Guitar Lessons in North Carolina
What guitar lessons cost across North Carolina, and how to find the right teacher.
Guitar lesson prices across North Carolina
A one-hour guitar lesson in North Carolina typically costs $59 to $89, and a half hour $32 to $49. Most towns sit close to that range. The Raleigh area runs highest, up to $98 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.
| Town | 30 minutes | One hour | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte area | |||
| Charlotte | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Concord | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Gastonia | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Huntersville | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Kannapolis | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Mooresville | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Indian Trail | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Monroe | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Salisbury | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Cornelius | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Matthews | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Statesville | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Mint Hill | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Waxhaw | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Harrisburg | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Holly | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Stallings | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Davidson | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Belmont | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Weddington | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Lake Norman of Catawba | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Lincolnton | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Pineville | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Raleigh area | |||
| Raleigh | $33–$54 | $62–$98 | LessonsCosts |
| Cary | $33–$53 | $61–$98 | LessonsCosts |
| Apex | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Wake Forest | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Holly Springs | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Fuquay-Varina | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Garner | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Morrisville | $33–$54 | $62–$98 | LessonsCosts |
| Clayton | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Knightdale | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Wendell | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Smithfield | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Rolesville | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Greensboro area | |||
| Greensboro | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| High Point | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Asheboro | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Eden | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Reidsville | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Archdale | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Summerfield | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Winston-Salem area | |||
| Winston-Salem | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Kernersville | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Thomasville | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Clemmons | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Lexington | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Lewisville | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Durham area | |||
| Durham | $33–$53 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Chapel Hill | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Carrboro | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Fayetteville area | |||
| Fayetteville | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Hope Mills | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Spring Lake | $32–$46 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Wilmington area | |||
| Wilmington | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Leland | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Murraysville | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Myrtle Grove | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Asheville area | |||
| Asheville | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Hendersonville | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Hickory area | |||
| Hickory | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Lenoir | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Morganton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Newton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Burlington area | |||
| Burlington | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Mebane | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Graham | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Elon | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Greenville area | |||
| Greenville | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Winterville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Jacksonville area | |||
| Jacksonville | $32–$47 | $58–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Piney Green | $32–$47 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Rocky Mount area | |||
| Rocky Mount | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Tarboro | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| New Bern area | |||
| New Bern | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Havelock | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Pinehurst area | |||
| Pinehurst | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Southern Pines | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Shelby area | |||
| Shelby | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Kings Mountain | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Anderson Creek area | |||
| Anderson Creek | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Spout Springs | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Other North Carolina towns | |||
| Albemarle | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Boone | $32–$48 | $59–$87 | LessonsCosts |
| Elizabeth City | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Goldsboro | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Henderson | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Kinston | $32–$48 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Laurinburg | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Lumberton | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Airy | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Roanoke Rapids | $32–$47 | $59–$86 | LessonsCosts |
| Sanford | $32–$48 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
| Waynesville | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| Wilson | $32–$49 | $59–$89 | LessonsCosts |
No North Carolina town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in North Carolina.
Meet a Guitar Teacher in North Carolina Before You Continue Weekly
A good first lesson should leave the student feeling comfortable with the teacher and clearer about what to practice next.
- Try the first 30-minute lesson free
- Check your guitar, sound, and camera setup from home
- Ask about acoustic, electric, or classical goals
- Continue only if the teacher feels like the right fit
Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in North Carolina
Browse guitar teachers, compare availability, and start with a free trial before choosing weekly lessons in North Carolina.
Filter by Day & Time

Will Orchard

Gabriel Maia

Jacob Billings

Jess Kerber
Try adjusting your filters.
How guitar learning works in North Carolina
How does guitar fit school music in North Carolina?
Guitar usually sits outside school band and orchestra in North Carolina, so you or your child will build guitar skills through private study and bring them into school music through other roles. Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville offers string orchestra from fifth grade, but that is a separate path for bowed strings, not guitar. North Carolina's arts education requirements depend on when a student enters ninth grade: some cohorts need an arts course, while later requirements include arts education among elective options. That does not create a guitar class, but guitar can support music-making alongside school activities.
