Guitar learning apps: The best apps for learning guitar – tested by professionals

Learning guitar via online tools or mobile apps is a fantastic way to develop your musical skills quickly and with high motivation.

With the available apps from the App Store or Google Play, we have numerous programs at our disposal that make it possible to learn conveniently, flexibly and regardless of location.

The market for guitar learning apps will have diversified significantly by 2026. While some apps rely on pure gamification, others focus on academic depth or the technological analysis of the game.

We worked out the differences together with absolute guitar professionals and present you with the best apps for your individual needs.

Quick comparison of tested apps

The wide variety of guitar apps offers the right program for every need. This applies to beginners who want to learn the basics step by step, as well as to advanced players who want to continuously improve their skills. Through interactive lessons , video tutorials , and exercises, you can develop your guitar playing in a completely individual way.

Furthermore, some guitar learning apps practical features such as tuners and recording capabilities to optimally support the learning process. The possibilities are diverse and easily accessible via smartphone – whether at home or on the go.

Learning to play guitar via app not only brings fun to making music, but also offers a modern teaching method in a digital world full of innovations.

So, anyone who dreams of mastering an instrument or further developing their existing talent should definitely take a look at the various options in the field of guitar apps!

Digital guitar learning resources on a whole new level

Digital options support lessons at music schools or with private guitar teachers on site and have been used more extensively, especially during the pandemic, to learn to play the guitar.

Through interactive content, learning systems based on the latest educational research, and most recently through the rapid development of artificial intelligence, learning apps are constantly being improved and even offer real-time feedback with personalized assistance.

These well-designed apps are a valuable tool for aspiring guitarists. In this article, we present the best apps that perfectly tailor the knowledge and skills needed for guitar playing, from beginners to advanced players.

I've been playing acoustic guitar for over 10 years and am currently focusing on flamenco, rumba, and improvisation. Besides private lessons guitar apps Simply Guitar and Yousician for about three years Rocksmith for almost ten years (rock, grunge, and metal... sometimes Roxette too, which reminds me of my youth in the 90s ;-).

It's always fun to revisit basic lessons and fundamentals to identify and improve flaws in my guitar playing. For this, I connect my portable studio microphone to my phone. This way, even the smallest imperfections in my playing escape the now very intelligent guitar apps. A real boon that I wish I'd had at the beginning of my guitar journey!

Learning guitar – the best way to approach initial challenges is through play

Especially at the beginning, it can be difficult to keep track of the various guitar playing techniques. Regular practice plays a crucial role, particularly at the start, and it takes some perseverance before you can play your first songs. Unlike the piano or other instruments, playing the guitar requires a special level of hand-eye coordination and finger muscle strength. This only comes with practice! And motivation plays a vital role here.

An app can help simplify the concepts and allow you to focus on playing itself. Especially for string playing and technique, a guitar app offers real support. The app can demonstrate various songs, including fingerpicking techniques, which can then be replicated on the guitar.

The focus here is on the playful aspect of learning children and teenagers . The difficulty level in guitar learning apps can usually be flexibly adjusted to the individual's abilities and is based on the student's current knowledge level.

This allows you to quickly improve individual songs, both technically and in terms of playing style. How well this is implemented in a particular app naturally depends on the specific software. Overall, guitar apps offer a great way to optimize your playing – both technically and in terms of motivation!

The best educational apps for learning guitar (in German)

App	Target audience	Module	Main advantage	Strengthen	Weaken	Pricing model	Languages)
Simply Guitar	(Beginners and children)	Step-by-step courses from the first string strums to more complex songs.	Ideal for families & children	Very intuitive operation; visually appealing; excellent feedback system for chords.	It ends relatively quickly at a mid-level; often too “childish” for serious musicians.	Subscription	DE, EN, FR, IT, ES, JP, KO, PRT, RU, CN
music2me	German purists	Linear progression from beginner to professional; focus on music reading and theory.	Structure & Theory	Didactically very sound; teachers are professional musicians from German-speaking countries; excellent PDF accompanying materials.	Fewer game elements; no real-time error detection via microphone.	Subscription	German
Yousician	Gamers & those seeking motivation	Thousands of missions in the areas of Lead, Rhythm, and Knowledge.	Fun & Feedback	Addictive factor through gamification; excellent technology for error detection; ideal for building gaming endurance (stamina).	Can lead to “mechanical” playing; often neglects music theory and individual expression.	Subscription	DE, EN, FR, IT, ES, JP, PRT, RU, CN
Rocksmith+	Gamers & those seeking motivation	Adaptive Difficulty, Riff Repeater, Rocksmith Workshop, Chord Explorer & Skill Lessons, Arcade Games	Fun & Feedback	Maximum motivation, huge song library, cross-platform (mobile phone, PC, Playstation)	The menu navigation is often perceived as confusing and cluttered; many "A-list" hits are missing, and there are gaps in music theory and improvisation skills	Subscription	DE, EN, etc.
Timbro	Beginners and advanced users, people traveling	Virtual simulator, technical paths, precise feedback	The intuitive all-rounder	Well suited for people who travel a lot and want to practice theory or rhythm on the train (without a guitar); wide skill level range	The user interface is sometimes less polished than that of competitors, and there are occasional technical hurdles when starting the app or calibrating the microphone.	Subscription	DE, EN, etc.
GuitarTricks	All skill levels	Systematic structure for beginners; specialized courses for advanced students (Artist Studies).	The most extensive library	Over 11,000 videos; huge song database with licensed original songs; very clear structure.	The interface seems somewhat outdated; the focus is heavily on video consumption, less on interactivity.	Free trial access / subscription	English
True Fire	Advanced and professional players	Courses taught by world stars like Steve Vai or Joe Bonamassa	Huge masterclass platform	Unschl Terms & Conditions are Depth for advanced techniques (Jazz, Fusion, complex Blues); “In the Jam” mode for virtual band training.	Completely overwhelming for absolute beginners; confusing pricing structure.	Subscription + individual purchases	English
JustinGuitar	All (especially beginners)	Structured “Grades” (1–9), focus on rhythm, chord changes and ear training.	Best pedagogy	Extremely high educational quality; focus on "real" learning instead of chasing grades; very personable and motivating. Much of the content (website) is free.	The app interface appears somewhat bland compared to Yousician; there is no real-time pitch feedback in the basic version.	Mostly free / subscription	English (videos), app interface partly in German.
Fretello	Beginners & Advanced	Individualized training plans, AI feedback, learn-play-list approach	Methodical coach	Excellent teaching methods, focus on technology, very good German language support and assistance	Small song catalog, occasional problems with string detection in noisy environments	Subscription	German English
Fender Play	Song-oriented beginners	Paths by genre (Rock, Pop, Blues, Folk, Country); “Skills” sections for special techniques.	Quality & Structure	Extremely high video quality; short, bite-sized lessons (ideal for busy people); focus on well-known riffs.	Less suitable for advanced players; less pedagogically profound than JustinGuitar.	Subscription	English
Ultimate Guitar	All skill levels	Interactive tabs; “Courses” from well-known YouTube teachers.	Tabs & Courses	The world's largest database of songs; integrated tools such as metronome and transposition functions.	The quality of the courses varies greatly; the app is often overloaded with advertising/upselling.	Subscription	English (partly German)
Gibson App	All skill levels	Guided learning paths; Augmented Reality (AR) elements to support hand positioning.	Smart all-in-one solution	Highly modern technology; direct line to Gibson experts; aesthetically pleasing design.	Smaller song catalog than Fender Play or Guitar Tricks.	Subscription	English / German
Guitareo	All skill levels	A clear 10-step curriculum that leads from the basics to mastery, live sessions, song library	The quality of the teachers and the depth of the course material	Teachers (e.g., Nate Savage) are world-class educators. Camera perspectives (picture-in-picture for both hands) are industry standard. Covers theory, ear training, and songwriting far more deeply than gamified apps.	No gamification, no real-time feedback	Subscription	English (partially translated)

