I’ve been strumming on and off for years, but picking up a new instrument from scratch is a different beast. Simply Guitar gets that. It’s not trying to turn you into a virtuoso overnight. Instead, it treats learning like a conversation—one where the app listens to your playing and nudges you in the right direction.
No sheet music, no stress
The first thing you notice is how little it asks of you. No music theory lectures, no intimidating chord charts. You just plug in your headphones, tune up (the app helps with that too), and start with the absolute basics: how to hold a pick, where to put your fingers. The lessons are short—three to five minutes each—so you can squeeze one in during a coffee break. Each one ends with a song snippet, usually a pop or rock classic, and the app uses your phone’s microphone to check if you’re hitting the right notes. If you mess up, it pauses and waits. No judgment, just a gentle “try again.”
What surprised me was the feedback loop. It’s not just about playing the right notes; it’s about rhythm. The app highlights when you’re rushing or dragging, and it shows you a simple visual of your strumming pattern against the beat. That alone saved me from a lot of bad habits I’d picked up from YouTube tutorials. You can replay any lesson as many times as you want, and there’s a progress tracker that shows your accuracy over time. It’s oddly satisfying to see that percentage climb from 60% to 85% after a few tries.
The song library is decent, covering everything from “Wonderwall” to more modern hits. But here’s the catch: you don’t get full access to all songs without a subscription. The free version gives you a solid foundation—maybe 10 lessons and a handful of songs—but the real depth is behind a paywall. For a casual learner, the free tier might be enough for a month or two. For someone serious, the subscription is worth it, especially since it’s cheaper than a single in-person lesson.
Who’s this for? Total beginners, definitely. But also rusty players who want to clean up their technique without a teacher breathing down their neck. One tip: use it with an acoustic guitar first. The mic picks up acoustic strumming much cleaner than an electric through an amp. Give it a week of daily practice—you’ll be surprised how quickly those first few chords click.