1. Top picks at a glance
2. Best for beginners
3. Best intermediate
4. Best content volume
5. Best simplicity
6. Best free lessons
7. Best star teachers
8. Also tested
9. Buying advice
10. How we choose
You might be learning your first chords or perhaps you’re already a superstar shredder, but no matter where you are in your guitar journey, you can still gain something from the best online guitar lessons. Learning guitar is something that never stops, even when you’ve been playing for decades. The best thing about the instrument is that there’s such depth to it you can always add another string to your bow. And the best bit? Learning online is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve
Being able to learn from the comfort of your own home is a huge benefit as well, as the online nature of these lessons means you can work them around a hectic school or work schedule. You can also learn on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, meaning even fewer excuses for not nailing the A-minor pentatonic scale!
We’ve extensively tested many online guitar lesson platforms and gathered all of our favourites here in one place for you. Many feature free trials so you can try before you buy, and we’ve even managed to snag some exclusive offers for MusicRadar readers that save you some cash. If you’ve still got questions, head to our buying advice section for more information, or just keep scrolling for our top picks.
Our top picks
Best for beginners
✅ You're a complete beginner: With its slick UI and excellent pathways, Fender Play is perfect for beginner guitar players looking to take their first steps with the instrument.
❌ You're an intermediate player or above: Unfortunately once you get past the beginner phase, there's not as much content for players who already have a grounding in playing and theory.
When Fender entered the education game it was no surprise that it would make it box-office, with high production values, lessons that featured popular songs, and a host of teachers who are totally at ease in front of the camera. Not to mention a great interface whether you're accessing it via a desktop or the dedicated app.
Once you sign up you will be asked to choose your instrument (eh, guitar, please – but bass guitar and ukulele options also available) and then which style you want to learn. Choose from rock, blues, country, folk, and pop. Once you have chosen your style you can then choose your own path, with levels 1 through 5 in ascending order of difficulty.
As a bonus, subscribers also receive a 10% discount on Fender instruments, making Fender Play one of the top online guitar lessons services around.
Read the full Fender Play review
Best for intermediate players
✅ You're an intermediate player: If you already have some playing under your belt, Guitar Tricks is a fantastic option for improving your playing both in practice and theory.
❌ You're a big pop music fan: Whilst Guitar Tricks covers a lot of different styles, there are precious few popular pop artists available at the moment.
Guitar Tricks has been in the game a long time – since 1998, in fact – and has largely set the blueprint for online guitar lessons. With such a head start, Guitar Tricks has managed to build up an impressive array of resources including 11,000 lessons, artist and genre studies, tone advice and 900+ song tutorials – more than all its counterparts at this point.
It has also managed to develop an extensive catalogue of content aimed at intermediate and advanced players, so it’s much more suited to already established players than some of the newcomers to this scene who are still developing a lot of their advanced resources (we’d include Fender Play in this category).
It has to be said though, that Guitar Tricks is showing its age compared to many other sites. While it’s one thing to look a little plain, Guitar Tricks won’t be winning any awards in UX either. Whether it’s because they have so much content available they just can’t find an agreeable way to present it all, or they’re simply overdue a major redesign, the interface is definitely the biggest setback here. That’s not to say it’s not workable or that it has any serious issues though. The content alone is worth the price of entry, but there are certainly cleaner, clearer user experiences out there.
For added peace of mind, Guitar Tricks offers a 60-day money back guarantee, so if you're not completely satisfied with the service in your first couple of months and you request a refund before your 60 days are up, you will get your money back.
MusicRadar readers can get their first month of Guitar Tricks for just $1 right now by clicking the link.
Read the full Guitar Tricks review
Best for content selection
✅ You want lots of content: TrueFire has probably the most amount of content out of all the options here, meaning it will cover pretty much every base when it comes to learning guitar.
❌ You suffer from option paralysis: Conversely, if you're the sort of person who isn't a self-starter or gets easily overwhelmed, you may find it difficult to decide with such a huge content library.
TrueFire might be a little more expensive, but like ArtistWorks Guitar, it really packs in the features. There is a similarly storied faculty. Want to have a blues lesson from Robben Ford? Well, why not.
Pretty much all styles are catered for, and all levels, too. Progress is easy to track and there are a whole host of learning tools to bring you up to speed.
