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.
Tom Gsell Guitar Instructor

Tom Gsell Guitar Instructor

New on Lessons.com
16+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
I personalize lesson plans to the student’s interests, abilities and learning style. My goal is to help students build their skills and stay excited and passionate about playing the guitar.
Scotty Bramer Music

Scotty Bramer Music

New on Lessons.com
17+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA
***Before contacting me, please review the following information. Working with me is a deeper dive and takes real dedication and commitment. Music is a deep spiritual practice and life path, not just a hobby. Option 1: Foundations Package Package of 4 lessons: 60 minutes - $100 45 minutes - $80 30 minutes - $60 Single lessons cost $20 more. I can offer the lower rate for your first single lesson, if you would like to try one out first. Option 2: Embodied Artist Mentorship $2400 for 8 weeks or $3600 for 12 weeks This is a deeper, more personalized experience over 8–12 weeks for musicians who want real transformation, not just lessons.
Alan D'Auria

Alan D'Auria

5.0Exceptional(30)
48 hires on Lessons.com
18+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA
Fede G. says, "Great piano lessons. Easy to follow and enjoyable." Read more
Cornerstone Music Conservatory

Cornerstone Music Conservatory

5.0(1)
1 hire on Lessons.com
56+ 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
Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

New on Lessons.com
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Hi! I’m Alex, and I’ve been playing guitar for the past 20 years. Before that, I grew up playing piano and trumpet. My teaching mainly focuses on beginning to intermediate levels, and I’m also open to helping teach songwriting, which is my favorite part of playing music. I live in the valley in LA, and I have played in numerous bands over the past 15 years. I typically start with a video consultation to better understand your musical background and what you'd like to learn from me. After that, if it's a good fit, I will put together a custom lesson plan for you, and we can start the actual lessons the following week.
Lloyd Moss Music & Voice & Life Coaching For Adults & Pre-College Teens

Lloyd Moss Music & Voice & Life Coaching For Adults & Pre-College Teens

5.0Exceptional(29)
32 hires on Lessons.com
36+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Babak M. says, "Lloyd is an amazing teacher with great patience and love for children. He makes the music lessons very fun and enjoyable for our child. We look forward to every lesson with Lloyd. Thank you so much for providing the Best music lessons ever!" Read more
Ryan Studer Music Lessons

Ryan Studer Music Lessons

5.0(1)
4 hires on Lessons.com
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Jacob L. says, "Ryan was fantastic! I was looking for a teacher who could help me play more in tune, and one of the first things he suggested was playing duets together. He chose a duet that was perfect for my skill level (I’ve only been playing for about a year) and gave me a variety of exercises to improve my bow technique, form, and overall control. I can’t recommend him enough." Read more
Chris Nordlinger Guitar Lessons

Chris Nordlinger Guitar Lessons

5.0(3)
1 hire on Lessons.com
16+ years in business
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
Barbara L. says, "He's good" Read more
Richman Music School

Richman Music School

5.0(4)
Top Pro
9 hires on Lessons.com
51+ 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
SalaV Networks

SalaV Networks

New on Lessons.com
Serves Santa Monica, CA & Online
I've been passionate about the guitar since childhood. I've worked for years in music production, songwriting, and live performance. I enjoy staying up-to-date with new musical genres and like to incorporate both traditional methods and technology into my lessons. I have experience teaching both individually and in groups. I truly enjoy teaching and motivating my students to believe in their talents.

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.
Seb P.
Fantastic teacher and great experience learning from Alan! His method is easy to follow and very thorough. Definitely recommend!
Alan D'Auria
Tom S.
I was ask to start playing bass guitar in a group that had a hard time keeping bass players. Lloyd has been wonderful helping me bridge the gap from playing guitar & mandolin to bass. He is insightful when crossing multi-instruments. He has been amazingly helpful as I learn my new bass skills.
Lloyd Moss Music & Voice & Life Coaching for Adults & Pre-College Teens
Matt G.
I've been taking lessons with Chris for three years now, and my playing has improved tremendously. I'm auditioning for the Berklee School of Music soon, and am so lucky to have him as a guide and mentor.
Chris Nordlinger Guitar Lessons
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
Jeff. F.
Sim is a great guy and a really good teacher!
Guitar Lessons | Award Winning British Session Guitarist
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
Richard C.
i started with leon 7 years ago. i have a great time each week. i have through his ability to teach me guitar, done something i have always wanted...To play guitar and enjoy. He is a great teacher. When you read his profile, he has played and traveled with some of the best musicians on the planet.I feel i am in the presence of greatness, yet he is humble about his past musical life. By choosing Leon Rubenhold, you are learning from one of the best. Make it your choice!
Leon Rubenhold Guitar/Harmonica Lessons/GuitarFace Productions
Brandon G.
Noel is an amazing player and teacher, together we have worked on proper technique, ear training, music theory, composition, and various practice methods. Since meeting him I have become a much better guitar player, and overall musician. My favorite part about working with him is his ability to learn any song by ear within minutes, which we can then dissect together. He is truly the full package, and I strongly recommend him to any student, beginner, or professional looking to improve. Very grateful to have met him, and am looking forward to taking lessons for the foreseeable future!
Noel's Guitar Lessons
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