Guitar instruction has come a long way in recent years. Not too long ago, beginning guitarists had two options: be completely self-taught with the help of printouts or seek out a local guitar teacher for in-person lessons. No longer!
Video streaming has proven to be an excellent platform for virtual guitar tutorials. With the pandemic-related push to online learning, full multimedia guitar lesson websites have really come into their own.
Most of the online guitar lessons listed here offer short, free videos with the option of expanding into different pay options (usually between $10-$25/month) for full access. Keep reading to see which is the best for your guitar goals.
1. Fender Play
One of the giants of the guitar world (Fender, ever heard of them?) has recently entered the arena of online guitar tutorials. Fender Play is an intuitive platform providing lessons tailored to your preferred genre and whether you’re playing an acoustic or electric guitar.
Most of Fender Play’s lessons are beginner courses so they may seem basic for intermediate players. However, more advanced players have the option of searching specific tab/video song tutorials. Unlike most learning platforms on this list, Fender Play does not have free YouTube videos but they do offer a 7-day trial.
2. ArtistWorks Online Music Lessons
If you prefer to focus on your overall command of the instrument, ArtistWorks is one of the best guitar courses. You can find instruction for about any type of instrument. Although, guitar and bass have special focus on this website with numerous styles and skill levels taught. You can find courses specific to electric and acoustic guitar too.
ArtistWorks’ masterclass instructors are some of the best players and educators in the business. Paul Gilbert teaches rock guitar, Martin Taylor teaches jazz, and John Patitucci teaches bass. Complete beginners won’t feel overwhelmed by the step-by-step videos that follow their own pace. More advanced players wanting to challenge themselves can choose “certificate courses” which include evaluations at the end of the course.
3. Justin Guitar
Take a quick look through Justin Guitar’s website and you’ll see it looks a lot like other multimedia guitar lessons websites on this list. Although, one thing stands out: you can go further with Justin’s free lessons than from any other online guitar teacher.
Suited most for beginners and intermediates, Justin’s site provides a solid amount of content. You can move through a steady course of strumming, picking, and fingering techniques with fun tricks that will keep new guitar players engaged. Moving more into the intermediate and advanced realm, you’ll get solid musical theory and the additional purchase of DVDs and apps will help. Check out both his website and his YouTube videos.
4. Jam Track Central Guitar
You may have come across JTC Guitar’s huge YouTube page that mostly features clips of guitar masters shredding through jaw-dropping riffs. Check out JTC Guitar’s website to really be awed at the ways you can “raise your game,” in their own words.
JTC Guitar provides online “bootcamp” tutorials for every type of guitar genre there is. Their interactive app (available as a standalone purchase or as part of your subscription) includes tabs with visual fretboard layouts. JTC “Tones” offers digital downloads that reproduce iconic guitar sounds. Of course there’s the famous namesake “jamtracks” — backing tracks for you to practice and rock out to your heart’s content.
5. Yousician
If you’re hooked on the fast-paced interface of video games, don’t mourn the end of Guitar Hero and instead check out Yousician. This phone/tablet app features real-time scrolling notation and tablature that increases in difficulty as you progress. It then automatically critiques and scores your guitar skills. For beginners and younger players, this is a fresh new approach to guitar instruction. However, for advanced lessons like technique and music theory, you’ll want to branch out eventually.
