Discover the Best Guitar Classes Near Me
Since the 1960s, the guitar has been the most popular instrument in music. It’s used in country, rock, punk, heavy metal, pop, jazz, and classical styles. If you’re interested in playing any of these music genres, guitar classes can improve your skills. They include hands-on support from a skilled expert and help with things like songwriting and song production. Courses include in-person lessons and online, video-based programs.
Why You Should Learn Guitar
Have you ever been at a party and wished you could play guitar to entertain your friends? Learning to play guitar lets you do just that. It gives you a great new skill that not only makes you more fun but helps relieve stress. For example, you can write, perform, and record songs about your life to express yourself and mitigate your anxiety.
Can you make money playing guitar? If you get good enough, you can play gigs with friends and make a little extra cash. You can even record your music and release it online or sell it at shows. Will you make enough to quit your job? Probably not but even a little nest egg is better than nothing. Furthermore, you can even make new musician friends playing at open mic nights and other events and expand your social scene.
5 Ways to Learn Guitar
What are the best ways to learn guitar? Formal in-person classes include a live professor who can correct common mistakes, improve your fret fingering, and teach you scales. Live, online courses provide the same attention but let you practice wherever you want. For example, you can learn while on vacation by streaming the lesson from a computer.
What about guitar instruction videos on YouTube or other platforms? These provide free education but not live support from the teacher. Other learning options include guitar chord books and online song tabs. Though you can learn to play guitar in these ways, they lack the personalized support that formal classes provide.
In-Person Guitar Classes
If you’re interested in learning guitar, in-person courses are a great option. They include live instruction from a skilled guitar player who can help you master your instrument. For example, if you are playing basic chords wrong, they can correct your fingering or find a chord pattern that works better for you. In this way, you will play guitar better.
These courses also include benefits that make them worth considering. For example, you’ll socialize with other guitar players and musicians and can form bands together. Many courses even provide materials like guitars and chord books that make learning simpler. Even better, most focus on smaller class sizes that ensure you get lots of personal attention.
If you live in any of the cities mentioned below, make sure to check out the available guitar courses. These often include beginner-level lessons that teach you guitar-playing basics. However, more advanced courses are available if you have some playing experience. These programs touch up your existing abilities and help you become a more refined player.
New York
The Big Apple has a huge rock, metal, and punk scene that you can join by learning guitar. Thankfully, you should find many classes in this area that can help you master this skill. These two courses include in-depth instruction from a skilled guitar player.
Guitar (Beginner)
Guitar (Beginner) is a 92nd Street Y course on 91st and 92nd Streets in Manhattan. It accepts up to six people in a beginner-level class that covers the basics of guitar. Subjects covered include tuning the guitar, holding your pick, reading chord diagrams, fingering your guitar, and strumming. You’ll also learn about bass riffs, strumming patterns, and playing along with recordings using guitar tabs.
Guitar 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners
Guitar 1: Guitar for Absolute Beginners is a Brooklyn Guitar School class on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. It covers basic guitar chords, teaches string names, and highlights proper finger use. During this course, you’ll also learn how to play popular songs by your favorite artists.
Typically, students take at least 6-8 weekly lessons before progressing to other classes by Brooklyn Guitar School. Like most guitar-learning programs, you should practice between each session to improve your skills. Try for at least 1-2 hours every day.
Los Angeles
LA is the entertainment capital of the world and has many unique options that can help you learn this skill. These include community college programs and specialized music schools. The following two classes cover beginner-level guitar skills.
Beginning Guitar
Beginning Guitar is a Santa Monica College class on 11th Street in Santa Monica, not far from LA. It covers basic guitar skills, including strumming, picking, and tuning your guitar. You’ll learn how to play open chords, progress to barre chords, and get some music theory education.
This course requires the textbook Hal Leonard Guitar Method by Will Schmidt and Greg Koch. You keep the book after completing the class, which lets you practice your skills whenever you want. Try out other Santa Monica College courses to improve your skills even further.
Guitar for Young People (Ages 9-17)
Guitar for Young People (Ages 9-17 is a Los Angeles City College class on North Vermont Avenue in Hollywood. It helps teach pre-teens and teenagers how to play guitar using fun, but serious, lessons that suit their experience and needs.
What will you learn? How to tune your guitar, read basic music notes, play chords, and arrange simple single-note melodies. Expect at least 12 students in each class and bring your own guitar to practice your skills in class and at home.
Chicago
Chicago has played an important role in music history and has produced many important guitarists. As a result, there are typically many classes available in the city. These courses give you an in-depth experience that makes learning this instrument easier.
Group Guitar (Adults)
Group Guitar (Adults) is a North Shore Music Institute class on Central Avenue in downtown Chicago. It groups you with 3-6 other students of about the same age and skill and includes group lessons focused on making everyone better guitar players.
