A musician cannot live without their instrument, just as any human being cannot live without eating or sleeping. The same is largely true for guitarists; it's their livelihood or their hobby. Through smartphones, we can maintain the instrument's chords or learn new melodies, since we have access to an infinite number of resources. guitar apps in the shop.
This is useful both for musicians with years of experience and practice, and for those curious to begin exploring the wonderful world of stringed instruments. Thanks to these tools, you can turn your mobile phone into a personal guitar teacherLearn chords from scratch, improve your technique, tune accurately, study music theory, practice with a metronome, discover new songs, and even simulate a complete set of amps and pedals.
In this article you will find a very complete guide with Apps for learning guitar, tuning, practicing chords, reading tablature, and training your earWe'll keep all the apps from the original article and add many more popular and highly rated options from the guitar community. The idea is that you can create your own digital learning ecosystem, combining various apps based on your skill level, musical style, and available time.
Let's review some tools for become better guitaristsGrouping the apps into four main categories to make it easier for you to choose:
- Course-type apps: step-by-step guided classes with videos, exercises and follow-up.
- Chord, tab, and lyric apps: to play real songs and learn repertoire.
- Tuners, metronomes and tools: so that your guitar always sounds good and you play in time.
- Simulators, effects and creative apps: to experiment with sounds and record your ideas.
Course-type apps: learn to play from scratch or improve your technique
The following applications function as a structured guitar courseThey are ideal if you are starting from scratch or if you already know something but want to follow a clear path: progressive levels, quality videos, exercises, graded songs and, in many cases, feedback in real time about how you're playing.
Simply Guitar
Simply Guitar has become one of the world's leading resources for anyone who wants Learn guitar from scratch using your mobile phoneIt proposes a method created by music teachers which combines step-by-step lessons, high-quality videos, and practice with real songs.
The app listens to what you play through the phone's microphone and gives you immediate feedbackIt detects if you're playing the correct notes, if the rhythm is right, and tells you where to correct your mistakes. This makes practicing much more effective because you're not unconsciously repeating mistakes, but correcting them as you go.
The topics covered in Simply Guitar include fundamental aspects for any guitarist:
- Guitar fundamentals: posture, how to hold the pick, how to correctly pluck the strings.
- Reading tablature: so you can follow any standard internet tab.
- Basic chords and chord changesIntensive work on transitions, key to being able to accompany songs.
- Strumming techniques: different rhythmic patterns applied to varied styles.
- Technique exercises: to improve accuracy, finger strength and left-right hand coordination.
- Exercises with songsYou play familiar songs adapted to your level to keep motivation high.
Also includes a integrated professional tuner So you can tune your guitar without needing another external app. It also tracks your progress, sets goals, and lets you practice at your own pace—perfect if you only have a few minutes a day.
The team behind it, Simply (formerly JoyTunes), is known for other educational music apps like Simply Piano and Piano Maestro, highly recommended by conservatory and music school teachers. This translates into a very careful didactic design and in which each lesson has a clear objective.
The most interesting thing is that, although you can start without any experience, it's also useful for downstream users Because it allows you to work on technique, precision, and repertoire in a guided way. If you're looking for a "complete course" app with a modern approach, it's an option to seriously consider.
Yousician
Is one of the top guitar apps to learn new chords and melodies to practice. Its content is designed by expert music teachers, so its quality is among the best you can find. Sample video tutorials and tips to keep in mind for learning tricks, with levels for all types of musicians, whether you're a beginner or advanced user. Includes sheet music, classical music pieces, and the latest pop songs.
One of its strengths is that it's not just focused on guitar; it also offers content for bass, ukulele and pianoTherefore, it's very interesting if you enjoy switching between instruments or if you want a better understanding of music as a whole. Its approach is based on short lessons, practical exercises, and a gamification system with points, achievements, and weekly challenges that keep motivation high.
As you play, Yousician listens through your phone's microphone and tells you if you've hit the right string, if the chord sounds clean, or if you're out of time. This turns each session into a kind of interactive classWhere You correct errors instantly instead of consolidating them without realizing it.
Also has complete songs And not just isolated exercises, which allows you to apply what you're learning to real-world situations. You can filter by style, level, and the type of technique you want to work on (arpeggios, strumming, simple solos, etc.).
