Are you looking for the best way to master jazz guitar? If so, one of the best ways to level up your jazz chops is with an online course.
Online learning is one of the most affordable and accessible ways to master any instrument, including your jazz licks, but it can be hard to find the right course with such a wide range of options available these days.
To help you sound less like a beginner and more like Joe Pass, we have put together a list of what we think are the ten best online jazz guitar lessons and courses currently available.
So, whether you want to learn some more standards, improve your drop two voicings on each string, or just get an overview of jazz guitar, keep reading to learn more about these courses and find the right one for you.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means we get a commission if you purchase at no additional cost to you.
1. Jazz Guitar with Dave Stryker on ArtistWorks
Our top pick for the best online jazz guitar course is “Jazz Guitar with Dave Stryker,” which you can find on ArtistWorks.com.
This is a paid course, suitable for all levels and styles of playing, and offers hundreds of online video lessons and unlimited access to in-depth guitar instructions, backing tracks, and tabs.
The lessons are packed with details but are very easy to follow and understand. They will help you gain all the essential skills needed to take your jazz guitar playing to the next level.
What sets these jazz guitar lessons apart from other courses is the ability to submit your video for review using the special video exchange learning platform. The teacher will look at your video and provide a detailed response and guidance on how to improve your playing in the form of another video.
Besides this, you will get access to the Video Exchange library, and all other videos exchanged between students and a teacher so you can learn from them as well.
Another reason we love it is your tutor is a true jazz guitar master – Dave Stryker. Dave is one of the most successful jazz guitarists of his generation. He has released 31 records with his group and won many awards. Therefore, you can relax knowing that you will learn from the best.
Sign up for this course today and get the chance to work with one of the world’s finest jazz musicians at an affordable price, all without leaving the comfort of your home.
2. True Fire
The second spot on our list belongs to TrueFire.com and its range of jazz guitar courses. This site is an excellent resource for a wide variety of paid lessons for guitar, including jazz.
It features an extensive library of thousands of jazz guitar lessons, guitar tabs, and jazz jams. All offer a great insight into the art of jazz guitar playing and will help you master all necessary techniques and skills, so you won’t go wrong with whichever you pick.
If you can’t make up your mind, we recommend Fareed Haque’s “Jazz Comping Survival Guide.” This is a paid course that offers very simple and easy-to-follow lessons on how to build chords from guide tones until you get acquainted with all the chords used by jazz guitarists.
The course is suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced-level students. It will take you through all four years of undergraduate jazz guitar studies, two years of jazz graduate school, and hundreds of gigs worth of experience in roughly four and a half hours of lessons.
The lessons are taught by Fareed Haque, a guitar virtuoso and master educator who has worked with many symphony orchestras and well-known artists, including Sting, Dave Holland, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Henderson, and others. So you will be in safe hands knowing that you will learn from an experienced and well-educated teacher.
But we’d recommend signing up for their all-access pass, where you get all the jazz guitar lessons and more. We’ve also got an exclusive discount saving you $100 if you use the code hellomusictheory100 at checkout.
All in all, this course covers everything from the basics to the more advanced matters and will set you on a good path toward becoming a jazz guitarist.
3. Guitar Tricks
GuitarTricks.com is another great site offering many paid jazz guitar lessons that mostly focus on chords and extended-range harmony.
There’s something for everyone’s needs. So you can find courses that cover the fundamentals of jazz guitar playing and that will help you acquire basic chord and rhythm concepts and also those more advanced courses for more experienced players that dive deep into the complex chords of the jazz style.
They are designed to help you get all knowledge and skills you need to play jazz guitar confidently in a fun and easy way. All lessons are taught by experienced teachers who will guide you through your adventure and help you with all questions you might have.
The courses on this site offer great value for the money. You will get detailed step-by-step instructions and in-person lessons for a fraction of the price, all from the comfort of your home. We even ranked it number one for best online guitar course in 2024.
But don’t just take our word for it. Sign up below for a free trial and check out all the lessons they offer without spending a dollar.
