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5 Best Schools for Guitar Lessons in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Fenris Morrow
By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Picking a guitar teacher off a Google search is a bit of a gamble. Between the five schools for guitar lessons in Los Angeles below, students have left 569 reviews, and every single school sits at 4.7 or higher, so the split that actually matters is between a structured academy with a waitlist and a solo instructor who answers his own phone.

Short answer: Angeles Academy of Music leads with 4.9 stars across 145 reviews and three Los Angeles locations. Close behind, Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons and LOUDER LA both hold a perfect 5.0, with 118 reviews each, one built around a single dedicated guitar teacher, the other a multidisciplinary studio. Expect private lesson pricing that varies by teacher and package rather than one flat citywide rate.
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How LA's Top Guitar Schools Compare

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Angeles Academy of Music 4.9 ★ 145 Structured academy / kids and adults View ›
2 Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons 5.0 ★ 118 Serious, dedicated guitar study View ›
3 LOUDER LA 5.0 ★ 118 Guitar alongside other creative skills View ›
4 Colburn School 4.7 ★ 110 Conservatory-level training View ›
5 Louder Now! Music Lessons 5.0 ★ 78 Neighborhood studio, flexible scheduling View ›
5 Best Schools for Guitar Lessons in Los Angeles (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Angeles Academy of Music logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Angeles Academy of Music

4.9145 Google reviews

Angeles Academy of Music runs three locations across Los Angeles (Brentwood, Westwood, and Tarzana) and has taught private, one-on-one lessons since 2013 across piano, voice, violin, cello, guitar, ukulele, bass, and drums. The school states it employs dozens of university-trained instructors and serves students from complete beginners to advanced players preparing for exams or recitals.

What people praise

  • Parents describe teachers as patient and skilled at pacing lessons for young beginners, ages 6 to 8 in one case
  • A weekly reward system for practice comes up repeatedly as a motivator for kids
  • Reviewers cite both in-person and Zoom recital options as convenient for busy families
  • Adult returning students describe fast, encouraging progress after long breaks from an instrument

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer felt treatment varied by instructor and left with lower confidence than expected, a rare complaint against an otherwise strong record
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume145 · 98th
Confidencemoderate
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most established, multi-location option here, and the volume of five-star family reviews backs that up.

Website+1310-907-8687 Directions

10921 Weyburn Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons logo
#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons

5.0118 Google reviews

Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons, also known as Waldron Guitar Academy, is a Silver Lake studio focused specifically on guitar instruction for beginner and advanced players, offered both in person and over Zoom. The site's own framing is blunt about its philosophy: mastery over shortcuts, with a structured curriculum rather than a loose, fun-first approach.

What people praise

  • A perfect 5.0 across 118 reviews, with students specifically praising Brian's own responsiveness and follow-up
  • Multiple reviewers say they tried YouTube tutorials and other local teachers first and found this the clear step up
  • Praised for tailoring technique instruction to each student's current level rather than a one-size curriculum
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating5 / 5
Review volume118 · 90th
Confidencemoderate
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: If you want a guitar specialist rather than a general music school, this is the most focused option on the list.

Website+1323-922-4698 Directions

960 Micheltorena St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

LOUDER LA logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days

LOUDER LA

5.0118 Google reviews

LOUDER LA, on Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz, teaches private lessons across music, art, and language, with guitar and bass taught alongside piano, voice, drums, DJ fundamentals, ceramics, and watercolor painting. The studio also operates in New York City and offers online lessons.

What people praise

  • A 5.0 average across 118 reviews, with named instructors called out individually and often by returning students
  • Reviewers highlight a genuinely encouraging teaching style for people nervous about starting a new skill
  • The intro-lesson model lets a student try an instructor before committing to a longer package
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating5 / 5
Review volume118 · 90th
Confidencemoderate
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A good fit if you or your kid might want to explore beyond guitar without switching schools.

