We recently had the chance to connect with Chas Evans and have shared our conversation below.
Chas, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, it’s integrity. It’s the foundation everything else stands on. I learned that early on in the Army National Guard, where integrity isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a core value. You can have all the intelligence and all the energy in the world, but if people can’t trust your word or your actions, it doesn’t mean much. I’ve met brilliant people who burned out, and high-energy people who were just spinning their wheels. But integrity is what gives direction and purpose to everything else. It builds trust, it creates real connections, and it makes your intelligence and energy actually matter. It’s what keeps your relationships honest, your work meaningful, and your drive aimed in the right direction.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started out teaching guitar at a small school here in Mississippi and did that for about ten years. When Covid hit, everything stopped—school, lessons, everything. When I came back the next year, my student numbers had dropped to almost nothing, which was honestly alarming. I went to a conference and talked with guitar colleagues around the state and realized it wasn’t just me—everyone was seeing the same thing.
That’s when it really clicked for me: my purpose isn’t just to teach guitar locally, but to help spark a love for guitar everywhere. I realized the world still needed guitar, it just needed it in a way that fit people’s lives now. TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Reels became the perfect tools—short, bite-sized lessons to show people that guitar doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can be easy, fun, and accessible for anyone.
Since then, things have really taken off on those platforms. The response showed me that there’s still a huge hunger for guitar out there. My mission now is simple: to inspire and teach the world to play, one riff at a time.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the moments that shaped how I see the world was when my mother passed away. Losing her made me realize just how fleeting our time here really is. It changed the way I think about what I do and why I do it. For me, it’s no longer about just playing guitar or teaching notes and chords—it’s about making an impact, connecting with people, and using music to help in whatever way I can. That experience taught me that life is short, and the best thing we can do is spend our time lifting others up, sharing what we know, and leaving something positive behind.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this: don’t worry, it gets better. I was a weird, nerdy kid in high school and got bullied pretty relentlessly. At the time, it felt like that was just going to be my story forever. But what I’d want that kid to know is that life opens up. The things that made you stand out then are the same things that make you special later. Hold on, because there’s a whole world waiting for you where being yourself is exactly what people will connect with and celebrate.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the guitar world tells itself is that guitar has had its time and people aren’t interested anymore. I’ve heard that narrative for years—‘kids don’t want to play guitar, it’s all electronic now, the golden age has passed.’ That’s just not true. What’s really happened is the way people learn and engage with guitar has changed.
Another lie is that learning guitar has to be hard and intimidating. Too often, the industry pushes this idea that you need years of study or expensive gear before you can really ‘count’ as a guitarist. That kind of gatekeeping turns people away before they even start. The truth is, guitar can be accessible, fun, and rewarding right from day one. My whole mission is proving that—it doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Literally anyone can play guitar.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes. For years I had this dream of teaching guitar at the college level. When I finally got there, the actual teaching part was everything I hoped it would be—working with students, sharing music, watching them grow—that was incredibly rewarding. But what I didn’t expect was how discouraging the politics, administration, and nepotism could be behind the scenes. It took a lot of the joy out of something I thought would be my ultimate goal. Looking back, it taught me an important lesson: sometimes what you think you want isn’t the thing that will truly fulfill you. In my case, it pushed me toward creating my own path and reaching students on my own terms, which has turned out to be far more satisfying and impactful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chevansmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chevansmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chevansmusic
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