Short answer: The best app for learning guitar depends on your level. As a beginner, choose Yousician, Fender Play or JustinGuitar; as an experienced guitarist, Guitar Pro, JamPlay or Ultimate Guitar. If you are looking for a free app to learn guitar, start with JustinGuitar: many of its beginner lessons are free. Yousician has a free version with paid extras.
Summary
- With a guitar app you practice wherever and whenever you want, at your own pace, as a supplement to guitar lessons or self-study.
- Apps offer personalized lessons, instant feedback and game elements that keep you motivated.
- For beginners, Yousician, Fender Play and JustinGuitar are good choices; with a fretboard trainer you learn the notes on the neck.
- Experienced guitarists get more out of Guitar Pro, JamPlay and Ultimate Guitar.
- Apps help with chords, tabs and scales through visual and audio support.
- With the metronome and rhythm exercises in an app, you improve your timing.
- When choosing, look at lesson content, ease of use, feedback options and pricing structure.
- Combine apps with other resources, such as online lessons, YouTube tutorials and music theory.
Why learn guitar with an app?
With an app on your smartphone or tablet, your learning material is always at hand. Whether you want to practice early in the morning, late at night or on the couch in between: the app is ready. You set your own pace and your own learning path, which is handy if you want to combine guitar with a busy life. Traditional lessons are often tied to fixed times and are therefore less flexible.
Apps also offer different learning methods: video instruction, interactive exercises, playing along with songs and feedback on your playing. Many apps focus on specific skills such as chords, scales and rhythm, so you work in a structured way. In the accompanying online communities you ask questions and share experiences with other guitarists. And compared with weekly music lessons, many apps are relatively affordable, which makes them accessible to a wide audience. If you also want to practice with separate backing alongside an app, this explanation of practicing with backing tracks will help.
Game elements play a big role: points, badges, levels and an overview of your progress. That instant reward works especially well for beginners, who otherwise get discouraged more quickly by the challenges of a new instrument. You can find more tips for sticking with it in the article on staying motivated while learning guitar. A reward like this also helps children; you will find more ideas in the article on motivating kids to practice guitar.
The best apps for beginners to learn guitar
Yousician
Yousician is an interactive lesson app that listens through the microphone of your phone, tablet or computer and immediately shows whether you play the right note or chord on time. You work through a learning path of short exercises and songs, with points and levels like in a game. The app also exists for other instruments, such as piano, ukulele, bass guitar and vocals.
- Who it’s for: beginners and players who want instant feedback and a game element to stay motivated.
- Free and paid: with the free version you can practice a limited amount each day. With a paid subscription you get unlimited access to all lessons and songs.
- Keep in mind: the app mostly judges whether you play the right notes on time. It does not look at your posture and technique, so keep a critical eye on those yourself.
Fender Play
Fender Play was developed by guitar maker Fender. The structured lessons are made by professional instructors and are short and easy to follow, ideal if you have little time. You choose a music style and level, and in the library of songs and tutorials you will always find something new to learn.
JustinGuitar
JustinGuitar is the teaching program of the well-known guitar teacher Justin Sandercoe, with a website full of video lessons and its own app. You follow a fixed learning path with basic chords, simple songs and exercises, and in every lesson Justin explains why you do something a certain way. That means you also learn technique and posture, not just the right notes.
- Who it’s for: beginners who want to follow a calm, structured course and like seeing explanations from a teacher.
- Free and paid: the lessons on the website are free to follow. The app has a free part with beginner lessons and a paid subscription for more songs and extra features.
- Keep in mind: JustinGuitar is in English. If English is not your first language, the clear visuals usually get you a long way.
Fretboard trainer and tuning app
If you want to get to know the notes on the neck, a fretboard trainer helps: this kind of app has you find notes in the right place in short rounds. And don’t forget tuning: with a tuning app such as GuitarTuna you tune your guitar through your phone’s microphone. You can read how that works in the explanation of using a guitar tuner app.
Yousician or JustinGuitar: what is the difference?
