Explore the Best Apps to Learn Guitar

With a smartphone in hand, you have a complete guitar classroom at your fingertips. Let's look at the essential apps and how to use them to get the most out of them.

Cifra Club: Your Song Library

• Platforms: iOS, Android, web.
• Key Features:
  • Millions of animated numbers and tablatures.
  • Step-by-step educational videos on chords and rhythms.
  • “Play with Band” mode: changes tempo and key.
• How to use it:
  1. Search for your favorite song.
  2. Activate the animated figure.
  3. Slow down to 50 % to learn slowly.
  4. Progressively move up to 100 % as you master each section.

With Cifra Club, you go from “What was it like?” to “That’s it!” in record time.

Ultimate Guitar: Chords & Tabs

• Interactive tabs: clear fret numbers, colors that indicate if you miss the beat.
• Segment loop: repeat four bars as needed.
• Active community: user-simplified versions.
• Pro tip: Save your songs to “My Library” and create playlists for practice sessions.

It is ideal for those who want to play guitar solos or bass lines with ease.

Yousician: Real-Time Teacher

• Instant feedback: Your cell phone “hears” your guitar and marks hits/misses.
• Gamification: points, medals, leaderboards.
• Coverage: chords, scales, theory and rhythms.
• How to get the most out of it:
  • Log in daily to unlock new lessons.
  • Complete speed and accuracy challenges.
  • Review weekly performance statistics.

Yousician turns your practice into a game, I can even bet you'll get hooked!

Fender Play: Personalized Study Plan

• Styles: rock, folk, country, pop.
• Video lessons: clear instructions and practical exercises.
• Weekly Challenges: keeps motivation high.
• Method of use:
  1. Assess your initial level with a quick test.
  2. Follow the recommended learning path.
  3. Complete this week's exercises and check your progress on the dashboard.

Fender Play is perfect for those looking for a structured route without losing flexibility.

JustinGuitar: Classic and Free

• Resources: +1,000 lessons on YouTube and the web.
• Proven method: backed by thousands of instructors.
• Extra material: backing tracks, chord sheets, support forums.
• Recommendation:
  • Start with lessons for complete beginners.
  • Advance to full song packs.
  • Use the backing tracks to practice timing.

If you're on a budget, JustinGuitar is pure gold.

Complementary Apps

• GuitarTuna: precise tuner and metronome.
• Chord Tracker: automatically detects chords from any audio.
• Songsterr: tablatures with playback for each instrument.
• Amplitube or JamUp: amp and effects simulators for electric guitar.

Recommended 15 min routine

1. Yousician (5 min) to warm up and correct posture.
2. Cifra Club (5 min) to learn chords in songs.
3. GuitarTuna + Songsterr (5 min) to tune and practice solos.

This way you integrate theory, practice, tuning and technique into each session.