The course for lovers of Acoustic Delta Blues, Country Blues, Folk & Roots
Lead by Chris Quinn & Diana Gisler
2 courses, 2 levels - novice / intermediate to advanced
11th-16th October 2026
Imagine spending a week soaking up the blues in Montreux, Switzerland – home of the world-famous Jazz Festival that welcomed legends like B.B. King, and the city that inspired Smoke on the Water. Boost your acoustic guitar playing surrounded by friendly people & tutors at the Tralala Hotel, a cosy, blues themed hotel just a short walk from the lake.
(flights from UK are currently very affordable, we can give advice on safe travel with guitars)
BLUES FOUNDATIONS with Diana Gisler - 10 participants max (7 spots remain)
Playing Level 1-2
- not suitable for total beginners but if you know a few chords and want to start playing blues, you're in!
You're pretty comfortable with your guitar basics, like playing basic chords & riffs, but you're new to playing the blues and not sure where to start? Join the BLUES FOUNDATIONS course to kick things off and learn what you need to know to be able to jam the blues with others.
The course is designed so that you can easily implement what you learn throughout the week at the evening jams, and leave with the basics of the blues in your fingers and your heart!
In this class, we'll cover:
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pentatonic scales (including identifying the most useful boxes and what to do with them)
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ways to accompany the blues
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12-bar blues shuffle in E and A
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how to accompany with basic chords
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blues bass lines
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soloing:
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licks you can use
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techniques to make your guitar cry: hammer-ons, pull-offs, vibratos, bending
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how to improve your tone & musicality to get that real blues sound
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bonus: basics of blues fingerpicking (monotonic & alternating bass)
We'll use 2-3 well-known blues songs to put all of this into practice with plenty of group playing, so you can leave Montreux truly playing by the end of the week! In the evenings & during free time, you'll be able to jam with other participants and try out what you learned during the day. Mix in with the intermediate/advanced participants for a real boost!
BLUES IMPROVISATION with Chris Quinn - 10 participants max SOLD OUT
for intermediate to advanced players / Level 3-5
This class dives deeper into the blues for those who already have the fundamentals in their fingers and want to expand their improvisation skills.
Attend this inclusive, fun course designed to transform your guitar playing. Whatever level you are at, you'll discover the essential skills needed for playing, soloing, understanding and having fun with the blues and most importantly, exactly how to implement them.
You'll learn all time classic songs from guitar heroes like Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson and BB King, you'll learn the right scales and notes to play, the blues chords, awesome licks, phrases and turnarounds... Most importantly you'll learn pro techniques to help you improvise the blues.
For over a decade, Chris's courses have helped hundreds of guitarists to play more authentic sounding blues. The lessons and workshops given during the week will literally open up the fretboard giving you a whole new, bluesy approach to playing of the guitar.
CHRIS QUINN
Chris's solo performances have been described by fellow musicians as "a masterclass in acoustic guitar", his songs have been critically acclaimed in publications such as Acoustic Magazine and SONGLiNES and his recordings have received airplay on radio stations across the world including Mark Radcliffe's benchmark show the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.
As a teacher Chris has taught in most professional settings, from schools to music colleges and universities. Currently he gives live residential retreats and workshop weekends on blues, folk, jazz and acoustic guitar throughout the year and runs the online blues and folk academy AcousticMasterclass.com
Chris also teaches at the IGF Summer School as the acoustic course teacher set up by the editors of Guitarist and Guitar Techniques Magazine.
For over a decade Chris has regularly performed with some of the world's most celebrated guitarists: Stochelo Rosenberg, Clive Carroll, Martin Taylor and Robin Nolan to name a few.
DIANA GISLER
A guitarist and singer-songwriter since the age of 10, Diana trained at the Académie de Musique Prince Rainier III in Monaco and later at the Conservatoire de Lausanne, earning multiple classical guitar certificates. As what she really loved was popular music, she developed strong acoustic and fingerstyle skills that shaped her identity as a performer.
Winner of the Monaco Young Talents Festival in 2005, she then built meaningful stage experience across Switzerland and France. In 2008, legendary guitarist John McLaughlin praised her fingerpicking technique and musicality.
She later travelled to Nashville, where she deepened her connection to roots and acoustic music and recorded her debut CD “Tennessee”, released in 2016.