Speaking of speed, there is a Slo-Mo and Looping feature that will help you take control of those parts that are giving you the most trouble, and we can all attest to the value of slowing parts down and mastering them there before bringing it up to tempo. Kudos to anyone who takes the lifetime membership after the free trial.
Right now, TrueFire is also offering MusicRadar readers 30% off their first or next TrueFire purchase. This promotion includes All Access subscriptions and all courses. Just add the code MRTF30 at checkout to claim your discount.
Read the full TrueFire review
Best for simplicity
✅ You want something easy to navigate: The slick Guitareo platform is nice and simple for beginner players to navigate, giving you everything you need without feeling overwhelming
❌ You already know some playing techniques: While great for beginners, if you already have some playing under your belt you'd be better off looking elsewhere.
Guitareo is one of the newer platforms on this list, and it has its sights aimed clearly at the younger, less advanced players. In fact, it is almost perfectly suited to people who have never picked up a guitar before, thanks to its guided lesson paths dealing with everything from the fundamentals through to crafting your own songs from the chords you’ve learned.
It lacks the bells and whistles of some of the bigger sites, with no interactive tabs, plus mobile integration isn’t as advanced as some others, but what Guitareo does have is bundles of charm. If the more intensive courses on offer from its competitors are a bit daunting, but you’re committed to making a positive start to your journey, then Guitareo might just be perfect for you.
Read the full Guitareo review
Best free lessons
✅ You want to learn theory: Justin Guitar has an excellent selection of theory lessons that will really help you get into advanced content like modes, chord theory, and loads more.
❌ You want to learn lots of songs: Although there are a good 600+ songs available, there are other options with much more choice in this department.
Justin Sandercoe is a really good teacher. He’s so good, that perhaps it’s only fair that he uses the internet to teach; that way he can spread the wealth. If you are a beginner, you should probably sign up now, because the beginner’s course is free and Sandercoe’s ability to walk you through the fundamentals is peerless.
There is a lot on JustinGuitar that is free to access and is complemented by a wealth of YouTube videos. You can choose lessons in theory or in skills, and there are lessons for all abilities.
Sandercoe also provides affordable add-on apps ($/£1.99-$/£2.99) and a variety of subscription program, such as a music theory course that delivers over 120 lessons with PDF, audio and Guitar Pro downloads to support your progress.
Best teachers
✅ You want feedback on your playing: ArtistWorks is unique in that it offers feedback on your playing from expert players like Paul Gilbert.
❌ You're on a budget: Of course, that pro-level advice doesn't come cheap, which makes this one of the more expensive options on the market.
ArtistWorks Guitar provides a wide variety of lessons with great instructors. It has the likes of Paul Gilbert teaching Electric Rock Guitar and Keith Wyatt teaching Electric Blues Guitar.
Its Video Exchange Learning Platform connects pupils with their teachers to create the sort of personalised feedback that creates a more social online learning experience that can only accelerate a player’s development.
The plans are tiered so that the longer you sign up for them the more you can learn, but even the most basic package includes unlimited access to lessons, the music theory workshop, and the Video Exchange Library, and users can make up to five video submissions to their designated teacher for assessment.
Also tested
✅ You love rock and blues: Gibon's learning platform emphasizes these particular genres, which makes sense when you consider what their guitars are typically used for.
❌ You want to play different genres: There's precious little here for those who don't like rock, blues, or metal, so if you're into jazz, pop, or R&B, you're better off on a different platform.
Arriving late against larger competitors, Gibson Learn & Play has been around for a few years now, finally hitting its stride in terms of content maturity. Perfect for those who like their rock, blues, and metal, this app offers a lot for beginner players picking up the instrument for the first time.
Like many lesson platforms, Gibson has also taken the gamified approach, with the completion of lessons opening up new pathways. It’s a great way to add a sense of achievement, although you can unlock everything in the options if you want to. The pathways do everything from your first string pluck, with loads of detailed diagrams to ensure you’re playing your instrument the right way.
The lesson content is backed up by plenty of popular songs from the world of rock, metal, and blues, but if you’re looking for jazz or R&B you won’t find much here. If you’re into Sabbath, AC/DC, Cream, or Pink Floyd then there are loads of great options available. There’s also a snazzy guitar amp feature, which makes your unplugged guitar sound like it’s coming out of an actual amp, with effects too.
✅ You want the best teachers: The excellent selection of tutors on offer here makes JamPlay a great option for those who want a teacher who's a professional.
