14 Best Guitar Courses & Classes Online For Beginners In 2023

Best Guitar Courses & Classes For Beginners

1. Blues Guitar: Learn to Play

This course is specially designed for those looking to master the art of playing blues guitar. With over 50 examples of various blues rhythm guitar styles, such as slow blues, uptown/jump blues, mambo blues, and blues rock, students can learn at their own pace and acquire the essential skills needed to play blues guitar proficiently. The instructor, Steve Trovato, demonstrates how to play blues rhythm guitar, emphasizing its importance in finding your groove with the rhythm section and filling the gap between solos, a crucial aspect of any live performance.

Steve Trovato's well-structured and easy-to-follow teaching method ensures that students can grasp the techniques and nuances of blues guitar playing smoothly. Each example in the course is accompanied by a four-measure intro or turnaround, allowing students to understand the tempo and feel of the tune before starting to play. Created and produced by Alfred Music, this course is a valuable resource for anyone interested in developing their blues guitar skills and enhancing their overall musicianship.

2. Acoustic Guitar Basics

This beginner-friendly course is designed to teach you the fundamentals of playing acoustic guitar, covering essential topics such as proper finger placement, basic chords, chord diagrams, and strumming patterns. By learning chords such as G, D, C, Em, Am, and Cadd9, as well as tuning and capo usage, you'll gain a solid foundation for playing your favorite songs in no time.

The course's video lessons feature onscreen chord diagrams and close-up shots of finger positions, while supplemental materials provide additional information on strumming patterns and chord formations. Ideal for both absolute beginners and those who have struggled with guitar in the past, this comprehensive course will have you confidently playing acoustic guitar within approximately five weeks.

3. Acoustic Guitar For Beginners

This beginner-friendly course is perfect for those who have always wanted to learn to play the acoustic guitar, but have struggled with traditional methods in the past. By focusing on strumming chords and learning songs quickly, the course helps students bypass tedious theory, scales, and exercises that can sometimes inhibit progress. Within just a week, students will be able to play a few songs and have a grasp on working with chords and strums, making the learning experience fun and engaging from the start.

Designed specifically for busy adults who may not have time for formal training, this course prioritizes practical skills and providing an enjoyable learning experience. Rather than focusing on music theory or teaching students to read notation, the course introduces participants to chords, strums, and working with song books and lyric sheets. This accelerates progress and ensures students can quickly start playing their favorite songs on acoustic guitar, laying a strong foundation for continued learning and enjoyment in the future.

4. Guitar 201: Breakthroughs

This comprehensive course is designed to help you advance from a beginner to an intermediate level guitarist. It covers 30 essential skills that will enable you to play your favorite songs, jam with your friends, and take your guitar playing to the next level. The course is structured to provide you with the tools and techniques necessary to break through the frustration and stagnation often experienced by beginner guitarists.

With a focus on building on the basics, expanding your chord vocabulary, and taking the next steps in your guitar journey, the course will guide you through the process of becoming a confident and skilled player. By the end of the lessons, you will have a solid understanding of how to play entire songs smoothly, add personality to your sound, and play with other musicians confidently. Don't miss the opportunity to hone your guitar skills and unleash your full potential.

5. Blues Guitar For Beginners

This beginner-friendly course offers a comprehensive introduction to electric blues guitar, focusing on teaching foundational skills such as playing riffs, chords, and rhythms. The course is designed for busy adults who want an engaging, effective way to learn guitar without getting bogged down in music theory or notation. By following this approach, you'll quickly be able to play a variety of exciting blues techniques, and start building your repertoire of blues licks from the very first lessons.

Guided by an experienced instructor who has extensive experience performing and teaching electric blues, you'll begin by learning valuable basics like tuning, proper pick grip, and playing your first blues notes. As you progress, the course will cover a range of useful techniques, including strumming with downstrokes and upstrokes, picking in time, and achieving clean-sounding chords. With the help of on-screen diagrams and practice jam tracks, you'll develop the confidence and ability to play blues guitar in various popular styles, such as the Chicago shuffle, Texas shuffle, eight-bar blues, and shuffle boogie.

6. Guitar Kick Start

This beginner-friendly course, "Guitar Kick Start," offers a comprehensive introduction to playing guitar for those new to the instrument. With over 20 video tutorials and accompanying printable PDFs, instructor Rick Spurgin covers the essentials for getting started, such as identifying the right guitar for you, understanding the differences between electric and acoustic guitars, proper holding and tuning techniques, reading chord graphs, learning easy form chords, and practicing strumming exercises to build your skills.

