Last Updated on August 12, 2022 by Play Guitar Notes
Editors Choice |  | Free Trial: Skill Level: Price: | Free Trial |
| 2. JamPlay |  | Free Trial: Skill Level: Price: | Free Trial |
| 3. TrueFire |  | Free Trial: Skill Level: Price: | Free Trial |
Are you trying to start learning or get better at playing the guitar? Well, the truth is that you’re not alone and you have probably heard rumors that the guitar’s one of the most difficult instrument to master. However, that is not always the case because with the right courses to follow this instrument can be one of the easiest to learn.
Moreover, the advent of online streaming service has significantly revolutionized the manner in which music enthusiasts learn guitar. Gone are the times when you had to go through a pipeline of private instructors charging extortionate hourly rates and putting you through repetitive exercises to perform under their watchful eye.
Currently, anyone who wants to master the guitar can select from the myriad of training that offer the benefits of a private instructor in the comfort of your home. The biggest problem with having many affordable and convenient learning options is settling on one that is right for you.
Best Websites To Learn Guitar Online
For you to easily choose an online course, we have reviewed the top best online guitar lessons for beginners. These reviews will help you better understand each and help you settle on one that best suits your needs. Let’s get started.
1 – Guitar Tricks
Guitar Tricks is arguably one of the best established and longest running guitar learning website on the internet.
What Is Included On Guitar Tricks?
There is really much to learn when you sign up. This is a subscription-based website so, you will gain access to thousands of video training lessons and other extras once you have made your monthly payment.
So what should you expect from your monthly membership? To begin with, you will gain access to more than 5,000 video lessons delivered by 45 different teachers, more than 150 jam tracks that you can play along with, tools such as guitar tuner and metronome, a reference library for essential step by step techniques and a downloadable video player for you to watch the videos offline.
Lesson Format
All lessons on this website are usually taught through high-definition quality videos, but some have additional PDF tabs files that contain screenshots for the video content so you can learn more quickly. Once you register on this site, you can opt to stream the video lessons online or download them and watch them on a complimentary video player.
With these videos, you expect high-quality audios, crystal clear visuals and the utilization of multiple camera angles so that you will always see what your instructor is doing.
Teaching Approach
The courses on this website are divided logically into various sections. The lessons are grouped into Basic Learning System, practicing lessons, technique lessons, genre-specific lessons, acoustic, electric lessons, songs and artistic style lessons. These lessons are usually supported by text files so that you can easily navigate them in any order once you have completed the Basic Learning System.
On this site, beginners have an added advantage all thanks to the Basic Learning System that was designed to suit. The first few courses in this category teach beginners the fundamentals of playing the guitar such as holding the instrument, using the hands, producing notes and playing the first chords.
Ease of Use
Site is straightforward to navigate and use. All lessons are arranged logically, and there are numerous features to use such as progress indicators, bookmarks, and viewed lesson history to help you pick up from your last session.
The Community
There are a number of forums for learners to interact with themselves and their instructors as well. Members with a full subscription have access to an exclusive forum that allows them to ask questions directly to guitar techs and course instructors.
Guitar Tricks is definitely among the best options for learning mastering the guitar and for $14.95 a month, you can buy your monthly subscription. There is also an annual subscription option that goes for $129. With the volume of learning content, the quality of teaching and extra tools, this is a very fair price.
2 – JamPlay
Subscription-based video streaming websites are rapidly becoming the most preferred method of learning various musical instruments, and JamPlay has earned the top spot for being the best platform to undertake online courses.
What Is Included In JamPlay?
Once you successfully subscribe to JamPlay, you will gain access to their immense collection of lessons which are taught by an army of 48 instructors, each of whom has an area of specialization. Doing the math, this sums up to more than 36000 minutes of instruction, which are split into 2,000 separate lessons.
Also, JamPlay is always recording new content so every month, you can expect an extra 11 hours of lessons. Although this might be too much to keep you glued on the chords, there is a lot more to offer. This includes large scale and chord libraries, hundreds of jam track collections for you to play along and a thriving music community.
Lesson Format
The lessons on this website are typically taught through a flash video that must be streamed. These videos are not available for download because the rampant piracy can drive this website out of business. There are usually five options for video quality, so you can still watch the videos regardless of your internet speed.
