Online Guitar Lessons: The Definitive Guide 2021

By Oli Braithwaite Last updated Jan 23, 2021

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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

Jump to a section of this page:

Get an answer in 6 clicks or less
The three ways to learn
Guitar video courses
Live online guitar tuition
Free online guitar lessons
Reviews of top courses
Comparisons of top courses

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.

Online guitar lessons part 1 section header

Three ways to learn guitar online

Click an image to jump straight to its overview.

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

You want lessons on your own timetable, with the ability to go fast or slow.

Price is right

Your budget covers a video course subscription but not the fees of a tutor.

Get started in 6 clicks or less

Find out which course is right for you by consulting our Messenger Bot assistant.

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Or read our reviews of the world’s leading courses.

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Learning 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

You want a tailored lesson plan, instant answers and real-time mentorship.

Budget

You have the budget to pay for a teacher’s time each week plus fast internet.

If you’ve decided live online lessons are for you then enter your name and email below to claim your free Super-Start Pack and learn which online tuition provider we recommend and why (trust us, this will save you many headaches).

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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

Claim your Online Tuition Bundle

Exclusive Super-Start Pack
Online tuition recommendation

Provide your name and email to receive your Online Tuition Bundle now!

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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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

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

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Online guitar lessons part 2 section header

Video guitar courses reviewed

You know you want a guitar video course but you don’t know which one. Never fear! In this section, we’ll look at the world’s leading guitar video courses and show you:

Standout features
Why each course would suit you
Prices and packages

Review 1

Guitar Tricks review

Guitar Tricks screenshot showing the many learning options

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 core learning system diagram

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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

Guitar Tricks Bundle

$19.95 / month

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

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Review 2

JamPlay review

JamPlay screenshot showing famous teachers

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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

JamPlay Bundle

$19.95 / month

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

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Review 3

ArtistWorks review

Screenshot of ArtistWorks video exchange learning system

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

Screenshot of the blues guitar course in ArtistWorks

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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

ArtistWorks Bundle

$35.00 / month

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

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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)

Screenshot of TrueFire guitar lesson online

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

This is a lot of content, so we spread it out across 8 emails, one per week, giving you time to work through each email before the next arrives.

TrueFire Bundle

$29.00 / month

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

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Video guitar courses compared

Comparing courses side by side can be the best way to make a decision. We’ve taken the guesswork out of it for you by distilling down the strengths and weaknesses of each course and comparing them. Here we go…