Best Online Guitar Lessons for Beginners


#1

  • Huge library containing more than 700 songs, 11,000 lessons
  • Offers 14 day trial
  • sixty-day satisfaction guarantee
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  • Huge library containing more than 700 songs, 11,000 lessons
  • Offers 14 day trial
  • sixty-day satisfaction guarantee

#2

  • Over 400 courses and 80 guitar teachers to choose from
  • Massive library of songs to Chose from
  • Free trial plus 100% Money Back Guarantee
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  • Over 400 courses and 80 guitar teachers to choose from
  • Massive library of songs to Chose from
  • Free trial plus 100% Money Back Guarantee

#3

  • Offes six different learning styles for beginners
  • Offers seven-day free trial
  • Offers both electric or acoustic guitar lessons
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  • Offes six different learning styles for beginners
  • Offers seven-day free trial
  • Offers both electric or acoustic guitar lessons

#4

  • Interactive online learning platform
  • Effective learning format
  • Plenty of free resources to get you started
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  • Interactive online learning platform
  • Effective learning format
  • Plenty of free resources to get you started

#5

  • Over than 1,000 video lessons to choose from
  • Well-organized reference material
  • Well organized and sound methodology
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  • Over than 1,000 video lessons to choose from
  • Well-organized reference material
  • Well organized and sound methodology

#6

  • 90-Day money back Guarantee
  • Plenty of free rsources
  • Good resources for beginners and intermediate players
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  • 90-Day money back Guarantee
  • Plenty of free rsources
  • Good resources for beginners and intermediate players

#7

  • Wide variety of videos, eBooks, and PDFs in its library
  • New Video lessons are added on a monthly basis
  • Active forum community
  • Basic access is free
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  • Wide variety of videos, eBooks, and PDFs in its library
  • New Video lessons are added on a monthly basis
  • Active forum community
  • Basic access is free

#8

  • 7-day free trial
  • Offers both monthly and yearly membership
  • Over 500 premium lessons
  • Offers both free and premium materials
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  • 7-day free trial
  • Offers both monthly and yearly membership
  • Over 500 premium lessons
  • Offers both free and premium materials

#9

  • Subscribers get a free chord book
  • Plenty of lessons to choose from
  • Free resource center
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  • Subscribers get a free chord book
  • Plenty of lessons to choose from
  • Free resource center

#10
Hub Guitar
  • Hundreds of free online guitar lessons
  • Offers one-on-one guitar lessons via Skype
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  • Hundreds of free online guitar lessons
  • Offers one-on-one guitar lessons via Skype

*Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review.

 

Learning How to Play Guitar

You’ve purchased your first guitar, or finally have time to pick up and play one that’s been passed down to you.

What comes next? If you’re lucky, you have the time and financial means to hire a private teacher locally for in-person guitar instruction.

If you’re like most new players, you’d like to learn some basics online before hooking up with a local instructor who offers guitar lessons in the style you prefer.

This makes a lot of sense! The internet has made music lessons more accessible to everyone, particularly beginners who want to learn the ropes before making an investment in their musical education.

Whether you want to play acoustic or electric, or a little bit of both, you’ll find that there are plenty of great sites offering online guitar lessons, either in subscription format or via webcam.

Some even have free content to help you get started! We have to admit that because of this, we had a little bit of difficulty narrowing the many wonderful online guitar lesson sites down into a list of the “Top 10.”

Take a look around, check out the sites, and start learning guitar. Most of all, have fun!

Guitar Tricks

Guitar Tricks was developed to provide a step-by-step curriculum for beginning guitar players as well as those with more advanced skills. With a library containing more than 700 songs, 11,000 lessons, and qualified instructors from all over the world.

It’s been around since 1998 and is easily among the best sites for online guitar lessons – plus it offers a fantastic library of backing tracks in different keys so that you can get a feel for playing with other musicians even when you’re alone.

The site offers insight into all genres of guitar, and in case you’re on the fence, there is plenty of free content to help you decide whether Guitar Tricks is right for you. A membership provides complete access to everything on the site.

The sixty-day satisfaction guarantee inspires confidence in the company’s ability to deliver on its promises. You can even try Guitar Tricks free for 14 days before making a commitment!