Who runs what for North Carolina guitarists?
North Carolina has two different routes that matter to guitar students: the North Carolina Music Teachers Association (NCMTA) offers a dedicated performance festival, while the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA) runs school-based events. NCMTA's District and State festival phases lead to an Honors Recital for students earning Highest Honors at both levels. NCMEA's jazz auditions include guitar, but eligibility depends on being enrolled in a regularly scheduled school class and having an NCMEA member teacher of record sponsor the student. That distinction helps you choose a goal that matches how your student studies.
Who runs what in North Carolina
North Carolina Music Teachers Association (NCMTA)
- Runs
- Runs student festivals, contests, and performance competitions.
- For
- Guitar students entering its festival levels.
North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA)
- Runs
- Sponsors student music events, including All-State Jazz auditions.
- For
- Eligible school-enrolled students with a teacher-of-record sponsor.
North Carolina Bandmasters Association (NCBA)
- Runs
- Runs band Music Performance Assessment events.
- For
- School band students; not a guitar-specific route.
Auditions and events in North Carolina
How does a guitarist reach North Carolina's top student honors?
Guitarists have two distinct performance routes: the festival route progresses from District to State, while the Eastern Region Solo and Small Ensemble Music Performance Assessment offers adjudicator feedback without advancing students toward a state honor. Students earning Highest Honors at District qualify for State, and those earning Highest Honors at both phases are eligible for the annual conference Honors Recital. The festival’s Junior or Senior level depends on the student’s two repertoire selections; its collegiate level is for students enrolled at North Carolina colleges and universities. Eligible middle and high school guitarists can also audition for All-State Jazz on March 10, 2027, a separate school-based opportunity.
The guitar route in North Carolina, step by step
- District festivalEnter the NCMTA Concert Instrument Performance Festival at District level.
- State festivalHighest Honors at District qualifies a student for the State phase.
- Honors RecitalHighest Honors at both District and State makes a student eligible for the annual conference recital.
- Jazz auditionNCMEA All-State Jazz auditions offer a separate school-based guitar route; 2027 auditions are March 10.
The North Carolina guitar year
Young Artists Competition 2027Entry fee: $45 per applicationStart the piece Mar to Jun
All-State Jazz AuditionsNorth Carolina Music Educators AssociationStart the piece Sep to Dec
CDBA Solo and Ensemble MPACentral District Bandmasters AssociationStart the piece Oct to Jan
Working on the event piece, 3 to 6 monthsEvent
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For NCMEA Jazz All-State guitar, prepare scales, jazz harmony, a solo, improvisation, and sight-reading. Middle school students play the Concert B-flat major and B-flat blues scales to the ninth, a swung B-flat ii–V7–I, and a chromatic scale from memory. High school students prepare Concert F and B-flat blues scales, swung ii–V7–I progressions in C and B-flat, and a chromatic scale from memory. At both levels, students perform a current-year solo with CD accompaniment, play its melody, comp, improvise over two blues choruses, and sight-read in swing, rock, Latin, or funk. An event piece often takes three to six months to shape in weekly lessons.
What else is there to enter?
Advanced young players ages 12–18 and intermediate players ages 12–15 can consider the Symphony Guild of Charlotte Young Artists Competition if they meet its county residency rules and have not graduated high school. Its application period usually runs from September through November, so it suits a student ready to prepare a competitive performance. Guitarists who prefer playing with others rather than competing can also explore bluegrass jams in Raleigh or old-time jams in Boone.
