Find a guitar teacher in Santa Monica, CA

Find guitar instructors in Santa Monica, CA

Find guitar instructors in Santa Monica, CA

Confirm your location to see the best guitar teachers near you.
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Find guitar instructors in Santa Monica, CA

Confirm your location to see the best guitar teachers near you.
Zip code

Top 10 guitar teachers in Santa Monica, CA

Students agree: these Santa Monica guitar instructors are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.
Geetar With Jacob

Geetar With Jacob

5.0(1)
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Karenna B. says, "Jacob is a fantastic teacher and he has been really amazing at making sure a beginner like me feels like they’re making actual progress. I’ve given up too quickly with past teachers because I just felt too overwhelmed, but with Jacob I find I’m able to pick things up and move forward with my learning. He’s patient, kind, and explains things very clearly! I’d totally recommend him to other beginners, and also to advanced players. He’s super knowledgeable." Read more
Sako Guitar Repairs & Teaching

Sako Guitar Repairs & Teaching

3 hires on Lessons.com
5+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA
Welcome to Sako Guitar Repairs & Lessons! Located in Los Angeles, Northridge 91325 city, CA. We offer expert guitar learning lessons, small home audio production lessons tailored to your unique musical journey. With a dedication to personalized instruction and a passion for music, our experienced team ensures each student excels in their craft. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, we provide the guidance and support you need to achieve your musical goals. Join us and elevate your musical abilities today!
Cornerstone Music Conservatory

Cornerstone Music Conservatory

5.0(1)
1 hire on Lessons.com
55+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
F T. says, "Commitment to quality music of all genres, including Classical, which is my focus. Well-organized business that makes scheduling simple. Reception staff is exceptional. Director of the school is most experienced in the area, and infuses dedication in all the students. My piano instructor is superbly qualified and has been a gem to work with. A place where I trusted my children's music education from their small childhood through high school." Read more
Bray Ghiglia Music

Bray Ghiglia Music

5.0(1)
1 hire on Lessons.com
45+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
I have been inspiring students to feel the joy of making music for decades. I have a Degree in film Scoring and I curently teach Strings, Ukulele and Band at Ocean Charter School. I toured with former Eagle, Randy Meisner for four years playing Guitar, Flute Sax and Keyboards.
Traveling Music Lessons, CA

Traveling Music Lessons, CA

5.0Exceptional(6)
45 hires on Lessons.com
22+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA
Marcola C. says, "My teacher Hatem E. is excellent, patient, and perceived. I feel like I am getting more than my money's worth." Read more
Richman Music School

Richman Music School

5.0(4)
Top Pro
9 hires on Lessons.com
50+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
J. Z. says, "Great follow-through from the school, who set us up with a terrific violin instructor. First-rate experience all the way around." Read more
Superior Sounds Music

Superior Sounds Music

3+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Superior Sounds Music is a small self-run music lessons/development studio located in Santa Monica, California. Founder Andrew Johnson teaches private music lessons on guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, drum set, violin, viola, cello, vocals and music theory to learners of all ages. He also develops musical artists/groups by coaching and management. You can find out more at www.superiorsoundsmusic.com.
Sean Matsukawa

Sean Matsukawa

1 hire on Lessons.com
10+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Welcome! My name is Sean Matsukawa. I am a 2 time Grammy award winner and have worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Ariana Grande, ROSALÍA, and more. I have over 15 years of experience as an audio engineer & producer and 20 years of experience as a guitarist and bassist. I am passionate about sharing the knowledge and tools to help aspiring musicians create what they would like to create and play how they would love to play.
Angel Diva Music And Acting

Angel Diva Music And Acting

5.0(4)
23 hires on Lessons.com
26+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Richard M. says, "Her patience!" Read more
Easy Guitar

Easy Guitar

5.0(4)
8 hires on Lessons.com
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Araceli G. says, "El es excepcional !! Trabaja con mucho respeto y empatía con mis hijas. Ellas están entusiasmadas de volver a su siguiente clase." Read more

Your Guitar Lessons questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.com.

