Today we’d like to introduce you to Desi Serna.
Hi Desi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 18 years old, after one semester of community college studying marketing, I decided I wanted to make a living as a musician. My plan was simple: perform, teach, and eventually create instructional materials that could reach more people than I ever could through private lessons alone.
I developed a disciplined routine, waking up early each day to study music, practice guitar, and learn everything I could about teaching and marketing. I created lesson plans and began teaching at a local guitar shop, built a repertoire for live performances at coffee shops and other venues, and immersed myself in direct-response marketing with the goal of someday publishing my own instructional book.
Over time, my teaching business grew, I became an in-demand instructor, and I performed regularly throughout northwest Ohio. Eventually, I self-published Fretboard Theory, which went on to become an Amazon bestseller in its category. As my audience grew through the Guitar Music Theory podcast and my YouTube channel, I expanded into online education by creating books, video courses, and coaching programs for guitar players around the world.
I moved to the Nashville area in 2014, and today, my business is focused almost entirely online. I teach live Zoom classes, publish books and courses that help guitarists understand music theory from a practical, fretboard-based perspective, and continue creating educational content for my audience. While I no longer teach private lessons in person, I enjoy hosting meetups in the Nashville area where online students can connect, play together, and celebrate completing one of my coaching programs. I also still perform live from time to time, mostly for fun, playing with cover bands and a Huey Lewis and the News tribute band—a perfect excuse to celebrate one of my favorite artists.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Being self-employed—especially in music and education—means there’s no guaranteed paycheck, no built-in job security, and no one telling you what to do next. You’re constantly planning, creating, marketing, and looking ahead to the next opportunity.
I love the freedom, creativity, and challenge of building something that’s entirely my own, but it’s also been stressful and mentally exhausting at times. Even after all these years, I still have moments where I feel the weight of that responsibility.
Looking back, though, I wouldn’t trade the journey. When I see the books I’ve written, the courses I’ve created, and the guitar players I’ve been able to help around the world, I’m reminded that this is what I was meant to do. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to build a career doing something I genuinely love while making a positive impact on others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a guitar educator, author, and content creator who specializes in teaching music theory from a guitarist’s perspective. Rather than asking students to memorize scales, chords, and patterns in isolation, I help them understand how everything connects so they can actually think like musicians. My goal has always been to answer the “why” behind the music.
I’m probably best known for my Fretboard Theory books, Guitar Theory For Dummies, the Guitar Music Theory podcast, and my YouTube channel, where I’ve spent years helping guitar players make sense of the fretboard through practical, real-world examples. My audience is made up largely of adult hobbyists who love classic rock and blues, and who want a logical, structured approach to learning.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single book or milestone—it’s the fact that I’ve been able to help guitar players all over the world become more confident and enjoy music on a deeper level. There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing from someone who says they finally understand concepts that had confused them for years.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to take complicated musical ideas and explain them in a way that’s simple, practical, and immediately useful. I don’t teach theory for theory’s sake. I teach it as a tool for playing songs, improvising, writing music, and understanding why the music we love sounds the way it does. That’s been the foundation of everything I’ve created.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’ve never been someone who intentionally “networked” in the traditional sense. I’ve always found that the best relationships develop naturally through shared interests and genuine friendships rather than trying to collect business contacts.
When I moved to the Nashville area in 2014, it wasn’t to pursue the music industry. I was already running my online business and moved here because I wanted a better place to live and raise my children. Being close to Nashville was simply an added bonus.
What surprised me was how many meaningful connections happened organically. I’ve met talented musicians, fellow educators, and other creative professionals simply through church, my neighborhood, local events, and mutual interests. Some of my closest professional relationships even started online after discovering that another content creator happened to live nearby.
If I had one piece of advice, it would be to focus less on networking and more on becoming part of a community. Be genuinely interested in people, be willing to help others, and invest in real relationships. The opportunities usually grow out of those friendships rather than the other way around.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desisernaguitar
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@desisernaguitar
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guitar-music-theory/id258401691
