HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a guitar teacher in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A guitar lessons in Ireland costs €25–€55 per hour, typically around €38. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a guitar teacher in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers guitar teacher work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — performance Preparation — for those looking to perform, lessons can include stage presence, setlist creation, and rehearsal techniques.
- How does instructor's experience change the price?A provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does lesson duration change the price?The clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the material being covered change the price?The more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Music Theory — some lessons integrate music theory, helping students understand scales, chord progressions, and song structure — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a guitar teacher job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers guitar teacher work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — performance Preparation — for those looking to perform, lessons can include stage presence, setlist creation, and rehearsal techniques.
A good answer: A provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Music Theory — some lessons integrate music theory, helping students understand scales, chord progressions, and song structure — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a guitar teacher job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — intermediate Techniques — intermediate lessons often cover more complex techniques like fingerpicking, barre chords, and improvisation.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the guitar teacher starts, and an itemised invoice after — beginner Lessons — lessons for beginners typically focus on basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: instructor's experience — a provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in
- They will not talk about it: lesson duration — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the material being covered — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs
- A price for the guitar teacher before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the guitar teacher has begun
What a guitar teacher costs: €25–€55 per hour
Most guitar teachers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Beginner guitar lessons and Advanced guitar techniques each carry their own band. Guitar Lessons price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Guitar teachers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstInstructor's experience — a provider who guarantees the work prices that guarantee in — that is what the guitar teacher is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLesson duration — the clock starts when the provider arrives, not when the work does — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the material being covered — the more the brief departs from the usual, the more it costs — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherWhether they are conducted in person or online — it changes the risk the provider is taking on — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the guitar teacher is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, look for instructors with formal music education or significant performance experience.
- Beginner Lessons
- Lessons for beginners typically focus on basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs.
- Intermediate Techniques
- Intermediate lessons often cover more complex techniques like fingerpicking, barre chords, and improvisation.
- Music Theory
- Some lessons integrate music theory, helping students understand scales, chord progressions, and song structure.
- Performance Preparation
- For those looking to perform, lessons can include stage presence, setlist creation, and rehearsal techniques.
- Beginner Guitar Lessons
- Designed for those new to the instrument, these lessons focus on basic chords, strumming patterns, and simple songs.
- Advanced Guitar Techniques
- These lessons cater to experienced players looking to master complex techniques such as fingerstyle, sweep picking, or improvisation.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a guitar teacher: questions people ask
The cost of guitar lessons can vary based on the instructor's experience, lesson duration, and location. Highly qualified instructors or those with specialisations may charge more.
Guitar lessons usually last between 30 minutes to 1 hour. The duration may depend on the student's age and level of engagement.
Same-day bookings for guitar lessons may be limited and depend on the instructor's availability. It's advisable to book in advance to secure a preferred time.
Many instructors offer the option to book multiple lessons in a row or combine guitar lessons with other music lessons, such as music theory or songwriting. Look for instructors with formal music education or significant performance experience.
Guitar lessons generally focus on playing techniques and theory, and do not include instrument repairs or maintenance, which should be addressed by a qualified technician. Consider the type of guitar you have and whether it suits your learning goals.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
MORE GUIDES