The 10 Best Guitar Lessons for Beginners in Harlem 2026

From Roddy G.

R.A.M. MUSIC (Manhattan 68th + West End Av.)

As an adult beginner, Robert made the daunting task of learning the guitar extremely comfortable and reassuring. The lessons so far have been both challenging and rewarding. I would recommend anyone thinking of picking up the guitar to use Robert’s services!

From Paul J.

Tim Johnson Guitar Studio & Live Jazz

Tim is a a great guitar teacher! I’m a true beginner and am already seeing improvement after several lessons. He’s methodical, patient, and takes the time to understand my goals. The lessons themselves are incredibly helpful, and he provides follow-up notes to help me stay on track in between lessons. Overall, it’s been a great experience!

From Thumbtack Customer

Ethan First Guitar Lessons

I signed up for a one-hour lesson with Ethan and it was absolutely wonderful. He is attentive, and came to my home for my lessons. I was a beginner, and I've really been improving. His style is totally holistic, and he will teach you music theory, and any style of guitar you want. The greatest part is that you don't even need to necessarily have a guitar, because he can bring one for you to borrow, or even have lessons for you in East Williamsburg. He's really friendly, really receptive and I totally recommend him.

From Nisha P.

Josh's Music Lessons

Josh is a wonderful guitar teacher! In the first few lessons, I noticed considerable improvement in my guitar strumming technique. He makes song suggestions that are fun to play and target your weakest areas. Josh is knowledgeable about music theory and can break down concepts at a basic level for beginners. I’m very happy with the progress that I have made and hope to be shredding in no time.

From Thumbtack Customer

Ryan Davis

Just had my first guitar lesson with Ryan and it went great! Thought he had a great balance between teaching me the technicalities while also incorporating the stylistic types of music we discussed that I wanted to learn. I am a beginner student and felt very comfortable with Ryan, he has a great personality and made my lesson both educational and fun! Looking forward to continue working with and learning from him. - Jess

From Thumbtack Customer

Sam with StookU

I’ve had an amazing experience learning with StookU. From the very beginning, the lessons have been engaging, professional, and incredibly easy to follow. I’ve been learning electric guitar, music theory, how to read sheet music, and so much more — and I’ve genuinely seen major improvement in my skills and confidence. A huge shoutout to my instructor, Jacob, who has been absolutely outstanding throughout the process. He’s patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, and knows exactly how to break things down in a way that makes learning both fun and effective. His passion for music and teaching really shows in every lesson. What I appreciate most about StookU is that they don’t just teach you songs — they help you truly understand music. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking to sharpen your skills, I highly recommend them to anyone serious about learning guitar and becoming a better musician.

From Thumbtack Customer

Spanish Classical Guitar Performance for Weddin...

I recommend Shogo to everyone at all levels, from beginning to advanced, and at all ages. I have known Shogo because my friend in music school (composition major whose primary instrument is a guitar) takes lessons from him. This summer I started taking lessons from him as well because playing guitar is a requirement for the music therapy program. Although I have some experience in music, playing guitar was totally a new thing. Despite that, within a few months, my skills improved dramatically thanks to my teacher (: The best part of taking lessons from Shogo was that he knew how to work out with students with relatively small hands. My hands are small like elementary school kids'. Therefore, I had difficulties playing some chords at first, but he worked things out! So, obviously Shogo can teach beginners like me as well as college-level students like my friend, and even small kids! He is an experienced teacher who can guide each student step by step to achieve their individual goals. By the way, Shogo is an exceptional performer too. His interpretation is unique, and his performance is always very musical! So, if someone wants to brush up their expression in music, Shogo is the right person to learn from (:

From Thumbtack Customer

Guitar by Anthony

Anthony is the reason I am finally learning guitar AND ENJOYING its addition of balance and relaxation to my life. I tried for several years with YouTube videos and one other teacher in NY, but the motivation waned. I've been excited to come to weekly lessons for 6 months with Anthony. He has an unusual combination of extreme skill and extreme humility and warmth. My parents are both professional classical musicians so even though I am a beginner in guitar I appreciate his skill. Also, they have commented that I am making great, steady progress and that the accompanying theory I am learning is very sound. Anthony is flexible, allowing me to learn the songs I want to play for my newborn and my husband, and adjusting them for my level, while working theory in between, always making it fun and laid back. I've lived in NYC 11 years and he is one of the nicest people I've ever met. This guitar teacher is a find -- a true diamond in the rough of manhattan!

From Thumbtack Customer

James Wengrow Guitar Lessons

After placing an ad for a private lessons guitar teacher a couple of months ago, I narrowed my choices down to two potential teachers. James Wengrow was one of the teachers and after meeting him for a free trial first lesson (which he generously offered) there was no doubt in my mind that he was a good fit for me. First of all, James is very professional. I asked for daytime, weekday lessons and he offered me time slots that were in alignment with that request. James arrived on time and prepared to teach. He asked me questions about my musical background, goals for taking lessons, musical preferences, and musical knowledge. He listened carefully to me and responded thoughtfully without any attitude or haughtiness. James is an educated and well trained musician (he studied, played professionally and taught extensively in his home country of Australia before moving to NYC last year), but he never rubs that in your face. He has a lovely humility about him which I believe is part of what makes him, such a good teacher, especially for beginners like myself. However, he is also good at keeping me focused. As a stay at home mom with a toddler, I am grateful for James's style, as he is sort of a gentle task master who is sensitive to the dynamics of a private lesson. He is also great with the more practical aspects of lessons, like communicating, (text, email, phone, etc.) scheduling, etc. So far, I have been very pleased with our lessons. The only thing I wish for is more time to practice! If you have any questions pertaining to James Wengrow's services, please feel free to reach out to him directly for my phone number or email address. I live in Manhattan and would be happy to serve as his reference. Tasha Antulov

From Drew L.

Angelo Branford Guitar Teacher

I’ve been playing for ~10 years and have worked with countless instructors during that time, but Angelo is in a league of his own. I started taking lessons from him about a year and half ago and can honestly say I’ve never experienced such rapid improvement. As an instructor, Angelo has a natural ability to identify areas you need to work on and crafts every lesson around your personal development. He offers a wealth of knowledge that is valuable at all skill levels, from beginners who are just starting to advanced players who are ready to dive deep into music theory. Angelo always makes sure that each lesson is taught at a digestible pace. He shows up with fresh material, but never hesitates to slow down and review if you’re still struggling with something. His warm personality and patience creates an environment where it’s comfortable to ask questions, so I never feel pressure to move forward with the lesson until I fully grasp the exercise at hand. Lastly, Angelo pays close attention to your musical interests and brings material that you actually want to learn. As a result, I’ve been playing more often and learning faster than I ever have before. With 30+ years of playing and 15 years of teaching under his belt, Angelo’s resume pretty much speaks for itself. He’s a fantastic musician, which makes him an inspirational instructor. Another quality that really sets Angelo apart is his seemingly endless knowledge of music from all genres and cultures. If you show him what you’re listening to at the time, he’ll share the history and influences behind it. Angelo taught me how important it is to understand the story behind the music, because that will ultimately help you shape your own sound on the guitar. Over the past year and a half, Angelo has opened new doors of creativity by introducing me to new artists, genres, and even books about musicians—all of which have made an enormous impact on my playing and desire to learn. Needless to say, I would HIGHLY recommend taking lessons from Angelo. I can’t stress enough how influential he has been on my development as a musician and I very much look forward to working with him in the future.

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