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So you know you want to save time and money over getting an in-person guitar teacher. But you also want high-quality lessons you can practice with at your own pace.
The only issue is, with so many options out there, you’re not sure which lessons will help you best master guitar.
Well, fear not my string-loving friend. Today I’m going to make your choice super easy by breaking down the best online guitar lessons for beginners. Read on for my full rankings; you’ll be impressing your loved ones with your fingerpicking skills in no time. 🙂
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: Top 3 Online Guitar Lessons Websites
If you're in a rush, here are the top 3 guitar lessons online. All are competitively priced, give hours upon hours of guitar training from well-respected guitar teachers, & will help you step by step to improving on the guitar:
Website | Free Trial | Monthly Price | Yearly Price |
Best Overall: Guitar Tricks | 14-day | $19.95 | $179.99 |
JamPlay | 7 days | $19.95 | $119.95 |
Fender Play | 14-day | $9.99 | $89.99 |
The 7 Best Online Guitar Lessons
The way guitar lessons are structured can either enable you to become the best guitarist you can be or inhibit you from guitar playing altogether. Luckily, the second condition isn’t an option, since I’ll be reviewing only the clear winners of the best lessons for guitar online.
1. Guitar Tricks
Best For | Beginner to intermediate players |
Free Trial Option | 14-day trial |
Price | $19.95/month for Full Access membership |
Money-Back Guarantee | 60-day guarantee |
Music Library | Yes |
Smartphone App | Yes – iOS and Android apps |
Lesson Link | Click here |
If you’ve previously done your research on online guitar lessons, you’ve probably come across Guitar Tricks. For multiple reasons that I’ll introduce you to in a moment, Guitar Tricks certainly takes the lead when it comes to online guitar lessons.
For starters, it’s one of the websites with a vast history, launched back in 1998. This fact alone brought comfort to my heart, knowing that it’s not another website hopping on the trend without actual expertise. Additionally, it’s one of the most all-inclusive sites, providing content that adds up to around 11,000 lessons and above 1,000 songs.
Since each of us prefers different teaching styles, Guitar Tricks offers you various experienced instructors, with specializations in different styles (blues, country, jazz, rock, and more.) Some of them are even professionals in the music industry.
Personally, I felt like even the website’s interface was paving the way for me to become the guitarist I aspire to be. It’s super smooth-running and straightforward to navigate, and the video player is extremely responsive and effortless.
I didn’t face any issues with pausing the video lessons whenever I wanted to, and I loved the advanced functionalities of slow motion and A/B looping! Not to mention, the majority of the videos are available in 4K, making for such a rich experience.
And before I forget, you can download the video lessons to your laptop! My internet connection is almost always slow, so I found this feature to be a life-saver!
As for the content itself, there's something for everyone! If you're a complete beginner and want to learn the basics, I recommend you go for their Core Learning System. The Core Learning System basically takes you by the hand from the basics like how to hold a guitar and play simple guitar chords in a course called Guitar Fundamentals 1.
Then, you progress to more intermediate content to practice the genre of your choice among blues, country, or rock.
What if you’re past the basics but want to become a professional guitar player and play as many songs as possible? Guitar Tricks has your back! They have this amazing song library with above 1,000 songs that you can filter by song name, skill level, popularity, and more. That library is my-go to for basically all genres. Whether classical or modern music, I always find what I need.
If you feel like this is more commitment than you can handle, it’s okay! A free-of-charge trial is always an option. Go ahead and try some of the courses for yourself, and I’m pretty sure the content will attract you like a magnet.
Pros:
- A comprehensive learning path called the Core Learning System for beginners who want to learn from scratch
- High-quality and downloadable video lessons
- Multiple professional instructors
- Large song library accompanied by guitar lessons for each song
- Welcoming and motivating website interface
- Free trial
- Accompanying iOS & Android apps
Cons:
- The platform is more geared towards beginner and intermediate players. Advanced players may not find it useful
- Some genres aren’t included among the content, such as gospel or reggae
Bottom Line
If you’re a beginner looking for an organized online lesson for guitar to provide you with a decent amount of content to get you going, you won’t get a better learning experience than this! Guitar Trick is most certainly the best when it comes to learning guitar mastery.
