Independent directory of music schools and programs worldwide
Contemporary instruments · 5 verified programs with a electric guitar pathway
Electric guitar study is found in jazz and contemporary music programs, covering improvisation, band playing, studio work and a range of popular styles.
Also called: Guitar (contemporary), Jazz guitar, E-Gitarre, Guitare électrique, Guitarra eléctrica.
What the listings below mean
3 Bachelor’s · 2 Master’s · 5 named major
5 programs
Bachelor’sOther bachelor’s awardJazz Studies
Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya · Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Bachelor’sBM / BMusJazz Studies
Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar · Weimar, Thuringia, Germany
Master’sMM / MMusJazz Studies
Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT Weimar · Weimar, Thuringia, Germany
Bachelor’sOther bachelor’s awardMusic PerformanceEarly Music and Historical Performance (concentration)Popular and Contemporary Music (concentration)
Institut royal supérieur de musique et de pédagogie (IMEP) · Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
Master’sOther master’s awardMusic Performance
Institut royal supérieur de musique et de pédagogie (IMEP) · Namur, Wallonia, Belgium
How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.
Electric guitar is taught at degree level mainly within jazz, contemporary and popular music departments. Instead of a fixed canon, programs typically build a skill set: chord and scale vocabulary across the fretboard, reading, improvisation, rhythm playing, tone and effects, and the ability to work in a group. Students also learn about amplifiers, pedals and signal chains, because sound is part of the instrument.
Study usually involves a lot of ensemble work. Guitarists join combos, bands and rhythm sections, working across jazz, blues, rock, funk, pop, metal or other styles depending on the school. Many programs include transcription, harmony and arranging courses, and some offer studio and recording training so guitarists can function as session musicians or producers. Teaching skills may also be covered, since many graduates work as private instructors.
Typical degree contexts include the Bachelor of Music in jazz studies or contemporary performance with guitar as principal instrument, popular music degrees, and master's study in jazz or contemporary performance. Electric guitar is separate from classical guitar, which follows a different technical and repertoire tradition. Some programs focus on jazz guitar, others on rock and popular styles, so the orientation of each school should be checked.
Award titles. Electric guitar is typically studied within a Bachelor of Music or BMus in jazz, contemporary or popular music, and at postgraduate level in a Master of Music or MMus or a similar degree. Some institutions offer vocational diplomas and certificates in contemporary performance. Graduate or postgraduate diplomas are not master's degrees. A practice doctorate such as the DMA may exist in some places. Names differ by country, and no equivalence claims are made here.
A program is listed under electric guitar in this directory only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. A private teacher, guitar electives or a faculty guitarist do not count. Not every school offers electric guitar as a degree specialization, and it is separate from classical guitar.
General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.
Electric guitar auditions are commonly live, on a provided amplifier or with the applicant's own, though some programs request a video first. Applicants may be asked to prepare pieces in contrasting styles, perhaps a jazz standard with improvisation, a blues, and a piece showing the applicant's strongest style. A rhythm section or backing track often accompanies.
Reading and ear tests are common, such as playing from a chart, repeating a phrase by ear or identifying chords. Interviews and theory tests may also be part of the process, and some programs assess technique with scales and chord voicings.
Each program publishes its own audition format and style requirements, and these change by year. Applicants should read current-year information for each school. Nothing here guarantees admission.
See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.
Some programs offer scholarships tied to audition results, and guitarists may be recruited for ensembles. Graduate students might be considered for assistantships such as accompanying classes, teaching undergraduate guitar or leading ensembles.
Funding varies by school, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Ask each department what it offers.
Costs beyond tuition. Electric guitarists may pay for one or more guitars, an amplifier, pedals, cables, strings, picks and setups or repairs. Home recording equipment, backing-track software and travel for auditions are other possibilities. Some schools provide amplifiers in practice rooms; others expect students to bring their own gear.