Today, a smartphone is not just a means of communication, but a full-fledged musical assistant. It can do more than just play tracks: it teaches, prompts, and adjusts to your level. And if earlier guitar lessons required a teacher and a backpack full of sheet music, now you just need one app to learn chords, tune your instrument, and even record your progress.
Digital technology is making its way into every aspect of our lives – we can track phone numbers to know where our loved ones are; we can share itineraries, listen to music, learn foreign languages and, of course, learn to play guitar. For example, the Number Tracker app is not directly related to learning music, but it helps create a relaxed atmosphere. While you are learning chords with Ultimate Guitar or Yousician, Number Tracker keeps your loved ones close – so you can focus on strumming, not worrying.
And today we would like to discuss the best apps for guitarists for all skill levels – from beginners to advanced. You’ll learn all the details: how they work, how they differ, how much they cost, and most importantly, how to use them wisely.
- Yousician – Your Personal Music Teacher
- Subscription: Free tier with limited daily use; premium starts at $9.99/month.
If you are new to guitar or need some motivation to continue your lessons, Yousician is the best choice for you. Why? Well, using this app is like having a friendly coach who never cancels a lesson. The app listens to you playing through your phone’s microphone and gives real-time feedback – praising the right notes and helping you correct the wrong ones.
Lessons are organized by skill level, from absolute beginner to intermediate and beyond. You can learn chords, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, and even music theory basics due to detailed video-tutorials and interactive exercises. At the same time, the interface of the app is game-like: you follow notes on the screen and score points in case you are accurate.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ideal for beginners and self-learners | Limited daily lessons in the free version |
| Interactive lessons with real-time feedback | Requires quiet environment and good mic sensitivity |
| Wide range of musical styles | May feel too “gamified” for traditional learners |
| Built-in goal tracking system | Some users report slower app performance on older devices |
By the way, Yousician boasts over 25 million users worldwide, which makes it one of the most popular music education apps globally. So, consider using the app and its Daily Goal feature to commit to at least 10 minutes of practice – it helps you to build momentum and makes learning feel manageable.
- Ultimate Guitar: Chords and Tabs – Song Library Tool
- Subscription: Free version available; Pro starts at ~$5.99/month or ~$39.99/year. Discounts often apply during special promos.
If Yousician is a trainer, Ultimate Guitar is a library. This app is the main resource for millions of players who want to play their favorite songs without additional difficulties and traditional notation. With over 1.5 million tablature and chords in the app, it is one of the largest collections of user-submitted and officially licensed songs available in one place.
With the app, you can search for songs by artist, song title, melody, difficulty or even by style. Once your search is complete you can access lyrics, chords, strumming schemes and even a play mode that automatically scrolls as you play – no more stopping to turn the page. And if you subscribe to the Pro version, you get interactive tabs, tempo control, transposition, and even backing tracks.
Ultimate Guitar is not designed for learning from scratch like Yousician, but it’s a powerful companion when you’re already familiar with the basics and want to practice real songs. It’s also great for learning by doing – whether you love classic rock, acoustic ballads, or indie strings.
It’s also great for learning by doing – whether you’re into rock classics, acoustic ballads, or indie strumming.
| Pros | Cons |
| Huge song library across all genres | Free version includes ads and limited features |
| Auto-scroll, chord transposing, and tone tools | Some tabs are user-made and may lack accuracy |
| Ability to filter by tuning and difficulty | Interface can be overwhelming for beginners |
Tip: Turn on Night Mode in the app if you like to play late in the evening – it reduces eye strain and keeps the focus on your frets.
- Fender Play – Structured and Professional
- Subscription: 14-day free trial, then $9.99/month. Occasionally offered free for new Fender buyers or in limited-time promotions.
If you are a person who thrives on structure and polish, Fender Play is your perfect match. The app was created by the iconic guitar brand Fender, now it offers a clean, step-by-step video course system adjusted to your learning pace. Unlike open libraries like Ultimate Guitar, Fender Play walks you through foundational skills in a guided, methodical way – with real teachers, high-quality videos, and progress tracking.
When you sign up, you should choose your instrument (guitar, bass, or ukulele), your musical style (rock, blues, folk, etc.), and also your experience level. And now – from this point – the app builds a curriculum for you. Lessons are bite-sized, which helps you stay focused, and progress is visually tracked, so you may get a little hit of satisfaction each time you complete a module.
The production value is high – clean visuals, clear audio, and no distractions. It feels like a real classroom experience, just one you can pause, rewind, and repeat anytime you want.
| Pros | Cons |
| Professional, structured video lessons | No real-time feedback on your playing |
| Personalized learning paths based on style/level | Requires more discipline to stay consistent |
| High-quality, ad-free content | Less spontaneous or exploratory than other apps |
Did you know that the Fender Play was featured by Time Magazine as one of the best inventions in music education when it launched in 2017? That is why you should trust it and consider choosing the app to boost your playing skills.
- Justin Guitar – Friendly, Free and Effective
- Subscription: Free; optional donations or paid add-ons available for extra content.
Sometimes, all you need is a teacher who speaks your language. That’s where Justin Guitar suits. Developed by Justin Sandercoe (a world-famous YouTube guitar educator) the app carries over his warm, encouraging style into a beautifully designed learning platform.
The app is free to download and here you can find hundreds of lessons, exercises, and play-along songs. It’s perfect for absolute beginners, as it emphasizes both fun and technique. Justin’s signature “One Minute Changes” exercise helps learners master chord transitions quickly, while his relaxed tone makes even tricky techniques feel available.
Well, in this app you won’t get gamified scoring or microphone-based feedback like in Yousician, but what you will get is authenticity – and an incredible amount of quality for free.
| Pros | Cons |
| 100% beginner-friendly | Fewer tools for intermediate players |
| Supportive, human teaching style | No interactive feedback system |
| Donation-based model (not forced) | Less structure compared to apps like Fender |
Lifehack: Don’t just watch the lessons – record yourself playing along with Justin’s practice sessions. Due to watching yourself later you may catch posture, finger placement, and timing issues you might miss in the moment. It is a free way to give yourself visual feedback and track your real progress over time.
Final Chord
Guitar learning no longer begins with a notebook – now it starts with an icon on the screen. The key moment here is to choose your sound and stay in tune. And technology now, like a good effects pedal, is here to just amplify your potential.
