GuitarZoom is the online guitar school built around Steve Stine, and it now comes in three forms: a self paced Premium membership, one time courses and a guided Academy. It is one of several options in our guide to the best online guitar lessons.
Premium suits self starters who want a clear order of lessons from one teacher. If you want someone to hear your playing and correct it, that only comes with the Academy.
- 16core courses in Premium
- 50+individual courses
- 8jam track styles
- 2005teaching online since
- 14-dayPremium free trial
- 30-daymoney back on new purchases
GuitarZoom is Steve Stine's guitar school, sold three ways: a self paced Premium membership, one time courses and a guided Academy. Premium and the courses are video lessons without feedback on your playing, while the application only Academy adds instructors, live classes and video feedback.
- Best for
Self starters who like Steve Stine's teaching and want a clear path
- Less suited
Players who want feedback without joining the Academy
- Access
Online, on any device
- Trial
14 day free trial on Premium
- Price
Premium $39 a month or $299 a year; Courses $17 to $149 each
Who it’s for
GuitarZoom is built for adults who want to learn from Steve Stine, from first chords to soloing and theory. Premium starts with a 14 day free trial, and plenty of free lessons let you hear his style first.
A good fit if you
- Like Steve Stine’s teaching and want his core courses in a set order.
- Want PDF books and jam tracks alongside video lessons.
- Need help with one skill, such as strumming, soloing or theory, and want to buy a single course.
- Feel stuck after years of playing and are open to a guided program with an instructor.
A limited fit if you
- Want feedback on your playing without joining the Academy.
- Want one fixed price for guided coaching up front; Academy pricing is set on a call.
- Want a big library of many teachers and styles.
What sets it apart
GuitarZoom is less a library and more a school with three doors. Each one suits a different kind of learner.
One lead teacher
Steve Stine is the Master Instructor. He has taught for more than 30 years, holds a music education degree and joined GuitarZoom in 2014.
Three ways to learn
Premium is a structured, self paced membership with 16 of Steve’s core courses in a clear order. Individual courses focus on one skill and are yours for life, and the Academy adds a professional instructor, a written plan and weekly check-ins.
Feedback only in the Academy
Premium and individual courses are video lessons with no feedback on your playing. The Academy adds live classes six days a week, open rooms and video feedback on clips you send.
How we evaluated GuitarZoom
We reviewed GuitarZoom on the four factors in how we score lesson platforms. For setup and ease of use, we looked at the Premium trial, the course order and access across devices.
For quality of lessons and teachers, we assessed Steve Stine’s background and the Academy faculty. For range of content, we compared Premium, the 50+ individual courses and the jam track library with other guitar courses.
For useful features, we checked feedback options, PDF books and jam tracks, and the pricing, trial and refund rules. We found a clear, teacher led school whose biggest strengths sit at different price points.
Our assessment
We have not given GuitarZoom a number score. Here is how it does on each factor.
- Setup and ease of use: a free trial on Premium and a set course order make starting simple, but choosing between Premium, courses and the Academy takes thought.
- Quality of lessons and teachers: Steve Stine brings more than 30 years of teaching, and the Academy adds professional instructors.
- Range of content: 16 core courses in Premium and more than 50 single courses cover the main skills, though from a smaller team than big libraries.
- Useful features: PDF books and jam tracks help practice, but feedback on your playing only comes with the Academy.
What you need to use GuitarZoom
Lessons play online on any device, so a computer, tablet or phone works. You need a guitar and a way to hear clearly, and the Academy also needs a way to join live classes and record clips.
Getting started
Pick the door that fits before you pay. These steps keep the first two weeks focused.
- Watch a few free lessons from Steve Stine to see if his style suits you.
- Start the 14 day free Premium trial if you want a structured path.
- Follow the first core course in order rather than jumping around.
- Use the jam tracks to practice what each lesson teaches.
- Decide before day 14 whether to keep Premium, buy a single course instead or apply to the Academy.
Curriculum deep dive
GuitarZoom covers chords, strumming, soloing, blues, music theory, the fretboard and more. Prices and counts were checked on 7 November 2026.
GuitarZoom Premium
Premium includes 16 of Steve Stine’s core courses in a clear order, with PDF books and a jam track library in 8 styles. Access lasts while your membership is active.
Individual courses
More than 50 short courses each focus on one skill, from soloing and blues to strumming and theory. You pay once and keep each course for life, with no membership needed.
GuitarZoom Academy
The Academy is application only, starting with a free discovery call. Members get a professional instructor, a written goal and plan, weekly check-ins, live classes, video feedback and a private community, for a term of 3 to 24 months.
Features and feedback
Feedback
Feedback depends on what you buy. Premium and individual courses do not include feedback on your playing, while the Academy gives live feedback in classes and replies to videos you send.
