Best Guitar Lessons in Honolulu

Instructors at 7th Fret Guitar Studios have been teaching students in Honolulu to play the guitar in small group settings for over 20 years using styles acquired from rock, jazz, blues, and classical genres. By specializing in guitar only, the business strives to offer the highest quality of instruction, instead of teaching multiple instruments at a lower level of expertise. The studio constructs its classes around a curriculum that focuses on reading music, chord progressions, improvisation, and music theory.

Coconut Grove Music is a guitar store in Kailua that features guitar brands like Fender, Recording King, Squier, Jackson, Gretsch and more. The store sells new, used, and vintage guitars, ukuleles, and amplifiers. The store offers lessons in guitar, slack key, ukulele, bass, mandolin, and more, and can teach students how to play these instruments and just about any style of music. Coconut Grove’s lead instructor has over 25 years of experience playing and teaching. The store also offers repair services for guitars from wiring problems to restringing.

Curtis Kamiya Music is a business in Honolulu that specializes in teaching private guitar, ‘ukulele, and voice lessons to students of all skill levels. In addition to lessons, Curtis Kamiya Music offers mentorship programs that can help musicians harness their musical potential and show them how to transform their passion into a sustainable career as an artist and an entrepreneur. The program is a 90-day course and is available online. Rates for music lessons are posted on the business’s website on the “FAQ” page.

Frary Classical Guitar in Honolulu teaches students from beginners to advanced learners the art of classical music on the guitar. Though the business used to sell guitars, the owners decided to focus more on teaching and performances. The Frary Guitar Duo is available for weddings, parties and other events in Oahu. The business offers weekly private lessons for either 30 or 60 minutes, tailored to a student’s specific needs. Frary Classical Guitar has published instructional materials based on the success of its thousands of past students. The company’s website has these and other lesson books available for purchase on its website.

Guitar Honolulu offers private lessons in the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and electric bass guitar. The business also offers a 10-week program of rock-oriented group lessons at three consecutive skill levels. The store itself rents musical instruments, sells accessories for intruments, as well as music-inspired fashion accessories. Guitar Honolulu puts on “Ensemble Labs” where students can practice what they have learned in a group setting similar to that of a band rehearsal.

Guitarist, vocalist, and teacher Harry Koizumi of Kailua studied with musicians like Jerry Byrd, expert steel guitar player and Raymond Kane, “the renowned slack-key master.” Harry’s teaching philosophy focuses on first, getting students to understand the fundamentals of music and how to improvise and put notes together. Then, he teaches them to read sheet music as lessons continue. He says that teaching someone how to read music before they can play is “like teaching someone to read a book, but not teaching them vocabulary of how words go together.” Harry teaches the guitar and the ukulele in styles like rock ‘n’ roll, Hawaiian slack-key, and classical guitar.

Honolulu Music Lessons Workshop provides guitar and other music lessons for students of all ages. Guitar lessons at the school are led by school-owner Landon Mattox, who teaches acoustic and electric guitar, as well as bass and ukulele. He has more than 2 years of experience in teaching music and has a master's degree in music education, as well as a master's degree in jazz studies. Other instruments taught at Honolulu Music Lessons Workshop include piano and drums.

Kailua Music School offers music lessons for the piano, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, brass and strings instruments, woodwinds, drums, and digital music. Lessons at Kailua Music School focus on playing methods and techniques, music theory, and improvisation and performance skills. Some of the music genres the school teaches include Hawaiian, folk, pop music, rock ‘n’ roll, classical, and jazz. The business’s website includes instructor profiles that highlight experience and areas of expertise.

Ke Kula Mele Hawai’i o Akaka is a school of Hawaiian music in Kailua that offers private and group lessons, intensive courses and workshops in the steel guitar, ukulele, guitar, and the “Hawaiian Style” upright bass. Intensive courses and workshops are for residents or visitors who would like to learn about an instrument and visit local destinations that will enhance their knowledge of the art of Hawaiian-style music. The school teaches children and adults of all ages and even offers a Parent & Keiki Class in 45-minute weekly sessions for parents who want to bond with their children through music. Ke Kula Mele o Akaka offers the option of private lessons via Skype.

Manakoa Gym & Keiki Learning Center in Aiea is a family-owned and -operated gymnastics and learning academy. The academy’s combination of services is based on the belief that children are more likely to succeed academically in a setting that incorporates education with movement and body awareness. The facility offers gymnastic lessons, guitar lessons, day camps, “homeschool” programs, and tutoring sessions. Gymnastics and guitar lessons are open to all levels of skill. The center’s website has rates posted for all services, with guitar lessons starting at $35 for 30 minutes, or $120 for a month’s worth of weekly sessions.

Manoa School of Art and Music in Honolulu, formerly known as Manoa Piano School, teaches music lessons and art classes to students of all ages. Music instruction is available for the violin, cello, guitar, ukulele, piano, clarinet, and flute. The school also offers voice lessons. Art classes focus on drawing, color, perspective, collage, watercolor, basics of oil, and multimedia techniques.

Pacific School of Music has been teaching students in Honolulu since 1999. The school specializes in teaching guitar, piano, and the drums, but also offers voice lessons and instruction in playing the ukulele, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone. Each instructor at Pacific School of Music is an experienced musician with experience in teaching a variety of styles based on a student’s preferences and goals. Lessons incorporate a steady flow of information regarding theory and rhythm.

Sean Cleland Music combines the sounds of rock, pop, folk, blues, r&b, and soul genres in his own work. The musician is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and leads The Hollow Spheres, band that has been featured on radio stations and live venues around Hawaii. Sean Cleland is available to hire for weddings and other events fitting for live music. He also teaches private guitar lessons. He offers a new student’s first lesson for free with a prepayment of three lessons.

The Masaki School of Music in Honolulu offers lessons in piano, guitar, cello, violin, voice, and ear training and classes that teach about music theory and chamber music. The school frequently puts on recitals and encourages its students to become involved in the local music community. Those interested in lessons can fill out an inquiry form on the business’s website.

Tyranny Studios the website of musician Brian Roberts, an American guitarist in Honolulu. Brian currently plays for local band Leviathan and lead guitarist for up-and-coming singer/songwriter Shar Carillo. He also composes and writes lyrics. Brian Roberts offers guitar lessons in his home studio near University of Hawaii at Manoa’s campus. Lessons can be scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. On his website, Brian has pricing information and a current list of open time slots for the season.