The future of music

Guitar Tricks Review: Is it Actually Good?

December 29, 2023
Guitar Tricks review

Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review.

Key takeaways:

  • Is Guitar Tricks any good? Yes, I highly recommend Guitar Tricks as a course to learn how to play guitar online. It’s suitable for all skill levels as it offers and teaches a wide variety of guitar fundamentals and skills.
  • How much does Guitar Tricks cost? A monthly plan with Guitar Tricks will cost you $19.95 per month. The annual membership is $179.99. They also offer a 14-day free trial.
  • Over 11,000+ video lessons
  • Overall personal rating is 5/5.

If you’re looking for a quick answer, I strongly recommend Guitar Tricks to guitar players of all skill levels. It’s the best platform in terms of comprehensiveness, with over 11,000 video lessons and new ones added daily. Give their free trial a go below.

Ok, let’s get stuck into the review!

It has never been easier to learn how to play the guitar by yourself.

With the progress of online music lessons, you can easily gain basic guitar skills in a fun, effective, and very convenient way.

Guitar Tricks will offer you that and much more – its popular online guitar lessons provide a well-structured, comprehensive music curriculum.

This Guitar Tricks review will show you the platform’s features and introduce you to the content, as well as point out its pros and cons.

So, keep reading to find out why Guitar Tricks got so popular and whether it’s something you’re looking for.

Guitar Tricks Overview

Guitar Tricks offers comprehensive, in-depth guitar lessons. It combines modern learning tools and an interactive teacher’s approach to help you gain core guitar skills.

The platform was founded in 1998 and has gone on to teach well over a million users how to play the guitar. Their lessons cover acoustic and electric instruments, (including 6 & 7 strings and even bass guitar), covering a variety of playing styles.

The curriculum is award-winning and developed with beginners in mind. The course content is extensive and delivered by talented, friendly professionals.

Guitar Tricks has numerous helpful features and benefits that make this program stand out from a rich marketplace of online music lessons.

Why Guitar Tricks?

Guitar Tricks is a program tailored for people of all skill levels. So, whether you’re a first-time beginner or a seasoned player who wants to work on a particular style, Guitar Tricks will meet your needs.

Also, the content is delivered with great production quality, which then affects the quality of your learning. It’s a thoughtfully designed platform that knows its audience.

Guitar Tricks review

Also, programs like Guitar Tricks can compete with traditional music lessons, which proves their worth, and also indicates the rising demand for online lessons.

That’s no surprise since online courses bring many benefits – learning from the comfort of your home, affordable price, and flexible schedule are just some of them.

All things considered, it’s definitely worth giving it a shot. And to give you a better idea of what to expect, I’ll now tell you how Guitar Tricks really works.

Guitar Tricks Features

The Guitar Tricks website is fresh-looking and really easy to navigate.

The app version is also easy to use and has a similar design. The dashboard provides the lessons under ‘songs, lessons, and styles’ headings and the videos have the same quality as the web provides.

When you log in to your account, you’ll also be able to choose from different level-based categories. Each category contains appropriate lesson plans and plenty of accompanying features.

New tutorials are being added frequently, so you’ll always have fresh material to learn from.

Content

Guitar Tricks offers a large number of lessons. In fact, the Full Access membership provides 11,000+ video lessons and a catalog of 1,000 songs.

The platform also offers 24 free guitar lessons – they are a great way to check out the program and its methods.

And once you become a member, you can start with your learning path. Lessons are well-structured and linear, but you can complete them at your own pace.

The Beginner Lessons will, of course, teach you all the important basic areas of playing the guitar.

No previous knowledge is required, so it’s a guide for absolute beginners. Eventually, you’ll learn all about scales, reading music, chords, and a basic song structure.

Guitar Tricks learning pathways.

As you progress through Experienced Lessons, you’ll be introduced to more advanced techniques and your sound will start to become more powerful.

The technical content covers the more basic strumming up to tapping and touching and some pretty complex sweeps. There are even lessons focused on specific elements like bottle-neck slide use and how to handle your whammy bar.

So there is plenty to explore if you already have your chords down and don’t want to start at the very beginning.

Of course, there’s also a huge song library to choose from, so you can always move to song tutorials suitable for your level.

Video Lessons Features

Guitar Tricks videos are made with high quality and contain great features. They demonstrate two angles at all times and show a close-up shot of each hand on the display.

Some of the lessons have chord diagrams displayed where necessary and others have full-on scrolling tabs that are synced to the video playback.

The sound is also impeccable so you’ll hear the instructor and the guitar without any hitches.

On top of that, you can adjust the speed and use the AB loop function to pick a part of the video and play it on a loop until you’ve mastered something tricky.

Genres

A variety of genres is one of Guitar Tricks’ key highlights. There are instructors specialized in each style, and you can also search for lessons based on genre.