2. JamPlay
Best For | Beginner, intermediate, and advanced players |
Free Trial Option | 7 days |
Price | $19.95 per month, $119.95 Year Standard membership, $224.95 Year Pro membership |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Music Library | Yes |
Smartphone App | iOS & Android apps |
Lesson Link | Click here |
Whatever crosses your mind when you think of online guitar lessons, I guarantee you’ll find it on JamPlay. Featuring above 6,500 guitar lessons, JamPlay is one of the best online guitar lesson platforms available with unmatchable content.
Honestly speaking, I’d also say that JamPlay provides you with insane value for money. Priced at $19.95 per month or $13 per year, you truly get a bang for your buck, especially considering the high-quality of the guitar lessons and the idea that you’ll find almost everything you want there.
I go to JamPlay when I want to take guitar lessons on new genres I haven’t tried out before. Whether it’s classic, rock, fingerstyle, country, blues, metal, or more, there’s always something more to learn on JamPlay!
What I also really like about this platform is that it caters to different skill levels. Even if you’re a complete beginner, I came across some videos for learning guitar that cover the foundations. That means you can spend your full learning guitar journey on JamPlay, from being a beginner to an advanced player.
And to end on the highest note, JamPlay provides this distinctive feature where you can video chat with your online guitar instructors anywhere, anytime! You can even video exchange your practicing with your instructor to receive reviews and feedback.
Pros:
- Wide range of online guitar lessons
- Catering to the majority of genres and styles
- Live video-chatting and video exchange with instructors
- Suitable for all skill levels
- Affordable
Cons:
- Guitar lessons for beginners are relatively limited
- Online lessons can’t be downloaded to your laptop
- Instructor skill levels can significantly vary, which affects the quality of the guitar lesson
Bottom Line
JamPlay is hands down among the best online guitar lesson platforms you can come across. From the comprehensive content offerings, suitability for all skill levels, and affordable cost per month, it’s truly a can’t miss!
3. Fender Play
Best For | Beginner to intermediate |
Free Trial Option | One month |
Price | $9.99 monthly or 89.99 annually |
Money-Back Guarantee | No |
Music Library | Yes |
Smartphone App | iOS & Android apps |
Lesson Link | Click here |
What if the prices so far aren’t really what you had allocated to learn to play the guitar? Do you just give up? Never! That’s where Fender Play comes in. Fender Play is the one for you if you’re looking for an affordable online guitar lesson that happens to be targeted at beginners.
Fender Play has three content categories: a “My Path” journey, songs, and skills. Depending on which you want to learn, you choose the respective category.
To further explain, My Path somewhat tailors your practicing path by asking you what you want to play, if you practice on an acoustic guitar or an electric one, and similar questions, and accordingly creates a lesson plan derived from the existing content on the website in five genres: pop, rock, blues, country, and folk.
The My Path category on Fender Play starts from the fundamentals of music theory and how to hold a guitar until it takes you to how to play a song and makes sure you put what you learn into practice as you go. If you hate the theory part of your online guitar lesson, don’t worry, the mixing between learn and play is so frequent that you never feel uninterested.
As for the songs category, that's where you filter for specific songs by genre and instrument and learn to play them. And lastly, skills are a collection of offerings that help you learn techniques and guitar tricks to take your playing further.
The videos Fender Play offers, regardless of the category, are all high-definition shots from adequate angles that showcase the picking hand and the fingering positions.
Moreover, underneath the videos, you’ll find the chord charts and tabs that support your learning. You can even make the video screen smaller to enable you to look at the charts while watching, which is super convenient!
Furthermore, since not all of us learn or digest information at the same pace, you can slow down the videos and lessons to half and three-quarter speeds to learn at your own pace. Not to mention, a lot of videos come in a ‘practice mode’ where you can practice along with a metronome while the song is previewed on the screen.