❌ You're easily distracted or overwhelmed: There's so much content here that for those who aren't very assured of what they want, its easy to get waylaid on your learning journey.
JamPlay offers a dizzying amount of content and a number of apps to help you learn while on the move. There are over 100 teachers available, with the likes of Lita Ford and Steve Stevens on the electric guitar faculty, and Mark Kroos and Kaki King on the acoustic side.
There are also a number of guest courses, with lessons from the likes of Ariel Posen and hybrid-picking wizard Prashant Aswani.
Lessons are delivered in 4K video, with interactive tab among the abundance of resources to help you make tangible progress. There is also an online library of chords and scales, and you can chart your progress easily enough.
✅ You want proper accreditation: Orange Learn gives you the option to take accredited online exams, meaning you get a proper qualification from your learning.
❌ You want a laid-back learning experience: If you're not too fussed about qualifications and sitting exams, you might be better off finding a different option.
A great new Orange Learn feature is Orange’s partnership with MGR Music to provide live help, enabling students to get assistance from a teacher whenever they need. Simply click on the Need Help? Button and players will be able to ask a qualified guitar tutor in real time.
Orange Amplification were ahead of brands like Fender when it launched its own online course and now works with Online Music Exams to offer recognised accreditation covering Grades 1-8 for rock guitar.
The syllabus is designed to be worked through alone and at a pace best for you, or alongside your tutor. Downloadable and streamed online lessons include videos and notation with the Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced courses taking students from beginner level to Grade 8.
The exams and resulting certificates give an added incentive to learn, with the flexibility of taking them when you feel it’s the right time, and can form a part of your CV too. There’s a relatively quick turnaround to find out your results too.
Currently the Orange Rock Guitar Foundation is available for free and there's a new vocal coaching program for the singers out there too.
✅ You want something easy to digest: With its game-style learning process, Yousician encourages repeat playing by giving you a Guitar Hero-esque learning experience.
❌ You already know how to play a little: Geared more towards absolute beginners, there's no much here if you're looking to move beyond the first stages of learning.
Guitar playing is really fun, once you get over that initial hurdle of learning to play. Unfortunately, that hurdle can be quite daunting without the right instruction, which is where Yousician comes into play.
With its game-style progression, bright colours, and audio recognition technology, Yousician has an addictive feel that makes players want to keep coming back. It listens to you while you’re playing, providing instant feedback on any duff notes and giving you an overall score at the end of the lesson, much like you would get on Guitar Hero.
It’s simple but works really well, especially for younger players and total newcomers. If you’re already at an intermediate or advanced level, then you’re not likely to find much use here, however. For totally new players, it’s a fast and fun way to get playing.
✅ You want to learn advanced content: JTC Guitar features loads of great pro content, making it a great choice for players who already have a good foundation in the guitar.
❌ You're an absolute beginner: There isn't loads of beginner content here, so you may want to look at a different option if you're playing for the first time.
Guitar playing is really fun, once you get over that initial hurdle of learning to play. Unfortunately, that hurdle can be quite daunting without the right instruction, which is where Yousician comes into play.
With its game-style progression, bright colours, and audio recognition technology, Yousician has an addictive feel that makes players want to keep coming back. It listens to you while you’re playing, providing instant feedback on any duff notes and giving you an overall score at the end of the lesson, much like you would get on Guitar Hero.
It’s simple but works really well, especially for younger players and total newcomers. If you’re already at an intermediate or advanced level, then you’re not likely to find much use here, however. For totally new players, it’s a fast and fun way to get playing.
The JTC set-up is hugely impressive. Prices for the packages start from $/£25 per month, with a number of add-on features such as the eponymous Jam Tracks. Instructors include the likes of Jeff Loomis, Guthrie Govan and Jess Lewis.
While there are fewer choices for beginners here – 62 courses as opposed to 207 advanced and 429 intermediate – we love the syllabus and the bite-sized formats. It’s so flexible. You can sign up for a free account and can download a module for $/£19.99. If you want interactive tab to go with it, then $/£19.99 will last you a year.
Premium accounts let you access all of the entire library of lessons (excluding Bootcamp) and you get 25 percent off downloads should you want the files on your computer for offline practice.
Buying advice
Are online guitar lessons worth it?
