Starting guitar can seem daunting, but with the right instruction beginners can be strumming songs sooner than they think. Online guitar lessons provide an easy way to learn from home at your own pace. With so many options for novice players, it can be tough deciphering which are best suited for establishing core skills and fundamentals. This article will showcase the top 10 online guitar lesson platforms specifically tailored for beginners. From step-by-step video lessons on proper technique, to courses covering music theory and easy songs, these sites will get aspiring guitarists off on the right fret. Read on to discover the ideal online instructors to launch beginners on their guitar journey and get them excited about learning and practicing.
1. Fender Play
Fender Play is one of the best online guitar lesson platforms for beginners. It is designed and backed by guitar giant Fender, so you know you are learning from one of the best in the industry. Fender Play offers step-by-step video lessons that cover everything from guitar fundamentals like tuning, holding the guitar properly, basic chords, and strumming to more advanced techniques. The lessons progress logically from beginner to intermediate to advanced. There are separate lesson paths for electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and bass. The instructors are professional guitarists who explain concepts clearly and provide useful feedback on your playing. Fender Play is very affordable with plans starting at just $10 per month. It’s a great option for new guitarists who want to learn properly and quickly from the comfort of home.
2. Guitar Tricks
With over 11,000 video guitar lessons, Guitar Tricks is one of the largest online guitar lesson websites. Their core learning system covers techniques for electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and even ukulele. Top guitar instructors like Don Ross, Kaki King, and Brent Mason present the lessons in detail with high quality video production. Guitar Tricks is designed for beginners starting from scratch as well as more advanced players who want to improve their skills. The quick start guide for beginners gets you playing songs almost immediately while still teaching you music theory, guitar technique, and sight reading skills. Guitar Tricks has courses focused on specific guitar styles like blues, rock, country, acoustic fingerstyle, and more. Membership plans start at $19.99 per month. Overall, Guitar Tricks lives up to its reputation as one of the best online guitar learning sites.
3. Justin Guitar
Justin Guitar offers a complete online beginner guitar curriculum that is totally free. Justin Warden’s laidback and patient teaching style makes learning fun and easy to understand. The free beginner guitar course covers everything from how to hold a guitar to basic chords, strumming patterns, power chords, tablature, music theory, and beyond. There is also a paid intermediate course to keep progressing your skills. Justin Guitar excels at creating a personalized experience that suits your learning speed. There are tools to track your progress, bonuses to keep you motivated, and a community forum to connect with other students. Justin carefully explains things and has a knack for making difficult concepts simple. His free lessons are all you need as a beginner to get started playing guitar.
4. Artistworks
For those seeking online guitar lessons from celebrity instructors, Artistworks is a top choice. Their video exchange learning method lets you submit videos of your playing to receive video feedback and advice from famous guitarists. Some of the instructor options include Paul Gilbert, Guthrie Govan, Melissa Etheridge, Doyle Dykes, and many more big names. This personalized feedback approach helps you improve much faster. Membership plans start at around $180 per year after a free trial. In addition to the video exchanges, you also get access to the instructors’ lesson archives. While pricier than other online guitar lessons, learning directly from such accomplished musicians is an invaluable experience if you can afford it.
5. Coursera
For very affordable online guitar lessons from accredited instructors, Coursera is worth considering. Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer specialized online courses with the option to get a certificate upon completion. While its guitar offerings are limited compared to dedicated guitar lesson sites, the quality of the courses is very high. For example, Berklee College of Music has an Introduction to Guitar course covering basics like guitar anatomy, picking techniques, strumming patterns, open chords, power chords, and more. The University of Colorado has a Blues Guitar course exploring blues composition, improvisation, and famous guitarists. Courses range from free to around $100 making Coursera a relatively budget-friendly option for structured guitar learning.
6. JamPlay
JamPlay is an online guitar learning site built around a library of over 7,000 video guitar lessons. Their curriculum covers all skill levels from beginner to advanced and includes electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and ukulele. Experienced instructors teach concepts in a structured way that builds upon previous lessons. JamPlay is designed for both students who want to start as complete beginners as well as intermediate to advanced guitarists looking to improve their technique and expand their repertoire. Some unique features include gear guides that give tips for buying guitars and amps and the Tonebridge lesson app. Membership options range from around $12 to $20 per month. JamPlay succeeds in creating a fun, personalized, and challenging learning environment.
7. Guitar Lessons 365
As their name suggests, Guitar Lessons 365 has new video guitar lessons added daily for members. The catalog has grown to contain over 45,000 videos making it one of the largest online guitar lesson libraries in the world. There are courses for electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and ukulele. The structured curriculum takes you through beginner skills like holding the guitar, reading tablature, basic chords, and strumming progressions. Higher level lessons cover advanced techniques, soloing, music theory, ear training, sight reading, and more. Plans are very affordable starting under $10 per month. While the content is not as polished looking as some competitors, Guitar Lessons 365 wins on quantity and affordability.
8. TakeLessons
For online guitar lessons with the personal touch, TakeLessons connects you with qualified local guitar teachers for scheduled video lessons. You can browse profiles, see credentials, and read reviews to pick the perfect teacher for your skill level and interests. Options include instructors specialized in rock, blues, jazz, fingerstyle, classical, metal and beyond. Teachers can tune lessons to the songs you want to learn. Rates vary but average around $35 per 30 minute session which is very competitively priced for personalized instruction. TakeLessons provides the platform, tools, and support to make the experience seamless. It’s great for students who know they learn best through live interaction.
9. Udemy
Udemy operates an online course marketplace where anyone can publish guitar lesson courses which opens up lots of variety. While quality control is not as strict as some competitors, ratings and reviews help identify the best instructors. Top courses cover topics like music theory, reading guitar sheet music, rock and blues improvisation, acoustic fingerstyle techniques, and more. Most courses cost between $10-$100 which is very affordable compared to private lessons. The video format combined with downloadable resources like tablature, audio tracks, and PDFs make learning convenient. While some courses are better than others, Udemy has some of the web’s highest rated guitar instructors if you take time to research reviews first.
10. TrueFire
TrueFire differentiates itself by focusing exclusively on guitar with video from elite instructors. Top guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Joe Bonamassa have courses distilling their signature techniques and styles. The 30 day all access pass gives you unlimited access to the full catalog of over 1,000 guitar lessons. TrueFire excels at diving deep into specific genres and techniques. Courses help you master skills like blues improvisation, rock rhythm guitar, chicken pickin’ country style, gypsy jazz comping, bluegrass flatpicking, metal riffs, acoustic fingerpicking, slide guitar and more. Monthly and yearly rates are very competitive starting under $15. TrueFire is ideal for intermediate and advanced players who want to play guitar like their musical heroes.
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