Pros:
- Intelligently organized paths to prevent wear out and boredom
- Frequently updated lessons and songs
- Easy to use interface
- Video control features to support a ‘learn at your own pace’ mode
- Chord charts and tabs accompanying lessons
- Suitable for most budgets
Cons:
- More geared towards beginners
- Personalization options are relatively few
- No community for feedback
Bottom Line
If you’re tight on budget, Fender Play is your best bet for introductory guitar classes with guided paths and blending learning techniques that incorporate songs into your experience! Not just that, you’ll also acquire some guitar tricks that’ll go a long way on your road to advanced playing.
4. TrueFire
Best For | Intermediate to advanced players |
Free Trial Option | One month |
Price | $29 per month, $249 annually |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14 days |
Music Library | No |
Smartphone App | iOS & Android apps |
Lesson Link | Click here |
If you’re like me and you’re an intermediate or advanced guitar player, TrueFire is here to provide you with the best online guitar lessons to up your playing experience! With a massive library of 800+ courses, you’ll unquestionably find a guitar trick to learn or a new song to play to add to your repertoire.
When it comes to the quality of their online guitar lessons, it’s superb! The instructors are exceptionally competent, not only in guitar playing but also in delivering lessons of guitar in a transferable manner. Impressively, they also include well-known touring professionals, including Steve Vai, Robben Ford, and Andy Timmons, to name a few!
It's also worth noting that TrueFire doesn't wholly lack when it comes to online guitar lessons for beginners; it's just that the interface isn't entirely straightforward, so it may take you some time to find the learning paths to learn guitar playing from scratch. Yet, when you do, there are multiple genres for you to choose from, and they also offer bass guitar lessons.
On the note of the interface, I have to say I wasn't pleased with the guitar lessons' organization. They're too scattered for my taste, but that's just me. Just take into consideration that you won't find the courses directly; you'll need to do some extensive searching and know exactly what you're looking for.
To compensate for that, though, I really admired that the courses are individually priced. You don’t have to opt for an online guitar lessons “package” ; you can just purchase a single course at a time. And if you’re a beginner, you’re in luck! Upon signing up, you get free access to the beginner course called “Learn Guitar 1: First Steps for Beginners.”
Suppose you already have your mind set on getting the maximum learning you can out of guitars' lessons on TrueFire. In that case, you can whole-heartedly go for the All Access plan, granting you access to all the online guitar lessons and resources at once for a monthly fee. And to further motivate you, you get a 30-day free trial to the plan!
Pros:
- Prominent instructors, including famed professionals such as Steve Vai
- Flexible pricing with an option of single-course purchase
- Private online guitar lessons and video exchange availability
- Straightforward video player
- A large collection of guitar lessons for advanced and intermediate players
- Free guitars lesson for beginners looking to learn guitar fundamentals
Cons:
- Relatively scattered content
- Beginner online guitar lessons are challenging to find
- No song library
Bottom Line
TrueFire is the perfect go-to for online guitar lessons for advanced and intermediate guitarists looking to work on learning precise elements to enable them to play better and master their skills!
5. ArtistWorks
Best For | Beginner, intermediate, and advanced players |
Free Trial Option | Free sample lessons |
Price | $35 per month (3-months plan), $30 per month (6-month plan), $23.25 (annual plan) |
Money-Back Guarantee | No |
Music Library | Yes |
Smartphone App | No |
Lesson Link | Click here |
Remember how I was fascinated by TrueFire’s option of purchasing individual courses? ArtistWorks takes that a few steps further by not only allowing you to do the same but also choosing a specific instructor, guitar type (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro guitar, etc.), and a specific style you’re interested in learning, too!
In other words, you’re basically tailoring your own guitar course! Additionally, if you aren’t a fan of pre-recorded online lessons, ArtistWorks is the best when it comes to one-on-one private course instruction. With a price of $1 per day, you can receive direct feedback from instructors and take your learning further.
