The Best Tools to Learn Guitar

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In this article, we're going to share some of the best tools to learn guitar and ukulele. Both of these instruments are fun and great to play along with popular songs. They are also relatively easy to learn, convenient and inexpensive.

Best of all, there is a plethora of information out there about guitar and ukulele, so you are guaranteed to always have something to work on. In this article, we give you some of the best tools and resources to make your journey even more enjoyable and productive.

Whether you're trying to pick up a guitar or you are looking for something easier like a ukulele, here are some tools to help you learn at your own pace.

1. Ukulele and Guitar Coach

This unique tool is an AI-based guitar and ukulele learning app. Simply stated, this is your go-to app to learn songs as effectively and as fast as possible. It listens to you play and provides customized feedback, much like a music teacher would. With this app, you will perfect your chords, learn to keep a tight rhythm, and be able to play your favorite songs in full. You can choose whether you want to learn ukulele or guitar when you first go in the app, and then let the fun begin!

The Ukulele and Guitar Coach app comes with an education platform that helps you learn your favorite songs, one step at a time and at your own pace. Some popular songs included in the ever-growing app library are: “You Are My Sunshine” by Johnny Cash, “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum, “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac and “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones.

This app will show you how to read both chords and tabs and how to position your fingers. It will even help you transpose a song from one key to another so it is more comfortable for you to play or sing.

Additionally, the songs come with a backing track that you can play along with for a more immersive practicing experience. You also get a tuner and practice stats, with an intuitive interface that is easy and fun to use! Oh, and if you’re an iOS user, use this link to get a 1-month FREE subscription with FULL ACCESS to ALL songs!

2. A subscription at GuitarTricks.com

Be it a seasoned professional or a complete beginner, it is always important and useful to constantly polish your skills and learn new/more knowledge within your craft. GuitarTricks is the perfect place for any guitarist to do this. They have hundreds of song lessons, step-by-step courses for beginners, and even provide a video feedback feature. This allows a user to record themselves playing, submit it to a GT instructor, and get a video response with specific pointers tailored to their improvement. Sign up for their 14-day trial and get started!

3. The Metronome by Soundbrenner

Playing with a metronome is a must for any musician who wants to have a solid grasp on time and rhythm, and that is a fact!

The Metronome by Soundbrenner is an app that is designed with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. It features a wide range of tempos, different time signatures, and plenty of subdivisions.

Naturally, a metronome is used to develop accurate time when playing. This app features a metronome that Soundbrenner developed and refined for more than half a decade to run perfectly on both iOS and Android devices. Check this out if you want to find out more creative ways to use your metronome!

There is also a feature that lets you make a song playlist and set tempos/subdivision combinations for each song.

This app also gives you 20 different metronome sounds to choose from, a light or dark theme, and even a count-in so you can start on time. Soundbrenner frequently adds new updates to the app, such as their new practice tracking capabilities, so do expect lots more to come!

You can also pair this app with a Soundbrenner wearable metronome, in order to get the complete experience!

4. The Ultimate Guitar Reference Poster

This giant poster is a great tool that gives you a bird's eye view of the basics of guitar playing. You can hang it anywhere in your room and office and learn something new every day just by looking at it.

This 24” x 36” poster is easy to read and features large print with clear graphics. It comes with diagrams for 49 open chords as well as 96 movable chords. Additionally, you also get suggestions for chord fingering, including major, minor, dominant, augmented and diminished.

But that’s not all. The Ultimate Guitar Reference Poster also goes into scales and gives you the basic ones: major and minor pentatonic scales, major and natural minor scales and more. In short, a fantastic visual reference that can help you with the basics of guitar playing.

5. Music Theory: From Beginner to Expert — The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Understanding and Learning Music Theory Effortlessly

This book is a remarkable resource to learn how music works, from scratch. Basic concepts like time, rhythm, and harmony are discussed here in simple terms for anybody to understand. This book also dispels the myth that music theory is boring and for nerds.

Your understanding of music will grow exponentially once you start reading it. As a result, you will be able to learn songs faster, understand how to construct chords, and that everything in music is closely related.

6. Ukulele Underground Podcast

This is a weekly podcast that focuses on making you a better ukulele player. It features everything from basic concepts like tuning and your first chords, to more advanced techniques like tremolo and chord inversions.

This podcast is very well done and with a friendly and relaxed tone. You can go in order, or pick the topics that most appeal to you.

In each episode, you get a clear step-by-step description of how to go about that week’s topic, with advice and words of encouragement. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify as well as other popular podcasts platforms.

7. TrueFire

TrueFire is a fantastic online resource for musicians, offering tons of lessons for guitarists and a few for ukulele players. They feature interactive video lessons conducted by renowned teachers and even Grammy award-winning instrumentalists.

With TrueFire you get lessons on a variety of musical styles and at varying skill levels. Topics are also varied, and the student can find lessons that fit their instrument and skills.

Lessons come with different options such as slow motion, so you can go at your pace. Besides allowing the student to choose their instrument, topic, and level, TrueFire features an incredibly large library of lessons. Furthermore, they are constantly releasing new lessons as their popularity has led to increased demand.

These tools to learn guitar and ukulele are very well-built and offer an incredible opportunity to learn from proven methods. The information is well presented and organized, and it is now up to you to make the most out of it. Take the time to explore these tools, and remember to put in the work through dedicated practice. Have fun!