Learn to play guitar
This application has over 500 video tutorials in Spanish with lessons for practicing the guitar. It has content for all types of stringed instruments, whether it's the Spanish, electric, acoustic guitar, among others. It has a metronome to measure musical times and a planner of the classes and our learning time. You can also share your progress with your friends and family so they can see your evolution.
It's especially interesting if you're looking for content in Spanish And you prefer to follow "traditional course" style lessons but from your mobile phone. The classes cover everything from the most basic concepts (names of the strings, how to hold the instrument, first chords) to more advanced aspects such as arpeggios, varied rhythms and short solos.
Because it's structured into many videos, you can focus on the points you find most difficult and Repeat the lessons as many times as you need.Its low data consumption and the ability to organize your own study plan make it a useful tool for studying at your own pace, without pressure.
Free guitar course
Although it's not one of the most well-known apps, Free guitar course It's a very solid option if you want a structured course without a subscription fee. It includes more from 350 videos free access that total more than 30 hours of guitar lessons, from beginner to advanced level.
The concepts he teaches apply to both Spanish guitar such as acoustic and electric, which is very useful if you alternate instruments or aren't sure which one to stick with. Its sections include:
- Basic lessons open chords, simple rhythms, and easy songs.
- Guitar riffs to work on precision, finger strength and muscle memory.
- A section focused on guitar rhythms and accompaniments.
- Section dedicated to sounds, effects and pedals of electric guitar.
If you're looking for an app that combines real technique and practice with riffs and songsIt is a perfect complement to other more theoretical applications or those focused solely on chords.
Justin Guitar – Course and Songs
Justin Sandercoe He's one of the best-known guitar teachers on the internet, with millions of followers on his website and YouTube channel. His app brings all that content into a more organized format, with structured courses and songs adapted to different levels.
Justin Guitar combines crystal-clear video lessons with practical exercises, self-assessment quizzes, and a system for measure your progress Over time. You work from the basic open chordsFrom chord changes and strumming patterns to more advanced techniques and styles such as rock, country, R&B or pop.
One very useful point is that it includes specific challengesFeatures like quick chord changes help you improve in the areas that most often trip up beginners. It also has a simple and reliable built-in tuner so you're always ready to play.
The interface is clean, the lyrics and chords adapt well to the mobile screen, and the accompaniments in mode play-along They make practicing entire songs feel very natural.
Guitar Lessons by GuitarTricks
This app offers one of the best experiences when it comes to learn to play guitar with a methodIt's a very intuitive program that lets you learn step-by-step from your electronic device. It includes videos and lessons, and it tracks your learning. It also allows you to see the... basic guitar fundamentals with various levels of learning and simple songs, for both beginners and more advanced users.
The main course is taught by the instructor Chris Liepe and condenses more than 4 hours of video in about 90 very focused lessons. You can adjust speed Use the videos to review passages that you find difficult or to accelerate what you already master.
A major advantage is that many of its lessons and features can be used No internet connectionSo you can practice anywhere. The app is part of the GuitarTricks platform, with thousands of lessons and songs, making it ideal if you want a tool to accompany you for several years of learning.
Apps for chords, lyrics, tablature, and song practice
Once you've mastered the basic chords and some rhythms, what's most motivating is play real songsThe following applications focus on chords, tablature, and repertoire, so you can apply everything you've learned and expand your song library.
Basic Guitar Chords
Interactive, real-time videos with lessons for learning melodies, demonstrating the correct movements on the strings. Their training program focuses on all aspects of instrument practice, both in finger coordination as well as the position of the chords when playing them. It includes all existing chord levels for the guitar, playing all the notes in the score.
This type of app is very useful as quick referenceWhen you can't remember how to play a chord, you open the app and see the exact position of each finger, which strings are played open, which frets to press, and in many cases, you can hear the chord to check if you're playing it correctly.
Learn Guitar Chords
Another guitar app that lets you learn chords in a fun and educational way. What stands out most about this app is that it displays a panel simulating the... guitar stringsdifferentiated by colors and with the option to touch them on screen, to check the exact chord and reproduce it on the instrument.
This visual and sonic approach is perfect if you're at that stage where you know some chords but are still unsure about the correct finger position Or you struggle to remember certain variations (major, minor, seventh chords, etc.). By being able to play the strings on screen and hear the result, you have a clear reference for the sound you should be able to produce on a real guitar.
