Find a guitar teacher in Berkeley, CA

Find guitar lessons in Berkeley, CA

Find guitar lessons in Berkeley, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best guitar teachers in your area.
Zip code

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Find guitar lessons in Berkeley, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best guitar teachers in your area.
Zip code

Meeting location

Top 10 guitar teachers in Berkeley, CA

Students agree: these Berkeley guitar lessons are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
Jon Swann Music Lessons

Jon Swann Music Lessons

5.0Exceptional(5)
Offers online services
4 hires on Lessons
20+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
Elizabeth M. says, "Knowledgeable, fun, and tailors each lesson to my needs and interests. Great teacher. " Read more
Shanley Guitar Lessons

Shanley Guitar Lessons

5.0(2)
Top Pro
Offers online services
1 hire on Lessons
Serves Berkeley, CA
Marcell says, "Flexibility of lessons. We’ve switched focus areas multiple times and I’ve been able to learn from each topic." Read more
Sean Griffin Guitar Lessons

Sean Griffin Guitar Lessons

4.9Exceptional(15)
Offers online services
16 hires on Lessons
Serves Berkeley, CA
Patrick G. says, "Sean was extremely helpful with our lessons, he was very understanding with some out-of-the-blue cancelations. He was also very encouraging and a great teacher. " Read more
Jwfigs

Jwfigs

New on Lessons
Offers online services
1 hire on Lessons
32+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
I've been teaching for 35+ years. Just moved back to the bay area. I know my craft and can help bring artistry forward from the ground up. I myself am actively competing and learning new things all the time so excited to share and grow. Many styles and methods, so lets begin!!!
Bruce Burger

Bruce Burger

4.8Excellent(6)
Offers online services
2 hires on Lessons
Serves Berkeley, CA
Alessandra F. says, "Bruce is an amazing teacher. He teaches you what you need to know as well as what you want to learn. He’s a relaxed and patient teacher that makes learning guitar extremely fun. I absolutely recommend him." Read more
Sonor Music School

Sonor Music School

New on Lessons
2 hires on Lessons
6+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
Welcome! Sonor Music School is a music studio located in downtown Lafayette with a fun team of professional musicians and instructors. We provide a distinctive, well-rounded quality music education in piano, violin, voice and a classical / jazz guitar. We are a team of kind, professional educators dedicated to the progress of our students, offering the highest level of musical education. Students range in age from 4-year old beginners to more experienced teenagers, and adults. Lessons are scheduled according to mutual availability with the teacher and the students.  By providing individual music lessons, our instructors use their own teach...
Josh

Josh

New on Lessons
Offers online services
5 hires on Lessons
29+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
I have over 27 years experience teaching private lessons. I take a customized approach taylored to each students tastes and needs. I enjoy watching my students get better and better, as well as playing music with them.
Music Lessons With David Lopez-White

Music Lessons With David Lopez-White

5.0Exceptional(10)
Offers online services
8 hires on Lessons
26+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
Alan F. says, "I've been taking flamenco guitar lessons from David for the past year and a half. His knowledge of flamenco history and culture is amazing. He is both a flamenco singer and guitar player, deeply involved in the bay area flamenco community. He is a master musician, so if you want to learn theory as well as a playing repertoire and technique, he has you. He is incredibly open and friendly with a soft and caring personality. He is quick to understand where I am at with a piece or a problem and immediately provides solutions and suggestions. I expect to spend many years studying with him. I feel grateful and lucky to have him as a teacher and friend. " Read more
Bess Hepner's Music School

Bess Hepner's Music School

5.0Exceptional(7)
Top Pro
Offers online services
4 hires on Lessons
5+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
Julie J. says, "Bess is an incredible teacher! She makes lessons fun and engaging, but also knows how to tailor it to exactly what is needed by each participant. She is working with my friend and I, each at different levels, and manages to create lessons that are exciting and fulfilling for both of us." Read more
Violin Lessons With Zoë

Violin Lessons With Zoë

New on Lessons
Offers online services
1 hire on Lessons
9+ years in business
Serves Berkeley, CA
Hi, I'm Zoe! I am a Bay Area-based professional orchestral violinist with over a decade in teaching experience, two decades of orchestra and chamber music experience, and three decades of music-making under my belt! Prior to moving to the Bay, I was a fellow with Michael Tilson Thomas's New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Civic Orchestra, and first violinist in a piano quintet for Lincoln Center Stage. I earned my master's degree in violin performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and my bachelor's degree in violin performance and French, from UCLA. I love...

Your Guitar Lessons questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.

How much do guitar lessons cost near me?

Guitar lessons cost $35 to $70 per lesson, depending on if they last 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. If it's a one-on-one lesson, it'll cost around $45 to $70 hourly. Learning guitar in a group is cheaper at $25 to $35 per session.

If you're taking lessons every month, it adds up to $170 to $315 with the typical prepaid discount.

Are guitar lessons worth it?

Guitar lessons are worth it since only a professional teacher giving you live feedback can guide you to learn faster. A good instructor helps you understand your mistakes and prevents you from developing bad habits.

Learning guitar by yourself takes a lot longer and won't prepare you as well to play in public.