Why you can trust our test results

As the editor of this article, I can look back on over 15 years as a guitar student and player. During this time, I've gained experience with most of the available apps, online courses, and tutorial providers, and witnessed the evolution of online resources firsthand. I'm still learning with apps, by the way 🙂

Furthermore, our team is constantly working to provide you with objective rankings and information with complete editorial independence.

We base our content on product data, structured methods, first-person tests, and selected expert opinions to enable you to make informed decisions for your individual guitar journey.

Detailed test reports

01 Simply Guitar

If you have no prior experience with the guitar, then Simply Guitar the perfect solution for you. The app is characterized above all by its ease of use and is further enhanced by numerous annotated lessons. Thanks to its playful design, you can easily receive direct feedback and continuously improve your playing.

With Simply Guitar, you can immerse yourself step by step in the world of guitar playing and learn everything you need to become a good guitarist from the ground up. Even during the free registration, the app can be customized to your age, current skill level, musical preferences, and preferred learning style (auditory or visual).

The song selection isn't as large as on other platforms like Songsterr , but that's not the main focus. It also offers a tuner and a chord recognition .

Guitar lessons and classes

Simply Guitar truly shines in its teaching approach. After mastering the first two fundamentals, you choose a rhythm or learning path. As you progress, there are intermediate lessons where you work through songs before continuing with your chosen path.

The extensive lessons make this app one of the best ways to learn guitar. You have to start with the first lesson and can only unlock the following ones once you've completed them. This model is not really suitable for advanced players.

Learn songs / Song library

This medium-sized song database is an effective and interactive tool for learning musical pieces at your own pace . Thanks to real-time feedback, you can continuously improve your instrumental skills. It's an extremely helpful resource for beginners as well as advanced players who want to refine their musical abilities.

The ability to access feedback at any time and closely track your own progress helps you stay motivated and consistently work on your development. This personalized approach allows each user to expand their knowledge of different music genres and styles.

Simply Guitar's song database offers a wide catalog of songs of varying difficulty levels and genres. This gives you the opportunity to constantly expand your repertoire and take on new challenges while learning guitar. The platform's interactive nature makes playing music not only effective but also entertaining.

In addition, a large and active Facebook community of guitarists and guitar teachers is available to offer advice and support.

Chord recognition & real-time feedback

Simply Guitar offers basic chord recognition features. As a chord is played, the screen moves across a fretboard, and each chord is displayed as a vertical column. The columns show the number of strings in each chord, broken down by individual notes.

Compared to Yousician, it seems to have fewer problems with note recognition, but this often leads to false positives. The visual appearance isn't as appealing as other apps. The cursor moves to the beat of the playing track, but there are no indicators for strumming patterns to compensate for this.

The timing could also be improved, especially for beginners. There's no detailed notation for each chord. If you make a mistake, you have to figure it out yourself – not ideal for beginners.

Exercise motivation & learning progress

The colorfully animated virtual fretboard with real-time feedback offers an ideal and playful introduction to learning basic techniques and first songs.

Simply Guitar forgives individual mistakes during practice sessions; if you make repeated errors, the app rewinds to give you another chance to play the section. The practice mode allows you to repeat difficult passages. This is an excellent aid for beginners, as it helps them stay motivated even with initial imperfections in their guitar playing and allows them to specifically address their weaknesses.

The app rewards your progress with green checkmarks, gold stars, points, and encouraging messages – a great feeling. Achievements and questions can be shared with the community in a Facebook group. You'll find yourself in a community of like-minded people who support each other.

View inside the app

Daniel Prosser takes us along on his first week with the learning app:

But all in all, Simply Guitar one of the most popular guitar learning apps for a reason, and a clear recommendation for beginners who finally want to learn guitar properly!

Prices

A subscription costs €9.99 per month with monthly billing or €119 per year with annual billing. It's always worth looking out for promotions, discounts, or coupon codes ( the links in this post a 20% discount with annual billing , meaning only €8.33 per month). Up to 5 profiles can be created per membership (useful for families).

Fortunately, a 14-day free trial membership is also available at the beginning.

02 music2me

As a pioneering and meticulously designed platform for learning guitar, music2me already taught more than 100,000 students how to play and master the instrument. The guitar course was conceived by Thomas Dill , a long-time professional guitarist and teacher.

The lessons build modularly . Starting with the first chords, all relevant skills are taught, culminating in solo performances. The app is user-friendly and offers numerous support functions for learning. The navigation allows you to jump directly to the point you want to practice next.

The highlights of music2me are undoubtedly the modular guitar course and the live classes .

The music2me guitar course

The music2me guitar course offers over 400 videos, sheet music/tablatures and play-along tracks, as well as live classes. It is aimed at beginners to semi-professionals and is structured modularly, so everyone can start at their individual skill level.

The lessons learned can be reinforced with familiar songs. The course is ideally structured for learning the basics of guitar or for professional development.

The live classes

The live classes at music2me offer you the unique opportunity to gain additional knowledge from our talented guitar teacher, Mirco . He goes through complex topics with the participants, reviews important course content, and answers your questions live.

These exclusive online streams are free for all active music2me members. After registering, you will regularly receive information about upcoming live classes via email and will have the opportunity to register directly for the dates of your choice.

Functions & Features

The music2me app impresses with its unique features: While practicing exercises or playing songs, you can simultaneously follow the sheet music or tabs. The video speed is individually adjustable , and you can practice endlessly. All completed exercises are saved as you learn guitar, providing a clear learning plan .

Top features:

• Personal support
• Playback (so-called backing tracks) for playing along
• User-friendly navigation
• Video speed freely adjustable
• Exercises can be saved and accessed at any time.
• Over 250 guitar tutorial videos
• Special modules for acoustic and electric guitar
• Live classes with experts

music2me is considered one of the leading and best-structured music course apps at an affordable price. It has received positive reviews in magazines such as musicradar, FAZ, Keyboards, and bonedo.

Prices

• 1-month subscription = €19
• Annual subscription = €175 (€14.58 per month)

A free 7-day trial is available for all versions.