Since October 2019, Diana has been running her own guitar school "Opus 1604" teaching more than 25 students weekly with a focus on solid & healthy technique, musicality, and the joy of playing.
We are not running Opus 1604 guitar school at this retreat, for Diana's site, please click here
Retreat Schedule
Wondering what's on the menu for the week?
Enjoy 4 hours of guitar classes a day from Monday to Thursday, followed by evening jam sessions with everyone who wishes to join after dinner. We've also planned free time for you in the mornings and at lunch time to be able to practice in between classes, or go out and explore beautiful Montreux!
On Wednesday evening, you're in for a treat as we'll be taking you up to a Swiss Chalet restaurant in Caux (1150m in altitude) by rack railway to admire the view over the lake (well, we can't guarantee the weather!) and enjoy a typical Swiss fondue night!
SUNDAY 11TH OCT.
From 14:00 - Arrival & check-in
18:00 - Welcome
19:00 - Dinner @ Tralala Hotel (incl.)
After dinner - Sleep or jam, up to you!
MONDAY 12TH OCT.
7:00 - 10:30 - Breakfast at the hotel (incl.)
10:45 - 12:45 - Group guitar lesson
12:45-15:00 - Free lunch break wherever your heart desires in Montreux
15:00 - 17h15 -Group guitar lesson
19:00 - Dinner @ Tralala Hotel (incl.)
After dinner - Acoustic jam in the hotel bar
TUESDAY 13TH OCT.
7:00 - 10:30 - Breakfast at the hotel (incl.)
10:45 - 12:45 - Group guitar lesson
12:45-15:00 - Free lunch break wherever your heart desires in Montreux
15:00 - 17h15 - Group guitar lesson
19:00 - Dinner @ Tralala Hotel (incl.)
After dinner - Acoustic jam in the hotel bar
WED. 14TH OCT.
7:00 - 10:30 - Breakfast at the hotel (incl.)
10:45 - 12:45 - Group guitar lesson
12:45-15:00 - Free lunch break wherever your heart desires in Montreux
15:00 - 17h15 - Group guitar lesson
18:30 - Scenic rack railway ride to higher elevations for beautiful views over lake Geneva
19:00 - A typical Swiss Fondue night @ Le Coucou in Caux (incl.)
After dinner - Acoustic jam @ Le Coucou
22:00 - Rack railway back down to the Tralala Hotel
THURSDAY 15TH OCT
7:00 - 10:30 - Breakfast at the hotel (incl.)
10:45 - 12:45 - Group guitar lesson
12:45-15:00 - Free lunch break wherever your heart desires in Montreux
15:00 - 17h15 - Group guitar lesson
19:00 - Dinner @ Tralala Hotel (incl.)
After dinner - Acoustic jam in the hotel bar
FRIDAY 16TH OCT.
7:00 - 10:30 - Breakfast at the hotel (incl.)
by 12:00 - Checkout
Time to say goodbye & "see you next year"!
MONTREUX
"We all came down to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shoreline [...] Smooooke on the Water"!
Did you know Deep Purple wrote their song in Montreux in 1971? It was inspired by a fire at the Casino by the lake during a Frank Zappa concert.
Nestled between Lake Geneva and the Alps, Montreux is a place where music and atmosphere naturally meet. It is such a beautiful little place, and home of the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival. The walkable city has attracted legendary blues & jazz musicians as well as passionate audiences for decades.
TRALALA HOTEL
For an all-round inspiring musical experience, we’re happy to host Montreux Blues Week at the Tralala Hotel, a music-themed 3-star hotel in Montreux. Housed in a 17th-century historic building, it fully immerses you in music the moment you step inside, with hanging instruments and photograohs of the great musicians who helped make Montreux famous. Each bedroom is dedicated to an artist who left their mark on the city.
With your stay, you’ll benefit from the Montreux Riviera Card, which includes free public transport, free access to Queen: The Studio Experience, and discounts on other local attractions.
Note: Book your entire stay directly with us in one click to benefit from the best rate.
Acoustic Masterclass
Want to start learning with Chris today?
Visit AcousticMasterclass.com, the online guitar academy and global community of students learning all things Blues, Folk and Roots guitar! CLICK HERE
