How do you prefer to unwind? Some people choose yoga as their relaxation method, others enjoy sipping a fine glass of wine, and some find nothing beats the sound of music—especially when you can create it yourself. That’s where guitar playing enters the picture. So, you’ve bought a guitar and you’re ready to start playing—except you’re uncertain about the difference between major and minor chords or even where to begin. However, guitars are not only highly versatile but also considered fairly easy to learn. Whether you want to explore a new hobby or impress your loved ones, you’ll be strumming your favorite songs in no time! Here are some of the best courses to make your musical journey engaging and enjoyable.
GuitarTricks
Launched in 1998, GuitarTricks stands as the original online platform for guitar instruction. With over 11,000 lessons, 700 songs and 32 instructors specializing in different genres, the website caters to various learning levels. Starting with pre-beginner content that helps you choose the right guitar and accessories, it progresses to advanced lessons for experienced players. The Core Fundamentals module provides a step-by-step approach to playing while creating music from day one. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can explore blues, country or rock taught by experts. Lessons are supported by an active community and practical tools including a chord finder, chord charts, and fretboard trainer.
JamPlay
JamPlay follows closely as a top online guitar platform, offering three compelling beginner paths: “Never Played Before”, “Self-Taught Guitarists” and “The ‘Forever’ Beginner”. Advanced players can access lessons focused on strengthening foundations and learning techniques, plus over 20 music genres including jazz and flamenco. For those seeking a more personalized experience, daily live instructor forum sessions are available. Master courses, a riff library, interactive music theory games and a mobile-friendly tab player make JamPlay exceptional value for the investment!
TrueFire
Available on Windows or as a mobile app, TrueFire features a streamlined interface and live Q&A sessions. Lessons are organized into structured courses that require individual purchases. Beyond the free 30-day trial, TrueFire offers an initial beginner course with 34 videos covering fundamentals, basic chords, plus chord charts and jam tracks. These focused courses are thoughtfully curated to deliver a satisfying learning experience that addresses all your questions. The main drawback involves paying for each course level, but the extensive range of lessons, styles and option to request one-on-one instruction is compelling. Ideal for anyone who prefers a one-time payment that allows ample time to learn and practice.
ArtistWorks
The primary limitation of online learning is the absence of feedback that a music teacher would provide. ArtistWorks addresses this gap head-on. Their innovative Video Exchange Learning allows you to submit practice videos to instructors through forums, who respond with detailed video explanations and answers. Creating a virtual classroom atmosphere is challenging—one that ArtistWorks has tackled successfully. You can also pursue music certification in Blues Guitar and Ukulele, which includes weekly lessons on improvisation and ear training from beginner through advanced levels. The highlight? Instruction from award-winning musicians including Grammy winner Jason Vieaux and 14-time British Jazz Award winner Martin Taylor.
Fender Play
Though relatively new to online guitar education, guitar giant Fender launched Fender Play with a structure similar to other platforms—online video lessons. What distinguishes them is a convenient mobile app that lets you take lessons anywhere. Learn acoustic, electric, bass or ukulele at your own pace through an extensive song library and bite-sized lessons. Master a riff in just 3 minutes! Fender also offers members a generous 10% discount on guitars, amps, and gear.
Justin Guitar
While other sites feature multiple instructors, Justin Guitar is led by Justin Sandercoe, who has collaborated with Cathy Dennis and Carla Bruni. What began in 2001 as sample lessons quickly evolved into a YouTube channel with over 400 million views and more than a million subscribers. With a lesson map showing exactly where to begin, Justin teaches music theory beyond basic chords and scales, including ear training, transcribing and songwriting. Through forums and live Q&As, Justin Guitar combines the strongest features of other platforms in one location. The standout feature is Justin’s commitment to accessible music education, offering 1000+ free lessons and a complimentary app called My Practice Assistant. Even better, if you genuinely cannot afford paid lessons, simply email Justin to discuss options!
Guitar Compass
Featuring both free and premium lessons, Guitar Compass is ideal for testing the waters before committing to a full course. Free sections cover beginner, acoustic, blues, electric and country styles, while premium membership unlocks comprehensive tutorials beyond basic strumming, tab reading and scales. Premium content includes intermediate and advanced lessons, jazz progressions and scales, metal, classical and more.
Jamorama
Tired of practicing solo with only your guitar for company? Jamorama comes to the rescue! Their tagline is “the social network for guitar students,” and that’s precisely what they deliver—along with comprehensive guitar lessons and courses. You can even collaborate with friends you meet on the platform. While courses like Speed Picking challenge those ready to advance beyond basic chords and lead playing, Jamorama uniquely offers Acoustic Guitar Maintenance, covering re-stringing, cleaning, and tuning—topics absent elsewhere. Basic access is free with limited lessons, while premium access provides 275 comprehensive guitar lessons. The limitation is that courses focus primarily on beginner levels.
Udemy: Complete Guitar System — Beginner to Advanced by Erich Andreas
Among the highest-rated guitar courses on Udemy, Erich Andreas delivers a comprehensive program with over 34 hours of videos and 158 downloadable resources. With convenient access from any device, track your lessons and progress through this methodical course. Don’t be misled—there’s clear emphasis on practice and dedication. While it lacks forums or blogs for community support, the course is quite affordable, requiring only a one-time payment for lifetime access. Where Jamorama serves social learners, this course suits those preferring a focused, easy-to-follow lesson sequence or wanting to fill knowledge gaps. You can preview Erich’s teaching style through his YouTube channel with over 400,000 subscribers.
GuitarLessons
The website delivers exactly what its name promises—guitar lessons, all completely free! Content spans playing techniques to choosing the right guitar. Theory, ear training and music reading are also freely available. Most videos are straightforward and concise, organized in a logical format. They also provide a free Beginner Guitar Starter Kit. However, it lacks the structured approach of other courses, which is addressed by their related platform, Guitareo.
Guitareo
Operated by GuitarLessons, Guitareo offers step-by-step instruction in a more traditional format. You can purchase individual lessons as one-time payments with lifetime access. Beyond the 26-week beginner course and technique modules, they deliver what you’ve always wanted—”500 songs in 5 days.” This program teaches the most commonly used chords, variations, capo usage and much more, plus provides a “cheat sheet” featuring all the songs you’ve wanted to play.
In today’s fast-paced world where hobbies are precious, the internet delivers knowledge directly to your fingertips—quite literally in this case! Playing an instrument transcends simply stringing together chords. These courses provide comprehensive guidance for selecting the right guitar and gear, maintaining your instrument, and methodical instruction for playing. Everything happens from home comfort without time restrictions. Whether you’re on an extended lunch break or want to create music at midnight, these represent the finest tutors available online. So what are you waiting for? Pick up that guitar and amaze your friends and family as you riff through Sweet Child o’ Mine!