03 Yousician

Yousician is one of the best-known and most popular apps for aspiring guitar players, helping both beginners and advanced players improve their skills. A key feature of this app is the ability to record songs and have them evaluated within the app. This rapid feedback allows students to identify and correct even the smallest mistakes.

The free version offers useful exercises and tutorials, but only a few songs, while the paid Pro version provides a more comprehensive experience. Besides guitar, Yousician also lets you learn piano, vocals, electric bass, and ukulele.

Guitar lessons and classes

The lessons in Yousician offer a clear and structured learning path for guitarists. In addition to standard concepts like chords and melodies, it also covers technique-based lessons such as legato playing and groove, which other apps often neglect.

The comprehensive curriculum spans 10 levels and helps develop skills like bending and riffing speed. However, you have to complete the lessons linearly , which can be a hindrance for advanced players. Nevertheless, Yousician offers a great interactive system with real-time feedback to effectively improve your skills.

Song Library

The library of over 10,000 songs is updated every week, and Yousician provides personalized suggestions based on the songs you've already favorited. This saves you time and lets you move on to the next task.

Overall, Yousician impresses with its effective learning concept and practical functions for learning guitar for all skill levels.

Chord recognition & real-time feedback

A built-in tuner is available. proprietary audio engine allows for the real-time display of a basic chord diagram with bar graphs alongside the signal. However, the accuracy of the chord recognition frequently leads to false alarms, as even slightly out-of-tune strings or fret notes can be registered as correct.

It sometimes takes longer to recognize certain chords, especially in the lower frequency spectrum. Nevertheless, polyphony is reliably recognized and played chords are recorded precisely.

However, one problem is that the timing detection is not optimal , so even with slight deviations, good scores are still achieved.

Exercise motivation & learning progress

The gamification and the beautifully designed interactive fretboard make practicing fun.

Yousician's learning path consists of a series of separate missions , which include closely linked tutorials , songs, and videos . These missions are structured like chapters on your journey to playing guitar and become more challenging as the difficulty level increases.

Each mission includes tasks that must be completed in order to finish it. Additionally, the missions are themed and have a difficulty level from one to ten.

At the end of each mission, you usually have to play one or two songs to successfully complete that chapter. Playing them well earns you points that can move you up the Yousician rankings. This encourages competition and motivates you to practice.

To improve your performance, you can first play the songs in practice mode, where you can adjust the tempo and repeat sections. In performance mode, you can then see your score increase.

If you stick with it, your journey will only end when you have mastered advanced skills such as dampening the lead palm and playing funk rhythms and different moods.

Art courses

Metallica x Yousician

With the offered artist course, you will immerse yourself in the world of the legendary band Metallica and learn guitar from the masters James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett themselves.

These exclusive courses offer valuable tips, tutorials, and the most important songs from the Metallica collection. Play along to the original tracks of "Enter Sandman," "Master of Puppets," "One," and other timeless classics. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned fan, with Metallica x Yousician you'll discover new tricks.

Billie Eilish x Yousician

Discover Billie Eilish 's music The Billie Collection . Created in close collaboration with Billie herself, this collection allows you to play her songs and interpret them entirely according to your own vision.

Explore over 25 of Billie's most famous hits and find out how to play your favorites, including "Ocean Eyes , "When the Party's Over , "Bad Guy," to learn Billie's latest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,

Prices

• Premium: Over 900 lessons and Yousician songs, 1 account. €19.99/month (€9.99/month with annual billing)
• Premium+ Over 10,000 lessons and popular songs, 1 account. €29.99/month (€14.99/month with annual billing)
• Premium+ Family. Over 10,000 lessons and popular songs, 4 accounts. €44.99/month (€22.49/month with annual billing)

A 7-day free trial is available for all versions. Apps are available in both the Apple Store and for Android.

04 Rocksmith+ – The “Netflix” for guitarists

Rocksmith+ offers a unique way to learn both acoustic and electric guitar online. A key advantage of this app is its innovative concept, which provides students with real-time feedback.

Following the success of its video game predecessors ( Rocksmith 2014 ), Rocksmith+ designed as a pure subscription service that bridges the gap between gaming and a real instrument.

The interactive program provides a variety of tools to improve learners' skills at every necessary level (Adaptive Difficulty) . These include, among other things, the Reef Repeater and adjustable learning speed.

With Rocksmith+, users receive instant feedback on their gameplay, enabling them to continuously improve their technique and develop their skills. This tailored feedback helps students identify weaknesses in their gameplay and work on them specifically. The program's customizable features ensure that every learning style is optimally supported.

Overall, Rocksmith+ impresses not only with its wide range of learning content for both guitar types, but above all with its effective teaching methods and tools for refining the playing experience. This innovative approach transforms the online guitar game into an interactive experience with lasting learning success for lovers of rock, grunge, country, pop, and metal.

The learning modules

Once you've completed the setup, you'll be redirected to the Rocksmith+ home screen. There you'll see a list of your favorite songs as well as your skill profile , which shows your accuracy in various techniques such as sustains, hammer-ons, and bends.

The Chord Explorer and Skill Lessons contain hundreds of video tutorials on techniques (bending, hammer-ons) and an interactive chord dictionary.

If some terms are unfamiliar to you, don't worry – simply tap on each technique in your skills profile to learn more.

You can switch "Learn" lessons and exercises for your guitar. These range from the basics, like playing open strings, to more advanced lessons, including specific musical styles such as Texas Blues and Indie Folk. Since there aren't many lessons in each section, we strongly recommend trying a few before attempting a more challenging song.

Learning your favorite songs directly

Being able to jump right in and play songs was my favorite element of this learning tool.

How does it work? The lessons are quite simple. I started by completing the basic courses for beginners, which began with a short tutorial video, an opportunity to tune a guitar, and a few practice modules.

You can also jump directly into songs. No matter which title you choose, you can define your desired difficulty level and view the chord chart beforehand. It is recommended to activate adaptive difficulty in the settings so that Rocksmith+ can automatically adjust the difficulty of the songs to your learning pace .

As the value approaches 0 percent, you'll only receive individual notes that need to be played in time with the song. At the end of each song, Rocksmith+ evaluates your performance and adjusts the difficulty accordingly. If you manage to play a beginner version of a track successfully, the difficulty will gradually increase (more complex chords, more notes, and additional details like slides and bends). This continues until you finally have the complete tab of the song at your fingertips.

In addition to the adaptive mode, you can adjust the difficulty level yourself at any time. If you get stuck, you can use the comprehensive playback system to repeat specific sections of a song until you're satisfied. It's also possible pause to check chord patterns or practice specific techniques.

You can even rewind and try a specific part again. This well-designed system offers guitarists many practical advantages.

Note recognition & real-time feedback

Both experienced and beginner guitarists can encounter problems with note recognition in Rocksmith+. The game offers two ways to input the guitar sound: the app or a Real Tone cable. During our tests, we experienced technical errors with note recognition when using an amplified electric guitar. It wasn't always perfect with an acoustic guitar either.