Guitar Chords & Lyrics
Learning the basic guitar chords is just as important as putting that learning into practice on a guitar. lyrics of a songThere's plenty of content like this in one of the guitar apps that has thousands and thousands of transcriptions of the most popular musical styles in Spain, and also includes... offline practices of these letters, although it is only available in the paid version.
This app is especially useful if you often play at gatherings, parties, or masses, as it allows you to always have it on hand. complete songbooks with lyrics and chords. Many users appreciate that the transcriptions are adapted to real-world usage in Spanish, with common tones and capos.
Smart Chords & tools
It's one of those guitar apps that every guitar lover should have on their Android device. It contains all kinds of tools, not only for learning but also for... usage while we play The instrument. It has up to a million chords, but also includes a metronome and sample melodies to listen to. progressive chords and a list of song lyrics to play.
In addition, it integrates very useful functions for musicians of all levels:
- Un sintonizador precise for tuning different types of guitars and other instruments.
- Un circle of fifths interactive to better understand harmony and tones.
- Tools for chord progressions, ideal for composing or improvising.
- A way to fingerpicking trainer to improve your finger technique.
It's one of those "all-in-one" apps that's worth having installed because it serves as musical Swiss Army knifeWhether you're studying, composing, or playing live, one of its functions will come in handy.
Ultimate Guitar
The Ultimate Guitar app is based on the well-known platform of song tablatures and chordsTherefore, it's essential if you want to have the chords to the most popular songs of the moment. It has a total of hundreds of thousands of tabs and chordsSo it'll be hard not to find a song in this app. The app itself is free, and it will show us all the tablature for free, although it includes some very useful extra features that we'll want over time and for which we'll have to pay, but they're truly worth it.
Among these advanced features, the following stand out:
- Integrated player of audio and backing tracks to practice on top.
- possibility of change the tone of the song to adapt it to your vocal range or the tuning of your guitar.
- Mode offline to save your favorite tabs and use them offline.
- A built-in tuner and metronome.
The Ultimate Guitar community uploads new tablatures daily, and users can vote and comment, making it easy to find the versions with better accuracyIt's an ideal tool whether you're a beginner and want to play your first simple songs, or an advanced player looking for transcriptions of complex solos.
Songsterr Guitar Tabs & Chords
Songsterr is another great alternative focused on tablatures and chordswith a library of more than half a million tabsUnlike other platforms, Songsterr focuses on a animated tablature player which shows in real time what should be played, note by note.
This has several clear advantages:
- You hear a very realistic sound of the guitar while you follow the tab.
- You can control speed, ideal for learning complicated solos step by step.
- It includes a loop mode to repeat a specific section until it comes out perfect.
In addition, Songsterr also incorporates the possibility of tune the instrument It also offers offline mode for many of its functions. This is very useful if you prefer to learn visually by watching the music "move" on the fretboard rather than reading static tablature.
Real guitar
Real Guitar is the app you'll need if you want your smartphone to be able to replace any guitar bookIt has two outstanding features. The first is its comprehensive library of different chords, in various notes and scales, and in all their variations. Selecting each chord displays how it's played on the guitar, making it an essential app to have on your smartphone when learning to play guitar or new chords.
On the other hand, we can also play one of these chords to hear how they normally sound, so we can tell if we're playing them correctly with the real guitar or not. It's a free app, although it does have ads that we can disable through in-app purchases. By the way, it includes a couple of guitars, so we can customize sound and the different options of the application.
Real Guitar - Guitar
It's funny that the app has the same name, but you know how many developers use similar names in the app store to gain popularity. And in this case, the two apps have a similar name. However, they are different apps. While the previous one was useful for learning chords and playing them, this app is designed to be used as... portable guitar.
We'll be able to play the whole guitar, and we're even given the option to record what we have played to listen to it later. There are three types of guitars: acoustic, electric, and distortion; and two modes: solo and chords. The audio quality is good, even if you want to record it to later have a fairly complete song. The app is also free, although it includes in-app purchases.
Walk band
Walk Band is one of the apps most similar to GarageBand which we can find for Android, and it features a large number of instruments, including the guitar, as well as the piano and drums, to name a few. We can record what we play on the smartphone, but in addition to that, we can also record other instruments to accompany us when we play the guitar.
This way we can simulate that we have a full brass band...when in reality it's just us alone. It's a very comprehensive option if you're learning to play an instrument, because it helps you understand how the guitar fits with the rest of the instrumentation and encourages you to work on the rhythm and coordination.
