Guitar Lessons in Tennessee
What guitar lessons cost across Tennessee, and how to find the right teacher.
Guitar lesson prices across Tennessee
A one-hour guitar lesson in Tennessee typically costs $58 to $83, and a half hour $32 to $45. Most towns sit close to that range. The Nashville area runs highest, up to $97 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville area | |||
| Nashville | $33–$53 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Murfreesboro | $32–$50 | $59–$92 | LessonsCosts |
| Franklin | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Spring Hill | $33–$51 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Hendersonville | $33–$53 | $61–$97 | LessonsCosts |
| Smyrna | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Gallatin | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Brentwood | $32–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Columbia | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| Lebanon | $32–$50 | $59–$91 | LessonsCosts |
| Mount Juliet | $33–$53 | $61–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| La Vergne | $32–$49 | $59–$90 | LessonsCosts |
| Springfield | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Goodlettsville | $33–$52 | $60–$96 | LessonsCosts |
| Dickson | $33–$52 | $60–$94 | LessonsCosts |
| Nolensville | $33–$51 | $60–$93 | LessonsCosts |
| White House | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Portland | $33–$52 | $60–$95 | LessonsCosts |
| Hartsville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Memphis area | |||
| Memphis | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Bartlett | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Collierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Germantown | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Arlington | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lakeland | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Millington | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Atoka | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Knoxville area | |||
| Knoxville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Oak Ridge | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Maryville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Farragut | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Powell | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Alcoa | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Lenoir City | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Chattanooga area | |||
| Chattanooga | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| East Ridge | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Soddy-Daisy | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Middle Valley | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Red Bank | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Collegedale | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Kingsport area | |||
| Kingsport | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Bristol | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Johnson City area | |||
| Johnson City | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Elizabethton | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Sevierville area | |||
| Sevierville | $32–$45 | $58–$83 | LessonsCosts |
| Seymour | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Tullahoma area | |||
| Tullahoma | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Manchester | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Other Tennessee towns | |||
| Athens | $31–$44 | $58–$81 | LessonsCosts |
| Clarksville | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Cleveland | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Cookeville | $32–$46 | $58–$84 | LessonsCosts |
| Crossville | $31–$44 | $57–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Dyersburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Greeneville | $31–$44 | $58–$80 | LessonsCosts |
| Jackson | $31–$43 | $56–$78 | LessonsCosts |
| Lawrenceburg | $32–$48 | $59–$88 | LessonsCosts |
| Lewisburg | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Martin | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
| McMinnville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Morristown | $31–$43 | $57–$79 | LessonsCosts |
| Shelbyville | $32–$45 | $58–$82 | LessonsCosts |
| Union City | $32–$46 | $58–$85 | LessonsCosts |
No Tennessee town by that name yet. Lessons are live online, so you can still start from anywhere in Tennessee.
Meet a Guitar Teacher in Tennessee Before You Continue Weekly
A good first lesson should leave the student feeling comfortable with the teacher and clearer about what to practice next.
- Meet the teacher before weekly billing begins
- Hear real-time feedback on the guitar you practice with
- Talk through songs, style, and setup questions
- Pick a weekly length after the first meeting
Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Tennessee
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How guitar learning works in Tennessee
How does guitar fit school music in Tennessee?
Tennessee schools teach music in kindergarten through eighth grade, but guitar is not a standard school ensemble instrument here. High school students generally need one fine arts credit, so you or your child may meet that requirement through music without assuming a guitar class is offered. Districts shape how the state curriculum is taught: it can be a dedicated class or integrated into other subjects. That makes private guitar study a direct way to build playing skills alongside whatever music instruction your school provides.
Who runs what for Tennessee guitarists?
Tennessee has two music routes that matter to guitarists: the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) supports school music and All-State ensembles, while the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) runs solo auditions that lead to a state competition. TMTA's local auditions are the clearer guitar-specific path, which means your first step is finding the local association's spring process.
Who runs what in Tennessee
Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA)
- Runs
- Supports school music and runs All-State ensembles.
- For
- School music students through director-submitted auditions.
Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA)
- Runs
- Runs spring local auditions and a state student competition.
- For
- Elementary, junior, and senior student guitarists.
Auditions and events in Tennessee
How does a guitarist reach Tennessee's top student honors?
For a Tennessee guitarist seeking a top student honor, the clearest route is the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (TMTA) solo competition, not school All-State. Begin with a spring local audition through a local music teachers association; each association sets its own date and fee. A Superior rating, plus TMTA musicianship requirements, advances a student to the state competition. TMTA lists an April 15, 2027 application deadline for its spring competition, but has not posted the state competition date. TMEA's All-State progression runs through regional auditions and Area competitions, but guitar is not among the named middle school honors instruments, so guitar students should focus on the TMTA route.
