Your First Lesson Is On Us. FREE 30 Minute Lesson - No Credit Card Required
Lesson With You - Live, Online Music Lessons

Guitar Lessons in Maryland

What guitar lessons cost across Maryland, and how to find the right teacher.

Marc Levesque - About Us - Lesson With You
Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 18 min read

Guitar lesson prices across Maryland

A one-hour guitar lesson in Maryland typically costs $68 to $108, and a half hour $36 to $59. Prices change noticeably from town to town. The Frederick area runs highest, up to $122 an hour.

Every town has two guides: a guitar lessons guide, with local schools, events and places to play, and a costs guide, with that town's prices in detail.

Town30 minutesOne hourGuides
Baltimore area
Baltimore$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Columbia$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Ellicott City$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Glen Burnie$35–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Dundalk$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Towson$35–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Severn$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Bel Air South$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Odenton$36–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Catonsville$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Annapolis$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Essex$35–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Woodlawn$36–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Severna Park$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Owings Mills$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Randallstown$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Pasadena$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Pikesville$35–$57$66–$104LessonsCosts
Middle River$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Eldersburg$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Bel Air North$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Milford Mill$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Parkville$36–$59$67–$107LessonsCosts
Crofton$36–$59$67–$107LessonsCosts
Perry Hall$35–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Ilchester$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Carney$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Lochearn$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Elkridge$36–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Reisterstown$36–$58$67–$107LessonsCosts
North Laurel$36–$59$67–$107LessonsCosts
Edgewood$34–$56$64–$102LessonsCosts
Arnold$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Cockeysville$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Arbutus$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Westminster$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Rosedale$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Maryland City$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Lake Shore$34–$56$64–$102LessonsCosts
Ferndale$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Aberdeen$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Parole$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Brooklyn Park$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Mays Chapel$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Rossville$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Havre de Grace$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Joppatowne$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Overlea$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Honeygo$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Riviera Beach$36–$58$67–$106LessonsCosts
Annapolis Neck$35–$57$65–$104LessonsCosts
Linthicum$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Fort Meade$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
White Marsh$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Bel Air$35–$57$66–$105LessonsCosts
Scaggsville$35–$58$66–$105LessonsCosts
Frederick area
Frederick$38–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Waldorf$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Germantown$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Silver Spring$40–$65$75–$119LessonsCosts
Gaithersburg$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Bethesda$39–$64$73–$116LessonsCosts
Rockville$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Bowie$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Aspen Hill$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Wheaton$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
North Bethesda$39–$64$73–$116LessonsCosts
Potomac$38–$61$71–$112LessonsCosts
Clinton$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Olney$38–$61$71–$112LessonsCosts
Chillum$40–$65$75–$119LessonsCosts
College Park$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
Montgomery Village$39–$64$74–$117LessonsCosts
Clarksburg$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Laurel$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
South Laurel$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Ballenger Creek$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Fairland$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Fort Washington$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Greenbelt$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Landover$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
North Potomac$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Suitland$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Camp Springs$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Langley Park$41–$66$76–$122LessonsCosts
Hyattsville$39–$64$74–$117LessonsCosts
Beltsville$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Redland$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
East Riverdale$40–$65$75–$119LessonsCosts
Seabrook$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
Oxon Hill$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Damascus$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Takoma Park$40–$64$74–$118LessonsCosts
Calverton$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Adelphi$39–$64$73–$117LessonsCosts
White Oak$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Glenmont$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Glassmanor$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Cloverly$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Hillcrest Heights$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Bensville$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
Summerfield$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Colesville$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Linganore$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Accokeek$35–$58$66–$106LessonsCosts
Lake Arbor$39–$63$72–$115LessonsCosts
Urbana$37–$60$69–$110LessonsCosts
Kettering$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Flower Hill$39–$63$73–$116LessonsCosts
Glenn Dale$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Brock Hall$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Green Valley$36–$59$68–$108LessonsCosts
New Carrollton$40–$64$74–$118LessonsCosts
Westphalia$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Kemp Mill$39–$64$73–$116LessonsCosts
Rosaryville$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Largo$38–$62$71–$114LessonsCosts
Brandywine$36–$58$67–$107LessonsCosts
Travilah$37–$59$68–$109LessonsCosts
Lanham$38–$63$72–$114LessonsCosts
Mitchellville$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
Friendly$37–$61$70–$111LessonsCosts
Walker Mill$38–$62$71–$113LessonsCosts
La Plata$37–$60$69–$109LessonsCosts
Forestville$38–$61$70–$112LessonsCosts
Hagerstown area
Hagerstown$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Halfway$32–$49$59–$90LessonsCosts
Lexington Park area
Lexington Park$33–$53$61–$97LessonsCosts
California$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts
Other Maryland towns
Cambridge$34–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Cumberland$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Easton$35–$56$65–$103LessonsCosts
Elkton$34–$55$63–$100LessonsCosts
Ocean Pines$34–$56$64–$102LessonsCosts
Salisbury$33–$52$60–$95LessonsCosts