4. Jam Play
Next on our list of the top online jazz guitar courses is “Jazz Guitar with Jane.” You will find this course, as well as a large number of other similar courses, on JamPlay.com.
Jane Miller’s jazz course is one of the most detailed and complete jazz guitar courses available on the internet. It contains seventy step-by-step lessons and practice examples that cover almost all aspects of jazz guitar playing and is suitable for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced players.
Jane is a Berklee Associate Professor, guitarist, composer, and arranger with extensive experience in both performing and teaching. She has released three CDs, performed solo and in group and duo settings had live appearances throughout New England, and received many awards during her career.
She is very passionate about teaching and always gives her best in passing on her knowledge to students. She will lead you through chords and minor scales and help you advance towards upper register triads, chromatic scale shapes, chomping, extended range harmonies, and more.
Pick Jane’s course and become a good jazz guitarist in a very short time without spending an entire fortune.
5. Guitareo
Another fantastic place to learn jazz guitar online is Guitareo. This site is an excellent resource for a wide range of paid online guitar courses, including jazz guitar courses such as “Rhythm Guitar Role in Jazz” and “Jazz Lead Guitar – Introduction.”
These courses will give you an insight into musical theory and focus on personal practice to help you develop all necessary skills and techniques much faster than some similar platforms.
The lessons are well-designed and easy to follow, perfect for anyone who wants to learn jazz guitar quickly and get the proper training. Therefore, they are suitable for learners of all levels.
By becoming a member, you are getting access not only to online video lessons and downloadable PDF files of chord charts that you can take anywhere you want but also to forums where you can engage with other learners and exchange experiences.
All teachers are highly experienced and passionate about passing on their knowledge to their students. So you will get the endless motivation and support you need to master the art of jazz guitar playing.
The site offers pretty affordable packages to suit anyone’s needs and budget, and no matter which one you decide to go for, you can rest assured that you are getting the best value for the money.
6. Jazz Learning Pathway on Pickupmusic
“Jazz Learning Pathway” is another online jazz guitar course we’ve picked for you, which you can find on pickupmusic.com.
It is a paid course, but they also offer a 14-day trial period that you can use to figure out whether this course is the right choice for you. The course will help you develop the skills and vocabulary to solo like a pro in only three months.
Divided into seven grades, this course covers everything from the very fundamentals of jazz guitar playing to the more complicated matters and is suitable for absolute beginners, intermediate, and advanced-level students. You will learn to improvise using advanced jazz vocabulary, get personalized feedback on your playing, and level up your soloing.
You will be guided by Cecil Alexander and Sam Blakelock. Although these teachers are not that well-known, they possess enormous knowledge and experience in this area and will give their best to pass on their knowledge to you and navigate you through your little online jazz guitar adventure.
7. Jazz Chord Base: A New Approach to Jazz Chords on Guitar on Udemy
“Jazz Chord Base: A New Approach to Jazz Chords on Guitar” is a paid online jazz guitar course that you can find on Udemy.
This course is designed for those who already have some basic knowledge of guitar playing and open chords. So, it’s not suitable for absolute beginners.
The lessons are simple and engaging and will teach you how to accompany jazz tunes on the guitar and understand all necessary chords quickly and easily. The course offers very detailed explanations of the chords and will require you to practice a lot.
All exercises are demonstrated on video and include lead sheets and files to use in iRealBook (an application that you will have to download and that will allow you to play along a band in your desired tempo). If you can’t download this application, each exercise comes with an audio file that you can get for playing along. Besides this, the course is also available in the German language.
The lessons are taught by Stefan Mens, who’s been teaching guitar for many years. He has a special approach to teaching that’s very structured, and students appreciate his enormous experience and his passion for sharing his knowledge and skills with them.
If you pick this course, you will get excellent online jazz guitar lessons and a dedicated teacher to help you on your way to becoming a good jazz guitarist.
8. Justin Guitar
Founded and led by Justin Sandercoe, JustinGuitar.com is another great resource for lessons on jazz guitar. Although it’s mainly aimed at regular guitar lessons, it does have some jazz modules and is very simple and organized which we love.