Teaching Approach
JamPlay guitar lessons are split into three broad categories. The first category is one that has numerous lessons on fundamentals. The next category usually has genre-specific lessons and spotlights on the various skills that will help you navigate your playing career.
The last category usually has what every student wants; learning songs. Within each category is an array of courses taught by different instructors. This teaching approach helps build your knowledge on a given topic logically instead of feeding you with disorganized content.
Beginners are usually taught starting from the very basics of holding the guitar, using each hand appropriately to composing your chord progressions. This platform offers a comprehensive package of lessons to novice players and the beginner course also serves to boost the knowledge of self-taught guitarists.
JamPlay does not have specific courses for the intermediate and advanced level players like it does for the beginners. The truth is that at this point of your learning, you can begin to specialize, so there isn’t a clear difference between intermediate and advanced guitarists.
Instead of putting learners through a linear lesson structure, JamPlay opens up dozens of options for the players to choose from. For instance, one can opt to become a fearsome metal rhythm player, or a blues lead Maestro; mastering the skills that appeal you the most.
Ease of Use
JamPlay is a pretty intuitive learning platform. All the lessons are arranged logically, and when you click on a video, it starts streaming immediately and off you go. The mere fact that you can leave notes and bookmarks implies that you can easily keep track of your learning progress. If you select a lesson and halfway into the course you feel that you did not master the techniques taught, you can mark it as incomplete and revisit it later.
Community and Support
One merit of JamPlay is that it gives you access to a burgeoning online community that’s facing the same struggles as you. You can request assistance or engage in heated discussions on vital issues in playing.
JamPlay is a comprehensive learning service that’s suitable for guitarists of all levels. There are monthly, quarterly and annual subscription options for you to choose from, starting from $19.95 per month to $139.95 per annum.
3 – TrueFire
TrueFire is undoubtedly the largest resource for lessons on the internet. With a staggering 25,000 video lessons, that is a tremendously huge resource. Ever since it was created, this platform has collaborated with more than 600 instructors and decorated celebrities to build the largest collection of lessons, courses, books and jamming tracks on the internet.
What Is Included In TrueFire?
TrueFire lets you choose between a monthly subscription method that grants you unlimited video streaming access or buying individual classes depending on what you want to learn the most without the need to pay for a membership.
Besides the streamed courses, this platform offers private lessons with an instructor of your choice and a blog with more than 900 posts about guitar lessons, viral news, interviews, and videos about playing the guitar and so much more.
Additionally, TrueFire also has a digital magazine, a student forum with more than 5,000 members and 100,000+ posts and tools such as chord charts, metronome and online tuner, all created to assist your learning.
Lesson Format
TrueFire presents a plethora of guitar learning which are coherently and chronologically arranged so that it is easy for anyone to follow. Most of these guitar lessons are great and are excellent for the advanced or experienced guitar players seeking to understand more about the guitar and all philosophies behind playing it. The video quality is good, and each lesson is delivered by one of the 600 instructors available.
Teaching Approach
The teaching approach on this website is rather straightforward, and you will rarely find yourself struggling with the lessons. There are usually ten courses, each of which is divided into smaller courses that handle more specific aspects of the guitar. Inside each course, there is usually a curriculum where you can read what to expect from the course, the instruments to be used, the skill level, teaching style and the instructors in charge.
The ability of a learner to select a learning path from the menu is an excellent feature of the site and users can easily navigate between bunches of courses.
Ease of Use
Despite having tons of guitar learning materials, TrueFire is a highly-intuitive site that is very easy to use and navigate. The site is perfectly optimized for mobile devices so you can string high definition videos from your mobile handset.
Community
This online learning site boasts the largest student community on the internet. TrueFire has a student forum that has more than 5000 members and more than 100,000 posts on various aspects of the guitar from tips for quick learning to advise on mastering the most complicated techniques.
It is undoubtedly true that TrueFire is among the most sophisticated and dedicated guitar learning services and with $19, you can enjoy a 30-day subscription. There is also an annual and lifetime subscription option where you pay $199 and $999 respectively. This is an excellent platform for intermediate and advanced players who want to practice their technicality of playing the guitar beyond the normal.
Disclosure: We may receive compensation from the companies whose products we review.