How so? Simply, you record a video of your practicing time and share it with your instructor, who responds with their feedback via a video message that you have access to for a lifetime. I particularly appreciate this point because not only is the course experience customized for you but also because the instructors are supreme guitarists with authentic expertise!
Speaking of feedback, ArtistWorks is one of the few platforms with a community where instructors and students come together to interact and share their experiences with playing the guitar! I really enjoy watching videos submitted by other users, and I’ve picked up a couple of guitar tricks from advanced participants.
Finally, TrueFire is also an innovator in the area of online guitar lessons. To go the extra mile with resources, each course lesson is accompanied by a PDF, including the chords and relevant materials that empower you to seamlessly go along with the lessons.
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, ArtistWorks is not only a superlative platform to learn and take a guitar lesson on but also one where you can belong to a community of people who share your passion!
Pros:
- Proficient instructors lead the courses
- One-on-one personalized lessons option
- Courses are available in a slow-motion form to assist content digestion
- Engaging community of instructors and students
- Clearly specified skill level for each course
Cons:
- Acquaintance with the website’s interface may be challenging for some
- Any given course video can’t be downloaded, only streamed
- Relatively limited library of online lessons
Bottom Line
Personalization is the name of the game with ArtistWorks. If the one-size-fits-all type of course doesn’t suit you, a personalized guitar lesson no longer has to be a face-to-face one! Through ArtistWorks, learn everything from music theory to song playing and receive personalized feedback and guidance from top-notch instructors.
6. Justin Guitar – Best Free Online Guitar Lessons
Best For | Beginner, intermediate, and advanced players |
Free Trial Option | N/A |
Price | 100% free |
Money-Back Guarantee | N/A |
Music Library | An entire Youtube channel for song lessons |
Smartphone App | Several apps on Apple’s App Store |
Lesson Link | Click here |
Justin Guitar, named after the instructor Justin Sandercoe, is also among the popular leaders in the world of online guitar courses. With above one million subscribers and two YouTube channels, his online guitar courses have gone a long way with many people who were hoping to step foot in the guitar world.
Justin Sandercoe really knows what he’s doing, and I could tell that just by observing the differences between the two channels. The first, JustinSandercoe, is all about online lessons for beginners. Starting with music theory and all the way to how to hold a guitar pick, the content on this channel is dedicated to those who are still learning to play the guitar.
The other channel, JustinSanderceoSongs, is exclusively for songs! As the channel name indicates, it’s overarching theme revolves around song lessons and how to play different styles. He just manages to make these song lessons super straightforward and easy to follow. I never imagined an “easy version” for Coldplay’s The Scientist, for example, but it exists!
I honestly believe that Justin is a gem in this overabundant market of online guitar lessons. For a long time, I thought that free guitar lessons couldn’t possibly provide the same learning experience as paid ones. Why would anyone do it at no charge, you know? Especially if they could get money for it. But, he proved me wrong!
And offering free guitar lessons doesn’t mean you’ll get lost in the amount of content he shares. Far from that! My perfectionist self was in awe to find systematically organized playlists for different skill levels. The channels are just flawless! He also has several apps available on Apple’s App Store, but not all of them are free.
Last but not least, I just want to emphasize that despite being free, the knowledge you get through Justin’s content truly goes a long way. Each guitar lesson is short, easily digestible, and beneficial, so he’ll make learning the guitar a piece of cake!
Pros:
- 100% free
- A passionate guitarist leads the lessons
- The guitar lessons are all available on Youtube, which is compatible with all devices
- The content is suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players
- Song lessons for advanced players
Cons:
- Relatively lacking content variety
- The short nature of the online lessons may not be sufficiently in-depth
- The courses require self-discipline and following up
Bottom Line
Justin Guitar is among the genuinely passionate guitar players who aim to share their expertise in the form of 100% free online guitar lessons. If you’re a beginner who’s unsure about whether you’ll enjoy playing the guitar, give Justin’s beginner courses a try, and you’ll love the content!
