Guitar Start Guide
Everything on this list earns its place, and we have not included anything we would not put in front of a friend. But if you are an adult starting from nothing and you want one answer rather than ten, ours is Jamorama.
The reason is the shape of it: ten courses sequenced by Mark McKenzie, with jam tracks so you are playing along rather than drilling in silence, bought once for $97 against a $287 list price. It is not the flashiest thing on this page. It does not listen to your playing, there is no live scoring, and the videos were shot a good while back. It is simply the one most likely to still be open in six months, because there is no renewal to talk yourself out of.
See why we recommend Jamorama →
Gibson’s own Learn & Play app: an expert-designed path from your first chords to full songs, with interactive lessons and real-time feedback.
Try the Gibson App →Finding the best online guitar lessons is less about which platform has the most videos and more about which one keeps you playing after week three. We compared six of the most popular options from a complete beginner’s point of view, looking at how quickly each is likely to get you from “I can’t hold a pick” to playing a real song. This ranking is the honest result — what each course does well, who it suits, and where it falls short.
How we compared and ranked them
We judged each platform on the things that actually matter when you’re starting from zero: how clear the teaching is, whether lessons build in a sensible order, how motivating the format feels, and whether the price is fair for what you get. A flashy app that leaves you stuck on the same chord for a fortnight loses to a plain video course that quietly gets you playing.
- Structure — is there a clear path, or a pile of videos to sift through?
- Beginner-friendliness — does it assume you already know the jargon?
- Motivation — do you actually want to come back tomorrow?
- Value — is the monthly or one-off cost justified?
The ranking at a glance
| Rank | Platform | Best for | Format | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamorama | A structured course to follow start to finish | Video + play-along + games | $97 one-time |
| 2 | Guitar Tricks | Depth and a proven learning system | Video library | Around $20/mo |
| 3 | JustinGuitar | Learning for free with world-class teaching | Video + app | Free core lessons |
| 4 | Fender Play | Song-first learners who want quick wins | Short video lessons | Around $10/mo |
| 5 | Yousician | Gamified daily practice with instant feedback | App that listens | Around $15/mo |
| 6 | TrueFire | Improvers exploring styles and techniques | Video courses | Around $20/mo |
1. Jamorama — best overall for beginners
Jamorama earns our top spot because it does the boring-but-vital thing well: it takes you through a single, coherent path instead of handing you a library and wishing you luck. The video lessons are calm and clearly paced, and the play-along tracks plus ear-training games make the early weeks feel less like homework. If you’re the sort of person who wants to be told exactly what to practise next, this is the one. Our full Jamorama review digs into the specifics.
2. Guitar Tricks — the deepest structured course
Guitar Tricks has been around for decades, and it shows in the polish. Its “Core Learning System” walks you from your first note through to full songs, and the back catalogue of style and song tutorials is enormous once you’ve found your feet. It costs more than Jamorama and the sheer size can feel overwhelming, but for value-per-lesson it’s hard to beat. See our Guitar Tricks review for the full breakdown.
3. JustinGuitar — the best free option
Justin Sandercoe’s free lessons are genuinely some of the best teaching anywhere, at any price. The trade-off is that the free content lives across a website and app rather than one seamless course, so you need a little self-discipline to follow the beginner grades in order. If budget is your main concern, start here and you won’t feel short-changed.
4. Fender Play — fastest to a real song
Fender Play is built around getting you playing recognisable songs quickly, with short, tidy video lessons. That song-first approach is brilliant for motivation, though the pure-fundamentals grounding is a touch lighter than Jamorama or Guitar Tricks. If early wins keep you going, it’s a strong pick — our Fender Play review covers who it suits best.
5. Yousician — most motivating daily habit
Yousician listens to your playing through your device’s microphone and scores you in real time, turning practice into something close to a game. That instant feedback is fantastic for building a daily habit, but the gamified format can drill technique at the expense of musicality, and the free tier is quite limited. Great as a supplement or for people who love streaks and points.
6. TrueFire — best once you’re past beginner
TrueFire is a treasure trove of style-specific courses from serious players — blues, jazz, fingerstyle, you name it. For a raw beginner it’s more than you need, but the moment you’ve got the basics down and want to specialise, it becomes one of the most rewarding platforms available.
The one we’d hand a friend: Of every platform we compared here, Jamorama is the one we point beginners toward first, mostly because it turns a pile of lessons into an actual path from open chords to full songs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really learn guitar online without a teacher?
Yes — thousands of people do. A good structured course replaces most of what a beginner teacher provides: a clear order to learn things in, demonstrations you can rewind, and practice targets. What you lose is someone spotting your posture in real time, so film yourself occasionally to check your hand position.
How much should I expect to pay for online guitar lessons?
Most subscription platforms sit around $10–$20 a month at the time of writing, and several offer discounted annual plans. JustinGuitar’s core lessons are free, so you can genuinely start learning without spending anything.
How long before I can play a song?
With 15–20 minutes of daily practice, most beginners can strum through a simple two- or three-chord song within a few weeks. Song-first platforms like Fender Play tend to get you there fastest, though solid fundamentals pay off later.
Is an app or a video course better for beginners?
Apps that listen to your playing are brilliant for motivation and instant feedback, while video courses usually teach fundamentals more thoroughly. Many learners get the best of both by following a video course and using an app for daily drill.
What to read next
Prefer one structured course you own for life over renting an app? Jamorama is our top recommendation — a 10-part video course, pay once, with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
See what’s inside Jamorama → Read our reviewHow we reviewed this (updated 16 October 2026): this page is based on the vendor’s official information, pricing and policies and on public user feedback. We have not hands-on tested the products listed.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we genuinely rate.