Guitar Lessons in Wisconsin

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

Marc Levesque updated 11/13/26 - 19 min read

Guitar lesson prices across Wisconsin
Meet teachers
How guitar learning works in Wisconsin
Auditions and events in Wisconsin
Starting at any age
Finding the right teacher
Guitar in Wisconsin
Area by area
A little guitar history in Wisconsin
Frequently Asked Questions

Guitar lesson prices across Wisconsin

A one-hour guitar lesson in Wisconsin typically costs $58 to $84, and a half hour $32 to $46. Most towns sit close to that range. The River Falls area runs highest, up to $96 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.

Find your town

Town	30 minutes	One hour	Guides
Milwaukee area
Milwaukee	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Waukesha	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
West Allis	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Wauwatosa	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Brookfield	$32–$47	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
New Berlin	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Menomonee Falls	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Greenfield	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Oak Creek	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Franklin	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
West Bend	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Muskego	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Mequon	$32–$46	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Germantown	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
South Milwaukee	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Oconomowoc	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Cudahy	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Hartford	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Whitefish Bay	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Greendale	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Glendale	$32–$47	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Shorewood	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Port Washington	$32–$49	$59–$90	Lessons Costs
Cedarburg	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Brown Deer	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Grafton	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Sussex	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Richfield	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Lisbon	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Madison area
Madison	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Sun Prairie	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Fitchburg	$32–$47	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Middleton	$32–$47	$59–$86	Lessons Costs
Waunakee	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Verona	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Stoughton	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Oregon	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
DeForest	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Monroe	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Green Bay area
Green Bay	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
De Pere	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Howard	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Ashwaubenon	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Bellevue	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Allouez	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Suamico	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Hobart	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Appleton area
Appleton	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Kaukauna	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Harrison	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Greenville	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Little Chute	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Racine area
Racine	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Mount Pleasant	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Caledonia	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Burlington	$32–$46	$58–$84	Lessons Costs
Kenosha area
Kenosha	$33–$51	$60–$94	Lessons Costs
Pleasant Prairie	$32–$49	$59–$89	Lessons Costs
Salem Lakes	$32–$48	$59–$88	Lessons Costs
Oshkosh area
Oshkosh	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Neenah	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Fox Crossing	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Menasha	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
La Crosse area
La Crosse	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Onalaska	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Holmen	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Eau Claire area
Eau Claire	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Chippewa Falls	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Janesville area
Janesville	$31–$44	$58–$81	Lessons Costs
Beloit	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Wausau area
Wausau	$32–$46	$58–$85	Lessons Costs
Weston	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Manitowoc area
Manitowoc	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Two Rivers	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
River Falls area
River Falls	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
Hudson	$33–$52	$60–$96	Lessons Costs
New Richmond	$33–$51	$60–$93	Lessons Costs
Stevens Point area
Stevens Point	$32–$46	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Plover	$32–$45	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Wisconsin Rapids area
Wisconsin Rapids	$32–$45	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Marshfield	$32–$47	$58–$86	Lessons Costs
Watertown area
Watertown	$32–$46	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Fort Atkinson	$32–$45	$58–$83	Lessons Costs
Beaver Dam area
Beaver Dam	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Waupun	$31–$44	$57–$80	Lessons Costs
Other Wisconsin towns
Baraboo	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs
Fond du Lac	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Marinette	$32–$47	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Menomonie	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Platteville	$32–$48	$59–$87	Lessons Costs
Sheboygan	$31–$44	$58–$80	Lessons Costs
Superior	$31–$43	$57–$79	Lessons Costs
Whitewater	$32–$45	$58–$82	Lessons Costs

Meet a Guitar Teacher in Wisconsin Before You Continue Weekly

Use the first lesson to talk through the student's goals, hear how the teacher explains corrections, and decide whether 30, 45, or 60 minutes makes sense.

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

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Wisconsin

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

Instrument

Day & Time

Student Age

Student Skill Level

5 guitar instructors available in the next 5 days

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 Wisconsin via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Will

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 Wisconsin via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Gabriel

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 Wisconsin via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Jacob

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 Wisconsin via Zoom

Available:SMTWTFSMorningAfternoonEvening

$0 ~~$35~~ / 30 minute trial

Book Free Trial with Jess

How guitar learning works in Wisconsin

How does guitar fit school music in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin requires music instruction in kindergarten through grade 6, with general, vocal and instrumental music available in grades 7–12; districts set instructional time. Guitar is not a usual school ensemble instrument, so you or your child would generally learn it privately while taking part in the broader music curriculum. In Oshkosh, band, choir and orchestra begin in sixth grade, with elementary strings in grades 3–5. Stoughton offers an after-school orchestra in fifth grade, then band or choir in sixth; those groups provide ensemble experience, but not guitar instruction.

