Are you or a family member thinking about learning to play the guitar? If so, great to hear. The guitar is a wonderful instrument, and if you can play the guitar, you have a companion and passion for life.
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But first, you need to get some guitar lessons under your belt. Yes, you can try andteach yourself to play guitar. But, to become a competent guitar player, it’s best to get some help. There really is no substitute for a teacher when it comes to learning an instrument.
Where Can You Find Guitar Lessons and How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost at Guitar Center?
Well, in this day and age, there are several options for guitar lessons. The most popular kind of guitar lessons are in-person on a one-on-one basis. Furthermore, in-person guitar lessons tend to produce the best results.
But there are also interactive orvirtual one-on-one online guitar lessonswith a private teacher or through a company. And there are many online guitar lesson videos and tutorials.
One of the most enduring places for guitar lessons is still Guitar Center. So, let’s take to look at the kinds of lessons they offer and how much those lessons will typically cost.
How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost at Guitar Center?
The first thing to know aboutthe price of guitar lessons at Guitar Centeris that it varies. There is a range of prices that depends on your location, your skill level, and the type of guitar you want to learn. Likewise, different instructors can have different prices that reflect their level of expertise and training. But the difference in prices is not astronomical.
Additionally, the type of instrument you choose to learn will also affect the cost of the lessons. Guitar Center specializes in, well, guitars. So, for acoustic or electric guitar lessons, you will find more options and lower prices than, for example, drum lessons.
But we are here to talk about guitar lessons, so let’s stick with that for now. Later on, I’ll cover some of the other instruments that Guitar Center typically offers lessons for.
Average Cost of Guitar Lessons
There is one aspect of the cost of Guitar Center guitar lessons that is usually the same. A one-time registration fee of $30. This is for both in-person one-on-one lessons and for one-on-one online guitar lessons via Zoom.
Once you have registered and paid the fee, you can choose from two different packages. It’s important to note that you can not sign up for a single lesson; you must purchase a package for a minimum of four lessons.
Guitar Center In-Person Lesson Packages
The two package options are Express Lessons and Standard Lessons. For Express Lessons, you get four 30 minute lessons starting at around $109. For Standard Lessons, it is four 60-minute lessons for about $219.
These are monthly packages that need to be paid before you can start learning. And these prices are for in-person lessons. Furthermore, these represent the low end of the price range. Depending on the Guitar Center location, Express Lessons can cost $119, and Standard Lessons can cost $238.
So, if we do some quick math, theaverage cost of a 30-minute guitar lesson is roughly $27 – $29. However, this is only an average, and you shouldn’t be surprised if the prices are higher. Perhaps a better range to keep in mind would be $25 – $35, just to accommodate those Guitar Center locations that are on the pricier side.
How Do Guitar Center Prices Compare?
The average price for a 30-minute guitar lesson at Guitar Center is similar to other places that offer in-person guitar lessons. Here are a few examples for you to compare.
- School of Rock(multiple locations) 30-minute lesson: $19 – $48.
- Port City Music(Wilmington, North Carolina) 30-minute lesson: $27.
- Bravo Music Music Academy(Richmond, Virginia) 30-minute lesson: $30.
Other than School of Rock, the majority of businesses offering guitar lessons are at a single location. That is one of theadvantages of guitar lessons at Guitar Center. It’s a nationwide company, so you are more than likely to find a location near you.
Guitar Center Lessons for Other Instruments
I mentioned earlier that you can learn an instrument other than guitar at Guitar Center. As you might guess, you can take lessons for a couple of other stringed instruments at Guitar Center. Generally, any of the instruments for sale at a Guitar Center location will have lessons available.
Therefore, you are unlikely to find a Guitar Center that offers woodwind or brass instrument lessons. It’s also unlikely you will find orchestral instruments, such as cello or xylophone, lessons readily available at Guitar Center.
That said, the most common Guitar Center instrument lessons, other than guitar, are:
- Mandolin.
- Banjo.
- Bass.
- Keyboard/Piano.
- Drums.
- Vocals.
Not surprisingly,Guitar Center offers online lessonsfor each of these instruments. However, the prices are going to vary from the average cost of guitar lessons. Both for in-person and online packages.
How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost at Guitar Center – Online Guitar Lessons
Online guitar lessons are gaining in popularity, thanks in large part to the world events over the past few years. And Guitar Center has not let the “new normal” prevent them from continuing to offer one of their most sought-after services.
Now, you can schedule online guitar lessons with Guitar Center instructors using Zoom. And while there are some who will wag a finger at the lack of security features on Zoom, it has been a miracle application for students and teachers across all fields and levels.
Furthermore, the “insecurities” of Zoom are rather moot when it comes to one-on-one virtual guitar lessons. All the scheduling, fees, and payments are handled through the Guitar Center website. The only personal data that has the remotest possibility of ending up in the hands of hackers is how well you can play “Knockin on Heaven’s Door.”