7. Jamorama
Best For | Beginners |
Free Trial Option | Lifetime access to free membership |
Price | $97 for lifetime membership |
Money-Back Guarantee | 60 days |
Music Library | Yes |
Smartphone App | Android, iOS, and Windows apps |
Lesson Link | Click here |
Some people don’t learn except when they’re in a group. While I’m not personally like that myself, I have a couple of friends who are, and they absolutely found themselves immersed in Jamorama’s lessons! Indeed, Jamorama markets themselves as the “Social Network for Guitar Students.”
So, if you’re the type of person who is much more likely to learn in a community, you’ll admire Jamorama’s beginner and intermediate courses and the way the platform is managed.
Literally inspired by the idea of a social network, you create your own profile on Jamorama, add friends, write status updates, like posts, share photos, receive notifications, join groups, and chat with other guitar students on guitar tricks and techniques!
And while you’re having so much fun on what’s similar to a Facebook for guitarists only, a point system called “Integrated Gamification” keeps you and the rest of the students on a social learning track, starting with a 5-week introductory course. Led by Mark McKenzie, the head guitar instructor, you’re acquainted with guitar fundamentals and get hands-on exposure to the best guitar tricks to get you strumming.
So, with Jamorama, you’re getting the best of both worlds; you’re finding yourself in a community of students that serve as your support system while learning at your own pace!
Pros:
- Visually appealing interface
- Engaging social network theme
- Ideal for beginners
- Exceptional community presence
- One-time membership fee
Cons:
- Doesn’t suit advanced guitarists
- Relatively limited content
Bottom Line
If you’re a beginner looking for a platform to fully draw you in and engage you in the guitar experience, you won’t find better than Jamorama’s social-networking like platform where you’ll both learn and become part of a vibrant community that’ll give you the bottom line of guitar tricks and techniques to give you an edge!
Other Lessons Worth Looking At
While the above are some of the best, there are so many lessons out there, with many new ones popping up all the time. I initially didn't include other lessons in here until I had time to try them out fully, but this led to me not getting around to trying many new lessons. Some which could be a great choice for you.
So I've decided to list some additional providers of guitar lessons below for you to look into and see if they're the perfect fit for you.
PickupMusic
With a slick user interface, modern lessons (some of the above options are great, but the recordings are somewhat dated) and many different aspects of guitar being taught, Pickup Music is worth a look.
They're focused more on a modern guitar sound, rather than ‘dad rock' as they call it. If this sounds good to you, you know what to do.
Online Guitar Lessons Buying Guide & FAQs
What Are the Advantages of Learning Guitar Online?
For the longest time, there was no such thing as music classes online, just in-person music lessons. It just didn’t make sense for so many people, and one-on-one classes were the norm. But with digitization, everything has been made possible and convenient. What does that bring to the table, though?
Cost-Efficiency
Online guitar lessons are much cheaper in the long run. For the cost of a one-hour, face-to-face private guitar class, you can now gain unlimited access to a comprehensive platform with that same cost, monthly!
Convenience
I would pick online lessons over anything because of convenience. If your schedule is too tight and you can’t afford to commute in the middle of your busy day, you can simply take your guitar classes at the comfort of your home, any time of the day. Many courses are even offered on smartphones, adding to the convenience!
Learn at Your Own Pace
With face-to-face lessons, you have to stress yourself to learn during the duration of your lesson. You can’t pause, take time, rewind, or stop the course to digest information or techniques.
That’s not the case with online lessons! You literally practice as often as you need to, watch the videos whenever you want, and you can even slow the speed of the video if needed.
Options
With online lessons, you’re in charge. There are endless options for every aspect of your course, whether it’s the instructor, genre, song library, or guitar type.
Basically, you tailor your own experience to achieve the maximum learning possible. Gone are the days when a course was just standard for everyone!
Why Pay for Online Lessons When YouTube Is Free?