The problem was resolved when the Real Tone cable was used. Anyone who wants to seriously use Rocksmith+ should therefore spend the extra money on the cable.

The song library

The song library currently contains more than 7,500 songs – divided into 8 different genres – and is constantly being expanded.

The Rocksmith+ catalog offers a wide selection, even for experienced guitarists. The library is advertised as the main attraction, although it's the weakest element of the overall package. Rocksmith+ is a great learning tool, but in my opinion, more emphasis should be placed on entertainment value (the Rocksmith 2014 edition included plenty of minigames and challenges outside the learning path) and a more varied song selection.

Overall, the Rocksmith+ catalog feels cluttered, far too extensive, yet ultimately lacking in substance. This doesn't mean fans won't find at least a few songs to their liking, but some great artists, performers, and tracks are missing. It seems the developers tried to save on licensing fees in this area.

Strengths and weaknesses

View inside the app

National Guitar Academy YouTube channel features a great review of the app, which guides you through the various elements of the software:

Prices

Prices start at €11.67 with annual billing. A 7-day free trial is available. Apps are available in the Apple App Store and for Android. A PC version is also available.

Conclusion

Despite an inconsistent catalog, Rocksmith+ is far from a complete disaster. Thanks to particularly well-designed tutorials and step-by-step learning systems, this online program remains an excellent tool for anyone wanting to learn or master their stringed instrument.

05 Timbro

Timbro app also suitable for guitarists and piano players of all levels – from beginners to experienced professionals.

With Timbro, you have the opportunity to refine your skills on both guitar and piano. However, if you can't pick up an instrument, you can also play directly with a virtual guitar simulator in the app. This allows you to explore melodies and harmonies and receive immediate feedback on your playing.

Learning with Timbro is similar to Simply Guitar or Yousician, perhaps not quite as effective, and not quite as entertaining. But still at a good level.

Guitar lessons and classes

• Through targeted training and exciting exercises, you will be motivated to play regularly and constantly improve.
• Timbro's innovative technology analyzes your gameplay in real time and suggests optimal drills to make progress visible.
• Interactive features and creative learning methods make making music a pleasure.

Timbro offers virtual lessons in guitar and piano – from basic techniques to advanced playing styles. No matter what level you're aiming for, the app adapts to your needs and ensures that every step of the learning process remains engaging.

Functions & Features

Furthermore, you will benefit from a comprehensive range of learning resources:

• Guitar and piano chords and chord progressions
• Music theory and scales
• Easy-to-read guitar tabs
• Fretboard memory training
• Hearing training
• Epic guitar and piano riffs
• Improvisation and original composition
• "Play-by-ear" training
• Memory function
• Refinement of musical skills

Timbro also includes a precise tuner for your guitar.

Strengths and weaknesses

Prices

• 1-month subscription = €7.99
• Annual subscription = €79.99 (€6.66 per month)

Conclusion

This is a slightly scaled-down version of an app inspired by Yousician. It still offers a good range of features at a lower price. However, in our tests, the real-time feedback and tone recognition weren't always accurate, and the app was buggy in some areas. It occasionally crashed and isn't compatible with all smartphone models. Furthermore, there are no settings for left-handed users.

5 top international online guitar learning resources (in English)

The guitar learning apps listed so far were all available in German. Now, there are several more excellent guitar learning programs that can be used online on a desktop computer or via an app. The only limitation of these is that they currently only available in English .

If you have a good basic knowledge of English, you should definitely take a look at the other options before making your final decision!

06 Guitar Tricks

Although online music lessons and guitar learning apps may seem like a relatively new trend, one website has been established for a long time. GuitarTricks has been active in this field since 1998 – long before most people had reliable internet connections – and is rightly considered a pioneer in online guitar lessons.

This gives GuitarTricks a significant advantage over the competition in many ways. Firstly, they have spent years testing, developing, and refining their approach to online learning to ensure their teaching methods are effective. Secondly, they have been able to build up a vast amount of content and resources during this time.

With over 11,000 videos in its database and more than 900 songs (and counting), GuitarTricks offers the most comprehensive content of any comparable website. Unlike some of its competitors, much of this content is also designed for advanced players , making GuitarTricks one of the best websites for experienced musicians looking to further develop their skills.

Guitar lessons and classes

The "Core Learning System" guides beginners step-by-step through the learning process, enabling them to efficiently learn to play the guitar. This clear and structured method helps them master the fundamentals and subsequently develop individual styles and skills.

After registering and logging in, you will four main lesson categories on the homepage: Beginners, Intermediate, Songs, and Styles. Once you have made your selection, you will be redirected to a portal containing the lesson plans for each category.

The following can be found in the individual sections:

Beginner lessons cover two levels of guitar fundamentals. In level 1, beginners learn the basics, such as holding the guitar and playing open chords. Level two progresses to playing power chords and reading sheet music. There are also four style-specific lessons : blues, country, rock, and acoustic, each divided into two difficulty levels that cover the fundamental elements of each genre.

Additional resources in this module include simplified versions of well-known songs, as well as practice and maintenance tips . The advanced lessons have the same layout as the beginner module but contain more advanced content. The lessons range from perfecting chord changes to playing major and minor scales.

Further sections cover tone leading and equipment settings for different playing styles, as well as techniques to add more emotion to your playing, such as bends, harmonies, and hammer-ons.

Progress can be easily tracked on a dedicated page that displays exactly how many courses, songs, and lessons have been completed. This allows you to seamlessly pick up where you left off. This can also be done effectively using the "Last Lesson" tab, which takes you directly to the last task you worked on.

However, it must be mentioned that compared to some newer providers on the market, GuitarTricks doesn't look quite as modern or user-friendly. This could be because the sheer volume of content on the website makes it difficult to present and link all the details clearly. It could also be that the website has been around for a long time and its age is starting to show.

Nevertheless, it still works very well; recently the appearance was updated, which now looks more modern and elegant.

The song library

"Learn to Play Songs" section you can find a variety of guides for learning about 900 popular songs.

In 8-14 lessons, you'll receive detailed guidance on mastering each song, from sound optimization to playability. However, the selection for pop music fans is limited. Popular artists like Adele, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Avril Lavigne, for example, are not included. Despite these limitations, the platform offers comprehensive support, especially in the rock and metal .

Note recognition & real-time feedback

These features are not available in GuitarTricks.

For an additional fee, users have the option private lessons with Guitar Tricks' guitar teachers. This is a useful tool if you're having trouble mastering certain licks or playing styles, or simply need feedback.

Extras & Additional Features

In-depth guitar styles: In this section, you'll learn all about the unique characteristics that define each playing style. From metal to world music, twelve different styles are covered here to give you a solid understanding of your preferred genre.

While genres like country and metal have extensive resources to explore, niche genres like surf also offer a worthwhile learning experience, even if they are covered less comprehensively. Guitar Tricks distinguishes itself through the diversity of styles it covers – compared to other providers who often limit themselves to popular genres.