Website+1323-806-1859 Directions

2118 1/2 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Colburn School logo
#4🕑 Open 7 days

Colburn School

4.7110 Google reviews

Colburn School is a downtown Los Angeles conservatory offering music, dance, and academic training, with its own concert hall and a Community School division that teaches students of all ages and levels, including guitar. It is one of the largest and best-known music institutions in the city.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe the campus and concert facilities as genuinely impressive, with frequent free public concerts
  • Parents mention multiple recitals and rehearsals held on site for their kids
  • Security staff are repeatedly described as attentive to family safety on campus

Worth knowing

  • A handful of reviewers mention strict photography rules and being asked to stop by security
  • At 4.7, the rating sits a touch below the top three schools on this page, and reviews skew toward the broader campus experience rather than guitar instruction specifically
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume110 · 83th
Confidencemoderate
Recency4 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown86% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth it for the conservatory environment and institutional resources, though the reviews say more about the campus than about guitar lessons in particular.

Website+1213-621-2200 Directions

200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Louder Now! Music Lessons logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Louder Now! Music Lessons

5.078 Google reviews

Louder Now! Music Lessons operates out of a studio in northeast LA, offering private instruction in guitar, bass, drums, piano, ukulele, and music production, with a free trial lesson for new students.

What people praise

  • A perfect 5.0 across 78 reviews, the smallest sample here but consistent
  • Parents of first-time young beginners specifically credit the school's patience with kids as young as 7
  • Multiple reviewers mention the owner personally replying to thank them after lessons
  • Easy online scheduling and payment come up more than once as a practical plus
Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles
Rating5 / 5
Review volume78 · 78th
Confidenceearly
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The smallest of the five by review count, but nothing in the feedback suggests a lower bar, just a newer or smaller operation.

Website+1424-465-3375 Directions

2575 N San Fernando Rd Bldg B #2, Los Angeles, CA 90065

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How we score these schools

Rating is each school’s live Google average. Review volume measures how many real students or parents left feedback, ranked against every other guitar and music school we found operating in Los Angeles. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a handful of five-star reviews doesn’t automatically outrank a school with hundreds. Recency tracks how fresh the feedback is. No school can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much do guitar lessons cost in Los Angeles? (2026)

Pricing depends heavily on whether lessons are private or group, in-person or virtual, and how experienced the instructor is, and we don’t have a reliable citywide figure we’re confident publishing here. Several schools on this page offer an introductory or trial lesson at a reduced rate, which is a low-risk way to compare price before committing to a longer package.

Guitar lessons across Los Angeles

These five schools span a wide stretch of the city, from Westwood and Brentwood on the Westside to Silver Lake, Los Feliz, and Highland Park closer to downtown, plus Colburn’s campus right in the civic center. If you’re searching for guitar lessons near me, the Westside cluster works well for anyone near UCLA or Santa Monica, while the Silver Lake and Los Feliz studios suit the east side.

What to ask before you book guitar lessons

  • Do you offer a trial or intro lesson before I commit to a package?
  • Is the teacher assigned to me, or can I choose based on style and experience?
  • Are lessons in-person only, or is Zoom an option if my schedule changes?
  • What is the cancellation or reschedule policy if a student is sick?
  • Do you teach the specific style I want, like classical, rock, or fingerstyle?
  • Is there a recital or performance opportunity built into the program?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these five schools?

We looked at every school and instructor offering guitar lessons in Los Angeles with a real Google Business Profile, then ranked by rating, review volume, and how recently students are still leaving feedback.

How often is this updated?

We verified this data in July 2026. Instructors and pricing change, so treat this as a snapshot rather than a permanent ranking.

Is it better to learn from a dedicated guitar teacher or a general music school?

Both approaches show up strongly here. A dedicated guitar specialist like Brian Waldron focuses entirely on the instrument, while a multi-instrument school like Angeles Academy or LOUDER LA offers more flexibility if a student’s interests shift.

Do any of these schools offer lessons for complete beginners?

Yes. Every school on this page has reviews from parents or adults describing a true beginner start, including some as young as 6.

The bottom line

Angeles Academy of Music is the safe default for its size, multiple locations, and volume of family reviews. If you want a guitar-only specialist rather than a multi-instrument school, Brian Waldron Guitar Lessons is the clearest alternative, just confirm scheduling and pricing for your preferred teacher before booking.

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