Timothée Chalamet’s Guitar Teacher: How He Inspired Him to Play Like Bob Dylan with a $200 Yamaha Guitar

Larry Soltzman Teaches Timothéo Chalamet

Larry Soltzman, a guitar instructor, discussed teaching actor Timothéo Chalamet how to play in the style of Bob Dylan.

Chalamet’s Role as a Folk Legend

Chalamet portrayed a cult singer-songwriter in the 2024 film Full Unknown, which captures Dylan’s early days as a folk musician and his famous transition to electric instruments at the 1965 Newport festival.

For this role, the Oscar-nominated actor, who earned a nod for “Best Actor” at this year’s ceremony, had to not only study the voice and demeanor of the folk icon but also understand Dylan’s unique and intricate guitar style.

In an interview with Musicradar, experienced guitarist Larry Soltzman explained how he guided Chalamet in mastering Dylan’s complex guitar techniques.

“It happened organically,” Soltzman mentioned. “Initially, I had a script that I needed to read. I went through the film’s script and compiled a list of all the songs featured, then began thinking about each one. I was very familiar with many of them, but I must admit that I wasn’t specifically acquainted with the exact guitar parts, capo placements, and other details.”

He shared that he appreciated Dylan’s songs across the spectrum, teaching Chalamet one song at a time. Together they worked on around 30 to 40 tracks.

“I probably started with ‘Masters of War’ since it had only two chords, E Minor and D,” he recalled. “Chalamet knew one or two chords on the guitar before we began, so I showed him the shapes and strumming patterns. We listened closely to the record to be as accurate as possible.”

Soltzman explained that it was crucial for Chalamet to understand Dylan’s unique and non-traditional guitar playing style. “Dylan had to embody this persona until he transitioned to electric at the very end of the film; he remained a solo artist,” he explained. “As new concepts emerged, they were presented through two songs.”

He continued, “I could instruct Tim, ‘Remember what we did with C chord? Adjust for the bass note and strum, then transition to B, and then A? He selected a bass line and strummed; he does the same here but uses G, F#, and E Minor. It was a gradual process of combining elements.”

Soltzman reminisced about their first session together, mentioning how Chalamet bought an affordable guitar for practice.

“When he first arrived, we used my guitar. I told him to come without one because I had a few guitars available. Later, he went to the guitar center on West 14th Street and made a remarkably humble choice… He purchased a Yamaha acoustic guitar for $200,” he noted.

Soltzman continued, “I discussed it with director Jim Mangold. He asked, ‘Does he have a guitar?’. I replied, ‘Yes, he bought a Yamaha for $200,’ and Jim found it interesting. I said, ‘If he shows up with this and it seems inappropriate, we will go guitar shopping and return it.’”

“Well, he arrived with the Yamaha guitar, and you know what? It played well and had a nice sound. Plus, it was great because we didn’t have to worry if it got damaged; it wasn’t the end of the world, unlike some antique J-45,” he added.

“I appreciated that he chose to bring a $200 guitar instead of a $2,000 one, which he could have. It showed his humility.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DCTNNOVSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfmsu9q5u

After the film’s release, Chalamet showcased his newfound guitar skills as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing “Outlaw Blues,” “Three Angels,” and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”

Additionally, Full Unknown received a nomination for Best Picture for 2025, alongside the sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two, which also features Chalamet in a lead role.

In other news, it was recently revealed that Kendrick Lamar’s promo jeans were worn on a cover and were initially intended for Chalamet.