A Suburban Backyard Shed Is the Only Place to Learn How to Play AC/DC

Sometimes a guitar teacher is more than just a guitar teacher.

Mad Macka is more a life coach.

Having spent time as a lawyer, pizza delivery driver, carpet factory worker, bartender, and swim coach, Macka, born John McKeering, has considerable experience under his considerable belt.

Best known in Australia for his work in punk bands The Onyas, The Egos and the Cosmic Psychos, Macka is now also offering guitar lessons, where he teaches the three chords needed to play songs by KISS, ACDC, Black Flag and the Sex Pistols.

I'm in Macka's backyard shed, in Boondall in northern Brisbane, to learn the basics of AC/DC's classic 1976 song "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." With me is photographer and Violent Soho bassist Luke Henery, Macka's wife Delene, and Macka. We each have a cold beer.

Macka insists that you don't need patience to be a good guitarist or guitar teacher but just the right mind set and willingness to have a crack. "It's just more about looking after the people who are interested. I don't think there's any secret to it. I've got some skill from teaching previous jobs and I'm just apply that to the guitar."

Before guitar there was swimming. As a 14 and 15 year old Macka (or John) made the National Finals as a medley swimmer and even beat future Olympian Kieren Perkins. In the 90s he spent time coaching kids at an elite level.

He says that he enjoys teaching and likes seeing an improvement and progress in his students. "I told one guy that I could only teach him stuff up to a certain point. Without getting too heavy about it I told him that he had to go out and sort his own artistic thing. Now he's out jamming with his mates and that's good. Some of the others are into metal and doom. I don't know much about doom stuff," he laughs. "But it's all good."

Macka is instantly likeable. He's funny, gregarious and keeps telling us to help ourselves to the cooler full of beer. Laid back is the best way to describe him. Mention a musician or band and he usually responds with a casual "They're alright" or "They go alright".

An online promo video promises that he can teach you the three chords to play some of the best rock songs in person or online over Skype. "The video is not misleading," he asserts. "I could teach you how to play all those songs with the exception of "Detroit Rock City", which I'd had to learn. But I have played in Detroit with the Onyas and Cosmic Psychos, so, that's something."

I suck at playing guitar. I'm terrible. But Macka insists that "Dirty Deeds" is a straight forward and recognisable rock riff that features the three open power chords E, A and D. At first, the only thing dirty I notice is my fingernails, but after three beers, my fingers have loosened and it becomes easier to move them around the fret.

Macka is a patient and encouraging teacher. He explains, demonstrates and then helps me place my fingers on the correct strings. "You're going alright," he says in his laid back and laconic manner. "You're almost there."

KISS was the band that got Macka into rock n roll. As an 8-year-old he heard the Alive album and was hooked. The Sex Pistols came soon after and a life of punk rock and playing in punk bands continues to this day. Later he goes inside to put on a Eric Dolphy record and he is as happy to talk about jazz as he is the punk guitar of Black Flag's Greg Ginn.

Sensei.

After 20 minutes or so I've finally got the basics of "Dirty Deeds" down. While I'm not gong to be replacing Angus Young anytime soon there is enough of a riff to bang your head to.

One lesson is $50. Six will cost $250 but you get a six-pack on the last lesson. "We don't drink beers during the rehearsals but I'm thinking of throwing a party at the end of the year", says Macka.

A graduation?

"Haha, yeah that'd be alright"

So far lessons have been conducted out the back of TYM's guitar store in Brisbane or online but in coming weeks Macka says that he will taking classes in the shed. "The lessons aren't conventional but they aren't that unconventional either. When I first thought about it they [lessons] didn't seem very punk but then I thought that in some ways it probably is. I have friends who are doctors and stuff and they have private clients, so what's the difference?"

A cold beer and a fun time.

For more info or to book a lesson with Mad Macka email madmackaguitarlessons@gmail.com