The guitar route in Tennessee, step by step
- Local auditionEnter through a local music teachers association in spring; the audition is the first stage of the guitar-specific state honor route.
- State competitionA Superior rating and TMTA musicianship requirements qualify a student to advance to the state competition.
What do auditions ask you to prepare?
For the Tennessee Music Teachers Association competition, preparation centers on a strong solo and the musicianship requirements needed to advance. A Superior rating at the local audition is the threshold for the state competition, so weekly lessons over three to six months give a student time to polish the event piece and build reliable musicianship rather than only memorizing notes. The spring 2027 application deadline is April 15 at 11:59 p.m. Central, and late applications are not accepted.
Homeschool and private school students
Homeschool students and students whose schools lack band or orchestra can register for MTSBOA/TNMEA Mid-State and All-State Honors Orchestra or Band auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras. Those are band and orchestra opportunities, not a guitar honors seat, so a homeschool guitarist looking for a guitar-specific contest can pursue the TMTA local audition and state competition. In Knoxville, Knoxville Christian Youth Bands serves homeschool, private school, and public school students in grades 5–12, but it is a band route rather than a guitar contest.
Starting at any age
Starting a child on guitar
A child is ready to begin guitar when the instrument is comfortable to hold and they can manage its strings; there is no single starting age that fits every child. Early one-on-one lessons build the coordination for fretting and picking, then connect chords, rhythm, and reading to music your child enjoys. That foundation is useful before a student finds a chance to play guitar with others, and a teacher can adjust the pace as hands and attention develop.
A teen in Tennessee
For a teen guitarist in Tennessee, the clearest formal goal is the spring TMTA local audition, with a Superior rating and musicianship requirements needed to reach the state competition. School All-State honors are built around band, orchestra, and chorus rather than guitar, so a teen should not plan on a guitar All-State seat. Weekly lessons fit alongside schoolwork by giving the student a steady place to develop repertoire and musicianship, then focus toward the local audition when that is their goal.
Starting or coming back as an adult
It is not too late to learn guitar as an adult in Tennessee, and private study can start from your current experience, whether you are picking up a guitar for the first time or returning after years away. In Johnson City, guitarists can join the Boones Creek Opry’s weekly Thursday Circle Jam for bluegrass and gospel playing. A teacher meets you at your level and helps you build the chords, rhythm, or repertoire that makes playing with others feel within reach.
Finding the right teacher
What should a good guitar teacher do?
A good guitar teacher gives a student more than songs to copy: they build clean fretting, steady rhythm, ear, reading, and a sound that suits the player's goals. For a Tennessee student considering TMTA, the teacher can also shape a spring audition plan and help prepare musicianship alongside repertoire. Fit matters as much as credentials because a young beginner, a teen with a competition goal, and an adult returning to guitar need different pacing and feedback. Every Lesson With You teacher holds at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, and you can choose a teacher yourself or ask us to recommend one.
How do live online guitar lessons work?
A live Zoom guitar lesson lets the teacher hear timing, tone, and chord changes in real time and see both hands closely enough to correct finger placement. Set your guitar, a stable device, and a quiet place where the teacher can see your fretting and picking hands; unlike a studio visit, there is no commute, and the weekly lesson happens at home. A student in Nashville and a student in Nolensville have the same choice of teacher and the same one-on-one lesson, so you can choose for teaching fit rather than distance. Weekly lessons with one dedicated teacher make it easier to keep a steady routine.
What $35 a week gets you at Lesson With You
GabrielMaster’s in GuitarWillBachelor’s in GuitarJacobBachelor’s in GuitarGuitar in Tennessee
Where to hear guitar
Tennessee offers guitar students several ways to hear how the instrument fits into different musical settings. In Nashville, the Nashville Symphony continues its 2026–27 season, and college students can attend eligible concerts with discounted tickets. In Memphis, students and seniors can hear the Memphis Youth Symphony Program’s Fall Concerts for $5. These performances let you listen for how a guitar might fit into a larger ensemble, even when it is not the featured instrument.
Where to play with others
For young guitarists who want an ensemble setting, the Tennessee Youth Symphony’s Commercial Band in Nashville accepts guitarists and rehearses Monday evenings from September to April. That gives a student a recurring group experience, distinct from the informal playing adults can seek in Johnson City. A band setting helps a guitarist learn how their part supports a larger group over time.
Guitar around Tennessee, area by area
Nashville area
Nashville families can attend Vanderbilt Blair Academy performances, including youth orchestra concerts and recitals, for free. These performances give a guitarist a chance to hear ensemble balance and musical phrasing, even when guitar is not the featured instrument. They can also help a student understand how individual parts contribute to a larger group sound.