Guitar events in North Carolina, 2026–27
All-State Jazz Auditions
North Carolina Music Educators Association
- When
- March 10, 2027
- Entry
- Ask the organizer
- Who
- Middle and high school students; 2026–27 materials are listed by middle- and high-school level
Young Artists Competition 2027
Symphony Guild of Charlotte
- When
- September–November 2026 application period
- Entry
- $45 per application
- Who
- Ages 12–18 (advanced) or 12–15 (intermediate); not yet graduated high school
CDBA Solo and Ensemble MPA
Central District Bandmasters Association
- When
- April 2027
- Entry
- Ask the organizer
- Who
- School band students
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool students do not automatically qualify for every school-based music event in North Carolina. For NCMEA-sponsored events, students need a regularly scheduled class at a public, private, or charter school and sponsorship by an NCMEA member who is their teacher of record, with each section setting additional rules. Eligibility for inter-school fine arts contests is decided by the school or the organization running the contest. The NCMTA festival offers a separate performance path to explore, with its own entry requirements.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on guitar
Many children can begin guitar when they can comfortably hold the instrument and press strings with enough control to make a clear sound; a teacher can adapt the first work to their hands and attention span. Since school guitar is not a standard band or orchestra section in North Carolina, private lessons can give a child a musical home before school ensembles become an option. Weekly one-on-one work builds basic chords, rhythm, and reading at a manageable pace, while also helping a young player find music they enjoy.
A teen in North Carolina
A teen can develop guitar through private lessons while deciding whether a performance festival or jazz audition is the better fit. North Carolina's NCMTA Concert Instrument Performance Festival moves from District to State, while NCMEA's All-State Jazz auditions include guitar and follow the school-year calendar. Lessons help keep practice steady alongside classes and other commitments, so a student can build a repertoire piece or jazz skills over time rather than cram near an event. The first step is choosing a goal that suits the teen's playing and school eligibility.
Starting or coming back as an adult
Adults are welcome to begin or return to guitar at any age, and North Carolina has informal playing options as well as lesson study. Guitarists of all skill levels can join the Thursday old-time jam at Jones House Cultural Center in Boone, while Raleigh's PineCone beginner bluegrass jam is designed for people with little or no group-playing experience. A weekly teacher meets you where you are, whether you are learning your first chords or returning to music after years away, and helps you build toward playing confidently with others.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good guitar teacher do?
A good guitar teacher matches the work to the player's goal, whether that is first chords, reading a solo piece, or preparing for jazz audition material. In North Carolina, students may be choosing between NCMTA's repertoire festival and NCMEA jazz, so a teacher who listens to the student's interests and explains those routes can make practice feel purposeful. Training matters, but so does a teacher's way of giving feedback to a child, teen, or adult. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one, and every teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar.
How do live online guitar lessons work?
In a live Zoom lesson, your teacher hears your timing, tone, and chord changes in real time, and sees your hands well enough to help adjust fingering or posture. Set the guitar and device so both hands are visible, with the instrument tuned before the lesson; the teacher can then demonstrate and listen as you try the passage. There is no commute, and you can work with a teacher who fits rather than only the closest option. A guitarist in Charlotte and one in Laurinburg have the same choice of teacher and the same weekly one-on-one lesson. The first 30-minute lesson is free, with no payment method needed.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
Guitar in North Carolina
Where to hear guitar
A guitarist can hear a range of live music beyond the state's guitar gatherings. In Winston-Salem, Piedmont Opera offers students 20% off main-stage performances in sections B and C, while North Carolina Opera in Raleigh offers college students $15 tickets for its 2026–27 season. In Fayetteville, Rock’n On the River holds free summer concerts at Deep Creek Outfitters on the third Friday of each summer month. These concerts give you or your child a chance to listen closely to different instruments and musical styles.
Where to play with others
For informal acoustic playing, Tryon Fine Arts Center PacJAM offers coached multi-instrument jams for young people from age 7 through high school, while its adult session includes traditional music jams and guitar options for intermediate to advanced players. These settings give guitarists a way to learn ensemble listening and timing with others. They complement individual study rather than serving as a school band route.
Guitar around North Carolina, area by area
Charlotte area
In Charlotte, guitar players can hear free Mecklenburg County summer concerts held monthly from May through August. The area also has Charlotte Youth Wind Ensembles, but that group is for winds and does not provide a guitar-playing route. For a guitarist, the most useful local option here is hearing live music and taking ideas back to solo practice or other music-making settings.
- School year
- Aug 25 to Jun 9, 39 lesson weeks (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)
- Town guides
- Charlotte, Concord, Rock Hill, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Indian Trail
Raleigh area
Raleigh's NC State LIVE Lake Raleigh concerts are free and open to the public, offering an outdoor listening option for guitar students and families. PineCone also holds monthly bluegrass jams for beginners and for musicians of all levels. The open session welcomes players across skill levels, giving a guitarist a chance to listen and play in an acoustic group setting.
