Guitar lessons from services like Lesson Factory, a franchise dedicated to offering musicians of all skill levels intensive musical instruction, can cost more than $99 a month. For those strapped for cash, the Internet provides a source for free lessons. Why should art die with the economy, right?

At freeguitarvideos.com, aspiring guitar players can learn varying styles from bluegrass to jazz to heavy metal. Lessons are available in both video and written format, and students can watch the videos which in QuickTime and Flash format using a high speed connection.

“On this site are various products we’ve taken years of research and work to develop,” said Peter Vogl, an instructor and accomplished musician. The site also offers premium products like the Let’s Jam series cds to enhance the experience and keep the business running.

Students can access more than 150 free videos, including beginner lessons starting on how to tune a guitar to more advanced techniques such as sweep picking. The lessons are effective because the site offers both tablature and musical notation to accompany the videos.

Free bass lessons are available at cyberfretbass.com.  According to the website, “CyberfretBass.com offers free online electric bass lessons written by professional teachers and players.”

The site, run by Shawn Bradshaw, a private instructor and graduate of Berklee College of Music, features skill-building with music theory and “ear training” that he has been teaching for more than twenty years.  The lessons are a combination of articles, tablature, notation and video, which use RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and Flash format. The site earns revenue from selling bass products and advertisements.

For the aspiring Neil Peart, freedrumlessons.com offers video lessons from “a team of drum enthusiasts that came together to create what would later become the most complete drum educational resource ever available.”

Founded by drummers Jared Falk and Rick Kettner in the summer of 2007, freedrumlessons.com provides downloadable lessons that can be used with the videos.  “Here you’ll find a huge selection of drum lessons on all sorts of essential topics including drum theory and notation, dynamic drumming, rudiments, rock drumming, jazz drumming, Latin drumming, double bass and even some free play-alongs that you can jam along with at your drum set,” Falk said.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro. There’s plenty of instructional content applicable to drummers of all skill levels,” Falk added. “Best of all, it’s 100 percent free.”

Sites such as YouTube and eHow also present opportunities for free lessons. With the availability of anyone with a camera to make lessons though, it is best to check credentials if possible.  These resources are starting points for those wishing to further their skills in the various instruments. With the bad shape of the economy, free products provide entertainment and education necessary to keep music moving.