Outside of the regular lesson schedules, you also have access to artist studies that give you insight into how some of your favorite guitarists, such as Angus Young, Keith Richards, and B.B. King, approach the instrument. You can also select lessons based on the teacher. A total of 34 guitar teachers available, each specializing in different areas.

View inside the app

The app for the provider's learning program is called Guitar Lessons by GuitarTricks and is available in all app stores. It provides all the necessary tools to accelerate the learning process: complete, accurate tabs and notation, scale finder, chord finder, reference tuner, fretboard trainer, progress system, and enhanced video playback with quality settings.

The free version of this app offers a rotation of free lessons. An in-app subscription purchase grants access to all content.

Prices

There are a number of free lessons and videos. Full access costs $29.95 per month or $299.40 per year ($24.95/month). A free trial version, limited to 24 lessons, is available for those wishing to explore the platform.

Conclusion

For over 23 years, GuitarTricks has not only made a significant contribution to the development of online learning, but also remains a market leader. The platform owes this success primarily to its effective implementation of many aspects. By striking the right balance between comprehensive information and conciseness, it covers all relevant topics without overwhelming the learner.

While the navigation might not be as intuitive for beginners as with some competitors, GuitarTricks impresses with its high-quality content. Advanced players, in particular, who want to further develop their skills, will find it to be one of the best platforms. They will constantly discover new ways to deepen their expertise.

07 TrueFire

For newcomers and experienced players alike, TrueFire offers an impressive resource with nearly 85,000 video lessons .

The True Fire platform has become one of the leading online learning portals for guitarists and hosts one of the most comprehensive collections of guitar learning materials on the internet. True Fire lessons are by industry-leading instructors, Grammy Award winners, and world-class touring musicians who impart various playing techniques, music theory, and improvisation skills.

Furthermore, the TrueFire app offers enormous flexibility and freedom in learning.

Guitar Player Magazine * describes TrueFire as

"The largest and most comprehensive selection of online guitar courses on the planet.".

This description is by no means an exaggeration, as TrueFire has collaborated with more than 600 top-notch educators over the years to continuously expand and improve its course offerings. The platform now serves a global community of over 3 million music students.

Merging with JamPlay

A crucial milestone in TrueFire's history was the merger with JamPlay , another top-tier platform for guitar and bass lessons.

The merging of the two content libraries now offers students unparalleled advantages: access to over 70,000 interactive video lessons with tablature, notation and jam tracks, as well as a complete range of learning tools.

What is particularly noteworthy is that both JamPlay and TrueFire subscribers receive immediate access to these enhanced features, content and services – at no additional cost.

The merged platform operates under the TrueFire brand at TrueFire.com , with JamPlay instructors joining the TrueFire faculty, together forming the industry's most comprehensive offering of guitar teaching expertise .

Course structure & learning paths

Instead of disjointed individual lessons, the platform offers a well-thought-out system that shows guitarists of all levels a clear learning path.

• Genre-Specific Learning Paths: TrueFire offers users a choice of six genre-specific learning paths: Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, Acoustic, and Bass. These paths are specifically designed to gradually introduce guitarists to each genre and teach them all the relevant techniques. Each path focuses on the three essential pillars of guitar playing: rhythm playing, lick vocabulary, and soloing techniques.
• A practice-oriented approach with cross-references: The rock learning paths seem to offer more cross-references to other styles like jazz than vice versa. This could be interesting for guitarists who want to explore different genres.
• Five levels: All learning paths at TrueFire are progressively structured and include five difficulty levels – from beginners, for absolute newcomers who want to learn first chords, strumming patterns and simple songs, to excellent guitarists who want to expand their improvisation skills and repertoire.
• Individual Learning Path: The Learning Path system first helps assess your current playing level and then presents a personalized curriculum with video lessons from TrueFire's world-class guitar teachers. However, advanced players can also jump directly into higher levels.

The song library

The platform now offers over 85,000 interactive video lessons for various instruments and genres. This impressive collection covers all playing styles, techniques, and levels – from beginner to advanced player. These lessons are taught by over 400 leading artists and educators, making TrueFire a true treasure trove for guitarists.

The course library also includes over 30,000 tablatures , standard notations and Guitar Pro files, as well as 20,000+ interactive jam tracks .

The platform also offers:

• Discussion forums for exchanging ideas with other guitarists
• Multi-angle videos for optimal learning
• Interactive tablature and notation
• Numerous other resources to support the learning process

Extras and specializations

In addition to the core courses of the learning paths, TrueFire offers an impressive variety of specialist courses – with over 20 different course series focusing on various pedagogical formats and presented by numerous top instructors. Most of these specialist courses are aimed at intermediate to advanced players.

TrueFire has partnered with Soundslice to interactive tablature and notation into its learning platform. This technology perfectly synchronizes tabs and notation with video lessons, allowing learners to see exactly what's being played – as it's being played.

The Soundslice player displays standard notation and tablature directly in the web browser, without the need for plugins or additional apps.

Particularly useful: Learners can pause, slow down, speed up playback, loop certain passages , or jump directly to difficult sections.

Soundslice also offers fretboard animation , transposition capabilities , and a metronome function . Currently, all 50-lick courses have been processed with Soundslice – that's equivalent to 2,500 guitar lessons with synchronized video tabs and notation. Further Soundslice versions are being produced gradually, with monthly additions to the entire library.

Another special feature of TrueFire is the “In the Jam” function . This feature allows guitarists to virtually play along with professional musicians . The function simulates a real band situation and gives players the opportunity to test and improve their skills in a practical context.

It is also possible to take private lessons directly from selected instructors

Although TrueFire mainly specializes acoustic and electric guitar banjo , ukulele and drums .

View inside the app

Who is TrueFire best suited for?

The offer is great, but it doesn't work for everyone at every level or with every learning style.

For beginners: Learning paths vs. being overwhelmed

TrueFire can be overwhelming for beginners. Getting started can be tedious, as there are so many courses and so much content, and no guided onboarding session. The learning paths offer some structure, but they don't replace clear, step-by-step tutorials like those in SimplyGuitar or Yousician .

The fast, practical approach gets you playing immediately, without monotonous exercises or uninteresting theory. Chords and their clean execution are taught in the very first lesson.

For advanced students: Improvisation, theory and technique

TrueFire truly shines for intermediate to advanced players. Its immense range of courses is a treasure trove for this group of learners. Guitarists who have a solid grasp of the fundamentals will find information here on specific techniques, in-depth theory, and guidance on improvisation.

TrueFire is great for serious guitarists. The platform is ideal for anyone who wants to take their playing skills to a professional level and is looking for specialized challenges.”

Self-directed learning vs. guided learning systems

To use TrueFire effectively, you should be self-disciplined. TrueFire allows learners more freedom to design their own learning path than more structured platforms. This can be helpful for players who are self-motivated and know exactly what they want to learn.

Self-learners appreciate being able to choose their own path and develop their own style. This flexibility fosters creative growth and helps them find their own voice . At the same time, targeted online courses and workshops with real feedback on difficult passages can be helpful.

