
Online Guitar Lessons: The Definitive Guide 2021
By Oli Braithwaite Last updated
This guide will help you find a way of learning guitar online that suits your needs. It will also bring you deals, freebies and extras.
But first up…
- Free online guitar lessons. If you’ve come here solely for freebies, we’ve got 10 weeks of the best free guitar lessons in the world for you. Click here.
- Answer in 6 clicks or less. If you want to quickly identify a way of learning that suits you, click here.
Otherwise, read on and you’ll arrive at the right online learning choice in no time.
Section list
Disclaimer: Stars & Catz partners with the world’s leading online guitar courses. We receive a commission if you choose to subscribe to a paid course via our links. This powers our great content.

Three ways to learn guitar online
Click an image to jump straight to its overview.
Learning method 1
Online guitar video courses
What are they?
Online guitar video courses are series of pre-recorded video lessons, accessible for a monthly subscription.
You work through the video lessons without a live connection to a tutor, though there are support groups.
AKA: Video lessons, online guitar lessons and streaming guitar video lessons.
Price: $19-35 USD per month.
How do online guitar video courses compare to the other options?
How do they compare?
Guitar video courses vs live online tuition
Pros for guitar courses:
More affordable
Proven method
Teachers can be famous
On-demand lessons
Genre specialists
No lesson cancel fees
Download to learn offline
Cons for guitar courses:
No live interaction
Wait for direct answers
No live feedback loop
Risk to form bad habits
Not tailored to you
Need more self-discipline
Less encouragement
Guitar video courses vs free online lessons
The best free online guitar lessons are samples provided by paid courses. So it’s easy to see that paying for full access is superior to only having limited free access.
Beyond that, other websites provide free lessons but don’t have the resources to produce top quality videos. While these can still be good, they’re not at the level of paid courses.
Are guitar video courses for you?
Choose video course if:
On demand
Price is right
Get started in 6 clicks or less
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Launch Messenger BotLearning method 2
Live online guitar lessons
What are they?
Live online guitar lessons are real-time lessons with a guitar teacher via a video call.
They’re the closest that online lessons come to a real-world tutor.
AKA: Skype lessons, online tuition, private online guitar lessons, live video lessons and video chat lessons.
Price: between $15-40 USD for a 30 minute lesson with 45 or 1 hour lessons also available.
How do they compare?
Live online guitar lessons vs video courses
Pros for live online lessons:
Real-time interaction
Answers on the spot
Instant feedback loop
No bad habits
Make requests
Personalised videos
Tailored plan
Inspiring relationship
Cons for live online lessons:
Higher price
Need fast internet
Scheduling issues
A single tutor only
Can’t learn slowly
Tutor won’t be famous
Need decent equipment
No binge learning
Live online guitar lessons vs free video lessons
Live online tuition is a superior method of learning in every way aside from price and the convenience of not having to stick to scheduled lesson times.
Are live online lessons for you?
Choose a live online guitar tutor if:
Personalisation
Budget
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
The Online Tuition Bundle includes the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
Claim your Online Tuition Bundle
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- Online tuition recommendation
Provide your name and email to receive your Online Tuition Bundle now!
Learning method 3
Free online guitar lessons
You can learn guitar online for free if you have good sources of free lessons and a bucket of self-drive.
AKA:YouTube guitar lessons, trial lessons, free limited access and YouTube guitar tutorials.
Price: free
Normally, students spend hours sourcing free guitar lessons then dig around desperately for music theory to back it all up. Not an easy task.
But we’ve done it all for you.
And we’ve thrown in our pack too!
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
Along with 10 weeks of free guitar lessons, you’ll also receive the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
Claim 10 weeks of free guitar lessons
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- 10 weeks of free guitar lessons
- Better than YouTube lessons
Provide your name and email to claim your free Super-Start Pack and free lessons

Video guitar courses reviewed
Review 1

Guitar Tricks review

What makes Guitar Tricks stand out?
- 950 famous song lessons (the most of any platform)
- Songs are officially licensed so won’t disappear due to copyright issues
- Very good Core Learning System (great for beginners)

Guitar Tricks will suit you if:
- Learning your favourite songs is essential
- You’re a beginner in need a solid pathway
- You want to keep the cost of lessons low
More Guitar Tricks features
- iOS and Android apps
- Over 11,000 video lessons
- Instructors are selected on teaching ability rather than celebrity
- Offers private online tuition for additional fee
- Gamified fretboard trainer application
- Jam Station with lots of backing tracks
- Multi-angle videos with tabs and notations
- Covers all styles of classical, electric and acoustic
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
As part of our Guitar Tricks Bundle, you’ll receive the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
- Future content, deals and offers
Guitar Tricks Bundle
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- 20% off the first month
- Trustpilot score of 4.8/5
Provide your name and email to claim your free Super-Start Pack and go to Guitar Tricks
Review 2

JamPlay review

What makes JamPlay stand out?
- Famous teachers including guitarists with Guns N’ Roses, Michael Jackson and more
- 8 hours per day of live Q & A sessions with instructors and weekly guided practice
- Very good learning material such as backing tracks and printable charts