Yousician and JustinGuitar are both suitable for learning guitar, but they work differently: Yousician listens and judges your playing like a game, while JustinGuitar teaches you through a teacher’s video lessons. Which one fits better depends on how you like to learn.
| Yousician | JustinGuitar | |
|---|---|---|
| Way of learning | Interactive: the app listens and gives instant feedback | Video lessons with a teacher’s explanation, plus exercises |
| Strong at | Motivation through levels, points and playing along with songs | Technique, posture and a logical build-up of the basics |
| Feedback | Automatic, on notes and timing | You judge yourself based on the explanation |
| Free | Free version with limited daily practice time | Lessons on the website free, app partly free |
| Paid | Subscription for all lessons and songs | Subscription in the app for more songs and features |
| Fits you if | You want to play quickly and like a challenge | You want to learn the basics thoroughly, step by step |
You can also combine them: learn a new chord or technique with JustinGuitar’s explanation and then practice timing with Yousician.
Advanced apps for experienced guitarists
Guitar Pro is a powerful tool for writing and learning music. You create tabs and sheet music and play them back, also at a slower tempo. That is ideal if you are working on your composition skills or want to study a tricky passage note by note.
JamPlay gives access to thousands of video lessons from professional instructors, from specific techniques to complete songs. In the active community you can connect with other musicians and get feedback on your playing.
Ultimate Guitar has a huge collection of chords and tabs for well-known songs. With the paid Pro version you get extra features, such as playing back tabs and adjusting the tempo.
Learning guitar with a free app: overview
You can start for free with an app: JustinGuitar offers many beginner lessons for free, GuitarTuna is free as a tuning app, and Yousician and Ultimate Guitar have a free version with paid extras. The table shows which app fits which goal.
| App | Suitable for | Strong at | Free to use? |
|---|---|---|---|
| JustinGuitar | Beginners | Fixed learning path with basic chords, songs and exercises | Yes, many beginner lessons are free |
| Yousician | Beginners | Listens through the microphone and gives instant feedback | Free version, paid for all features |
| Fender Play | Beginners | Short video lessons by music style and level | No, works with a subscription |
| Ultimate Guitar | All levels | Chords and tabs for well-known songs | Yes, the Pro version with extra features is paid |
| GuitarTuna | Everyone | Tuning your guitar through your phone’s microphone | Yes, as a tuning app |
With a free app you can learn your first chords and songs just fine. If you find you are practicing more often and want more lessons or songs, you can always switch to a paid version.
Learning chords, tabs and scales with an app
Understanding chords and tabs is one of the biggest challenges for many beginners. Apps show chord charts and tabs clearly, so you see exactly where your fingers should go. You can often adjust the speed and practice chords in real time while the app listens. That way you quickly see where it goes wrong and improve your technique. For an overview of apps focused on this, see the best apps for learning guitar chords.
Tabs go faster if you understand the notation yourself too. So start with reading guitar tabs, step by step. We cover apps that work specifically with tablature in the article on digital tab apps for beginners.
There are also apps for practicing scales in different keys. That trains your technique and your musical ear, and you get familiar with how music is put together. That also makes it easier to make music yourself.
Learning songs and melodies with an app
Learning to play your favorite songs is the most fun part for most guitarists. Many apps have libraries of popular songs, complete with chords and tabs adapted for beginners. So you can quickly play music you like, and that makes practicing a lot more motivating.
Some apps let you play along with the music and slow a song’s tempo down to your level. That way you are not overwhelmed by the speed or complexity of a song and the learning process stays enjoyable.
Improving rhythm and timing with an app
Many apps have a built-in metronome and rhythm exercises. Playing to a metronome feels difficult at first, but after a while you notice you have more control over your playing. You will find a step-by-step plan in learning guitar with a metronome.
Some apps combine rhythm exercises with popular songs or styles. You then practice different strumming patterns, for example, while playing along with music you like. You will find more exercises for a tight rhythm in the article on developing a sense of timing.
Practicing regularly and getting feedback with apps
Practicing regularly is the basis of progress, and an app makes that easier. Many apps have built-in practice programs, reminders or daily challenges. Whether you practice ten minutes every day or an hour a few times a week: consistency counts most. You can read how much time makes sense in how long to practice each day.
For beginners, practicing regularly helps build muscle memory and technique. Feedback is just as valuable here: apps give visual cues or audio feedback that show whether you play the right notes. Take that feedback seriously and set yourself small goals that you track in the app. That keeps you accountable and you keep growing as a musician.
Interactive features and community
Besides points, badges and levels, some apps have virtual jam sessions or online competitions where you play with or against other players. That social side is motivating, and you get to know guitarists with the same passion. In a community like that you get feedback on your playing and swap tips on techniques and songs.
