’ll Be There... I Want You Back... Never Can Say Goodbye... and ABC! You get: • 110+ minute DVD with in depth video lessons and performances...
How To Play Stevie Wonder for Fingerstyle Guitar Vol 2
by Adam RaffertyThey'll be amazed when YOU start to play… Isn’t She Lovely... Higher Ground... My Cherie Amour... and You Are the Sunshine of My Life! You get: • 110+ minute DVD with in depth video lessons and performances...
How To Play Stevie Wonder for Fingerstyle Guitar Vol 1
by Adam RaffertyThey'll be amazed when YOU start to play… Superstition... Overjoyed... I Wish... and Sir Duke! You get: 110+ minute DVD with in-depth video lessons and performances...