Pros

  • More than 40 instructors; over 10,000 lessons
  • Different subscription levels from basic access to personal one-on-one live online lessons
  • Well-organized, with step-by-step courses for beginners
  • Many Jam Tracks to play along with

Cons

  • Slightly smaller song library than some other sites

 

JamPlay

With more than 400 courses and well over 80 guitar teachers to choose from, JamPlay is a leading source of online guitar lessons for beginners and beyond. You can choose from pre-recorded or live lessons, and the site also offers live Q&A sessions each day.

Open mic nights let you hear what other guitar students are up to and show off your own skills.

The live learning platform comes with your membership, and so do all the other resources found here, including games, licks, tracks to play along with, and a massive library of songs to learn.

JamPlay costs more than some of its competitors, but you get a free trial before committing, so you can determine whether you’re ready to invest. This site has something for everyone, from beginner to expert, with every style imaginable.

Pros

  • Many genres to choose from; several famous performers among the 80+ instructors
  • Streaming live guitar courses weekly
  • Active online community with open mic nights and more; easy to interact with others who share an interest in playing guitar
  • Offers online guitar lessons for kids

Cons

  • Shorter free trial period than some other sites
  • Extra fee for downloading and “owning” lessons for offline access (online access is included with membership)

Guitar Instructor

Founded by music legend Hal Leonard, Guitar Instructor distinguishes itself by offering six different learning styles for beginners. Users can choose from electric or acoustic guitar lessons, online guitar lessons for kids or a video course.

The traditional method area is based on Hal Leonard’s best-selling guitar method, and the classical method area uses music by famous composers to help beginning guitarists learn how to play classical guitar.

Once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll find tons of songs to learn and if you’d like lessons, you’ll find a wide range of instructors to help you learn your preferred style. Guitar Instructor offers monthly subscriptions, plus a seven-day free trial.

Pros

  • Six learning paths for beginners; 100+ teachers
  • Play-Along tracks with full band performing or lead guitar removed
  • Free previews of song transcriptions allow users to decide whether to purchase or not
  • A la carte lesson option for occasional users who want to save money

Cons

  • Less free content than some competitors

 

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ArtistWorks

Whether you want to learn rock guitar, take blues lessons, or get into a country music state of mind, you’ll find plenty of great lessons, tabs, and more at ArtistWorks. Top instructors share their knowledge, helping you learn the fundamentals as you make your way from beginner lessons to intermediate songs.

The ArtistWorks menu isn’t quite as large as you’ll find at some other sites, and there is no free trial membership. All the same, it’s a fantastic source for students who are ready to get serious.

You’ll find here is of excellent quality, plus you can record videos, which your teacher reviews before providing you with direct feedback and helpful tips on improving your style.

In all, the site offers more than 2,000 lessons, over 100 songs, and a great interactive community.

Pros

  • Highly interactive learning featuring lots of one-on-one with instructors
  • Feels more like an in-person tutoring experience than most other online guitar courses
  • Free sample lessons help users ensure that they like the instructor/style before investing
  • Free beginning acoustic guitar lessons

Cons

  • Costs a little more than most other guitar lessons online

 

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Justin Guitar

Hands down, Justin Guitar is the best site for free online guitar lessons, with more than 1,000 video lessons to choose from, tons of songs, outstanding style tips, and plenty of well-organized reference material.

Where some free guitar lessons are lacking, Justin Guitar’s stand out by offering excellent organization and sound methodology.  While it’s not nearly as fancy as some of the other guitar sites reviewed here, it’s a great place to start out if you’re a beginner on a tight budget.

You can make a donation if you’d like to help the site grow, but there’s no requirement to do so.

Pros

  • Totally free; great for people on a very tight budget
  • Good lessons, particularly for beginners
  • New content added frequently

Cons

  • Not as well-structured as some other sites

 

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Guitar Lessons by Guitareo

Nate Savage is an expert when it comes to online guitar lessons for beginners – he has more than ten years’ experience, and he’s familiar with the obstacles students encounter.

Today, Nick is featured at Guitar Lessons by Guitareo, a fantastic online guitar lessons site that offers a wealth of free content to help new players get started, plus a vast variety of content for beginners and intermediate players.

Like many other top guitar sites, Guitar Lessons offers beginning techniques for acoustic and electric, plus instruction in different styles of music including blues, bluegrass, metal, country, and more. Beginners can get started for free.

Pros

  • Excellent for beginners and intermediate players
  • Many membership options including an affordable lifetime membership
  • Live lessons; personal feedback helps users learn

Cons

  • A little less content than some competitors offer

 

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Jamorama

With plenty of videos, eBooks, and PDFs in its library, Jamorama is a great site for online guitar lessons, particularly for beginners. You’ll get a good grasp on the basics, and you’ll never be bored, since new video lessons are added on a monthly basis.