- Town guides
- Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Morrisville
Greensboro area
In Greensboro, undergraduate and graduate students can buy $20 rush tickets for select Greensboro Symphony concerts, with up to four tickets per valid student ID. The TowneBank Summer Concert Series charges $10 for children ages 11–18, while children 10 and under attend free. These options give families a way to hear live music together and expose a developing guitarist to ensemble sound.
- School year
- Aug 24 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Guilford County Schools)
- Town guides
- Greensboro, High Point, Asheboro, Eden, Reidsville, Archdale, Summerfield
Fayetteville area
Haymount United Methodist Church's Music for A Great Space concerts in Fayetteville are free and open to all, giving guitar students and families an accessible way to hear live music. That listening opportunity complements a guitarist's individual practice and helps build familiarity with how different instruments work together in performance.
- School year
- Aug 24 to May 28, 37 lesson weeks (Cumberland County Schools)
- Town guides
- Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake
Wilmington area
Wilmington makes concert listening accessible to young families. Students age 18 and under can attend Chamber Music Wilmington concerts free when accompanied by an adult, and college-aged students and younger can receive complimentary Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Classics Series tickets with valid ID at the Wilson Center Box Office one hour before the concert. Guitar students can use these concerts to hear ensemble playing and build a sense of how a solo line fits with other instruments.
- School year
- Aug 24 to Jun 4, 39 lesson weeks (New Hanover County Schools)
- Town guides
- Wilmington, Leland, Murraysville, Myrtle Grove
Hickory area
Hickory offers free outdoor concerts in several seasons. The Sails Original Music Series brings music to downtown on September weekends, and the Jazz Legacy Concert Series holds free outdoor concerts on select afternoons from spring through fall. These events offer a guitarist a chance to hear live styles and rhythms in a community setting, then bring new listening ideas back to personal practice.
A little guitar history in North Carolina
North Carolina's guitar history includes several distinct styles that remain useful models for students. Watauga County native Arthel “Doc” Watson pioneered flat-picking that joined old-time, bluegrass, blues, and rockabilly influences. Caldwell County's Etta Baker was a Piedmont blues guitarist who received a National Heritage Fellowship in 1991, while Valdese guitarist George Shuffler introduced cross-picking with the Stanley Brothers' Clinch Mountain Boys. In the Round Peak region between Mount Airy and Galax, a new generation of guitarists still competes in regional contests. These traditions show a student how technique can grow from a local musical language into a personal style.
Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You
- Try the first 30-minute lesson free
- Check your guitar, sound, and camera setup from home
- Ask about acoustic, electric, or classical goals
- Continue only if the teacher feels like the right fit
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher whose approach fits your age, playing level, and goal, whether that is learning chords or preparing repertoire. Lesson With You offers live weekly one-on-one Zoom lessons with teachers who hold at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend one.
Yes, because a teacher can hear your sound and timing in real time and watch your hands as you play. With the guitar and device positioned so both hands are visible, you get direct feedback without a commute and can work with a teacher who fits you.
The clearest guitar performance route is the NCMTA Concert Instrument Performance Festival, where Highest Honors at District qualifies a student for State. Highest Honors at both phases makes the student eligible for the Honors Recital at the annual conference; NCMEA All-State Jazz is a separate route for eligible school guitarists.
Sometimes, but eligibility depends on the event and its rules. NCMEA events require a regularly scheduled class at a public, private, or charter school and a sponsoring NCMEA member teacher of record, while inter-school fine arts contests leave the decision to the school or organization.
A child can start when they can hold the guitar comfortably and press strings with enough control to make a clear sound. A teacher can adapt early lessons to the child's hands and attention, building skills before or alongside other school music activities.
No, adults can start or return to guitar at any age. A teacher can meet you at your current level, and options such as Boone's Jones House old-time jam welcome guitarists across skill levels.
Guitar lessons in North Carolina typically cost about $66 an hour, or $32 to $49 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.