Who runs what for Wisconsin guitarists?

For guitarists, Wisconsin's most direct student routes run through the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) and Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA). WSMA offers school-based Solo & Ensemble festivals and a jazz guitar route to High School State Honors; WMTA auditions include private-studio students and run through district and state levels. The Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) supports music education through its educator members, while its band and orchestra councils focus on wind and percussion or strings, not guitar. Knowing the distinction helps you choose an honor route that actually includes your instrument.

Who runs what in Wisconsin

Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA)

Runs: Runs district and state Solo & Ensemble festivals and High School State Honors.
For: Grades 6–12 students; jazz guitar honors for grades 9–11.

Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA)

Runs: Sponsors district and state student auditions, including guitar tracks.
For: Students in grades 1–12, including private-studio students.

Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA)

Runs: Supports music education through professional development, advocacy and partner opportunities.
For: Wisconsin music educators and their students.

Auditions and events in Wisconsin

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

For a guitar solo honor, begin with a Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) District Solo & Ensemble Festival. Students at a member school generally enter through school participation, while homeschool and non-member-school students can register through a family membership. A Class A starred first rating at district qualifies a student for the State Solo & Ensemble Festival, held in late April and early May in 2027. The separate High School State Honors Jazz Ensemble is the state's school honor route for guitarists. Eligible students are in grades 9–11, attend a WSMA member school and participate in a school music ensemble. Registration opens in early November and closes in early December; auditions are in February. Selected students attend camp in June and perform at the Wisconsin State Music Conference in October.

The guitar route in Wisconsin, step by step

District Solo & EnsembleEnter a WSMA district festival; homeschool and non-member-school students use family membership. Festivals run November and January through April.
State Solo & EnsembleA Class A starred first district rating qualifies the guitarist for the state festival; 2027 dates are April 24 and May 1.
High School State Honors registrationEligible grades 9–11 students at WSMA member schools register November 1–December 4, 2026, and must participate in a school ensemble.
High School State Honors auditionAuditions take place February 6 or 13, 2027; selected jazz guitarists attend June 19–22 camp and perform at the October conference.

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

WSMA Solo & Ensemble guitarists select a piece from the current Festival Music List with their music teacher. WMTA acoustic guitar auditions ask grades 1–6 for contrasting pieces, and grades 7–12 for contrasting pieces by different composers; State Track students memorize one piece, while memorization is optional in District 2 and District 3 tracks. A guitar audition can be unaccompanied only when the music was written that way, and recorded accompaniment is not allowed. In weekly lessons, three to six months is a practical span for shaping an event piece, so rhythm, tone, score markings and musical character can settle together.

What else is there to enter?

For students who want a second route beyond WSMA, WMTA district auditions run each year from February through April and include private-studio students in grades 1–12. Its guitar tracks offer a progression from district to state, with a State Track performance asking for one memorized piece. The statewide ROCKONSIN competition also welcomes bands of Wisconsin students in grades 7–12, including homeschool students, so guitarists who want to make music in a band rather than present a solo have another option. These routes suit different goals, from adjudicated solo work to playing with peers.

Homeschool and private school students

Wisconsin homeschool students may join extracurricular music activities in their resident public school district on the same basis as district pupils, though usual participation fees may apply. For guitarists who want to play outside school, ROCKONSIN accepts Wisconsin student bands in grades 7–12, including homeschool bands, so students can make music with peers rather than pursue a solo adjudication.

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

Guitar often suits a child around age six or seven, when hands can manage the instrument and attention can hold through short focused practice. School music begins earlier, but it does not usually mean a child will receive individual guitar instruction; ensemble offerings come later and differ by district. A private teacher can build comfortable posture, clear sound, basic reading and steady rhythm before a school audition or alongside other music study. Lesson With You starts with a free 30-minute meeting, so you and your child can see whether the teacher's approach feels right.

A teen in Wisconsin

A teen guitarist has two meaningful Wisconsin routes: WSMA district Solo & Ensemble for grades 6–12 and the High School State Honors Jazz Ensemble for eligible guitarists in grades 9–11. The school honors calendar starts with registration in November, auditions in February, a June camp for selected players and an October conference performance; district solo festivals run from November and January through April. Weekly lessons fit best when they keep repertoire moving through school commitments, so a teacher can help a teen connect personal goals with the dates that matter.