Upon completing "Guitar Kick Start," learners are encouraged to continue their journey by enrolling in "Introduction to Guitar," which delves deeper into chord progressions, TAB reading, rock power chords, and playing a 12-Bar Blues. With consistent practice and patience, students will eventually develop the skills necessary to play their favorite songs. The course's video lectures are designed to accommodate various learning paces, allowing for both incremental progress and faster-paced advancement. For those who have always wanted to learn guitar but lacked the time or budget for private lessons, this course serves as an accessible and affordable option.

7. Hands On Guitar: Beyond Beginner

This comprehensive guitar course is designed to help musicians who have already mastered the basics to enhance their skills and take their playing to the next level. With a focus on essential skills needed to progress from a beginner to an intermediate player, the curriculum delves into expanding one's chord vocabulary, incorporating chord substitutions and extensions, mastering movable barre chord forms, learning new strumming and picking patterns, integrating bass lines and slash chords, playing in a blues jam session, developing solo techniques, and understanding keys and transpositions. Through a series of engaging lessons, students will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to truly elevate their guitar playing abilities.

Structured into eight carefully-crafted sections, the course caters to the unique challenges faced by transitioning guitarists. By learning a wide range of chords and techniques, students will be better equipped to play their favorite songs with greater ease and precision. The program emphasizes the practical application of newly acquired skills by providing play-alongs and jam tracks, alongside detailed charts, diagrams, and notation for a truly hands-on learning experience. With this well-rounded approach to guitar education, musicians can expect to make significant strides in their journey towards intermediate-level playing, unlocking the full potential of their creativity and passion for the instrument.

8. Learn Guitar | Discover Your Sound on Guitar

This comprehensive course is designed to guide beginner and intermediate guitar players to develop their unique sound and write their own songs. Through a structured and engaging approach, the course explores the fundamentals of playing the guitar, delving into techniques such as playing chords horizontally down the neck, using a capo, holding the guitar, and developing relative pitch. Furthermore, it aims to inspire creativity and a deeper understanding of the possibilities guitar playing offers.

With a range of topics covered, including the number system for notes and chords, mastering five major keys (E, A, D, G, C), and exclusive bonus content, this course provides students with the perfect environment to strengthen their skills, express their musical ideas, and discover their sound on the guitar. Designed for those looking to take their guitar playing to the next level, the dynamic lessons will help students unlock their musical potential and become more confident, versatile, and expressive players on their instrument.

9. Rockabilly Guitar For Beginners

This beginner-friendly guitar course serves as a complete guide to help you dive into the world of 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly guitar playing. Starting with the basics, you will progress through the course to eventually learn how to play six unique and exciting Rockabilly solos not found anywhere else online. The course will cover essential skills such as determining the key of a song, learning common chord progressions, mastering the fretboard layout, and understanding basic chord and scale theory in a song context.

The course includes over two hours of high-definition video lessons, featuring split-screen technique, ensuring that you catch every detail of both hands for an optimal learning experience. For each song you learn, access jam tracks recorded at four different tempos, closely resembling the original tracks. This enables you to practice your solos at a suitable pace and have fun along the way. The course also provides tabs in PDF and Guitar Pro formats, along with various graphics and chord diagrams to further support your learning. If you have any questions throughout the course, don't hesitate to join the discussion, where the instructor will promptly respond to all enquiries.

10. How to play "Electric Guitar"

This beginner's guide to playing the electric guitar is perfect for those who are new to the instrument and are seeking a gradual, progressive, and fun learning experience. Developed over many years and refined through feedback from numerous teachers and students, this method focuses on breaking down key concepts and techniques into manageable lessons. With carefully designed exercises and short pieces to play at the end of each lesson, you'll be well on your way to mastering the electric guitar in no time!

The course covers essential topics such as understanding the parts of the guitar, correct posture, reading tabs and chord boxes, using an amp and tuner, and learning chords, scales, and techniques relevant to early-stage electric guitar playing. With 20 video lectures and 12 custom backing tracks, you'll be fully equipped and eager to take on each new lesson, honing your skills and quickly progressing towards becoming an accomplished electric guitar player. Get ready to unleash your inner musician with this comprehensive and enjoyable beginner's method!

11. Guitar Essentials for Beginners

This beginner-friendly class is led by composer Jason Rivera, who expertly guides you through the fundamentals of playing the guitar, whether it's an acoustic or electric. The course starts by acquainting you with the various parts of the guitar and concludes with learning to play two simple songs. This class caters to those who have never played guitar before, as well as individuals looking to hone their foundational skills.

The class aims to have you playing songs as soon as possible by equipping you with the essentials. Throughout the course, you will be provided with downloadable resources to aid your learning—from tuning tips and chord diagrams to strumming patterns and sheet music. In addition to having a guitar and a tuner, you will learn about the basic guitar anatomy, tuning, reading chord diagrams, essential chords, beats, bars, strumming, playing your first and second song, and much more. Ultimately, this course will provide the necessary groundwork to start learning and playing your favorite tunes on the guitar.

