How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost in Hays, Kansas?

Guitar lesson prices in Hays

How do Hays guitar prices compare?

In Hays, guitar lessons typically cost $64 an hour, matching Kansas and coming in below the US typical price of $72. Great Bend is priced similarly, so lesson length, teacher training, and whether a studio asks for money up front matter more than the town. Our prices fall within Hays's typical range, with live one-on-one lessons that do not require a drive to a studio.

What does a teacher's degree add to the price?

A master's or doctorate usually adds only a few dollars per lesson, so the teacher's guitar training and ability to explain technique matter more. For guitar, that means clear guidance on chord shapes, strumming, picking, and how to change chords without stopping. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, giving you a trained teacher while keeping the focus on the playing skills you or your child needs now.

Are 30-minute guitar lessons enough?

Our 30-minute lesson is $35, a good fit for young beginners learning chord shapes and short practice goals. At $50, 45 minutes gives a developing guitarist time to work on chord changes and strumming together. A $65 hour suits older students or adults who need more time for songs, technique, and questions without rushing. Three quick questions can suggest a starting point.

Budgeting for a year of guitar lessons

What will a year of guitar lessons cost in Hays?

A year of weekly 30-minute lessons with us costs $1,820 for 52 lessons. A typical school year of about 36 weeks costs $1,260 at that length. The drive is the cost most budgets leave out. Online lessons let a student work with one dedicated teacher each week without adding fuel or travel time.

Try your own plan

Lesson length

30 min45 min60 min

Weeks of lessons

Drive to a studio, each way

Typical Hays studioTotal for your planTime in the car

Studio totals use Hays's typical lesson range plus a $25–$50 registration fee, and drive time counts the trip both ways. The plan starts at a typical school year of 36 weeks and a 12-minute drive, about the town's average commute.

Book a free first lesson

What do studios charge besides the lesson?

Studios often ask for a $25 to $50 registration fee, then a month or term paid up front. In Salina, an eight-week group guitar class costs $200 per class, with scholarships available. A ten-week term at typical Hays studio prices can total $320 to $450, and a sixteen-week semester $512 to $720, which is hard to recover when plans change. Lesson With You has no registration fee, contract, or term, and the first lesson is free with no payment method needed.

Many studiosHow you payBy the month, term or semesterPer lesson: $35, $50 or $65CommitmentA term or a school yearNone. Pause or cancel anytimeMissed lessonsOften lostRefunded or rescheduled with 24 hours' noticeNew teacherOften a new studio and new feesSwitch at no costGetting thereA drive every weekLive online from home

What does it cost to get started on guitar?

A used beginner guitar in the area typically costs $120 to $200, while a new student guitar is $220 to $280; renting is $24 to $29 monthly. A stand and clip-on tuner cost about $23 together, and Salina acoustic setup work is $80, with a $60 minimum. Kansas sales tax adds about 9 percent to gear. Winter indoor air is dry, so a humidifier helps protect the guitar from cracks and tuning drift. Ask your teacher before buying.

What books and materials will you need?

A beginner guitar method book costs about $10, and a music stand helps keep charts or notation visible while playing. You will also need guitar strings, typically $6 to $8 a year, as they wear out. Hays Public Library may have method books or sheet music to borrow, so ask your teacher which book fits your playing level before buying.

Getting your money's worth

Are guitar lessons worth the price?

Each weekly lesson should leave you or your child with a clearer chord change, steadier strumming, and a practice goal suited to your current level. That matters because adult beginners often need time coordinating chord changes with strumming, while children benefit from a teacher who breaks technique into manageable steps. At 30 minutes, you save up to $10 per lesson against the top of Hays's typical range, while still getting a dedicated teacher and individual feedback.

What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You

A teacher with a degree in guitarEvery Lesson With You guitar teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar.

GabrielMaster’s in GuitarWillBachelor’s in GuitarJacobBachelor’s in Guitar

Meet the teachers below

The same teacher every weekLive, one-on-one lessons with one teacher who knows your goals.

Practice goals every weekEach lesson ends with what to practice before the next one.

Switch or pause anytimeSwitch teachers at no cost, or pause with 24 hours' notice. There's no term to sign up for.

Are online guitar lessons cheaper than driving to a studio?

Per lesson, online and studio prices are close, but the trip adds fuel, parking, and waiting over a school year. A weekly visit adds up in time as well as expense, so online lessons avoid that travel without changing the one-on-one format. For guitar, set the camera so your teacher can see both your hands and the instrument; keep a chair and a stable place to rest the guitar nearby. With us, there is no drive to a lesson.

Can apps or videos replace a guitar teacher?

Apps and videos can help a guitarist tune, review chord shapes, or hear how a song should sound, but they cannot watch your hands and correct a tense chord change. Guitar learners often need feedback on strumming and picking, because small technique changes affect sound and comfort. Use digital tools between weekly lessons for review, then bring questions about a chord or song to your teacher.

What can you expect after 3, 6 and 12 months?

After three months of regular practice, a beginner can often play a few clean chord changes while keeping a steady strum. By six months, many learners can move between common open chords more smoothly and play simple songs from start to finish. At a year, steady practice usually supports a broader set of chords and more controlled strumming or picking. Progress depends on practice, so choose goals that fit your or your child's time and interests.

What if the first teacher isn't the right fit?

A good guitar teacher meets you or your child at the current level and gives clear feedback on chord shapes, strumming, and picking. The first free 30-minute lesson lets you see whether the teacher's explanations feel clear and the pace feels comfortable. If the match is not right, you can switch teachers at no cost rather than force a fit. There is no contract, so lessons can pause when they no longer suit your plans.

Local goals and what they cost

How do guitar lessons fit the school year in Hays?

For school concerts or auditions, weekly guitar lessons can support song preparation, confident playing, and accompaniment skills. Students can hear live guitar at a local university, which helps connect lessons with performances in the area. Ask your school music teacher what guitar parts or audition requirements apply, then plan busy stretches with your lesson teacher.

What do local events cost to prepare for?

Kansas Music Teachers Association Honors Auditions include district auditions and a state competition, with fees of $35 per solo entry, $40 per duet team, or $20 per student in chamber music. Kansas Music Educators Association instrumental live audition fees start at $12 when entered by the early deadline, though guitar eligibility depends on the event. Preparing an event piece over 13 to 26 weekly 30-minute lessons costs $455 to $910 with us. Ask the school music teacher about requirements.

Where can a guitarist play with others?

Guitarists can build playing experience through group classes and by accompanying singers or other instrumentalists. In Salina, eight-week group guitar classes cost $200 per class, with scholarships available. Fort Hays State University concerts also give you or your child a chance to hear guitar played live and notice how strumming, picking, and dynamics shape a performance. Ask a teacher which local playing opportunities fit your level.

Keeping guitar costs down in Hays

Borrow method books or sheet music from Hays Public Library when available, and ask your teacher before buying a guitar so the setup fits the player. Choose 30 minutes while chord changes are new, then lengthen lessons when songs and technique need more attention. The Lovegrass Summer Concert Series offers free live music at the Downtown Hays Pavilion. Your first lesson with us is free, you can pause during busy weeks, and family members sharing a teacher get $5 off a second lesson in the same week. Lessons are paid per session, with 24 hours' notice needed to pause or cancel for a full refund or reschedule.