Learning tools
- Video lessons in a set order in Premium.
- PDF books and a jam track library in 8 styles.
- Free weekly lessons from Steve Stine.
- Academy: live classes, open rooms, video feedback and a practice log.
Pros and cons
Where it’s strong
- A clear, structured Premium path from one experienced teacher
- PDF books and jam tracks in 8 styles
- Individual courses you buy once and keep for life
- An Academy with live classes and video feedback for players who feel stuck
- A 14 day Premium trial and a 30 day money back guarantee on new purchases
Where it falls short
- No feedback on your playing in Premium or individual courses
- Academy pricing is not shown up front
- Renewal payments are not refundable
- A smaller teaching team than big multi teacher libraries
Price, trial and refund
Three ways to pay, depending on how much help you want. Prices are in US dollars; check the checkout page before you pay.
| Option | Regular US price | Includes | Trial | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GuitarZoom Premium | $39 a month or $299 a year | 16 core courses, PDF books, jam tracks | 14 days | 30 days on new purchases |
| Individual courses | $17 to $149 each, one time | One skill per course, lifetime access | n/a | 30 days |
| GuitarZoom Academy | Set on your discovery call | Instructor, plan, check-ins, live classes, video feedback | Free discovery call | 30 days, plus a Success Guarantee |
The yearly Premium plan saves 37% against paying monthly. Individual courses suit you if you only need one skill.
Trial, renewal and canceling
Premium starts with a 14 day free trial, and you pay nothing on day one. If you keep it, your plan starts at $39 a month or $299 a year; cancel before the trial ends and you are not charged.
Premium renews automatically until you cancel, and you keep access until the end of the paid period. Cancel any time by emailing GuitarZoom support.
New purchases come with a 30 day money back guarantee, but renewal payments are not refundable. Cancel before your renewal date if you no longer need the plan.
Free trial checklist
Fourteen days is enough to judge whether Premium is the right door. Use the trial to test the path and your own motivation.
- Follow the first Premium course in order for the whole trial.
- Record a short passage early and again around day 12, and compare.
- Practice with a jam track in a style you want to play.
- Note any questions you wish a teacher could answer; if there are many, the Academy may suit you better.
- Email support to cancel before day 14 if you do not want to be charged.
How it compares
| Course | Format | Feedback | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GuitarZoom | Premium path, one time courses and a guided Academy | Academy only: live and on videos you send | Learners who want one main teacher |
| Guitar Tricks | Video library with a structured core course and 1,000+ songs | Play along scoring on some lessons, instructor video feedback, private Zoom lessons | Beginners who want a guided path and lots of songs |
| TrueFire | Huge library of courses from 400+ educators | Self directed video tools | Players past the basics who want depth |
Guitar Tricks
Guitar Tricks pairs a structured course with a far bigger song library and feedback options inside Full Access. See our Guitar Tricks review.
TrueFire
TrueFire suits players who want many teachers and styles in one library. Our TrueFire review covers it in full.
When to choose an alternative
- Choose Guitar Tricks over GuitarZoom if you want lots of songs and feedback options without a separate program.
- Choose TrueFire over GuitarZoom if you want a huge library from hundreds of teachers.
Who should skip it
Skip GuitarZoom Premium if you need someone to check your playing, unless you plan to join the Academy. Learners who want many teachers may prefer a bigger library.
FAQs
How much does GuitarZoom cost?
GuitarZoom Premium is $39 a month or $299 a year. Individual courses cost $17 to $149 each, one time, and Academy pricing is set on a free discovery call.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. GuitarZoom Premium starts with a 14 day free trial, and you are not charged if you cancel before it ends.
What is the refund policy?
New purchases come with a 30 day money back guarantee. Renewal payments are not refundable.
How do I cancel GuitarZoom?
Email GuitarZoom support at any time. You keep access until the end of the period you paid for.
Does GuitarZoom give feedback on my playing?
Only in the Academy, which gives live feedback in classes and replies to videos you send. Premium and individual courses do not include feedback.
Who teaches GuitarZoom?
Steve Stine is the Master Instructor. He has taught for more than 30 years and holds a music education degree, and the Academy adds a faculty of professional instructors.
Is GuitarZoom good for beginners?
Yes. Courses start with chords, strumming and first songs, and Premium gives beginners a step by step path.
What is the GuitarZoom Academy?
An application only program with a professional instructor, a written plan, weekly check-ins, live classes six days a week and video feedback, for a term of 3 to 24 months.
GuitarZoom works best when you pick the right door: Premium for a clear path, a course for one skill, or the Academy for real feedback. To explore it, visit GuitarZoom, or compare more options in our guide to the best online guitar lessons.