Tips for choosing the right app
- Learning style: do you learn better from videos, from visual charts or by playing right away with interactive exercises? Apps that combine several methods let you discover what works for you.
- Ease of use: the interface should be intuitive, so you don’t get frustrated while practicing.
- Content: check whether the lessons and songs match your musical taste. If you love rock, choose an app with enough rock songs and techniques.
- Level: read reviews and experiences from other users to see whether an app fits your level.
- Pricing structure: some apps have a free basic version with paid premium features, others are fully paid. Choose what fits your budget.
- Trial period: try the free version or a trial period before you sign up for a subscription. That way you find out for yourself whether the app suits you, without any financial commitment.
Combine apps with other learning resources
An app is a strong tool, but you get more out of it if you combine it with other resources. On online forums guitarists share their experiences, and on YouTube you will find free tutorials on techniques and songs; see also learning guitar with YouTube tutorials. Books and e-books about guitar technique and music theory for guitarists deepen what you practice in the app.
If you value the flexibility of digital learning, also look at online guitar lessons as a supplement to your app. If you want to discover another playing style, this step-by-step guide to fingerstyle guitar will help. By combining different techniques and learning resources, you become a versatile guitarist.
Frequently asked questions about guitar apps
What are the best apps to learn guitar?
Popular choices are Yousician, Fender Play and JustinGuitar for beginners, and Guitar Pro, JamPlay and Ultimate Guitar for experienced players. With GuitarTuna you tune your guitar through your phone.
What are the benefits of learning guitar with smartphone apps?
You learn at your own pace and at any time that suits you. You have access to lots of learning material, exercises and songs, and many apps give interactive feedback so you can see your progress.
Are there free apps to learn guitar?
Yes. GuitarTuna is free to use as a tuning app and JustinGuitar offers many beginner lessons for free. Other apps have a free basic version and ask for a subscription or one-time payment for all features and lessons. The costs differ per app and type of membership.
Are paid guitar apps worth the money?
Paid versions of, for example, Yousician and Ultimate Guitar offer extensive lessons, interactive exercises and more songs. Many users find that worth it because of the quality of the lessons. Try the free version first to see whether the app suits you.
Which apps are suitable for beginners?
Yousician, Fender Play and JustinGuitar were made with beginners in mind. They work with simple instructions, basic chords, techniques and songs to practice.
Are there apps for advanced guitarists?
Yes, some apps offer lessons in complex chords, solo techniques and music theory. Guitar Pro and JamPlay are good examples.
Are the apps suitable for acoustic and electric guitar?
Most apps are suitable for both acoustic and electric guitar. The lessons and exercises can be applied to both types of guitar.
Can you learn different music styles with guitar learning apps?
Yes, many apps have lessons and songs in styles such as pop, rock, blues, jazz and classical. That way you learn techniques and chords that fit your favorite music.
Are guitar learning apps a good replacement for a guitar teacher?
Apps are a valuable supplement to traditional lessons, but some people still prefer personal guidance from a teacher. It depends on your learning style and preferences.
Do you need a real guitar to learn with an app?
Yes. Interactive apps such as Yousician listen to what you play through the microphone of your phone or tablet. With an electric guitar this works best if you play through an amplifier or connect the guitar with a cable or audio interface. Also read what an audio interface is and how to set it up.
How often should you practice with a guitar app?
Short, regular sessions work better than an occasional long one. Many apps help you with reminders and daily goals, so practicing becomes a fixed habit.
Can you learn guitar with a free app?
Yes, for the basics you can get a long way with free apps. With JustinGuitar’s free lessons you learn your first chords and songs, and with GuitarTuna you tune your guitar. Try apps with a free version, such as Yousician and Ultimate Guitar, first before you pay for extra features.
What is a good guitar lesson app for beginners?
A good guitar lesson app gives you a fixed learning path and lets you know whether you are doing it right. Yousician listens and gives instant feedback, Fender Play works with short video lessons from instructors and JustinGuitar follows a step-by-step learning path. Choose the app that fits how you like to learn.
Is Yousician free?
Yousician has a free version that lets you practice for a limited time each day. For unlimited practice and access to all lessons and songs you take a paid subscription. Try the free version first to see whether the way of learning suits you.
Is JustinGuitar free?
The lessons on the JustinGuitar website are free, including the complete beginner course. The app has a free part with beginner lessons and a paid subscription for more songs and extra features. So you can start with the basics at no cost.
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