You’ll learn chords and basic progression here, plus you can learn how to maintain your guitar. What’s missing?

There’s not a lot of live interaction here, although there is a growing community of users who help keep you motivated and offer plenty of social media style interaction. There are also some gamified features, which help make learning a lot more fun. Sign up is free, and prices are lower than you’ll find at most other sites.

Pros

  • More affordable than many competitors
  • Gamified learning for fun and motivation
  • Many social features
  • Helpful, well-written blog

Cons

  • Fewer lessons than most competitors offer (hundreds of lessons instead of thousands)

 

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Guitar Compass

Guitar Compass got its start back in the 1980s, when cassette tapes and videos were the best resources beginning guitarists had when no live instructor was available. Over the years, the system has evolved, and now, students have access to streaming videos, jam tracks, tabs, and other materials.

This site is simply designed, with all free and premium materials neatly organized for easy access. Prices are highly competitive, and there is a 7-day free trial for those who are interested in a premium membership.

Like many other top guitar lessons sites, Guitar Compass generously provides access to free items even when visitors don’t sign up.

Pros

  • Many free lessons, free content is viewable without any signup
  • Inexpensive paid access
  • Site is very easy to navigate

Cons

  • Fewer genres than most competitors offer

 

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Fretjam

Fretjam is a fantastic source for free online guitar lessons, and it’s a great place to pick up theory. Subscribers get a free chord book, and there are loads of other free resources available.

This site is different as it places a strong focus on developing your own unique style, and even writing your own music. It’s well worth a visit, whether your brand new to guitar or if you’ve been playing for a while. The site is truly free to use!

Pros

  • Comprehensive lessons help beginners become well-rounded guitarists
  • All content is free
  • Unique teaching style encourages visitors to develop their own playing style

Cons

  • Mostly for beginners and intermediate players; not much content for knowledgeable / advanced players

 

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Hub Guitar

At Hub Guitar, the stated mission is simple: To create guitar players! With hundreds of free online guitar lessons, lots of great musicianship resources, and plenty of advice on offer, this site is a great one for learning basic technique and picking up some songs along the way.

If you’re ready to progress to the next level, you’ll be glad to discover that instructor Grey Arney offers one-on-one guitar lessons via Skype. This site is newer than some others, and it’s a bit smaller. Still, it is well worth a visit!

Pros

  • One-on-one Skype lessons available as packages or a la carte
  • First one-on-one lesson is free
  • Hundreds of free recorded lessons; good for beginners who want to learn the basics
  • Many lesson topics to choose from; site is well-laid out by topic and level

Cons

  • Smaller site than most others
  • In-person lessons cost more than traditional online guitar lessons

 

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What to Look for When Purchasing Online Guitar Lessons

Thanks to a variety of options and many sites offering free trials, it’s easier than ever to learn guitar online. But how to choose the one that’s best for you? Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

  • Value – Free online guitar lessons are everywhere, and they’re a great way to get started. Once you’re ready to take your technique to the next step, you’ll need to pay for lessons or a subscription. There are options to meet nearly every budget, but keep in mind that price isn’t the only factor to consider. See if you like the way the site is organized, and find out what you’re getting with your subscription.
  • In-person lessons or pre-recorded lessons – In-person lessons are fantastic, but they’re going to cost more than pre-recorded ones. It’s a good idea to go with some pre-recorded lessons as you learn your basic techniques, since they can be paused and played as many times as needed. You’ll get more from live lessons when you’re ready to learn special techniques – and it’s great to get instant feedback without having to leave home! Of course, it’s also nice to know that you can find a guitar instructor online anytime you run into a stumbling block! Most people like to use a blend of pre-recorded lessons and in-person instruction.

Final Thoughts

Be sure to visit a variety of sites and compare features for yourself. Additionally, it’s a great idea to look for other sources of inspiration as you learn to play guitar online! Beginners’ guitar lessons are essential.

But it’s also important to develop your ear for music by listening to others play – particularly if you’re trying to pick up a specific style that calls for special techniques.

The more you listen and watch, the better your results are likely to be, and the sooner you’ll be able to play your favorite songs. Most of all, have fun! Music makes life so much richer, and there’s nothing quite like playing the guitar. We wish you the best of luck finding the best online guitar lessons for your needs!