How much do guitar lessons for children cost?
The national average cost for kid's guitar lessons is $30-$75 per lesson. Lessons generally last 30-60 minutes. How much your kid's guitar lessons cost will depend on:
- Lesson duration (30, 45, and 60 minutes are the most common)
- How many lessons you purchase at once (packages typically start at 2-4 lessons per month)
- The amount of travel involved (lessons cost more at your home)
- Instructor's skill level (guitar instructors with classical training and years of experience cost more)
Whether your kid wants to learn electric or acoustic guitar, classical or rock, good instruction from an experienced guitar player is the best way to take them from casual strummer to world-class musician.
Below you'll find a breakdown of how much guitar lessons for children cost. We'll also look at a few simple ways to find the right guitar instructor for your child at a price that works for the whole family.
What's in this cost guide?
While the national average cost of a guitar lesson ranges from $30 - $75, your child's guitar lesson costs will depend on the length of each lesson, how many lessons you pay for upfront, the experience level of the teacher, and the teacher's travel time.
Length of the lesson
One of the biggest differences between kids and adult guitar lessons is the length of each lesson. While one or two hour lessons are common for adult students, 30 or 45 minute lessons are normal for kids — especially beginners and younger children.
Longer, one-hour lessons can cost less per minute. Many instructors charge a similar rate for 30 or 60 minute lessons.
Examples of kid's guitar lesson costs:
A Thumbtack Pro in New York, NY charges:
- $30 for 30 minutes
- $45 for 45 minutes
- $60 for one hour
A Thumbtack Pro in Broomfield, CO, charges:
- $120 for four 30-minute lessons per month
- $200 for four 60-minute lessons per month
Thumbtack Pro, Paul Williams, in Chicago, IL charges:
- $25 for 30 mins
- $35 for 45 mins
- $45 for one hour
Paul also offers 5% off when you book 5 sessions, 10% off for 10 sessions, and savings of 15% for 20 sessions at once.
Guitar lesson packages
Guitar lesson packages typically provide a savings of 10-20% on each lesson depending on the number of lessons booked in advance.
Nearly every guitar teacher offers discounts when you book multiple lessons up front. Booking a guitar lesson package helps instructors set their schedules and predict their income.
Examples of kid's guitar lesson package costs:
A Thumbtack Pro in Orange County, CA offers hourly savings packages on multiple lessons. Their guitar lessons cost:
- $50: 1 hour
- $85: 2 hours (a $15 savings)
- $130: 3 Hours (a $20 savings)
Jeff Keefer Music Lessons in Denver, Colorado, offers similarly tiered pricing packages:
- $30 for one 45-minute guitar lesson in studio
- $85 for three 45-minute guitar lessons in studio (a $5 savings)
- $165 for six 45-minute guitar lessons in studio (a $15 savings)
- $215 for eight 45-minute guitar lessons in studio (a $25 savings)
Guitar with Chris teaches online guitar lessons and starts at $30 per 30 minute lesson. He gives the following discounts for lesson packages:
- 5% off for 5 lessons (a $7.50 savings)
- 10% off for 10 lessons (a $30 savings)
- 25% off for 20 lessons (a $150 savings)
Packages aren't just about saving money. Buying a lesson package also helps teachers create better progressive lesson plans to help budding guitarists master important skills at the right pace.
When kids know they'll regularly see their guitar teacher every week, it also sets expectations for practice and encourages faster skills development. Most guitar teachers encourage regular lessons for kids to help them progress to a place where playing the guitar is not only fun, but something they look forward to every day.
Arranging private lessons at a guitar teacher's home or studio is sometimes cheaper than having them travel to you, but it varies wildly. Some guitar instructors only teach at their students' homes. Others prefer students to travel to their studio or music school. There's no definitive rule on which option is cheaper, so experiment with location filters while searching for a guitar instructor to find the best options in your budget.
However, thanks to the popularity and clarity of online video, more and more guitar teachers offer live, real-time sessions with students online.
Online guitar lessons via Skype and FaceTime video call have become a great way to fit guitar lessons into your busy schedule, saving you time, money, and carpooling. The best part about online instruction are instant access to your teacher via messaging, and additional resources like online guitar videos and tutorials to help kids practice in their own time.
While sometimes more affordable, online guitar lessons do have a downside. Playing guitar involves a lot of nuances in finger and hand positioning, and it can often be helpful for learn that from in-person instruction.