During your weekly lessons, you’ll learn guitar chords, practice music theory, interact with fellow musicians, and improve your playing with a trained professor. When finishing this class, you should feel comfortable playing guitar at an intermediate level.
Beginning Jazz Guitar
Beginning Jazz Guitar is a Vaudezilla Studios class on Irving Park Road in Chicago. It’s suitable for people with some guitar experience who are interested in learning jazz techniques. You’ll practice playing more complex chords and syncopating your rhythms.
Other subjects include integrating blues scales, understanding jazz song structures, and playing solos. You’ll listen to jazz guitarists, like Charlie Christian, and learn how they structured their music. After completing this class, you can progress to more advanced guitar-theory courses.
Boston
Boston residents can choose from multiple guitar schools and classes that help them fine-tune their abilities and play more effectively. These lessons cover beginner-, intermediate-, and advanced-level skills. More advanced courses even cover fingerstyle guitar.
Guitar 1
Guitar 1 is a Passim class on Church Street in downtown Boston that covers basic guitar techniques. It includes lessons on guitar strings, basic tunings, chords, and strumming patterns. You’ll also learn about simple maintenance techniques for your instrument.
Passim also provides many other guitar courses that help advance your skills. Take these one at a time to slowly improve your playing. For example, you’ll learn how to solo as well as write songs on the guitar, improving your technique even further.
More Fingerstyle Guitar
More Fingerstyle Guitar is a Passim course on Church Street that focuses on mastering fingerstyle guitar techniques. These methods include picking guitar notes individually, playing them with various strumming methods, and other techniques.
This course helps people interested in playing blues, folk, jazz, or more complex rock styles. You’ll also learn about alternate tunings and how to use them in these genres. Note: this class requires more advanced playing techniques than other Passim programs.
The nation’s capital includes multiple guitar classes that can improve your playing ability. These include beginner courses designed to get you started and more advanced lessons that progress your techniques even further. Check out the options below to gauge which works best for you.
Acoustic Guitar for Beginners
Acoustic Guitar for Beginners is a Washington Conservatory of Music class on MacArthur Boulevard in Glen Echo. It focuses on people who’ve never played guitar and uses a small class size to provide more personalized attention with a skilled professor.
During this class, you’ll learn chords, strums, and a few simple songs that you can practice to improve your playing. After finishing this program, you can either focus on learning more advanced skills on your own or take the next class offered by this school
Intermediate Acoustic Guitar
Intermediate Acoustic Guitar is a Washington Conservatory of Music Class that focuses on the lessons learned in Acoustic Guitar for Beginners. It’ll expand on those simple strums and chords and teach you more advanced playing methods, like fingerpicking and complex chord shapes.
You’ll also practice some common soloing techniques, including harmonizing single-note lines, to improve your skills. When you’re done with this class, you should feel comfortable playing most songs you hear on the radio and can progress to advanced techniques as well.
Houston
As one of the biggest cities in Texas, Houston provides many unique amenities to its residents. For example, it has multiple guitar schools and classes that can help you learn guitar. These include lessons for kids and adults, as well as programs created by music shops.
Guitar for Grownups
Guitar for Grownups is a Prelude Music Classes for Children course on West Alabama Street in Houston. It teaches children and their parents in an in-depth, 60-minute class that helps improve their techniques. Typically, it accepts beginners with little guitar experience.
Lessons covered include guitar chords, tuning, maintenance, single-note melodies, scales, and other important theories. Working through this class with a child can help a parent not only enhance their own music skills but give their kid the help they need to play better.
1 Hour Acoustic Guitar Private Lesson
1 Hour Acoustic Guitar Private Lesson is a Rockin’ Robin Music Lessons course on Highway Six in Missouri, Texas. It’s run by the owners of Rockin’ Robin, a guitar shop that’s been in business in Houston since 1972.
Classes are based around your ability. Beginners get in-depth practice with basic skills, like chording and strumming. More advanced players learn advanced soloing methods and techniques for tuning their guitar that make it sound better.
Virtual Guitar Classes
Do you live outside the cities listed above and can’t find in-person guitar courses near you? Online guitar lessons can help. They let you attend anywhere you want, including in rural areas far from guitar centers. You also don’t have to commute to class and can choose from far more options than are typically available in person.
Do online guitar lessons have any downsides? Yes. First, you typically have to supply your own materials, meaning you’ll need to buy a guitar, some tab books, and other gear. Secondly, you don’t get as many socialization opportunities. That said, online courses provide many advantages that make them well worth considering.
So, if you’re interested in online guitar classes, there are many options you can consider. These courses cover multiple subjects, including basic playing techniques, advanced soloing methods, songwriting skills, and even production. The following three programs provide you with a unique learning environment that may work well for your needs.
Guitar Made Easy (Ages 18+)
Guitar Made Easy (Ages 18+) is a Los Angeles City College course offered online. You’ll learn how to play single-note melodies and chords and arrange them into songs. Other subjects include basic guitar maintenance and tuning techniques.