In short: TrueFire is a goldmine for motivated players at an intermediate and advanced level, as well as for those who want to learn independently. Beginners, however, would be better off with more structured options.

Pricing, trial period and purchase options

TrueFire offers various subscription models and purchase options tailored to different needs and budgets.

Monthly vs. annual: $29/month or $99/year

TrueFire offers two main subscription models: a monthly and an annual plan.

• The regular monthly price is approximately €19.80 per month.
• Annual access normally costs EUR 142.18, which is approximately EUR 11.85 per month.

Particularly attractive: TrueFire regularly offers discount promotions – currently, for example, there is a 40% discount on annual subscriptions, which corresponds to a saving of approximately 95.42 EUR per year.

14-day trial version

The platform offers a free 14-day trial. All that's required is to register a credit card – payment is only due after the trial period has ended.

During this time, users have full streaming access to all courses, song lessons, and learning paths in the library. This trial period is ideal for exploring the extensive collection of lessons and finding out if the teaching style suits your learning habits.

However, keep in mind: anyone who does not cancel the trial period before it expires will automatically become a paying subscriber.

Individual courses vs. All-Access Pass

In addition to subscription options, TrueFire also offers the purchase of individual courses. Prices vary depending on the course content and instructor – averaging between €28.63 and €47.71. However, during special promotions, individual courses may be available for as little as €4.77.

One significant difference: While All-Access subscribers only have streaming access, purchased courses can be downloaded and used offline.

All-Access members benefit from:

• Constantly growing course library (including all new courses)
• Access to PDF documentation, Guitar Pro tabs and MP3 jam tracks
• Usable on all common platforms: Windows, Mac, tablets and smartphones

However, certain premium content such as Private Lessons , In the Jams and Multi-Track Audio Jams not included in the standard subscription.

Conclusion

TrueFire undoubtedly offers an impressive wealth of learning material for guitarists of all skill levels. With over 85,000 lessons, 40,000 tabs, and numerous jam tracks, musicians have access to a virtually inexhaustible resource. The integration with JamPlay, in particular, has significantly expanded and improved this offering.

The structured learning paths according to genres such as blues, rock or jazz allow for a targeted entry, while advanced players benefit from specialized courses.

However, the platform is primarily suitable for self-motivated learners who already possess basic knowledge. Absolute beginners might initially feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material.

Technical innovations like Soundslice and the “In the Jam” function clearly distinguish TrueFire from other online guitar courses. These features, along with the offline availability of the content, ensure a flexible and effective learning experience.

Ultimately, TrueFire represents a worthwhile investment for ambitious guitarists who want to specifically improve their playing technique.”

After 30 days of intensive use, most players will notice significant progress – provided they have the necessary self-discipline and willingness to practice.

08 JustinGuitar

In retrospect, it's impressive how guitar teacher Justin Sandercoe, then a young man in his twenties from Tasmania in 2003, had the vision to help millions of people learn to play guitar through his website. With his clever approach, resourcefulness, and perseverance, he not only found a solution but also worked consistently to achieve it.

Today, Justin is one of the leading figures in the field of guitar playing and is possibly the most famous guitarist worldwide – at least among guitar enthusiasts. His YouTube videos have been viewed hundreds of millions of times, and he now has over 1.76 million subscribers. Justin is particularly distinguished by his exceptional teaching talent, which is a unique skill in its own right compared to his abilities as a musician.

From the very beginning, he worked tirelessly to continuously provide his young audience with high-quality and free online guitar lessons – a work born of passion, the likes of which are rarely seen.

Guitar lessons and classes

Take a look at JustinGuitar.com and you'll find a learning platform that rivals paid providers like Fender Play or Yousician. The focus is on a three-stage learning path that gently introduces beginners, challenges intermediate players, and makes experts proud.

Each level comprises three grades (1-9) and is divided into approximately six modules, each filled with a variety of lessons. These lessons are of a reasonable length, typically between eight and twenty minutes, which allows for effective learning, thanks to Justin's clear teaching style.

In the first module of the first grade, basic open chords are explored, while in the third grade (at the beginner level) playing single strings and simple duets is taught. By the sixth intermediate grade, you will have acquired solid knowledge of barre chords, rhythmic fundamentals, lead playing, and blues guitar, and can optionally be introduced to fingerstyle, folk, funk, and jazz.

There's a lot to learn, even if not everything is mandatory. The advanced levels focus mainly on jazz techniques . However, since this section isn't yet complete, it remains exciting to see what surprises Justin still has in store.

The learning path at JustinGuitar has recently redesigned . Justin has restructured the entire course over the past few years, resulting in the re-recording of almost every lesson. Navigation within the course area is now more intuitive, and the new video content is professionally presented in crisp HD 1080p or better, using multiple camera angles. There is no animated fretboard, but each lesson is supported by detailed notes and chord diagrams where needed.

The song library

Most of us want to learn to play guitar to play our favorite songs. JustinGuitar.com doesn't disappoint here either. The song library contains over 670 songs of various tastes and difficulty levels, and new ones are constantly being added.

Some of the song videos were filmed a few years ago, but that doesn't detract from the joy of learning your favorite songs.

Note recognition & real-time feedback

These features are not included in JustinGuitar's website offering. However, they are available in the paid app version via the Google Play or Apple Store, and they deliver decent results.

Extras & Additional Features

Justin is constantly working on new course materials – advanced classes 8 and 9 are currently in development. If that's not enough, you can check out the sections on Justin's skills, where you can delve deeper into scales and modes, arpeggios, ear training, guitar kits, and more. The platform is continuously evolving.

View inside the app

Prices

A unique selling point : All the features mentioned so far are accessible free of charge via Justin's website.

In addition to the free content, Justin currently offers four premium courses: “Blues Solo Transcriptions”, “Blues Solo Guitar”, “Drumming Techniques 1 and 2”, and “Practical Music Theory”.

The first three courses are available for approximately $10 each with lifetime access. The more comprehensive music theory course costs either $9.99 per month for six months, $49.99 per year, or $99 with lifetime access – an extremely fair price-performance ratio.

The app (Android and Apple) offers lessons with note recognition and real-time feedback. The practical music theory, priced at $5.99 per month, seems like a good option for clarifying the basics in the initial stages. The Justin Guitar app also offers a monthly and yearly plan with interactive learning exercises for $9.99 per month.

Justin has successfully sold ebooks and printed textbooks in his online shop for years. New additions include a beginner's app, jam tracks, tabs/notation, and an expanded selection of merchandise. The tabs/notation are not Justin's own work but are supplied by official sources, which is why a fee applies.

Conclusion

Some time ago, it seemed as if Justin was being crushed by the pressure of his own creation. All the better that he now has a support team behind him. The revamped website looks fantastic, and the new video content far surpasses the early YouTube videos from when the Australian was still giving guitar lessons in a small London apartment.