Starting or coming back as an adult

Adults in Wisconsin can learn guitar without needing to enter a school pathway, and it is not too late to begin or return. The Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra in Shorewood welcomes steel- or nylon-string guitar players, and the Green Apple Folk Music Society organizes folk jams and other ways to play together in northeast Wisconsin. In Minocqua, an all-ages acoustic jam welcomes players at every skill level. A one-on-one teacher meets you at your current level, then helps build the technique and repertoire that make joining in feel comfortable.

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

A good guitar teacher listens for the habits that shape sound: relaxed hands, clean fretting, steady timing and a tone that suits the music. For a Wisconsin student considering WSMA or WMTA, the teacher should also understand how to pace a prepared piece without turning every lesson into audition work. Fit matters as much as training because a young beginner, a teen jazz player and an adult returning to guitar need different ways to stay engaged. Our teachers hold at least a bachelor's degree in guitar, and you can choose one yourself or ask us to recommend a good match.

How do live online guitar lessons work?

A live Zoom guitar lesson lets the teacher hear your timing, tone and chord changes in real time while watching both hands and posture. Set the phone, tablet or computer where the fretting hand and picking hand stay visible; the teacher can ask you to adjust the angle as you play. There is no commute, and you can work with a teacher who fits rather than only the closest option. A weekly one-on-one rhythm is easier to keep at home, and the same teacher gets to know how you learn. A student in Milwaukee and a student in Verona have the same teacher choice and lesson experience.

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 Guitar

WillBachelor’s in Guitar

JacobBachelor’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 Wisconsin

Where to hear guitar

Students can hear guitar in a range of Wisconsin settings, from original music to blues. In Appleton, Mile of Music offers free live performances at official downtown venues, including all-ages venues. Eau Claire’s Tuesday Night Blues brings free live music each Tuesday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, while Sounds Like Summer presents local bands at Phoenix Park on Thursdays from June through August. These performances give a student a chance to listen for how guitar supports songs in different styles.

Where to play with others

Guitarists looking for a group setting can try the open acoustic jam hosted by Minocqua Public Library, which welcomes all ages and skill levels to play old-time, Celtic, bluegrass and other folk songs. It offers a way to practice listening and changing chords with other players without a formal audition. For a student whose goal is to play with peers, that kind of informal session can be a useful next step after learning a few songs.

Guitar around Wisconsin, area by area

Madison area

Madison gives student guitarists a chance to hear orchestral and recital music, even when those programs are not guitar ensembles. Madison Symphony Orchestra offers student rush tickets, and First Unitarian Society of Madison hosts free Friday Musicales noon-hour recitals, most Fridays from October through April. These performances make it easier for a developing player to hear how melody and accompaniment work across different settings.

School year: Sep 1 to Jun 10, 38 lesson weeks (Madison Metropolitan School District)
Town guides: Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Waunakee, Verona, Stoughton, Oregon

Green Bay area

In Green Bay, the Civic Symphony of Green Bay's Music for Young Listeners concert on February 26, 2027, costs $7, with scholarships available to reduce or cover student admission. Young guitarists can hear performers shape a piece for an audience and experience a concert designed for listeners. These performances give families a welcoming way to introduce live orchestral music.

School year: Aug 31 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Green Bay Area Public School District)
Town guides: Green Bay, De Pere, Howard, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Allouez, Suamico, Hobart

Appleton area

Appleton offers two different ways to hear live music. Fox Valley Symphony offers students day-of-concert rush tickets, while downtown's official Mile of Music venues include free live original music and all-ages options. The mix gives a guitarist a chance to listen to orchestral playing as well as current songwriters and bands, broadening ideas about sound and style.

School year: Sep 1 to Jun 4, 38 lesson weeks (Appleton Area School District)
Town guides: Appleton, Kaukauna, Harrison, Greenville, Little Chute

Racine area

Racine families can hear the Racine Symphony Orchestra's Orchestral Blockbusters, where students ages 12–18 pay $5 and children under 12 are admitted free with tickets requested by phone or email. First Presbyterian Church also presents free Music & More concerts on summer Thursdays at noon. The two options make live performances accessible to younger listeners and families.