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Maryland

Browse guitar teachers, compare availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in Maryland.

5 guitar instructors available in the next 5 days
Will Orchard

Will Orchard

Top Rated 5.0
Bachelor’s in GuitarMulti-Genre SpecialistTheory ExpertiseStudent Favorite
Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Maryland via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Will
Gabriel Maia

Gabriel Maia

Top Rated 5.0
Master’s in GuitarTechnique ExpertVersatile RepertoireStudent Favorite
Genres: Acoustic, Bass, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English, Portuguese, Spanish🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Maryland via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Gabriel
Jacob Billings

Jacob Billings

Top Rated 5.0
Bachelor’s in GuitarPatient & ThoroughVersatile RepertoirePopular
Genres: Acoustic, Classical, Electric Guitar
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 6 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Maryland via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Jacob
Jess Kerber

Jess Kerber

Top Rated 5.0
Bachelor’s in SingingFun & UpbeatWarm & EncouragingPopular
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Ages: Kids, Teens, Adults
✅ Background Checked💬 Speaks: English🏆 Experience: 8 yrs of teaching💻 Lesson Format: Online in Maryland via Zoom
Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening
$0 $35 / 30 minute trial
Book Free Trial with Jess

How guitar learning works in Maryland

Maryland's student guitar honor route runs through the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), which sponsors district and state Solo & Ensemble Festivals for eligible school musicians. MMEA also runs auditions for nine All State Ensembles, but those are not the route for guitar solo honors. The Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA) offers student competitions, festivals, recitals, and examinations, giving guitarists another performance path. These groups serve different purposes, so your next step depends on whether you want a school-based adjudicated solo or a broader student music event.

Who runs what in Maryland

Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA)

Runs
Sponsors district and state Solo & Ensemble Festivals and All State auditions.
For
Eligible Maryland school music students.

Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA)

Runs
Offers student competitions, festivals, recitals, and examinations.
For
Students through its teacher network.

Maryland Band Directors Association (MBDA)

Runs
Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
For
Music educators and their students.

Maryland Choral Educators Association (MCEA)

Runs
Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
For
Music educators and their students.

Maryland Orchestra Directors Association (MODA)

Runs
Supports music educators and helps guide student events.
For
Music educators and their students.

Auditions and events in Maryland

How does a guitarist reach Maryland's top student honors?

For a Maryland guitar student seeking a state solo honor, the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) State Solo & Ensemble Festival follows a qualifying district or county festival. Grades 6–12 students must earn a Superior rating on grade 2–6 music to advance. The 2027 festival takes place May 15 at Towson University’s Center for the Arts; registration is due March 17, with late registration through March 31. MMEA’s All-State auditions follow a separate calendar, with educator nominations from mid-August through late September and caregiver registration from late September through mid-October, but they are not the route to a guitar solo honor.

The guitar route in Maryland, step by step

  1. District or county festivalGrades 6–12 students in eligible school music settings perform grade 2–6 music; district dates are typically winter or spring.
  2. Qualify for stateEarn a Superior rating on the district performance; state registration is due March 17, 2027, with late registration through March 31.
  3. State Solo & Ensemble FestivalPerform at the MMEA festival on May 15, 2027, at Towson University.