Should you go for Youtube videos or should you pay? That’s the question.
If you decide to go for free Youtube videos, you run the risk of being taught by inexperienced instructors. As a matter of fact, they may not even be instructors or guitarists. Even being a guitarist doesn’t mean one knows how to teach or pass on their skills.
Additionally, most free online lessons simply scratch the surface when it comes to teaching guitar, and the information is rather scattered and unstructured. Not to mention, the information you receive may not be accurate, to begin with. As a beginner, you won’t know that the information is false, and you’ll proceed with the wrong techniques.
I also truly believe that paying is the biggest incentive for commitment. With free courses, you may have trouble keeping up with the course, and you’ll be comfortable with the fact the content is always there for free. Yet, when you pay for it, you insist on getting your money’s worth.
Lastly, since paid lessons are available in abundance, the high competition causes platforms to work tirelessly to introduce competitive features to appeal to you. For you, that means you receive top-notch, well-structured, easy to grasp knowledge by professional instructors and go through a superior experience.
Electric or Acoustic?
This is a typical question by beginners, and it’s a good one. Yet, there’s no clear-cut answer! It’s truly a matter of personal preference. However, it has been frequently argued that acoustic guitars, while harder to learn, are better to master.
By teaching you strength from pressing down on the strings, getting used to barre chords, and giving you no way to play sloppy, you learn it the hard way and make learning the electric guitar a piece of cake for yourself.
However, countless guitarists started their careers with electric guitars, and they’re still pretty much excellent, too! That’s why it all boils down to what you actually want, who you look up to, and what music you want to play. There’s no wrong or right!
Unique Features
When you’re considering which online lesson for guitars to choose, look for the features that would make your experience better. For instance, if you prefer to receive personalized feedback from instructors, you may want to choose a platform that offers video exchanging or live lessons.
Similarly, if you want to be part of a community of learners, look into the options that have developed a community where you and other learners can share insights, techniques, tricks, and more to master the guitar together.
Value for Money
This is undoubtedly fundamental to consider when picking your online course for guitars. For the price you're paying, are you getting its worth? Consider aspects such as the course duration, the number of lessons you get access to, whether the videos are downloadable, how long you have access to the content, and similar elements.
Instructors’ Backgrounds
Make sure you do your background check on the instructors leading your chosen course. Your instructors make all the difference in the teaching pace and the skill level you end up with. See whether they’re practicing the guitar, teaching it, or have no experience. Many classes have professional instructors and celebrity guitarists, which can be super fun!
Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees
The vast majority of high-quality teaching platforms offer you either a free trial, money-back guarantee, or even both! There’s always a chance that you don’t find yourself motivated to continue a specific course for any reason, in which case you’ll need a refund.
Contrarily, you may just need one extra push to get you started, and that’s where you’ll need the free-of-charge trial!
Skill Level
You need to pick a virtual guitar course that caters to your current level. If you choose an advanced course when you’re still a beginner, you’ll feel absolutely lost. Therefore, the skill level can be a deal-breaker during your choice! And just a tip: be frank with yourself. Don’t underestimate or overestimate your current level of skill. There’s no shame in learning!
Top Online Guitar Lessons, Final Words
Though there are tons of great programs, courses and memberships out there which teach you how to play guitar, for us Guitar Tricks provides the perfect balance between cost & high-quality online lessons. Because of this, they're our top choice for buying online guitar lessons.
Whether you’re looking to learn the guitar from scratch or advance your skills, I salute you! Playing the guitar is one of the worthy hobbies one can pick up, and for some, it can even be a source of income.
However, the guitar is far from being an easy instrument to master, which is why you need to go for the best online guitar lessons to start on the right foot! And that’s precisely what I gave you a full guide to.
Make sure to be honest with yourself and decide exactly what you want out of your learning experience; then, check each of the options yourself, make use of the trials, and choose the one that speaks to you!
Happy strumming!
Side note, do you want to learn to play guitar songs the easy way? Learn how here – results are guaranteed!