Steve Greenslade is a lawyer by profession, but meet him in his Oxford home, and you will discover not legal textbooks but sheet music for guitar laid out on the table. How did the instrument first enter his life?

“I was about 12 years old, and learning to play the violin. Then I heard a record of the Shadows. I fell in love with the sound of Hank Marvin’s guitar, and decided that’s what I wanted to play. I was just about to buy one — I was 15 by then — when my uncle played me a record of Segovia playing some Bach.

“I just did not know the guitar could play that sort of music, or sound like that. It was an epiphany moment. Ever since then, I have played the guitar.”

The sheet music in front of us had some notes circled, with a pencilled comment in the margin: “Not possible!”

“There was quite a technical problem with that,” Steve laughed. “But it is possible, I’ve sorted it out now, so that’s all right!”

Now Steve is a prime mover in setting up the Oxford Guitar Society, under the patronage of concert guitarist Raymond Burley (pictured), and with the assistance of Andy Lamb of Oxford University’s Bate Museum, to promote all aspects of guitar playing, both solo and ensemble. What prompted him to set up a society in Oxford?

“One of the problems I experienced when I was in my twenties, studying the guitar, was that you tended to play pieces on your own. It was rather an isolated thing. Guitar societies enable you to get together, and meet like-minded people. Also, a great deal of music has been written for various combinations of guitars — duos most famously, but there are also plenty of trios, quartets, and now much larger ensembles. So you get the chance to play with other people, and learn the musical skills associated with playing in groups. It’s a much more social and friendly way of getting on with things.”

A risk with specialist societies, I have sometimes found, is that they can breed know-it-alls, of the patronising “you don’t want to be doing that, mate” variety. This can be intimidating to newcomers.

“I know what you mean,” Steve agreed. “All I can say is that the emphasis is going to be on encouraging people of all standards, not just the really advanced players. I wouldn’t class myself as a really advanced player, even though I’ve played the guitar for 40-odd years. The crucial thing is that people are keen, and want to play. We’re not going to be in any sense elitist.” The Oxford Guitar Society starts with a concert at the Holywell Music Room on October 8, given by Raymond Burley and friends (advance tickets from Tickets Oxford).

The programme includes music by Fernando Sor, Dudley Moore, and Ravi Shankar, among others. For details of the society’s regular monthly meetings, phone Steve Greenslade on 07989 240 195.