To be fair, the production quality has been appealing for several years, but the latest course videos are simply outstanding. The site's greatest asset is undoubtedly Justin himself. His presentations are consistently knowledgeable, thoughtful, and sometimes even humorous.

As good as the instructional videos on the website are, we cannot recommend the mobile app. The apps from Yousician or Simply Guitar are a far better choice.

09 Fretello

Fretello also designed to help guitarists improve their playing technique, whether they are a rock virtuoso or a musically ambitious beginner. Its well-thought-out systems teach you scales and enhance your ability to improvise solos in all keys , based on the latest findings in musicology – a unique feature of this app.

It is recommended to practice for 20-30 minutes about three times a week. Fretello breaks down the potentially intimidating task into manageable sections and helps you establish a regular practice routine.

Even more exciting is that the app listens to you while you practice and dynamically adapts the lessons to your pace and skill level. It not only recognizes your level as a beginner, intermediate, or expert, but also uses algorithms to track your progress and personalize ongoing exercises.

How fortunate that the insolvent Linz-based guitar learning startup behind Fretello, which ultimately had to file for bankruptcy in November 2023 after a sharp decline in revenue, was saved by a restructuring plan. It would definitely have left a gap in the market for guitar learning apps.

Guitar lessons and classes

In each practice session, you'll complete a series of short exercises on sections of the pentatonic scale . After a brief speed test, the practice tempo is determined before you begin with a sequence of scale loops. Each short session lasts only a few minutes and includes learning various picking techniques and string combinations to gradually build your confidence.

speed test proved to be of little use in evaluating our guitar playing during the test. While you can manually set your preferred speed, this cannot be changed later. It can be frustrating that the difficulty level cannot be adjusted once set, even as the lessons progress. This is an area where the provider could improve.

The practice sequences are quite acceptable, provided you can already read sheet music or guitar tablature (both are provided). Learning scales is a monotonous process, but a necessary one. Practice makes perfect! The goal is to build muscle memory and improve your playing speed and skills. There's no doubt these techniques will be successful. However, the user interface feels somewhat bland, and it's not immediately clear how far you've progressed in a unit.

Note recognition & real-time feedback

Compared to more playful music training apps like Yousician, Fretello doesn't analyze your playing style, which is somewhat unusual, as the app gives the impression that it does. During one of the practice sessions, we even left the room without it being noticed. Therefore, it's questionable whether the promised dynamic feedback is actually implemented – the lessons definitely didn't seem to adapt to our playing.

At the end of each day, your ability to work with an improvised solo session to a backing track will be tested. These tracks have been chosen to complement the scales you have practiced. Although the tracks mainly consist of short loops, they are a great addition and really fun.

Practicing solos this way is definitely the most fun with Fretello and emphasizes the importance of learning scales. However, it would be desirable if the app offered more tips or advice for beginners in improvisation.

Although Fretello is designed to know what's best for the user, it would be nice to have the option to perform certain exercises independently. A "jam mode" for making optimal use of the over 120 backing tracks would be a welcome addition when you're tired of scales and just want to rock out.

The song library

Learning can be more motivating by playing your favorite songs from day one. Fretello's curriculum includes iconic tracks right from the start, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the learning experience and learn intuitively.

The song library includes bands and artists such as Queen, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Passenger, Kid Rock, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. However, with several hundred songs, the selection is rather limited compared to competitors.

Strengths and weaknesses

View inside the app

A short in-app video by the well-known rock guitarist Sophie Lloyd also provides a glimpse into the app and its most important functions:

Prices

It's worth noting that while the app itself is free, the course requires a paid subscription. A few lessons are free, after which the price increases to $19.99 per month or $119.99 per year.

Nevertheless, this is significantly cheaper than a single guitar lesson, and you can use it daily for this price. If you're unsure, we recommend trying the free sessions to see how you get on with this practice method.

Conclusion

More experienced musicians won't learn anything new with Fretello, but the app can serve as a useful and structured practice assistant. Beginners, on the other hand, can benefit from it by building confidence in reading guitar tablature and practicing scales. Improvisational playing can also be effectively practiced using scales.

Overall, the app is solid and has the potential to be a valuable training aid – however, it unfortunately does not (yet) live up to the high expectations that have been raised around it.

10 Fender Play

It's clear that the renowned guitar manufacturer Fender has launched its own online platform, featuring comprehensive learning software for both beginners and advanced players. The application, available on iOS and Android, impresses with its well-designed structure, which follows a sound pedagogical approach and is divided into increasing levels of difficulty.

As an enthusiastic Fender fan, I must confess that I appreciate the Fender Play app because it emphasizes the element of personal customization. Depending on your goals as a guitarist, Fender Play can help you achieve them successfully.

Unless you live in the remote Outback, you've probably heard of Fender – a brand with an outstanding reputation among guitar players. Even if you've never held a guitar, the name Fender will be familiar. After many decades and an undeniable influence on the music scene, the company has set itself the goal of making online guitar lessons accessible to everyone.

Guitar lessons and classes

The Fender Play mobile app serves as a reliable and comprehensive platform for anyone seeking high-quality online guitar lessons. This app is especially geared towards beginners and offers a wide range of tutorials specifically tailored to the needs of almost all users. It's also worth noting that experienced guitarists can benefit from a comprehensive selection of concise tutorials.

The lessons vary in length; some are available in shorter formats of just three minutes, while others are part of a more comprehensive course, depending on the topic. Overall, the convenient format makes learning the instrument easier and positions Fender Play as one of the best guitar training apps available. Unfortunately, the learning program is currently only available in English.

View inside the app

Whether you have two hours or just two minutes to spare, Fender Play offers lessons that can be flexibly integrated into your schedule. You'll also receive a tailored approach to track your progress and practice at your own pace.

Let's take a brief look at the first lesson :

Prices

Like many competitors, you also have the option of using a free trial period to explore the numerous features and benefits before deciding on a subscription.

After the trial period, you can choose between monthly and annual subscriptions.

The monthly plan with Fender Play costs $19.99 per month. An annual membership costs the equivalent of $12.50 per month ($149.99 annual billing) and also includes a 10% discount on all Fender instruments.

Conclusion

Thanks to Fender's excellent reputation as a trusted brand, the Fender Play app is recommended by various respected music and entertainment media outlets. Fender Play's main goal is to let you play your favorite songs instantly.

And depending on where you want to practice, it's worth noting that the application is available on multiple platforms – including smartphones, tablets, computers and Apple TV – all of which offer an optimized and user-friendly interface.

Regardless of your skill level – whether beginner or professional – Fender Play meets all the requirements of a modern learning platform for learning instruments (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, ukulele). The app provides comprehensive resources for learning to play guitar: fingerings, strumming patterns, chord tutorials, tuners, and much more are waiting to be discovered.

While I personally find the gamification element lacking at the beginner level, I think the tutorials for learning self-selected songs are exceptionally well done. The song library is enormous, with over 3,000 songs.

11 Ultimate Guitar – Tabs & Courses en masse

Originally a tab page, the app now offers a fully-fledged learning ecosystem.

