Look I've been playing guitar for about 15 years now and when my kid said they wanted to learn, I thought it'd be easy to find something good online.
Turns out there's a ton of options out there, some are pretty solid and others... not so much. I spent way too many hours clicking through websites and signing up for free trials so you don't have to.
Why Online Lessons Actually Work for Kids
I was skeptical at first, I'll admit it. Part of me thought kids need that face-to-face interaction with a teacher.
But here's what I've noticed after watching my own kid and their friends learn this way, online platforms let them go at their own pace without feeling embarrassed if they mess up in front of someone. Plus you can rewatch stuff as many times as you need which is honestly really helpful when you're trying to figure out why your fingers won't cooperate.
The other thing is cost. Private lessons in my area run about $40-60 per session and that adds up REAL quick, most of these online platforms cost less than three in-person lessons per year and give you unlimited access to everything.
Guitar Lesson Sites For Kids
Guitar Tricks
This one's been around for like 25 years or something and it shows. They have two courses specifically designed for complete beginners taught by a guy named Anders Mouridsen who has this really calm teaching style that works well for kids. The lessons are organized really well which matters a lot when you're dealing with a kid who gets frustrated easily.
Guitar Tricks offers a 60-day money back guarantee which gives you plenty of time to see if your kid actually sticks with it. I think that's pretty fair, my point of view is that a lot of kids say they want to learn guitar but lose interest after a few weeks, no judgment I did the same thing with piano when I was 10.
But Guitar tricks is made for adults, not kids, so it's not targeted in this way.
Pros:
- Super organized, easy to navigate
- Specific beginner content for kids
- 60-day guarantee
- Works on any device
Cons:
- Might feel overwhelming at first with how much content there is
- Some kids prefer more interactive/gamified approaches
JustinGuitar
Justin Sandercoe has been putting out content forever and it's all broken down into stages (stage 1, 2, 3, etc.) which makes it simple to follow.
The videos are on YouTube too so if your kid already knows how to navigate YouTube they'll figure this out in about two seconds. Some of the older videos look pretty rough quality-wise but honestly the teaching is solid.
I've noticed that because it's free there's less pressure. Your kid can try it out and if they hate guitar after a week you're not out any money.
But like with GuitarTricks, the lessons are for adults.
Kids Guitar Academy & Kids Guitar Dojo
These are specifically made for the younger crowd. Kids Guitar Academy got recommended on Reddit by a parent whose 11-year-old loved it, they have a free kickstart course you can try first.
Kids Guitar Dojo uses what they call "activity-based learning" which apparently reduces frustration and helps kids practice on their own. That last part is key because let me tell you constantly reminding your kid to practice gets old fast (and I mean fast). With all of the animations, the trial was very slow to progress.
I signed up for their trials but I passed, neither the sites, the designs, nor the material seemed recent or of high quality.
Gentle Guitar
This site is basically a Zoom for kids guitar lessons. You set up a live lesson time with the teacher Inga, and get online when it's time.
I didn't try this with my kid though, since the costs will run high, just like a private teacher. To tell you the truth, if I wanted to spend this much money, I would rather get a real teacher for my son, not a zoom one.
And this sentence: "Kids ages 5 to 8 don’t need a guitar to try the lesson". Ummmm, no guitar needed for guitar lessons?
GuitarPlayground.com
This is the newcomer I wanted to mention, as they launched in 2025, which means everything is MODERN. They focus on 15-20 minute song-based video lessons with a rewards system built in. I think the 15-minute thing is smart because kids attention spans are... well you know.
The song-based approach makes sense to me, when I was learning I got way more excited about playing actual songs than doing scales and theory for months. That stuff will matter eventually so don't get me wronig, but it may not be the best way to keep a 9-year-old interested at the beginning.
They have a sample lesson and parents guide you can check out before committing which I appreciate. The rewards system is something I haven't seen much with other platforms and it could work really well for kids who respond to that kind of motivation, which is most of them lets be honest.
I think Guitar playground.com is the best guitar lesson site for kids out of these.
What to look for in my opinion and some tips to get started:
- Lesson structure matters way more than you'd think. If the site just dumps a bunch of random videos with no clear path your kid will get confused and frustrated. You want something that says "start here, then go here, then here" really clearly.
- The instructor's personality is huge. Some teachers are super energetic and goofy others are more mellow. You probably know which style your kid responds to better, watch a sample lesson or two before you commit to anything.
- Keeping them practicing is very important. Games nowadays have animations and points and sounds and badges, so sites that have that should be on the top of your list.
- Device flexibility is important because your kid might want to practice in their room on a tablet or in the living room on the TV or whatever. Make sure the platform works on the devices you actually have.Kids are good ast using the devices, my son was able to push the videos from Guitarplayground onto our TV in 10 seconds.
- You need to set up a practice schedule without making it seem like a chore. It doesn't have to be an hour every day, that's probably too much anyway. But 15-20 minutes most days will get better results than an hour once a week. Consistency beats intensity when you're building a new skill.
- Also your kid's fingers are gonna hurt at first. That's normal you build calluses over time. But it might make them want to quit in the first week or two so just be ready for that conversation.
- One more thing, and this might sound obvious, make sure the guitar is the right size. A full-size guitar on a 6-year-old is not going to work they make smaller sizes for a reason.
My Take
I don't know if there is a single best option since we are still just starting out, I think you should try a couple of things and see what clicks with your child. JustinGuitar costs nothing so that's an easy starting point, but I know from myself that free things I can't take seriously.
The newer sites like GuitarPlayground.com are worth checking out if your kid is under 15, that short format and rewards system could be exactly what keeps them engaged.
Whatever you pick remember that the goal at the beginning is just to keep them interested and having fun. Technique and theory can come later right now you just want them to enjoy making noise with strings. If they're smiling while they're practicing you picked the right platform.
And hey if you play guitar yourself, maybe sit down and learn something new alongside them sometimes. It's pretty cool watching your kid figure out the same stuff you struggled with years ago. They do it so much quicker than you would think.