Guitar tricks will suit you if:
- Celebrity teachers will be a big motivation
- You’d like live help from daily Q & A sessions and weekly group practice
- You’re a beginner in need of a solid pathway
More JamPlay features
- iOS and Android apps
- 5,600+ video lessons (350+ famous songs)
- Many styles of acoustic, classical and electric
- Over 90 instructors who are pro artists
- Comprehensive chord and scale library
- Interactive tabs with audio playback
- Create custom progress reports
- High quality videos with multiple camera angles
- Community forum discussions
- 500 professionally recorded backing tracks
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
As part of our JamPlay Bundle, you’ll receive the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
- Future content, deals and offers
JamPlay Bundle
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 25% off the first month
- Discounted 12-month block
- Trustpilot score of 3.6/5
Provide your name and email to claim your free Super-Start Pack and go to JamPlay
Review 3

ArtistWorks review

What makes ArtistWorks stand out?
- Video Exchange Learning system makes this the closest option to live online tuition
- Pay a fraction of the price of live online tuition to get personal mentorship
- Watch students’ questions and answers in the Video Exchange Library

ArtistWorks will suit you if:
- You want a student-teacher relationship at a low price with maximum flexibility
- You feel that having a teacher monitoring your progress and keeping you on track will increase your chances of success
- Your budget covers $35 per month
More ArtistWorks features
- Website is mobile-friendly (but no apps)
- Choose a general teacher or one who specialises in acoustic, electric or even classical guitar
- Instructors include Grammy winners and platinum-selling artists, and have worked with the biggest names in music
- Strong student community features
- Hundreds of video lessons per teacher
- Backing tracks, tabs, and other resources
- Includes Acoustic Guitar 101 and Music Theory courses
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
As part of our ArtistWorks Bundle, you’ll receive the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
- Future content, deals and offers
ArtistWorks Bundle
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- Discounted 6-12 month blocks
- Trustpilot score of 4.1/5
Provide your name and email to claim your free Super-Start Pack and go to ArtistWorks
Review 4

TrueFire review

What makes TrueFire stand out?
- Largest total bank of video lessons at over 40,000 (250+ non-famous songs)
- Includes guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, dobro, singing and drums courses in the same subscription
- In The Jam app which is like controlling your own backing band (multi-track video)

TrueFire will suit you if:
- Mastering a wider range of styles and skills is more important than learning songs
- You’d like to learn other instruments and singing with the same subscription
- You’re not a total beginner
More TrueFire features
- iOS and Android apps
- World-renowned teachers include Grammy award winners and top session artists
- Very good learning pathways by genre but not ideal for total beginners
- PDF charts and Mp3 backing tracks included
- Multi-angled videos with slow-mo and loop
- Video formats: download, stream and DVD
- Includes an interactive tab and fretboard viewer app called Soundslice
What's in the Super-Start Pack?
As part of our TrueFire Bundle, you’ll receive the Stars & Catz Super-Start Pack absolutely free.
Here’s what’s in it:
- 8 guides covering fundamental guitar topics (for beginners to intermediates)
- 8 printable sheets with chords, scales and blank templates.
- 4 tools with simple instructions on how to use them for guitar practice
- Future content, deals and offers
TrueFire Bundle
- Exclusive Super-Start Pack
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Discounted 12-month block
- Trustpilot score of 4.8/5
Provide your name and email to claim your free Super-Start Pack and go to TrueFire

Video guitar courses compared

Guitar Tricks vs JamPlay
Both are good for beginners but Guitar Tricks edges it
Same monthly fee of $19.95
Both offer iOS and Android Apps
Great video playback options on both
For tools and resources both deliver
JamPlay wins for celebrity teachers
Guitar Tricks wins if you want to learn famous songs (3 times more)
JamPlay for support and community
Guitar Tricks has the longer trial
Guitar Tricks vs ArtistWorks Guitar
Both good for beginners
Guitar Tricks is around $13 less per month
Only Guitar Tricks has mobile apps
Great video playback options on both
ArtistWorks wins on mentorship
Guitar Tricks wins for famous songs
ArtistWorks wins on community
ArtistWorks for tailored learning
Guitar Tricks has a trial period but ArtistWorks doesn’t
Guitar Tricks vs TrueFire
Guitar Tricks is better for beginners
TrueFire for advanced players
Guitar Tricks is about $9 less per month
Both offer iOS and Android Apps
Great video playback options on both
TrueFire wins on multi-instruments
Guitar tricks wins for famous songs with 950 fully licensed song lessons
TrueFire’s extra apps stand out
Guitar Tricks has the longer trial
JamPlay vs ArtistWorks Guitar
Both good for beginners
JamPlay is around $13 less per month
Only JamPlay has mobile apps
Great video playback options on both
ArtistWorks wins on mentorship
JamPlay wins on celebrity teachers
ArtistWorks wins on community
ArtistWorks for tailored learning
JamPlay has a trial period but ArtistWorks does not
JamPlay vs TrueFire
JamPlay is better for beginners
TrueFire for advanced players
JamPlay is about $9 less per month
Both offer iOS and Android Apps
Great video playback options on both
TrueFire wins on multi-instruments
JamPlay wins for celebrity instructors
JamPlay’s live support is better
TrueFire’s extra apps stand out
Both have a 30 day trial period
TrueFire vs ArtistWorks Guitar
ArtistWorks is better for beginners
TrueFire is about $4 less per month
Only TrueFire offers mobile apps
Great video playback options on both
ArtistWorks wins on mentorship
TrueFire wins on multi-instruments
TrueFire wins on range of lessons
ArtistWorks for tailored learning
TrueFire has a trial period but ArtistWorks does not

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