Module: Interactive tabs; “Courses” from well-known YouTube teachers.

Strengths: The world's largest database of songs; integrated tools such as metronome and transposition functions.

Weaknesses: The quality of the courses varies greatly; the app is often overloaded with advertising/upselling.

Language: English (interface partially German).

12 Guitareo.com (The “real” online music school)

Guitareo belongs to the Musora group (known for Drumeo). Here, the focus is less on app-like features and more on the quality of the teachers and the depth of the course material.

Modules & Features:

The Guitareo Method: A clear 10-step curriculum that leads from the basics to mastery.

Live sessions: Regular live streams where students can ask questions of professional guitarists.

Song Library: High-quality video tutorials on songs, often focusing on the "vibe" and the correct playing technique.

Strengths and weaknesses

Language: English (main focus), some accompanying materials translated.

Guitar lessons via YouTube: What is the quality of virtual guitar teachers?

The best way to learn guitar is with video tutorials. It's no wonder, then, that YouTube is the primary platform for finding guitar lessons . Several outstanding guitar teachers are active there, most notably the popular JustinGuitar , Marty Schwartz , and Paul Davids Jack Ruch , Jens Larsen , Rick Beato , and Carl Brown also earned a respectable reputation.

The positive feedback and high view counts attest to the quality of these guitar teachers. Indeed, these tutorials clearly explain the learning content, present it in an understandable way, with great enthusiasm and excellent material. All videos are extremely professionally produced. The image quality and camera work are impeccable, and the content of the videos is also compelling.

The biggest advantage, however, is undoubtedly that content on YouTube is free. Whether it can replace structured guitar lessons beyond learning individual techniques or songs, and which guitar teacher is best suited for you, is revealed in our article " Learn Guitar for Free – Is That Possible?" or this article on Ajouré : "Learn Guitar with YouTube: How Good Are the Digital Guitar Teachers ?"

However, let me reveal this much: The structured, progressive, and interactive approach of a real guitar teacher or a learning app cannot be completely replaced by this. After all, there is no direct help available for questions or problems that suddenly arise.

Make a choice – get started – stay on the ball

Guitar learning apps are a fascinating topic in the context of new and modern learning methods. They give you the opportunity to work on your skills not only at your local music school. You can also flexibly learn, practice, and ultimately master the right chords and tricks using an app.

For hobbyists, guitar learning apps can replace traditional guitar lessons. However, if you're seriously interested in mastering the instrument, a combination of classical lessons or a professional guitar teacher and a learning app is recommended. This way, you get the best of both worlds and significantly accelerate your learning progress.

It's likely that many of the guitar apps presented will continue to evolve to offer you the best possible solution for your instrument. So it's worth staying informed about these developments.

Music educators and musicians usually recommend a combination: JustinGuitar or music2me for deep understanding, combined with Yousician or Rocksmith+ for daily routine and fun.

SimplyGuitar is the best choice for beginners, children, and families . If you already know how to play and have reached a plateau, TrueFire the top choice.

Our testing methodology and the Kunstplaza philosophy of honest test reports

Finally, we would like to share a few lines About us self-image regarding honest, helpful and authentic test reports.

Which guidelines are we committed to:

• Complete weighing of all pros and cons
• Clarification and naming of the facts
• Reliable research (two-source principle where possible) and own test run ( first-hand experience )
• Authentic opinion (if we were to use the provider ourselves)
• Dealing with user criticism from review platforms
• Naming alternatives
• Transparency regarding remuneration and financing (see affiliation note at the bottom)
• Avoidance of economic directives and dependence on the mentioned providers

About our experts

During the research phase, as product testers from the professional music sector, and as valuable advisors, we were assisted by a number of experienced guitar professionals for this article. We would like to acknowledge them here.

Harrison Alley, founder of Student of Guitar

Harrison Alley is a small business owner, passionate music lover and founder of "Student of Guitar" .

His life story clearly demonstrates how deeply rooted his love for the guitar is. His goal in founding "Student of Guitar" was to share his enthusiasm for the instrument with others. He has played guitar since his youth and enjoys leading church services in various locations.

His academic training at the renowned University of Southern California not only provided him with theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills that support him in his musical career.

Furthermore, he had the privilege of being featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times and Google Publishers, highlighting his expertise and influence in the music community.

Harrison's expert assessment:

“There has never been a better time to start learning guitar – especially considering the enormous progress these apps have made. I have spent many years working with learners who lead hectic lives, have little time to practice, and are often unsure how to even begin.”.

For many of them, the right app was the deciding factor that determined whether they gave up or continued. For beginners, Simply Guitar and Yousician are usually the first choice. Both offer a simple and interactive approach.

Simply Guitar is ideal for those who prefer a clear structure without feeling overly pressured. The learning pace is easy to follow, and the playful format encourages regular practice.

Yousician places a greater emphasis on gamification: You play along, the app listens, gives you feedback, and helps you level up. This feedback can be very motivating, especially at the beginning – particularly for players who love quick wins.

If you want to delve a little deeper into the subject, Fender Play and Guitar Tricks excellent options. Fender Play impresses with its clear user interface and solid genre selection, especially for pop, rock, and country.

Guitar Tricks has been around for a long time for good reason: its extensive teaching library focuses on songs, making learning fun. This platform gives you the freedom to develop your skills – provided you stick with it.

For advanced players, TrueFire out. The teaching quality is very high, and the depth of the courses across all musical genres is impressive. I often recommend this platform to advanced guitarists when they've reached a plateau with the basics and want to specifically develop their skills. It's less about constant instruction and more about focused skill development.

Ultimate Guitar offers a different kind of learning tool. It focuses less on traditional lessons and more on playing songs. The tablature library is vast, and the interactive features help you transition from passive learning to active music-making. This app is ideal for learners who want to work more independently or who already have some basic skills and simply want to enjoy playing.

What I particularly appreciate is that each of these apps suits a different learning style . Whether you're just starting out, returning after a long break, or looking to expand your skills, there's always a way to find a suitable routine. The key is discovering the app that sparks your enthusiasm for learning and motivates you to keep picking up your guitar. Because this consistency is the foundation for real progress.

Brian Tarquin, award-winning musician and producer

Brian Tarquin relies on an impressive array of technologies to realize his musical visions. He uses, among other things, GarageBand, Logic Pro X , Fender Pro Central , and the jAmp 8100 to ensure not only sonic finesse but also creative freedom in his projects. These software tools allow him to seamlessly translate his ideas into reality while meeting the high standards of his musical partners.

A defining characteristic of Brian's work is his close collaboration with some of the world's finest guitarists. His partners include such luminaries as Joe Satriani and Steve Morse , renowned not only for their technical virtuosity but also for their ability to convey emotion through music. Together, they collaborate on special albums that serve a meaningful purpose: to offer support and recognition to the veterans who fought for our freedom.

Furthermore, Brian Tarquin is an Emmy Award winner . His compositions have contributed to the musical scores of some of the most popular soap operas, leaving a lasting impression on the television world.