Online Guitar Lessons for Beginners:

In this article, you’ll learn exactly what to look for and what to avoid when learning how to play the guitar as a beginner. Lets get started!

Why Online Guitar Lessons Can Be Perfect for Beginners

Online guitar lessons are more popular than ever—and for good reason. Especially for beginners, learning online offers serious advantages:

1. Flexible for busy adults >

You learn on your own time and at your own pace. No commuting, no fixed weekly slot. You can rewatch lessons, pause when life gets crazy, and pick up right where you left off.

3. Affordable and accessible > 

Online courses usually cost a fraction of private lessons, and you only need a guitar and an internet connection. That makes it much easier to start (and stick with) guitar even on a budget.

3. Structured, not random >

Private lessons and YouTube can be all over the place. The right online guitar method gives you a clear, step-by-step path so you always know what to work on next instead of drowning in random videos or chicken scratches from you private lessons. 

Not all online guitar lessons are created equal. The right course should do more than show you how to play stuff—it should help you understand music, build real musical skills, stay motivated, avoid frustration, and actually make progress.

Here’s what to look for:

✅ A Clear Progressive Path >

Does the course have structure with specific targets to achieve in each lesson or is it superficial and vague and leaving you to figure out the details and when you should move on.

✅ Music You Actually Like >

If you want to play electric guitar and rock out to 80's hair metal, AC/DC, Metallica or whatever,  it's so much more fun to find a method that uses songs you like to develop your skills vs music you don't really care about. 

✅ Built-in Progress and Skill Tracking >

Anyone can slap together some videos for a course and host it on a cookie cutter platform... But does how will you know if you're actually getting better? A guitar course or method will have a way for you to see tangible progress that is built it. 

✅ Build Real Musical Skill > 

You should be learning fun songs you enjoy AND developing real musical skills such as rhythm, training your ear, and understanding music.  Otherwise you're just mindlessly moving your fingers around and guitar will be harder and take much longer in the long run. 

✅ Support and Accountability >

Whether it’s a private community, direct coaching, or check-in videos, the best platforms help you stay on track. Sometimes its the little feedback that makes all the difference or even getting in with a like-minded community 

❌ 15 Red Flags To Watch Out For In Online Guitar Courses

Here are the most common problems i see in beginner-focused online guitar courses

1. No Clear Path or Structure >

Random lessons, no sense of what comes next or when to move on e.g."Netflix for guitar"

2. Isolation of Skills Instead of a System >

Courses that teach "stuff" but not how to USE what you learn musically.. You'll always be lost. 

3. No Focus on Rhythm & Timing >

Courses that focus on just mechanics of moving your fingers and not developing real musical skills

4. Zero Feedback Loop >

No way of knowing if you're improving, no tracking of skills, checkpoints etc. This creates an illusion of progress when you're not getting anywhere. 

5. No Ear Training or Musical Understanding >

You will always struggle and feel lost if all you do is learn tabs and strum DU DU DD bull sh**.  If you're going to learn a musical instrument - skipping the music part will cause infinite problems. 

6. Information Overload >

Theory dumps, long rants with no tangible TO DO items, advanced level concepts too early, scattered information, methods boasting (10k lessons you'll never have time for) etc. 

7. No Simplification of Songs >

If they teach songs at full difficulty right away or don't have a leveled system for song difficulty you'll quickly feel overwhelmed and frustrated. 

8. Skip Steps In the Learning Process >

Just like how you wouldn't teach calculus in kindergarten, teachers or courses that skip steps will cause massive frustration in the student whether its jumping to barre chords too soon, learning songs too advanced or learning theory. 

9. Lack of Understanding of How The Brain Learns >

You can get the best lessons in the world but if you practice the wrong way or try to learn against how the brain learns naturally you will always struggle. Avoid courses that don't address how the brain learns. 

10. Encourages Passive Learning >

Courses that are just "Watch this video" style. If its up to you (a beginner) to figure out the details of what to do, how to do it, how well to do it before moving on you're sure to fail.  

11. Inconsistent Teaching >

Whether its in in terminology, lessons that contradict or don't build to the next lesson or course in the system. 

12. Focus is on Advanced or Flashy Skills To Early > 

Soloing, sweep arpeggios, shredding, etc etc. Everyone wants to be a rockstar but every rockstar went through the ranks and built a solid foundation in their musicianship and musical mechanics. 

13. No Personalization or Adaptability >

Same path for everyone, doesn't meet you where you are, goes too fast (or too slow)

14. No Accountability or Community >

Easy to quit, easy to make excuses, easy to spiral down when life gets in the way or you hit a roadblock

15. Tunnel Vision Learning >

Courses that focus on one thing but leaves out all the other skills needed to play how you want. 
These courses would be like going to the gym and doing calve raises for 9mo.. No mention of other body parts or even nutrition.

FAQs About Online Guitar Lessons for Beginners

Do I need to know music theory?

This is debatable. While you can "learn guitar" by mindlessly wiggling your fingers around, to play how you want you're going to need to know some stuff. The problem is most players (and teachers) jump to the deep end with theory too soon which causes overwhelm, confusion, and boredom. Music theory is fun and easy - if you learn it right. 

How long does it take to get good?

Good can mean different things... Like sports, you're not going to play at a high level without years of dedication.

That being said, if you are an absolute beginner with no background, with the right system and 20-30min a day you should be able to play some simple riffs and short songs within your 1st week, a full song (think Seven Nation Army or Zombie by the Cranberries) in a month. Chord transitions will be smooth in your first few weeks. 

What kind of guitar do I need?

Any decent electric or acoustic guitar will work. No cheap crap off amazon and for love don't get those damn 3 string Loog guitars. We provide gear guides to help you choose the right setup for your goals and budget.

Can I learn if I have arthritis or small hands?

While Im not a medical doctor (just a guitar doctor) There are exercises to help with arthritis and good technique can also help.  

Can I learn if I have small hands?

This is a total myth perpetuated by players and teachers who are clueless on the mechanics of the hand. It's a good question but it's just your thumb placement and maybe how you're holding the guitar - A two second fix.

I've taught professionally for 16+ years and this as NEVER been an issue - well maybe for 4 and 5 year old children on an acoustic guitar.

Am I too old to learn guitar?

This is a myth perpetuated by people who don't play guitar, teachers who can't teach very well, or players who can barely play because they go about it all the wrong way. It's never to late - unless YOU think it is. 

Do I need to start on an acoustic guitar first?

No. Start with whichever guitar you have or get whichever one you want for the music you want to play. The electric is actually easier because the next and strings are smaller 🙂.  I would recommend to not get an electric with a floating bridge or some crazy shape to start with though. 

Conclusion

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We only open up the Guitar GPS to a select number of players to insure your success. 

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