The Maryland guitar year

AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJul

MTNA Competitions — Maryland State CompetitionMaryland State Music Teachers AssociationStart the piece May to Aug

Start the piece May to AugNov 1

2027 State Solo & Ensemble FestivalMaryland Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Nov to Feb

Start the piece Nov to FebMay 15

Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

For the state guitar festival, choose a selection from MMEA’s repertoire list at the same grade level used to qualify at district, and keep the performance within 10 minutes. Scales and sight-reading are not required. Published accompaniment is required and may be live or recorded; a recording must be downloaded onto the playback device rather than streamed. The adjudicator provides a comment sheet after the performance. In weekly lessons, three to six months on an event piece gives time to refine the notes, tone, timing, and coordination with the accompaniment.

Homeschool and private school students

Homeschool students cannot enter the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival under its stated eligibility rules, which require attendance at a public, parochial, or independent school and participation in an appropriate school music class or sponsored ensemble. Maryland Christian Youth Band and Orchestra in Silver Spring offers homeschool and after-school musicians band and orchestra groups, an alternate way to make music with others. The proposed House Bill 1528 was awaiting a House hearing in the 2026 session, so it is not a current route into school activities.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

Many children can begin guitar once they can hold it comfortably and focus for a short lesson; there is no fixed starting age. A private teacher can build hand coordination, reading, and chord skills at a pace that suits your child, while helping them find music they want to play. Guitar gives a young learner a way to make music before joining a group, and lessons can continue alongside school music or personal playing as their interests grow.

A teen in Maryland

A Maryland teen can build guitar skill through private lessons and, if part of a school music class or school-sponsored ensemble, work toward the district Solo & Ensemble Festival and state qualification. The route depends on that school music connection, so a teen should ask the school music director how guitar participation fits. Weekly lessons can support schoolwork and personal repertoire at the same time, giving the student steady progress without making every piece serve an audition.

Starting or coming back as an adult

It is not too late to begin or return to guitar as an adult in Maryland. Informal playing groups include Common Ground on the Hill in Westminster and the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Guitar Orchestra in Catonsville, which welcomes players of all levels and styles. A teacher can start from your current experience, whether you are learning your first chords or rebuilding technique, and help you prepare to join others when you feel ready.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

A good guitar teacher matches the work to the player: a child may need short, clear steps, while a teen preparing a school solo needs steady help shaping a piece and an adult may want to return to familiar songs. For Maryland’s state solo route, a teacher who understands repertoire and helps build secure technique can make preparation feel manageable. Training matters, but so does whether the teacher’s explanations suit your goals and personality. Our teachers all hold at least a bachelor’s degree in guitar, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend a fit.

How do live online guitar lessons work?

In a live Zoom guitar lesson, your teacher hears your tone, rhythm, and transitions and watches your hands as you play, so corrections happen in real time. Set the camera where both hands are visible and keep the room quiet; your guitar stays at home, with no commute. Weekly one-on-one lessons give you a dedicated teacher who learns how you respond to feedback and adjusts the work accordingly. A student in Baltimore and a student in Summerfield have the same choice of teacher and the same lesson, rather than being limited to whoever is closest.

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.
Gabriel MaiaGabrielMaster’s in GuitarWill OrchardWillBachelor’s in GuitarJacob BillingsJacobBachelor’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.

Guitar in Maryland

Where to hear guitar

Guitar students can hear a range of live music across Maryland. In Easton, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosts a monthly acoustic folk circle where participants can lead a song, join in, or listen. Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance welcomes varied instruments and skill levels to its monthly Friday jam in Bushwood, with Irish, Cajun, folk, blues, old-time, and country tunes. These settings let you hear guitar alongside other instruments and styles.

Where to play with others

Maryland guitarists can also play in the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society Guitar Orchestra, which welcomes players of all levels and styles for rehearsals in Catonsville. Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance holds a monthly Friday night jam at Bushwood Mill in Bushwood, welcoming varied instruments and skill levels for Irish, Cajun, folk, blues, old-time, and country tunes. The orchestra offers a guitar-focused ensemble setting, while the Bushwood jam is informal and open to a range of experience.