What you’re looking for from the best online guitar lessons is not that different from what you should be looking for from a real-life guitar teacher.
Communication is key. The ability to condense complex subjects – which, when you are first learning, the modes of the major scale and other tricky guitar concepts can be – into something that’s easily absorbed and understood is priceless. You want a person or a service that is accessible and enthusiastic. That will keep you wanting to come back for more and keep picking up the guitar.
It’s also a good idea to think about the sort of lessons you need, so you need to be clear - and honest - about what level you are at. The good news is that there is an abundance of programs to cater to players of all abilities – especially beginners. This is crucial. We’d be inclined to say that how a guitar lessons site tailors its teaching for beginners is a bell weather for how effective the program is likely to be for players looking to progress through higher levels.
Only you can say what sort of online lessons you need, but if you’re thinking of taking the plunge, then think hard about the areas that you want to improve on and see what options are available. Finding the time to practice can be an issue, too, which is why providers such as Fender Play deliver bite-sized lessons via an easy-to-navigate app, so you can learn a song or a riff one day, and then get back at it when you next have some free time.
When it comes to online guitar lessons teaching, delivery is everything. Are the videos in HD? Are there split screens so you can see what’s going on with both the fretting and the picking hand? Does the platform provide an animated tab? These are the sort of features that can demystify the lesson. The best sites will be available on apps for mobile and tablet, too, with downloadable materials so you can access the lessons on the go.
Can I get free online guitar lessons?
There are plenty of free online guitar lessons around, particularly on YouTube, however unless you know exactly what you’re looking to learn - something only more advanced players are likely to know – you’d be better off using a more structured system to progress you at the right pace without any gaps or giant leaps.
The great news is that most of the best online guitar lessons services we recommend here offer a free trial of anywhere from 7 days up to a full month, so you can try a few for size before you commit to the right one for you. Most are easy to cancel too, so if you really don't get on with a particular service, you're no worse off.
Then you have a platform like Justin Guitar, where the vast majority of content is completely free, with the option to buy additional content should you so wish.
What extra equipment do I need to take online guitar lessons?
For a basic setup all you really need is a guitar, a decent internet connection, and some kind of device for audio and video, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer is up to you. Of course, there are many useful tools you can use to augment your practice such as a pair of headphones so you can block out distractions and focus on your lesson, and a music stand to hold a notebook or your tablet if you’re using one.
When you’re learning guitar you want to be comfortable in your space, so investing in a good, comfortable chair (preferably without arms) is a must. Having enough space for your accessories like cables, clip-on tuners, guitar picks, and fresh strings is also another essential item, so a good quality desk will go a long wa
How many hours a week should I spend learning guitar?
This is entirely up to you really. For beginners, doing 30 minutes a day, five times a week is a great way to progress quickly. However with a busy modern lifestyle this may not always be possible. It really comes down to your personal motivations to learn the instrument. If you really want to play guitar, then you’ll make time to learn the techniques required, which is also one of the great things about online guitar lessons – you can take your lesson anytime, anywhere, no matter how busy your day has been.
If your aim is to go professional or become a session musician, then you’ll want to practice a lot more. Steve Vai allegedly practiced between 10 and 12 hours a day to achieve his impressive chops, but you don’t have to practice quite that much to get good. As a rough example, anywhere between 90 minutes right through to 4 hours has been cited as sufficient practice time by professional guitar players. The key is really in focusing your practice and making sure you’re always developing, rather than just noodling the same riffs for hours. Challenge yourself to learn new songs and techniques each time you practice and your progress will skyrocket.
Beginner guitar gear
Looking for the right guitar gear to help you improve as you journey through your beginner lessons? Our expert buyer's guides below are a great place to start.
- Start rocking with the best beginner electric guitars
- Get to grips with the best acoustic guitars for beginners
- Introduce your child with the best guitars for kids
- Embrace the low end with the best beginner bass guitars
- These are the best cheap electric guitars
- The best cheap acoustic guitars
How we choose the best online guitar lessons
All of us here at MusicRadar had to start somewhere, so we've got a lot of experience with guitar lessons, both in the real world and online. A few of our writing team are also guitar teachers in their own right, so we have a unique perspective on what makes a truly great online guitar lessons platform.
When choosing what we believe to be the best online guitar lessons available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products or services in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product or service for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from price, features, and quality of content, to ease of use and lesson structure to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best online guitar lessons on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
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