At what age should I start guitar lessons?

Children can start guitar lessons from the ages of 6 to 10, or when they can comfortably hold the guitar and press the strings. Adults can start guitar lessons at any age, provided they practice regularly and patiently.

How many guitar lessons do I need?

The number of guitar lessons you need varies according to your goal and your practice routine. For many people, it typically takes about 2 to 6 months to play a simple tune. Mastering the guitar like a professional can take anywhere from 4 to 10 years.

What do you learn in guitar lessons?

In most guitar lessons, you can expect to learn:

  • How to correctly position your fingers to play chords
  • How to tune your guitar
  • How to play various scales
  • New techniques for plucking and strumming
  • How to read sheet music.

Are online guitar lessons good?

Online guitar lessons cost $35 to $55 per hour and are good for getting personal instruction from skilled teachers worldwide. Take advantage of flexible scheduling and immediate feedback while learning new guitar-playing styles. Plus, you can easily record lessons to review their advice later.

How do I find the best guitar lessons near me?

In order to find the best guitar lessons for you, look through nearby teachers listed here on the Lessons website. You can also ask for teachers at local music stores or community colleges.

Before you hire a guitar teacher, make sure to:

  • Check out prices from at least 3 different teachers.
  • Read their reviews on Lessons and Google.
  • Ask for a list of their current or previous students that you can talk to.
  • Talk to other parents about the teacher's reputation with their children.
  • Make sure you get a written agreement and schedule before your first lesson.
  • Avoid making a big payment upfront for a month of lessons until you're comfortable with the teacher.

What questions do I ask when choosing a guitar teacher?

To find the right guitar teacher, you can ask them these questions:

  • What kind of music degree do you have?
  • How many years of experience do you have in teaching guitar?
  • Can I have a free trial lesson to see if your teaching style helps me?
  • What is the average age of your students?
  • Will you assign me finger exercises as homework?
  • How often should I practice between lessons?
  • What textbooks do I need, and where can I buy used ones?
  • How many guitar-playing styles are you an expert in?
  • Can you modify your teaching style to suit my learning abilities?
  • What should I bring to our lessons, and how long is each one?
  • Can I get a copy of our schedule, agreement, and payment terms?
  • What is your policy if I have to cancel a class due to an emergency?
  • Can I choose some of my favorite songs to learn on the guitar?

Reviews for Berkeley guitar teachers

Recent success stories from people in the Berkeley area.
David S.
I took private lessons with Jon for almost two years in high school. He was always very knowledgeable and helpful, and was a major factor in my success those years in making All State and other Honor Bands. I only stopped taking lessons when I moved away for college, or else I'd still be taking them now! He was always organized and easy to schedule with. Definitely my best experience with a Private Instructor to date!
Jon Swann Music Lessons
Saulo Q.
Jonathan is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the guitar. He takes his time explaining and breaking concepts down and has always worked with me to meet my specific needs. I have tried lessons with other people before, and by far Jonathan has been the best experience I have ever had with a guitar instructor. I have now been taking lessons for a year and a half and am grateful for every single moment.
Shanley Guitar Lessons
Gatlen C.
Sean is a very talented, nice, and patient guitar instructor. He worked around my interests in song playing (ie: wanting to play a particular song, finger style, electric vs acoustic, etc.) and loved discussing different songs/genres etc. Worked hard to make sure I had the right posture and avoided many of the bad habits that people end up forming. I wish I spent more time on the exercises he sent me home with. Would definitely recommend Sean! (He also has a cute cat <3)
Sean Griffin Guitar Lessons
Jim C.
Bruce is a very patient teacher who adapts lessons to the needs and interests of the student. He is extremely knowledgeable about music theory and practice.
Bruce Burger
Ethan R.
I took flamenco guitar lessons with David for about 3 years. He is a true educator— an excellent teacher! We focused on all aspects of flamenco, from falsetas (guitar solos) to cante y baile accompaniment, to the history and evolution of the art form. I cannot recommend working with him enough, as a true beginner or a more advanced student. Olé!
Music Lessons with David Lopez-White
Maria G.
Guitar lessons with Bess have been so worth it for me because she teaches not only the basics of guitar, but she also teaches music theory, something I have never been exposed to in the past. She encourages me when I am doing something well and she also corrects me if I still need to work on something. I don't think I would have been able to learn guitar on my own without Bess's help!
Bess Hepner's Music School
Declan J.
Mirco is an awesome teacher! I have been taking bass lessons with him for the past year and he has really helped all aspects of my playing. Most importantly it has been really fun. We studying everything from Jazz, to rock, to funk, to Primus. We have covered a lot of technical things and theory, but he also always makes sure to put it into practice and apply it to something I can enjoy playing. Last but not least, he is really great to hang out with during the bass lesson and is genuinely really nice :)
Mirco Melone
Carrianne M.
My 7 year old son started taking piano lessons with Joey this summer. He is very knowledgable, flexible, my son loves taking lessons with him and is learning a lot. The setup is great and we have been able to have virtual piano lessons during the pandemic. He also provides recordings of each lesson. Highly recommend!
CelloJoe Music Lessons
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