Guitar around Maryland, area by area

Baltimore area

Baltimore's Baltimore Symphony Orchestra offers student rush tickets for $10 when available, released at noon on concert day with a valid student ID. In Westminster, Carroll Community College presents free student ensemble concerts, including a Rock ’N’ Roll Ensemble performance. These performances give guitar students distinct ways to hear orchestral and popular ensemble music in the region.

Hagerstown area

Hagerstown offers students a way to hear the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, with free admission in most sections or half-price premium seats at select classical performances for K–12 students. The Hagerstown Municipal Band's free Sunday summer concerts add another regular listening option. Both give a guitar student a chance to hear ensemble sound and follow how rhythm and melody work together.

School year
Aug 25 to Jun 8, 41 lesson weeks (Washington County Public Schools)

Salisbury area

Salisbury's Salisbury Community Band welcomes qualified musicians, including high school students entering 11th grade or above for summer concerts, and requires a minimum skill level. Guitar is not a typical wind-band part, so this is not a direct guitar ensemble route. Students can also attend Salisbury Symphony Orchestra concerts for $5, while children accompanied by an adult can attend its Children’s Concert free.

School year
Sep 1 to Jun 11, 39 lesson weeks (Wicomico County Public Schools)
Town guides
Salisbury

Cumberland area

Cumberland's Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series brings free Thursday concerts to the Canal Place Festival Grounds for 10 weeks from June through August. Sunday in the Park offers free weekly live music at Constitution Park from May through September. These recurring outdoor concerts give a guitar student two local options for hearing live music across the warmer months.

Town guides
Cumberland

Easton area

Easton’s Mid-Shore Community Band is an all-volunteer ensemble that rehearses in town and welcomes adults and approved high school students; its wind-band format is not designed for guitar. Students up to age 18 can reserve complimentary tickets to Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra concerts, subject to availability. Carpe Diem Arts also presents free, all-ages lunchtime concerts at Brookletts Place.

School year
Aug 24 to Jun 14, 40 lesson weeks (Talbot County Public Schools)
Town guides
Easton

Cambridge area

Cambridge's free live music includes the Main Stage concert at Groove City Culture Fest and the fall and winter concert series at Christ Episcopal Church. The church series has free admission, making it an accessible listening option for a guitar student and family. Together, these events offer two different settings for hearing performers in Cambridge.

Town guides
Cambridge

A little guitar history in Maryland

Baltimore-born guitarist Robbie Basho began playing while studying at the University of Maryland and became known for pioneering steel-string guitar as a solo concert instrument. His story gives Maryland students a local example of guitar as a focused performance voice, as well as an instrument for songs and accompaniment. The Baltimore International Guitar Competition keeps solo guitar in public view, with its application deadline in early July and competition rounds in late September. For a student, that history points to a serious path in solo playing alongside the familiar work of learning songs and playing with others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a teacher whose approach fits your goals, age, and way of learning, and who can guide the technique and repertoire you want to build. Our weekly one-on-one live Zoom lessons are taught by musicians with at least a bachelor’s degree in guitar, and you can choose your teacher or ask us to recommend one.

Yes, a teacher can hear your timing and tone and watch both hands in real time, then demonstrate a correction as you play. A clear camera view and a quiet room support focused weekly lessons without a commute.

For guitar, the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival is the state solo honor route, reached by earning a Superior rating at a district or county festival. Eligible students in grades 6–12 must be enrolled in a school music class or school-sponsored ensemble and perform from MMEA’s state repertoire list.

Homeschool students are not eligible for the MMEA State Solo & Ensemble Festival, which requires attendance at a public, parochial, or independent school and participation in a school music class or sponsored ensemble. Maryland Christian Youth Band & Orchestra in Silver Spring offers homeschool and after-school musicians band and orchestra groups as another way to play with others.

A child can start when the guitar fits comfortably and they can focus for a short lesson; there is no single required starting age. A teacher can match the instrument and first skills to the child’s coordination and interests.

No, adults can begin or return to guitar at any age, and Maryland has informal folk jams and guitar ensemble playing for different experience levels. Weekly lessons can start from what you already know and build toward the music you want to play.

Guitar lessons in Maryland typically cost about $80 an hour, or $36 to $59 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.