All courses are taught by Justin Sandercoe and divided into 10 to 30-minute videos with detailed descriptions of training techniques, tips, and strategies on how to master particular skills in the best and fastest way. You can take the lessons anytime and anywhere you want and study at your own pace.
As for the teacher, Justin has been playing the guitar since he was a child and has vast experience in performing and teaching. He eagerly shares his knowledge and techniques with his students and will help you acquire the fundamentals of jazz guitar playing and all the practical skills you need to master this form of art.
The best thing is it’s completely free, although you can donate to Justin for all the hard work he’s put in to build out the site.
9. Jazz Guitar Academy
Next is Jazz Guitar Academy is a website dedicated only to jazz guitar, as its very name implies. It offers a wide variety of jazz courses suitable for learners of all ages and skill levels, from beginners and intermediate learners to advanced and professional players.
By becoming a member, you will get 24/7 access to all online jazz guitar lessons regardless of whether you are using your Mac, tablet, or mobile phone and get excellent tuition and support from an amazing teacher.
As for the program that the site offers, you can choose among basic programs which will get you started, pentatonic minor scale, minor blues scale, major scale, triad combinations, chord voicing, and many more.
You will also get access to downloadable sheet music, chord diagrams, tabs, and backing tracks at different speeds so you can choose your pace and practice playing along them.
In addition, there are special “Play With Michael” videos where professor Michael Sagmeister will accompany your solo playing and help you master certain techniques easier and faster.
Although the courses on this site come in at a little higher price range, they are definitely worth the money. You will get access to a well-supplied library of excellent and well-designed lessons that are easy to follow and understand and a chance to learn from one of the world’s best jazz guitarists.
10. Jazz Guitar 201: Advanced Jazz Guitar Improvisation From Berklee Online
The next online guitar course on our list comes from the extraordinary Berklee Online College of Music. “Jazz Guitar 201: Advanced Jazz Guitar Improvisation” explores all advanced techniques that jazz guitarists use to solo over chord changes.
The lessons covered by this course will provide you with a detailed, step-by-step approach to jazz improvisation and the effective use of arpeggios, scales, and modes. You will also get the chance to explore transcription and rhythmic techniques characteristic of comping and soloing.
This course picks up where the “Jazz Guitar 101” course left off and is designed to assist all those who already have a basic understanding of jazz guitar but are looking for a way to improve and polish their skills and techniques.
The course is taught by Bruce Saunders. He has an extensive experience as a professor at Berklee College of Music and as a performer who has toured Europe, Australia, Japan, South America, and the United States both as a band leader and sideman.
You will have to pay a little more than you would for other online jazz guitar courses (quite a bit more as it’s more like a formal degree), but you can rest assured that you will get only the best and learn from a very educated and experienced jazz guitarist.
11. SkillShare
Finally, we have Skillshare, another popular site where you can find paid online lessons on almost any subject. Although the site might be a little difficult to navigate, there you will find various online jazz courses offered by many tutors.
Their lessons cover a wide range of topics, from the basics of jazz guitar playing to more advanced things. Whether you are a beginner or you already have some experience and only look for the best way to polish your skills, this site has lessons for everyone’s needs and all skill levels.
We would pick “Jazz Guitar For Beginners Musicians,” which is a great option if you are starting your jazz guitar adventure. For intermediate-level students, we recommend “Jazz Guitar Chords,” and for advanced, “Jazz for the Curious Guitarist,” which will help you perfect your skills and become a master of jazz guitar playing.
You’ll be learning from highly experienced teachers who will help you acquire all the necessary knowledge and skills in an easy and fun way.
Conclusion: Which Online Jazz Guitar Course is the Best for You?
Here we come to the end of our little jazz guitar journey. We’ve gone through the basic characteristics of some of the most popular and best online jazz guitar courses and showed you in what ways they can benefit you.
We hope that one of them might be just a perfect pick for you. However, if you are indecisive and can’t make up your mind, we’d recommend ArtistWorks.com and “Jazz Guitar with Dave Stryker.”
It is number one on our list for many reasons and will help you master the art of jazz guitar playing in a very short time and at an affordable price, all from the comfort of your own home.