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 Santa Monica guitar teachers

Recent success stories from people in the Santa Monica area.
Colin F.
They come to you and make learning so convenient! It's the best way to learn any instrument. They have the best list of instructors and are so easy to work with!
Traveling Music Lessons, CA
Aritina L.
Within ONE lesson, Howard could pinpoint EXACTLY what my trouble areas are, and not only is he able to articulate a very clear plan for dealing with those, but he has also helped me with the burdening amount of pain that plagues my joints and muscles when I play something technically demanding! Furthermore, he is very focused, understanding, knowledgeable and gentle! After having many verbally.... difficult teachers whose teaching involved quite a bit of negative reinforcement, it is an absolute pleasure and an eye opening experience to have a patient, understanding teacher. Some people may learn quite well in that fashion, and there was a period of time when I actually believed, or rather was brainwashed into thinking that being verbally berated would serve as motivation. But now I see quite clearly that is not the case: I learn a lot better and I am more motivated to practice when I find it a pleasure to go to my piano lessons! Thank you, Howard for all your dedication, patience and knowledge!
Richman Music School
Patrick M.
Jan has been nothing short of a great teacher and friend to me. Shes critical on where you need to improve and encouraging with your strengths! If you're looking for a teacher with lots of personality, stories, and drive to help you further yourself; you're in the right place.
Angel Diva Music and Acting
Araceli G.
El es excepcional !! Trabaja con mucho respeto y empatía con mis hijas. Ellas están entusiasmadas de volver a su siguiente clase.
Easy Guitar
Lyn N.
Excellent instructor.
Driver Ed Today
Anna O.
Ben is an amazing musician and a wonderful human! He approaches the instrument intuitively and incorporates musical theory and playful jam sessions into every lesson. We recommend him whole-heartedly. Here is a note from my 10-year old son Jacob: Ben is my favorite piano teacher and always will be. I have learned so much in the past year. To me, he is so special because I can learn my favorite song and have fun learning it. Even when I'm really sad because I haven't had enough time to practice, the class is always fun because of him. Playing Classical music like Eine Kleine Nacht Musik is really fun after playing some crazy hip-hop or even Taylor Swift.
Ben Dabiri
Courtney F.
Finding Saro was such a blessing. I came to Saro as a former music major myself, looking for beginner classical guitar lessons for my son (who had already been playing cello for 3.5 years with demonstrated musical ability). We interviewed instructors for about a month and finally found Saro....You could not ask for a more capable, kind, accommodating guitar teacher. Saro brings a wealth of not only technical but also cultural musical knowledge to each lesson. (In fact, when searching for a guitar teacher, it was Saro's impressive education and performance history, including a Masters in Classical Guitar from USC/Thornton, that set him apart from the slew of your typical rock/pop guitar teachers in the L.A. area). But as soon as we met Saro at our first lesson -- and encountered his welcoming cool smile -- we knew we made the right decision in both pedigree and personality. Saro is a super cool guy who teaches all ages. And he gels especially well with kids AND their parents. He is particularly wonderful and patient with our 10-year-old son, who can be somewhat shy to talk during lessons. Saro meets him where he can reach him and makes the lessons comfortable. He also allows we parents to sit in on the lessons, to learn alongside the student. This has great benefits for reinforcing concepts during practice time at home. All in all, Saro is generous and understanding in a way that is refreshing in a young, cool (very capable) teacher. Sign up with Saro if he still has space!
Saro's Guitar Lessons
Ronnie S.
Chuck and I are going on eight years. Not only is he a fantastic and accomplished musician and teacher, he’s also family. He’s well-versed in all the picking styles. His knowledge of the discipline is boundless . He’s encouraging, patient and best of all, a good time.
Chuck Smith Music
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