- School year
- Aug 11 to May 25, 37 lesson weeks (Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools)
- Town guides
- Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Spring Hill, Hendersonville, Smyrna, Gallatin, Brentwood
Memphis area
In Memphis, Opera Memphis presents free performances throughout the city during 30 Days of Opera each September. Students and seniors can also attend Memphis Youth Symphony Program Fall Concerts for $5. Those concerts offer a guitarist two different kinds of live listening, from staged opera to orchestral performance, and a reason to hear how musicians shape a full ensemble sound.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 20, 37 lesson weeks (Memphis-Shelby County Schools)
- Town guides
- Memphis, Bartlett, Southaven, Collierville, Olive Branch, Germantown, Horn Lake, West Memphis
Knoxville area
Knoxville families can hear the Knoxville Symphony’s Masterworks or Roy Cockrum Chamber Series with children in grade 12 or younger from Knox and surrounding counties admitted free with a paying adult, up to three children per adult. Many University of Tennessee concerts, recitals, and showcases are also free and open to the public. Both options give guitar students a way to hear live music in town.
- School year
- Aug 10 to May 26, 38 lesson weeks (Knox County Schools)
Clarksville area
Clarksville’s Downtown @ Sundown concerts take place on select Friday nights from May through October, with free family-friendly performances at Downtown Commons. The season has ended for this year, but its recurring outdoor concerts offer families a chance to hear live music together when the series returns. A guitarist can listen for rhythm and accompaniment in a range of performers’ songs.
- School year
- Aug 4 to May 27, 38 lesson weeks (Clarksville-Montgomery County School System)
- Town guides
- Clarksville, Hopkinsville, Fort Campbell North
Jackson area
In Jackson, Jackson Area Community Bands gives student musicians a way to play with others, waiving dues for new high school and college students for their first year or two semesters. Guitar is not a typical concert-band instrument, so this is not a guitar ensemble route, but it can interest a student who also plays a band instrument. Adult members can join as well, with dues set for the year or semester.
- School year
- Aug 3 to May 21, 37 lesson weeks (Jackson-Madison County School System)
- Town guides
- Jackson
A little guitar history in Tennessee
Tennessee's guitar history includes several different sounds and players. Gibson has hand-built guitars in Nashville since 1975, while Chet Atkins learned guitar in East Tennessee before becoming known through Knoxville radio and country music. Memphis guitarist Steve Cropper played on Stax recordings including Sam & Dave's “Soul Man,” and Sevier County-born Bashful Brother Oswald helped popularize resonator guitar and Dobro in country and bluegrass. For a student, that history shows how guitar can serve country, bluegrass, and soul, with technique shaped by the music you want to play.
Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You
- Meet the teacher before weekly billing begins
- Hear real-time feedback on the guitar you practice with
- Talk through songs, style, and setup questions
- Pick a weekly length after the first meeting
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a teacher whose approach fits your age, goals, and the music you want to play. For a student aiming at the TMTA spring competition, ask how the teacher supports repertoire and musicianship preparation. Lesson With You lets you choose a teacher or ask us to recommend one.
Yes, a live Zoom lesson lets a teacher hear your timing and tone and see your fretting and picking hands in real time. Set up a device so both hands are visible, then the teacher can give immediate feedback without a commute. A weekly one-on-one lesson also gives you a consistent teacher who learns how you learn.
For a guitar-specific state honor, enter a spring local audition through the Tennessee Music Teachers Association and earn a Superior rating while meeting its musicianship requirements. That qualifies a student to advance to the state competition. Guitar is not among the named middle school honors orchestra instruments, so TMTA is the clearer guitar route.
Yes, homeschool students can pursue the TMTA local audition and state competition for guitar. Homeschool students and students at schools without band or orchestra can also register for MTSBOA/TNMEA Mid-State and All-State honors auditions through Vanderbilt Youth Orchestras, though those are band and orchestra routes rather than guitar honors.
A child can start when they can comfortably hold a guitar and manage its strings; there is no Tennessee school grade that sets a guitar starting age. Private lessons give a young player room to build coordination, rhythm, and basic music reading at a suitable pace. They can complement school music instruction, which is required through eighth grade but does not guarantee a guitar ensemble.
No, adults can begin or return to guitar at any age, with lessons shaped around their experience and goals. In Johnson City, guitarists can work toward playing bluegrass and gospel with others at the Boones Creek Opry Thursday Circle Jam. A teacher can help you build the skills you need for that kind of shared playing.
Guitar lessons in Tennessee typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $45 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.