School year: Sep 1 to Jun 10, 39 lesson weeks (Racine Unified School District)
Town guides: Racine, Mount Pleasant, Caledonia, Burlington

Kenosha area

Kenosha County offers free concerts and recitals by Carthage College faculty and students, and UW–Parkside presents free Friday noon concerts during fall and spring semesters. These are useful listening opportunities for a guitar student, even when the program is not centered on guitar. Hearing performers shape phrasing and ensemble balance can help a player make thoughtful choices in their own music.

School year: Sep 1 to Jun 3, 37 lesson weeks (Kenosha Unified School District)
Town guides: Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Salem Lakes

La Crosse area

La Crosse offers several ways to hear live music outdoors. The La Crosse Concert Band performs free concerts at Riverside Park on most Wednesday nights in June and July. Concert-band programs feature winds, brass and percussion rather than guitar, but their ensemble sound can help a guitarist hear how musical parts fit together.

School year: Aug 20 to May 28, 39 lesson weeks (School District of La Crosse)
Town guides: La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen

Eau Claire area

Eau Claire’s Sounds Like Summer presents local bands at Phoenix Park on Thursdays from June through August, giving guitarists another setting to hear how players build a song together. The performances add a local-band perspective to the area’s live music scene and help a developing player listen for guitar’s role in an ensemble.

School year: Sep 1 to Jun 3, 38 lesson weeks (Eau Claire Area School District)
Town guides: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls

A little guitar history in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's guitar story includes Waukesha-born Les Paul, whose curiosity about guitar and electronics helped shape the solid-body electric guitar and recording methods still used in music. Milwaukee also has a history of guitar making through luthier Denny Rauen, who founded Rauen Guitars in 1982 and moved the business to the city six years later. That legacy gives a Wisconsin student a local connection to both instrument design and recording innovation. Learning guitar here can mean entering a tradition that values not only performance, but also the ways players create and record sound.

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

60+ Instructors

70,000+ Lessons taught

4.9/5 Average lesson rating

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a good guitar teacher in Wisconsin?

Choose a teacher who can explain technique clearly and shape lessons around your goals, whether that is a first song, school participation or jazz guitar. Lesson With You offers a free 30-minute first lesson, and you can choose a teacher or ask us to recommend one.

Do live video guitar lessons really work?

Yes, a teacher can hear timing and tone and watch both hands in real time over Zoom. Position your camera so the teacher can see your posture and fretting and picking hands, then adjust it when needed.

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

For solo guitar, earn a Class A starred first rating at a WSMA district Solo & Ensemble Festival to advance to state. Eligible grade 9–11 guitarists at WSMA member schools can also audition for the High School State Honors Jazz Ensemble if they participate in a school music ensemble.

Can homeschool students enter Wisconsin music contests?

Yes, homeschool students can enter WSMA Solo & Ensemble through family membership, and a district Class A starred first rating qualifies them for state. They may also enter ROCKONSIN in grades 7–12 as part of a student band.

What age should a child start guitar lessons?

Many children are ready around age six or seven, when they can manage the instrument and focus through a short lesson. A teacher can adjust the pace to the child's hands, attention and musical interests.

Is it too late to learn guitar as an adult in Wisconsin?

No, adults can start at any age and build from their current experience. Wisconsin has welcoming playing options, including the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra in Shorewood and the Green Apple Folk Music Society's folk jams in northeast Wisconsin.

How much are guitar lessons in Wisconsin?

Guitar lessons in Wisconsin typically cost about $65 an hour, or $32 to $46 for a half hour. Lesson With You charges per lesson with no term to sign up for, and the first lesson is free.

Guitar lesson prices across Wisconsin

Meet a Guitar Teacher in Wisconsin Before You Continue Weekly

Find Your Next Guitar Teacher in Wisconsin

Will Orchard

Gabriel Maia

Jacob Billings

Jess Kerber

How guitar learning works in Wisconsin

How does guitar fit school music in Wisconsin?

Who runs what for Wisconsin guitarists?

Auditions and events in Wisconsin

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

What do auditions ask you to prepare?

What else is there to enter?

Homeschool and private school students

Starting at any age

Starting a child on guitar

A teen in Wisconsin

Starting or coming back as an adult

Finding the right teacher

What should a good guitar teacher do?

How do live online guitar lessons work?

Guitar in Wisconsin

Where to hear guitar

Where to play with others

Guitar around Wisconsin, area by area

Madison area

Green Bay area

Appleton area

Racine area

Kenosha area

La Crosse area

Eau Claire area

A little guitar history in Wisconsin

Start Guitar Lessons at Lesson With You

More for Wisconsin

Frequently Asked Questions