12. Electric Guitar For Beginners

This comprehensive course is designed for beginners who wish to learn the electric guitar and build a solid foundation on the instrument. With the guidance of an experienced instructor who has studied with renowned musicians like Greg Howe, Jennifer Batten, Martin Miller, and Debbie Davies, you will be led through a well-structured curriculum that covers basic techniques, music theory application, and various music styles such as pop, blues, rock, hard rock, and metal. The course not only focuses on the technical aspects of guitar playing but also encourages students to have fun and enjoy the learning process.

What sets this course apart from others is the use of an innovative Video / TAB & Notation integration application, which allows students to practice lessons with resources that are interactive and adaptable to their individual needs. Additionally, when enrolling in the course, students will receive a link to a Facebook group where they can share their progress, ask for feedback, and receive guidance from both the instructor and fellow learners. Overall, this course offers an engaging, supportive, and enjoyable learning experience for anyone who dreams of mastering the electric guitar.

13. Getting Started With Acoustic Guitar

This beginner-friendly course is designed to quickly and efficiently teach the foundations of acoustic guitar playing. With a focus on basic music theory, proper hand movements, and playing techniques, students will be well-equipped to start playing a selection of songs. As the course is tailored for students in India, most of the songs taught will be in Hindi.

Throughout the span of three weeks, the course is structured to gradually build upon previously learned skills. Week one is focused on mastering the basics and introducing warm-up exercises. Week two delves into understanding scales, while week three teaches some basic tunes. After completing the course, students will have a solid foundation in acoustic guitar playing and be ready to further expand their musical horizons.

14. BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS - Beginner Guitar Course - Guitar

This beginner guitar course is designed to teach the basic concepts and building blocks needed to get started on the guitar. Suitable for both children and adults, the course will guide you through learning the parts of the guitar, names of the strings, finger warm-ups, major chords, hammer-ons, bends, pull-offs, slides, and essential techniques. Throughout the lessons, you'll also learn how to tune your guitar, play popular songs such as "Happy Birthday," and understand the chromatic scale and how to apply it to your guitar playing.

The course is taught by a passionate and experienced instructor with a background in performing and teaching across the United States and South America. The lessons have been carefully crafted to provide a well-rounded foundation in guitar playing and are perfect for anyone just starting out on the instrument. In addition, the course also features bonus lessons that cover the Gm Pentatonic Scale, G Major Scale, and other valuable topics. So whether you want to play guitar for enjoyment or become a performer or musician, this beginner course will set you on the right path to learning the guitar and improving your skills.

Compare Guitar Online Courses

How to choose best Guitar online course

Finding the right guitar course as a beginner is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a proficient guitarist. From understanding basic techniques to playing specific styles such as blues or rockabilly, there's a wide range of courses available to suit your interests and needs. To ensure you pick the best course, here are some factors to consider:

1. Understand your goals as a learner: Before delving into any particular course, you must first identify what you want to achieve. Whether you wish to play guitar for personal enjoyment or become a professional musician, having clear objectives will help you select a course that aligns with your aspirations.
2. Choose a course that suits your skill level: Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to build upon existing skills, it is essential to assess your current capabilities and find a program that caters to your expertise.
3. Consider the course structure and teaching style: Get an overview of the course material, the teaching methods, and the tools or resources provided for practice. Ensure the course focuses on hands-on activities that allow you to gain practical experience, as consistent practice is key to mastering the guitar.
4. Determine your preferred learning style: Understand whether a self-paced, online course, or an in-person, structured class works better for you. Both have their advantages, so it's essential to determine which fits your schedule and learning preferences.
5. Read reviews and gather feedback from others: Reviews and feedback from fellow learners or online forums can give you valuable insights into what the course is like, the benefits and challenges, and how well it may cater to your needs.

By keeping these points in mind when choosing a guitar course, you are more likely to find a program that aligns with your learning goals, skill level, and overall interests, ensuring a successful and enjoyable experience as you embark on your guitar journey.

Conclusion

Whether you are a beginner looking to pick up the guitar for the first time, or an experienced guitarist wanting to expand your blues styling or break through into new techniques, there are courses on this list that cater to your needs. By investing in one of these top-rated guitar courses, you'll be setting yourself up for success, and soon you'll be discovering your own unique sound and style on the guitar.

It's never too late to kick start your guitar learning journey, or to take the leap from beginner to more advanced playing. Allow yourself the opportunity to grow as a musician and embrace the fulfilling experience of mastering the guitar. Choose the course that resonates with your goals and aspirations, and start strumming your way to becoming an accomplished guitarist today.