Guitar tuning apps: essential for sounding good
No course app or song repertoire will be of much use if your guitar isn't there. well tunedFortunately, nowadays a mobile phone can become a professional precision tunerwith chromatic modes, alternative tunings, and visual aids for beginners.
Guitar tuner -App for guitar
Every good musician needs to tune his instrument, and every good guitarist must tune his guitar. Especially when it has not been used for a while, it is the ideal time to review its pegs. This tuner is a complete program for the guitar to emit the best sound. It works through the microphone, where it recognizes the sound emitted by each string and detects how much we must turn each peg.
These types of tuners usually offer guided modesThese modes include two types: one where the app tells you which string to play and visually indicates whether you're above or below the target note, and more advanced chromatic modes that recognize any note you play. They're perfect for acoustic and electric guitars, as well as ukuleles and other stringed instruments.
Tuner - Guitar App
Very minimalist interface and a very lightweight app in terms of storage space. Its system is similar to the previous app, although somewhat less visual. It displays the measured intensity in hertz, determining whether the string is properly adjusted or not.
It's a customizable aspect, more to the musician's taste, but it also has several tuning modes depending on the type of music you want to play. If you're interested in understanding the technical aspects of sound and like seeing precise numerical data, you'll find this tool particularly appealing.
Guitar Tuner Pro
In the last of the guitar apps, you define the type of tuning according to the type of guitar which we are dealing with. It works as a fairly effective chromatic tuner, with a massive library of over 100 types of tuningsWhether looking for higher or lower sounds, we have the option to create a custom profile with our preferred frequency and notation.
It's ideal if you want to experiment with open tuningsDrop tunings or special configurations for styles like metal, slide blues, or folk. Being able to save your own custom tunings is also very useful if you switch between different projects or repertoires.
Chromatic Guitar Tuner
Chromatic Guitar Tuner (translated into Spanish as Free Chromatic Tuner) is an app that not only allows you to tune your guitar but also other stringed instruments such as the bass or the ukulele.
The great thing about Chromatic Guitar Tuner is that it lets you tune with a lot of precisionIt even uses a virtual tuning fork, as if you had one in your hand, with many options and ways to handle tuning. It's very comprehensive and adapts to both users who want quick tuning and those who want a more precise setup. more technical control of process.
Chords Club
The Cifra Club Tuner is a tuner that we especially like, since adapts to all types of usersFrom beginner to expert. It allows the chromatic tuning that the previous app allowed, but it also allows a more guided tuning Designed for beginners and to prevent string breakage. It's available for smartwatches, so you won't even need to take out your phone.
In addition, an extra feature that Android users often appreciate is that you can personalize it with themesIt's not that it was specifically designed for that, but for a tuner, it's a surprising and appreciated feature. It's part of the Cifra Club ecosystem, which also includes apps with chords and songs, so you can use several of its resources together for practicing.
Free Guitar Tuner - Fender Tune
Fender is one of the most classic and famous guitar brands in the world, and they themselves ventured to release a free guitar tunerFender Tune has always been one of the easiest to use and continues in that vein, but it has also incorporated a mode for chromatic tuner, like the rest of its competitors on the Play Store.
As soon as you touch a string, it will tell you the perfect pitch for each note. It combines simplicity and effectiveness, with modes designed for both beginners (guided string-by-string tuning) and advanced guitarists who want to quickly adjust alternative tunings.
gStrings
gStrings was one of the first popular tuners for Android and, years later, after more than ten million downloads, it's still going strong. With options for multiple instruments And with its highly accurate tuner, gStrings continues to position itself as one of the most beloved apps by users.
It offers highly customizable tuning modes, the ability to change the frequency reference (for example, from 440 Hz to 432 Hz), and different views for users who want more or less technical information. It's a very reliable tuning tool, suitable for guitarists, violinists, bassists, and ukulele players alike.
Guitar tuna
This is one of the world's most popular tuners and practice apps, with millions of downloads and excellent reviews on the Play Store. Guitar tuna has more available 100 different tuningseven of the lesser-known instruments. You can access their tutorials on how to play certain songsMetronome, chord practice options, training games, and much more.