Note that you’ll need a guitar and the book Guitar Method 1 by Schmidt and Koch for this course. In this book, you’ll learn about guitar chords and proper maintenance. Once finished with this class, you can use this text to learn more advanced guitar techniques.
Words & Music, Teen Songwriting
Words & Music, Teen Songwriting is a Songwriting School of Los Angeles class devoted to teaching children how to write songs. It helps students build playing skills on their instruments (including guitar) and discusses how to use chords and melodies properly.
Teens are encouraged to practice on their preferred instrument, usually guitar. Lessons include a laid-back but focused experience that helps teens master guitar and songwriting. This course also includes personalized help from a live instructor to help each teen reach their potential.
Logic Pro Level 1
Logic Pro Level 1 is a Songwriting School of Los Angeles program focused on teaching students how to use Logic as a production tool. They’ll learn how to record their guitar and arrange tracks on Logic, as well as avoiding common mixing mistakes.
Students not only practice guitar techniques but learn how to sample their work, create digital loops, record audio in real time, and finalize their work. Any serious guitar player who wants to produce albums will find this course beneficial for their career.
Private Group Guitar Classes
Are you looking to book a fun team-building event for your business and want something off the beaten path? Private group guitar classes may be a great option for you! These courses include in-depth training from a skilled musician who discusses guitar chords, playing techniques, and soloing methods. They give your team the chance to become better guitar players.
These private group classes include large student numbers, video-based learning options, and personalized learning plans. For example, if members on your team have previous guitar experience, CourseHorse can adjust its lessons to suit their needs. The goal behind their classes is to provide a suitable and adaptable learning environment for their customers.
Even if you can’t find any classes that suit your needs, CourseHorse can help you. Contact them to set up a private guitar class for your team. You can typically set course sizes up to about 250 people, depending on the instructor. These virtual classes let your team practice guitar at home or while at work. They also include support from a real guitar player.
When taking private guitar classes with CourseHorse, you never pay booking fees. You can also change your group size up to the day of the event and can work on multiple platforms. This last benefit is great if you have a remote team with varying computer types. Rather than worrying about compatibility, you can rest easy knowing you’re covered.
CourseHorse also sends out booking confirmation notices within 24 hours to ensure that your team has plenty of time to prepare. Other benefits of this platform include in-depth vetting processes for each professor. CourseHorse makes sure each class offers appropriate and in-depth information that gives your team the support it needs to learn guitar effectively.
What Will I Need to Learn Guitar?
If you’re interested in learning guitar, it’s important to invest in the right materials. While many in-person courses provide these items for you, it’s a good idea to have your own. For example, owning a guitar lets you practice at home, play gigs for fun, and improve your skills. The following items are all critical for anyone learning to play guitar.
Guitar
An acoustic guitar often works best for people learning to play. They’re more portable, don’t require an amp, and typically cost less than electric guitars. Furthermore, some classes may suggest using an acoustic to save on class space. That said, other courses let students use electric guitars with a small amp turned to a low volume. String types include steel or nylon: nylon is used strictly for classical guitar. So, pick the type that appeals to your interests.
Picks
Picks streamline guitar playing by making the strings easier to strum. Most new guitar players use picks, though some may prefer their fingers. Fingerpicking guitarists may even buy specialized picks for each finger. Note that picks come in multiple sizes. Lighter and thinner picks work best for faster playing, such as in jazz or classical guitar. Thicker picks are suitable for rock, metal, or punk guitar because they strum multiple strings more effectively.
Accessories
Beyond your guitar and picks, you’ll need a few other accessories for your learning experience. A good guitar case keeps your instrument safe when traveling, such as attending classes or playing gigs. Find one that securely closes that includes a handle for easier carrying. You may also want a guitar strap. This accessory attaches to your instrument and holds it at a comfortable height while you play. Other items to consider include pick cases and extra strings.
Tab Books
Guitar tab books feature common chord shapes that help you move beyond basic open chords. You can learn seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords to expand your playing options. Other tab books include song chords you can practice. These often focus on specific artists or albums, letting you practice your skills at your own pace. Note: online tab sites provide detailed song listings as well. These tabs aren’t always accurate, though, so use them at your own risk.
Is it Difficult to Learn Guitar?
Learning guitar is not hard if you take classes and practice regularly. The toughest part is building muscle memory for chord shapes and scale patterns. Daily practice (play while you’re watching TV) can help increase your ability. Regular playing also builds calluses on your fingers. Calluses make playing easier by decreasing discomfort on your fingers. Learning songs also improves your skills by teaching you how musicians arrange chords and gives you practice moving between them. Like with any skill, it takes time and effort to learn to play guitar. Give yourself a few hours a day between classes and you should master guitar in no time.
