What you pay depends on three things: the teacher’s experience, where you live, and whether you learn in person, online or in a group. This guide puts real numbers on each, with the source for every figure.
Guitar lesson prices at a glance
| Lesson type | Typical price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Private, in person | $40 to $80 per hour (median $50) | PlayGuitar.com |
| Budget teachers | $20 to $35 per hour | PlayGuitar.com |
| Experienced or specialist teachers | $80 to $150 per hour | PlayGuitar.com |
| Live online, 1-on-1 | $5 to $15 per hour less than in person | PlayGuitar.com |
| Group classes | $10 to $40 per hour | TeachMe.To |
| In-home (teacher travels to you) | $70 to $130 per hour | TeachMe.To |
| Apps and video courses | $15 to $50 | TeachMe.To |
| Weekly lessons, per month | $150 to $250 (45 to 60 minutes a week) | PlayGuitar.com |
How much do private guitar lessons cost?
PlayGuitar.com looked at more than 11,800 teacher listings in its directory and kept the 1,201 that stated a clear hourly rate. The US results, last updated in April 2026:
- Median: $50 per hour. Half of teachers charge less, half charge more.
- Average: $66 per hour. It sits above the median because a smaller group of expensive teachers pulls it up.
- Most teachers: $40 to $80 per hour.
- Budget end: $20 to $35 per hour.
- Experienced or specialist teachers: $80 to $150 per hour.
Watch how a price is quoted. A teacher who lists “$30 per lesson” for 30 minutes is charging $60 an hour, not $30. PlayGuitar.com points out that a 45-minute lesson at $60 is often better value than a 60-minute lesson at $80, so compare the hourly rate, not the sticker price.
How much do guitar lessons cost per year?
Using PlayGuitar.com’s figure of $150 to $250 a month for one 45 to 60 minute lesson a week, a full year of weekly lessons comes to about $1,800 to $3,000. That is our calculation (monthly cost × 12), and most students take a few weeks off over a year, so the real total is usually a little lower.
How much are online guitar lessons?
Live lessons over video
A live one-on-one lesson over video typically costs $5 to $15 an hour less than the same teacher in person, according to PlayGuitar.com, because the teacher has no studio to pay for. Online also lets you pick a teacher anywhere, which helps if there are few teachers near you. Beginners who need someone to correct their hand position may still get more from in-person lessons.
Apps and video courses
Self-paced platforms cost far less than a teacher. TeachMe.To puts them at $15 to $50 with unlimited access, and gives Pickup Music at $180 a year as an example, against about $2,600 a year for weekly private lessons. The catch is that nobody watches you play, so bad habits can go unnoticed.
How much do group guitar lessons cost?
Group classes run $10 to $40 per hour, according to TeachMe.To. You share the teacher with other students, so you get less individual feedback and move at the group’s pace. Groups work well for kids and for learning to play in time with other people.
What about in-home lessons?
Teachers who travel to you charge more to cover their time on the road. TeachMe.To lists in-home lessons at $70 to $130 per hour. If you can get to a teacher’s studio, the same lesson usually costs less.
What changes the price
Teacher experience
This is the biggest factor. TeachMe.To says music students who teach on the side charge around $30 a session, while professional touring musicians charge $150 or more an hour.
Where you live
PlayGuitar.com found that teachers in major cities charge roughly 30% to 60% more than similar teachers in smaller cities and rural areas. Even within one state, a suburban teacher may charge $20 to $30 an hour less than one in the city centre. In its data, Washington, Texas, New Jersey and Georgia were among the higher-priced states, and Pennsylvania, Missouri and Rhode Island among the lower-priced ones.
Outside the US
PlayGuitar.com’s medians: about £25 an hour in the UK, and in Canada CAD $40 in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec and CAD $65 in Alberta.
Lesson length
Most teachers offer 30, 45 or 60 minutes once a week. Shorter lessons cost less each time but more per minute. Many teachers also sell monthly packages that work out cheaper than paying lesson by lesson, so ask.
A cheaper way to learn: app plus an occasional lesson
If weekly lessons are too much, mix the two. Use an app for day-to-day practice and book a teacher once a month to check your technique. With the figures above, Pickup Music at $180 a year plus one $50 lesson a month comes to about $780 a year, against $1,800 or more for weekly lessons. You get less feedback, but a teacher still catches bad habits before they set in.
How to get more from each lesson
- Practise between lessons. A lesson shows you what to work on. The progress happens in the days between.
- Bring questions. Write down what tripped you up during the week and start the lesson with it.
- Say what you want to play. Campfire songs, metal riffs and jazz need different practice. Tell your teacher on day one.
- Ask about a trial lesson. TeachMe.To lists first-lesson offers from $5 to $45, so you can test a teacher before you commit.
Our free tools help with practice at home: keep steady time with the online metronome, and look up any shape in the guitar chord library.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do guitar lessons cost per hour?
Are online guitar lessons cheaper than in-person?
How much are guitar lessons per month?
How much do guitar lessons cost per year?
Do beginners pay less for guitar lessons?
Why do guitar teachers in cities charge more?
Sources
- PlayGuitar.com, “How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost?”: 1,201 teachers with stated hourly rates, data updated April 2026.
- TeachMe.To, guitar lesson pricing guide: group, in-home, app and trial-lesson prices.
Compiled by the Shlohmo editorial team from the sources above. We did not survey teachers ourselves. Yearly totals are our own calculations from those figures. Prices vary by teacher and area.
See other music lesson prices in our music lessons cost guides.
