Guitar Lessons

Classic-rock heroes. Hit-making singer-songwriters. Country champs. Metal shredders. Blues legends. Jazz greats. R&B groovers. Classical virtuosos. Flamenco masters.

What do they all have in common? They all play the guitar, the world's most popular instrument.

A staple of musical genres and traditions around the globe, the guitar is a versatile instrument for all ages — great for young beginners and adult students alike. It's affordable, portable and remarkably complete, capable of delivering melody, harmony and rhythm in one seamless performance. Most importantly, it sounds like the music you love.

No matter your skill level or musical tastes, the guitar is the instrument for you. Let Music & Arts get you started.

The quickest way to answer this question is to ask yourself: What kind of music do I want to play? If you picture yourself strumming and singing Taylor Swift at a neighborhood party, go with a steel-string acoustic guitar. If your goal is to master “Master of Puppets” by Metallica, you'll need an electric and an amp with a Gain channel for distortion. For classical, flamenco and Latin styles, acoustic guitars with nylon strings are perfect.

Conventional wisdom says children should start on acoustic guitar before graduating to electric, but that's a misconception. Many beginners find the electric guitar easier to play, since its strings tend to be thinner and have less tension than those on a steel-string acoustic. And a student who loves high-volume rock may lose interest if forced to play acoustic guitar, since its sound doesn't match the music they listen to.

Nylon-string acoustic guitars are another option for beginners who find steel strings hard on their fingertips. That said, they come with some drawbacks. Nylon-string guitars can be more challenging to keep in tune and restring than other types of guitars (though they need to be restrung less frequently).

Ultimately, choosing a guitar is about personal preference. Your best bet is to stop by your local Music & Arts and ask a store associate to help you explore a few different instruments.

No two musicians are alike, so there is no standard timeline for learning to play.

That said, the guitar is an incredibly accessible, player-friendly instrument — hence its global popularity that spans generations. Advancing quickly on the guitar depends on how much you practice, and many of Music & Arts' most dedicated students will be strumming their favorite songs within weeks of their first lesson — sometimes days!

Guitar lessons at Music & Arts are affordable, averaging just $35 for a private half-hour lesson with a professional teacher and $70 for a full hour. Prices vary by store location and individual teacher.

For new students, we offer a free trial lesson with no purchase necessary. It's the ideal way to discover how our lessons can help you become a guitar hero.

Why should you pay for guitar lessons when there is so much free guitar content available online? Simply put, because there is no substitute for in-person lessons with a vetted professional teacher. The mentorship that occurs in a Music & Arts lesson studio cannot be replicated through an online video clip, an app or even via Zoom.

To start, in-person lessons allow our expert teachers to customize a plan just for you. Because no two musicians have the same gifts and tastes, online tutorials can never offer the same level of care and precision as our tailored in-person lessons.

Taking regular weekly lessons with an experienced teacher also gives you motivation to practice. After every lesson, you'll have new techniques, songs and ideas to learn. At the next lesson, you'll perform what you've learned for your teacher, who will provide constructive, thoughtful feedback. This weekly guidance will accelerate your progression while offering the personal satisfaction that comes with gaining new skills.

An in-person professional teacher can observe your technique with unmatched clarity, and will know instantly when your rhythm is off, or you're holding the instrument incorrectly, or your guitar needs maintenance or repair. When it comes to helping you improve your playing and build your musical knowledge, face-to-face communication with your teacher is far more effective and efficient than screens. During your lesson, a private teacher will also help you maintain focus — free of common at-home distractions ranging from pets to internet hiccups.

Finally, lessons at Music & Arts allow you to feel the joy of in-person mentorship. Again and again, researchers have proven that in-person activities like music lessons relieve stress, boost mood and improve self-esteem. Music & Arts teachers often become beloved figures in their students' lives. Their encouragement helps build lasting self-confidence that stays with their students, regardless of the paths or interests they choose to follow later on.

Absolutely! Piano, drums, violin, saxophone — Music & Arts offers private lessons for more than 20 instruments. Explore our Lessons page or stop by your local Music & Arts to start learning and playing.