Also includes Noise Cancellation This allows you to tune and practice in almost any environment without too much interference from ambient noise. Its combination of a professional precision tuner, mini-games for learning chords, and practice tools makes it an almost indispensable app on any guitarist's phone.
GuitarTuna
It's a good guitar tuner that works for electric, acoustic, flamenco guitars, and even ukuleles. However, the best thing about it is that it includes some really useful mini-games that will surprise you. These minigames have various objectives. For example, they can teach you chords or different chord diagrams. They also teach you to detect chords by ear, or play the chords on your guitar from memory.
Some of these minigames require a guitar to play, while others, like the one for learning chords by ear, do not. The app is free and is one of the most comprehensive you'll find, ideal for combining tuning, basic theory, and ear training in a single tool.
Supporting apps: metronomes, ear training, and virtual equipment
In addition to apps for courses, repertoire, and tuning, there are other tools that make a difference in your progress as a guitarist: advanced metronomesapps for train the ear and amp and pedal simulators to experiment with professional sounds from home.
Metronome: Tempo
What would a good musician be without a metronomeTo learn to play good music, you first need to learn to do so in perfect time, and for that, there's no better aid than a good metronome. However, you no longer have to spend money on a physical device; you can carry a remarkably complete one on your smartphone, as is the case with this Metronome: Tempo.
You choose the timeYou input the different subdivisions and rhythmic patterns you want to follow, and the metronome will keep the beat both visually and audibly. This app also has a free version and is one of the most popular on both iOS and Android.
Working with a metronome from the early stages helps you develop a solid sense of timeThis is something you'll notice when playing with other musicians or over backing tracks. You can also save tempo presets for specific songs and use them for rhythm guitar, technique exercises, or solos.
Perfect Ear 2
Although it's not a specific app for teaching you how to play guitar, Perfect Ear 2 It's a perfect complement for any musician because it's designed for sharpen your earIts objective is to develop skills that facilitate the process of composition, improvisation and even song transcriptions.
The app is organized into sections such as:
- Scales and intervals: to recognize distances between musical notes and patterns.
- Rhythm: exercises in reading and reproducing rhythmic patterns.
- Melodic dictation y chord recognition: to train the ear to identify progressions and melodies.
Perfect Ear 2 includes multiple practical exercises which you can repeat daily and which will help you improve progressively. If you also want to learn something about sol-fa and music theory, it is one of the most complete and flexible apps you can use alongside your guitar apps.
amplifier
amplifier It's a different app from the rest on this list: it's not a course or a tuner, but a all-in-one tone study For guitar. It allows you to create and customize a complete virtual rig with amplifiers, cabinets, effects pedals, and microphones, all within your mobile phone or computer.
It's designed primarily for guitarists with some experience, but it's also ideal if you're starting out and want to discover how each piece of equipment influences your sound. With Amplitube you can:
- Experiment with virtual amplifiers inspired by classic models.
- Try different pedal effects (distortions, delays, reverbs, chorus…).
- Use collections of equipment inspired by famous guitarists like Slash or Joe Satriani.
- Record your ideas and practice with sound from study quality.
To get the most out of it, it usually requires a hardware interface such as iRig which connects the guitar to the device. Once set up, it becomes a powerful tool for both practicing and learning about different equipment configurations and how they affect your tone.
How to combine all these apps to learn guitar faster
With so many options available it's easy to get lost, but a good strategy consists of combine several apps according to their function to cover all aspects of learning:
- Choose a main course-type app (Simply Guitar, Yousician, Justin Guitar, GuitarTricks) and follow it consistently several times a week.
- Usa chord and tab apps (Basic Chords, Learn Chords, Ultimate Guitar, Songsterr, Lyrics and Chords) to work on songs that motivate you.
- Always have a a good tuner and a metronome (Guitar Tuna, Fender Tune, gStrings, Metronome: Tempo) and use them in every practice.
- Strengthen your general education with auditory training and theory (Perfect Ear 2, Smart Chords & tools, Cifra Club) a few minutes a day.
- If you already have some skill level, explore simulators and multi-effects like Amplitube or apps like Walk Band to record yourself and play along with backing tracks.
Used consistently, these apps turn your mobile into a real command center for learning guitarA teacher in your pocket, a tuner always at hand, an endless songbook, and a mini recording studio. Choose the ones that best suit your needs, set a realistic schedule, and enjoy watching your hands, your ear, and your musicality transform day by day in front of the six strings.