Advantages of Online Lessons
The first benefit of Guitar Center online guitar lessons is convenience. If there is no Guitar Center close to your location, online lessons allow you to save time and money by learning to play guitar from home.
Another advantage of online guitar lessons is flexibility. It is much easier to schedule online lessons that fit your schedule than in-person lessons. One reason for this is that the store has set business hours.
You may not be able to get to a particular Guitar Center during business hours. Thankfully, the online lesson times operate based on the instructor’s schedule. As a result, you are more likely to find the ideal time slot.
Things to Know About Online Guitar Lessons
If you would like to sign up for online guitar lessons, you can do so on theGuitar Center Lessonsite. However, there are some things to keep in mind about online guitar lessons.
- Rescheduling– You can easily reschedule an online lesson. All you need to do is contact them within 24 hours of your scheduled lesson to cancel or reschedule. Otherwise, you will be charged for the lesson.
- Lesson Credits– If you do cancel an online lesson, you will receive a credit. That’s because you paid upfront. However, the credit is only valid for 90 days after your initial lesson package purpose.
- All Instruments– For any of the in-person lessons that a Guitar Center location offers will have an online equivalent.
- Zoom Only– For all online Guitar Center lessons, you must use Zoom. The good news is that Zoom is free and offers plenty of features that make learning an instrument online fun and easy.
- Recorded and Saved– Guitar Center records and saves all online lessons. This helps the company monitor the instruction quality and helps ensure students are treated fairly and positively.
There’s one other thing to consider about online lessons at Guitar Center. And that is the price. The cost of an online guitar lesson at Guitar Center is roughly the same as the price for in-person lessons. Additionally, the lesson packages are the same (Express and Standard).
Some of you might be thinking paying the same amount for online guitar lessons as in-person lessons seems unreasonable. You’re not alone. The good news is that there is a growing number of online guitar teachers and lessons available. But don’t expect major price differences.
Online Alternatives to Guitar Center Lessons
When it comes to online guitar lessons, there are two types: interactive and tutorial. Interactive guitar lessons are virtual one-on-one lessons with an instructor, usually via Zoom or similar video/chat applications such as Skype or Google Meet. Tutorial guitar lessons are pre-recorded lessons that you follow along to.
Interactive, one-on-one online guitar lessons are generally in the same price range as in-person lessons. That being $25 – $35 for 30 minutes. Of course, you will find some that cost substantially more (up to $50). And some that will be far cheaper at around $10 for a 30-minute lesson.
One of the best websites for online guitar lessons istakelessons. Along with guitar lessons, you can find several other instruments. As well as lessons for various other school subjects and foreign languages. Two more sites to help you find a private online guitar teacher arePreplyandWyzant.
University of YouTube
It’s becoming less and less of a joke as time goes by. You can easily find video courses on YouTube that can teach you how to play guitar. The best part is that these videos are almost always free.
Along with numerous YouTube guitar lesson videos are various subscription services that provide guitar lesson tutorials. Most are full courses that cater to all skill levels and can be tailored to a music genre and even specific songs. Furthermore, a few of these subscriptions even offer interactive one-on-one guitar lessons.
One of the best online guitar lesson services isGuitartricks. They offer loads of useful features and comprehensive courses. They focus on fundamentals then hone your skills in either rock, country, or blues guitar. Plus, they are one of those that offers private online guitar lessons.
The Cheapest Option for Online Guitar Lessons
A monthly subscription to Guitartricks is $20. This is the average for other online guitar tutorial services. Two other online guitar lesson sites that also offer their services for about $20 a month areTrueFireandJamplay.
There are trade-offs with these online tutorials. It is true you will pay a lot less than you would for in-person lessons at Guitar Center. But, you can not get immediate feedback from a seasoned professional. As a result, you might learn how to play certain chords, but won’t have someone to examine your technique and offer ways to improve your playing.
Likewise, you don’t get the “personal touch” or a real guitar teacher. No one to encourage you or tailor the lesson to where you need the most practice. On the flip side, you can sit down to a video lesson anywhere and at any time. Like I said, trade-offs.
How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost at Guitar Center – Final Thoughts
If you want to take guitar lessons at Guitar Center, having one nearby is a big plus. If it takes more than an hour to get to your local Guitar Center, then going the online route will likely be more economical and save you time.
However, some people want in-person instruction, and travel times will not persuade them to opt for online lessons. In that case, it’s advisable to go for the Standard Lesson Package that gets you four 60-minutes lessons.
Finally, the biggest factor in determining how much guitar lessons cost at Guitar Center is the store itself. What lessons do they offer? Which instruments? And, of course, the prices set by each specific Guitar Center location.
Guitar for Life
Hopefully, this article gave you the information you were looking for to make a decision about guitar lessons. At the end of the day, you will need to weigh your schedule and budget with these lesson packages Guitar Center offers.
Whatever direction you go, one thing I can say with certainty is to stick with it. Being able to play guitar is more than just a hobby. It’s a way to make friends, blow off steam, express yourself, and add some love and joy to the world.
Until next time, let your music play.