Cost of online guitar lessons:
Jesse Marseille, a classically trained guitar teacher, charges a sliding scale for his online guitar lessons (via a video call):
- $40 for 30 minute guitar lessons
- $55 for 45 minute guitar lessons
- $70 for 1 hour guitar lessons
Jason from In-Home/Online Guitar Teacher (based in Orange County, CA) teaches both at his studio and online:
- $35 for 30 minute lessons
- $45 for 45 minute lessons
- $55 for 1 hour lessons
Donnie's Guitar Lessons (online only) offers even greater savings for learning guitar online:
- $22 for 30 minute lessons
- $30 for 45 minute lessons
- $44 for 1 hour lessons
Teacher experience
Not all guitar instructors have the same level or type of experience. Some teachers come with an extensive background in music theory and classical training. Others have decades of experience teaching guitar or actually working in the music industry as a studio or touring musician. Many teachers have both.
Obviously, most parents would love a guitar teacher with a degree from Berklee College of Music and a few years of studio work under their belts, but you have to pay extra for that caliber teacher. And that's not always what your child needs from a guitar instructor — especially if they're a beginner just trying to learn fundamentals or how to strum a guitar.
Background and training becomes more important as your student progresses and learns what style of music they want to specialize in (jazz guitar, classical acoustic guitar, rock, etc.) For beginners, a patient and experienced teacher is more important than someone with extensive music credentials.
Example costs based on guitar teacher experience levels
For example, a Thumbtack Pro who is a student at Berklee College of Music charges $1 per minute for each lesson for a range of technical skills and techniques.
Another teacher who is a published composer, and a professional jazz guitarist in New York City, has been playing guitar for 67 years and charges $50 per hour for lessons with children and beginners, and $100 to teach more advanced musicians.
The learning curve for guitar can be steeper than children (and parents) realize, and an upbeat enthusiastic teacher that knows how to motivate kids is more valuable than the best guitarist in the world.
If your child is already set on learning a specific guitar style (classical, Spanish, jazz, rock, or blues), then a teacher with a solid grounding in musical theory is worth the added expense.
The good news is that there are a lot of talented guitar teachers available. Here are several things to check before booking a guitar teacher for your kids.
Read reviews
Obviously, reviews are a great way to find the right guitar teacher. But it takes a little digging to find out if a teacher is great with younger students. Keyword search the online reviews for “kids" to see how many younger students the teachers work with to see if they specialize in teaching kids guitar.
Know which style your kid wants to learn
Beginner guitarists generally spend the first year or so learning the same things, no matter what style they want to eventually master. Beginner chords and basic skills transcend all styles, but punk riffs are different than jazz progressions. To help your kid work towards their music style of choice, find a teacher who likes to teach what your child wants to learn.
Get an intro lesson
Most teachers offer a discounted or even free intro lessons for new students, especially kids. Insist on at least a 15-minute lesson before you purchase larger lesson packages to ask questions about what the teacher will teach your child for the first 5 or 10 lessons and how they plan to run each lesson.
Stick to a schedule
Find a guitar teacher who wants to commit to a regular teaching schedule, not just provide a little support when they have time. Define the days and times you have available and stick to a regular schedule for lessons. It'll save you time and money to find a reliable, dedicated guitar teacher that you can work with for the long haul.
There are a few ways you can save money before booking music lessons:
Book a lesson package
Multiple lesson packages of 5, 10, or 20 lessons can save you hundreds of dollars over time. After you take an intro lesson, invest in at least a small lesson package for your child's guitar lessons to save cash and keep them motivated to learn.
Sign up multiple students
If you have more than one child who wants to learn guitar, some instructors offer a discount for a second student. Plus, doubling up on lessons can give your child a practice partner. Heck, they might even start a band!
For example, one of the Thumbtack pros in Broomfield, CO charges $25 for one 30-minute lesson or $100 for four lessons per month when another friend or family member is already enrolled. That's a savings of $5 per lesson.
Travel to your teacher or book online lessons
Some guitar teachers charge an extra fee when they have to travel to students' homes. Save money by traveling to your teacher's home or studio. Or better yet, book online lessons and save both you and your teacher the hassle of traveling to each lesson.
Buy your own guitar
Teachers typically add a surcharge for the use of their guitars to cover wear and tear, especially with new younger students. If your child wants to learn guitar, they also need a guitar of their own to practice on in between lessons.
To save money, buy a cheap beginner guitar. These acoustic guitars usually cost less than $100, and you can find them at major music outlets, like Guitar Center. You can always invest in a better guitar once they've advanced far enough to need it, and know exactly what type of guitar (there's a very large variety) they need.
Are private guitar lessons for your kid worth it?
Whether it's piano, violin, drums, or guitar, learning a musical instrument is hands down one of the best skills a kid can learn. It teaches discipline, hard work, and accountability to their teacher (and themselves), but also encourages creativity and personal expression.
Find a guitar instructor near you who can teach your child the basics while also inspiring their imagination and you'll reap the rich benefits of an early musical education for years to come.
