Why Most Guitar Lessons Fail
I’ve had thousands of private music lessons in my life:
-Guitar, singing, even violin to improve my guitar.
-Sometimes two or three different teachers in the same week.
-And I’ve been giving private lessons myself since I was barely two years into playing.
If anyone can speak to the pros and cons of one-on-one lessons, it’s me.
And here’s what I’ve learned: Weekly private lessons usually suck.
Who They’re Great For
Private lessons can be incredible in two cases.
First, absolute beginners—people still wrestling with how to hold a pick, press strings without dead notes, or keep their wrists from locking up. A good teacher can spot mistakes in seconds, saving you months of trial and error.
Second, dedicated teenagers preparing for music school. At 15 or 16, if you have hours every day to practice, a weekly check-in with a skilled teacher can sharpen you faster than anything else.
If you’re in either of these groups, the traditional “one hour a week” format works just fine.
Side Note:
I recorded a full talk about this for my free guitar community—including stories I couldn’t fit here and feedback from other guitarists who’ve been through it themselves. You’ll also find tons of free lessons, practice tips, and a place to connect with other guitarists who get it.
Join Us Here → Join the Free Skool Community
Where it Falls Apart For Adults
For most adults, that model starts to break down after about 2 or 3 lessons.
Here’s what I’ve seen—over and over again:
You show up for your lesson.
The first 10–20 minutes are gold. You get a new concept, lick, or exercise—something meaty enough to keep you busy for a week or even a month.
But you’ve paid for the full hour, so the teacher fills the remaining 40 minutes with “bonus” material, tangents, or friendly small talk. It’s not harmful—but it’s not helping you right now.
Then life gets in the way. You might not touch the guitar for three or four days. By the time your next lesson rolls around, you’ve barely made progress, so you might decide to skip that lesson.
4 lessons a month eventually turn to 2 lessons back to back, followed by 6 weeks to 6 months of nothing.
It's Not Your Teacher's Fault
The truth is, most guitar teachers are excellent players but not trained or passionate educators. That’s not a moral failing—it’s just a different skill set.
On top of that, the economics of private teaching are brutal. A teacher might earn $50-$75 an hour (even world-class musicians rarely charge more than $90 an hour). To make a living, they need a full schedule—five or six students back-to-back, 5 days a week. That’s exhausting, and by the 3rd or 4th or 5th lesson of the day, they’re not as sharp as they were for the first.
Then there are the cancellations, the no-shows, the constant hustle to fill gaps. It’s a grind that doesn’t necessarily reward patience or thoughtful pacing.
That isn't YOUR problem as a student, BUT the economics of the situation will absolutely impact your progress.
Lessons From Indian Music
Historically, private instruction looked very different.
In Indian classical music, for example, students would live with their teacher. Lessons weren’t scheduled—they happened when the teacher saw you were ready.
You might get a 5–10 minute lesson in the morning, then practice that one thing all day. The teacher could check in mid-week—or mid-hour—and correct you instantly, before bad habits took root.
That’s the most efficient way to learn: tiny, targeted steps with constant feedback. But in modern life, it’s impossible to replicate. If you drove across town for your lesson and the teacher gave you just five minutes of new material before sending you home, you’d feel cheated.
My Conclusion After 1,000s of Lessons
That’s why I’ve shifted my approach completely.
I now focus on smaller, laser-focused lessons with ongoing community support—so you get the exact information you need right now, the space to master it, and feedback before bad habits set in.
HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT
Tomorrow: We Go Even Deeper
I’m hosting my first-ever live webinar, where I’ll break down exactly how adults can learn faster, practice smarter, and make consistent progress without burning out.
đź“… When: Sunday at 11 AM EST
Reserve your spot here → Register for the Live Webinar
See you tomorrow,
Andre Fludd
Lifelong Guitarist
