What began as a crazy idea in a small bedroom in New Zealand just 3½ months ago turned into a momentous achievement for the world of online music education. Guitar Mastery Method (GMM) and founder Charlie Wallace have officially broken the Guinness World Record for the most viewers for a live streamed guitar lesson on YouTube — proving that passion, persistence and community can elevate guitar learning to new heights.
On 18 October 2025, GMM’s live session from Nashville drew a peak of 2,490 concurrent viewers, setting a new benchmark for this highly specific Guinness World Records category. The four‑hour broadcast brought together guitar enthusiasts from around the globe, showcasing how virtual lessons can create unprecedented shared learning experiences.
From bustling online forums to supportive social media threads, the GMM community has grown explosively now reaching more than 2 million students worldwide who have used its courses to learn guitar, surpassing the entire student count of even famous music schools like Berklee College of Music in their history. The road to this record wasn’t easy. Behind the scenes, Charlie Wallace admits he went “40 hours straight” in preparation, finishing final edits at 7:30 a.m. before heading straight to the studio to host the event powered, he jokes, by “basically Red Bull.”” The all‑in effort paid off in a way that few could have anticipated when the idea first took shape.
“This wasn’t just a record attempt it was a global celebration of guitar learning,” Wallace shared, reflecting on the journey from a tiny New Zealand bedroom to a YouTube world record stage. Participants logged in from dozens of countries to play, learn, interact and be part of a moment that cements online music education as more than a trend but a movement. The Guinness World Record achievement highlights the power of digital community, creativity and commitment, showing that in today’s connected world, even ambitious music milestones can be reached from anywhere. For aspiring guitarists and educators alike, the GMM record stands as proof that innovation and perseverance can turn passion into a shared global experience.
