7 (mostly) online guitar courses that are actually worth your time

So, you want to learn to play the guitar, do you? That's awesome, and we're really happy you're making this choice for yourself. But, have you figured out how you're going to learn?  If you're anything like us, you'll be avoiding in-person guitar lessons. Not only are in-person lessons more stressful, but they also take up a lot of time and don't usually come with a flexible schedule. Can't make your Wednesday night lesson because you caught a stomach bug? Too bad, you're still paying for it. You can avoid literally all of these problems by opting to do your learning online. It's true, you can learn pretty much anything online these days — cooking, woodworking, knitting, starting a business, and yes, playing guitar. Welcome to the future, baby. No human interaction needed here.  Read more...More about Culture, Guitar, Online Learning, Mashable Shopping, and Shopping Onlinelearning IMAGE: Fender Play BEST APP Fender Play No matter your skill level, you'll find value in Fender Play — plus, it's a fantastic pick for those with already busy lives who want to pursue guitar. Free trial?: Yes Payment basis: Monthly or annual $9.99 from Fender Play IMAGE: Udemy BEST FOR THE BASICS Udemy This Udemy course allows you to start with the surface-level basics to get a feel for whether you even like playing guitar. Free trial?: No Payment basis: One-time purchase $19.99 from Udemy IMAGE: Masterclass MOST UNIQUE LESSON PLANS MasterClass While MasterClass syllabi might be a little broad at times, it's invaluable to learn from the legends about more than just music theory — you'll get insight on how to use effects, how to perform on stage, and much more. Free trial?: Yes Payment basis: Annual $15 from Masterclass IMAGE: Coursera BEST FOR COLLEGIATE LESSONS Coursera Get collegiate-level instruction from the Berklee College of Music. Free trial?: Yes Payment basis: One-time purchase $49 from Coursera IMAGE: ArtistWorks BEST FOR PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK ArtistWorks ArtistWorks is the closest you're going to get to an in-person guitar lesson online. Free trial?: No Payment basis: Three-month, six-month, or annual $35 from ArtistWorks IMAGE: Amazon BEST LEARNING GAME Rocksmith You'll learn real songs, on a real guitar, in an interactive setting that's super fun and informative. Free trial?: No Payment basis: One-time purchase $29.99 from Amazon IMAGE: JamPlay BEST FOR SELECTION JamPlay A great value for your money just based on the vast amount of content alone — but it's also super in-depth and a great tool to help intermediate and advanced players brush up on their guitar skills. Free trial?: Yes Payment basis: Monthly, quarterly, and annually $19.95 from JamPlay