Bluegrass, jazz, surf, rock, and metal are just some of the styles you can choose from. And although metal or rock courses are more extensive than, for example, surf style, it’s really nice to have this variety and learn how to play some hidden gems.

Guitar styles offered on Guitar Tricks.

There’s also a nice addition of Artist Inspiration Series which teaches styles and techniques by popular artists. It includes plenty of greats to choose from, such as B.B King, Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayer.

And as they say on the Guitar Tricks site: “Stylistic and regional differences in guitar technique can lend a fresh perspective to your playing.”

Core Learning System

The Guitar Tricks curriculum is based on the Core Learning System. With this linear method of learning, you’ll be gradually improving your playing and bringing your skills to another level.

Courses are self-paced, so you don’t have to rush. Take your time to really master the basics – it’s the only way if you want to learn how to play songs without difficulty.

The guitar fundamentals are broken into two separate levels. If you’re completely new to the guitar you can start with guitar fundamentals level 1. The course progresses steadily to guitar fundamentals 2 where you’ll be introduced to reading music.

I definitely encourage you to learn to read music. If you’re familiar with tablature, you can play whatever you want outside of Guitar Tricks.

Moreover, you’ll be able to learn new material more quickly. So, if you want to become a skilled musician, reading music is a must.

Guitar Tricks Core Learning System.

Different styles are played on different levels, so you may want to work your way through the blues, rock, and country sections to gain a wider knowledge. The speed is kicked up a notch to help you build as a player.

By the end of the Core Learning System, you should be able to follow any of the thousands of songs available to you.

Instructors

A variety of skilled instructors are contributing to the platform, each with their own expertise. It’s great that you can learn from someone who is a professional in a particular style.

You can learn all about them in the Instructors section once you log in.

You’ll find out that some of them worked with some familiar names. Anders Mouridsen has performed with Taylor Swift and Pink, and Sharon Aguilar is known as a guitarist for Cee Lo Green.

Guitar Tricks instructors.

But more importantly, they are all knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to help you achieve your goals.

One of Guitar Tricks’ great benefits is the possibility to have individual lessons. Although instructors can provide you with feedback, one-on-one lessons are a completely different way of learning.

It’s an amazing opportunity to communicate with someone professional and inspiring, and you’ll also get personalized feedback and advice to improve your playing.

Extras

On the website’s homepage, there’s a Toolbox tab. It contains useful online tools such as a scale finder, metronome, chord finder, reference tuner, and a fretboard trainer.

The Progress section keeps a history of your completed lessons and songs. It’s a nice way to keep track of your progress. There is also the last lesson button for you to go back to what you were previously learning.

All these extra tools can come in very handy in the learning process. It’s where online programs take advantage of modern technology and bring you the best resources to help you learn the material more easily and quickly.

Guitar Tricks' toolbox section.

Community

Like all the best online guitar lessons, Guitar Tricks pays attention to building a strong community.

The platform’s YouTube Channel keeps updating its material and bringing free guitar tutorials for you to check out. It’s also a nice way of meeting the instructors and their teaching style before becoming a member.

You can find the official blog in the News tab. It’s a convenient source of announcements, new tutorials, and various guitar-related content.

There is also a very active forum, where you can discuss everything from guitar basics to songwriting and recording. Subscription users can ask the instructors questions directly within their dedicated forum areas and even request future song lessons as well.

Free Trial

The Guitar Tricks platform offers a free 14-day trial. This gives you the opportunity to test out the features for yourself and get to grips with how it works. If you utilize your time wisely throughout the trial period you should get a good idea of how well it is going to work for you.

After the 14-day period ends they will automatically take the first payment and you will be an officially subscribed user. There’s also a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Pros and Cons

To summarize our thoughts on Guitar Tricks, I’ve made a list of the program’s pros and cons.

Pros

  • Extensive content A large number of lessons allows you to get an in-depth knowledge of all important areas of playing the guitar. Moreover, the content is frequently updated, so there’s always something new to learn from.
  • Variety of styles – Unlike some music platforms that stick to popular songs and several different genres, Guitar Tricks offers an array of styles (from major hits to more marginalized genres like surf).
  • Team of instructors – When there’s a big team of skilled teachers, you’ll have the possibility to learn more specific styles and techniques as each one of them has its own strengths. All teachers are talented and approachable, and some of them have worked with some big names in the music industry.
  • One-on-one lessons – An option to arrange private online guitar lessons with a Guitar Tricks instructor is really valuable and beneficial for your progress.
  • Extra tools – A variety of modern online tools will make your learning process versatile and fun.

Cons

  • Might be overwhelming In an attempt to find a disadvantage, I believe the amount of content, lessons, and tabs can be a bit overwhelming for some beginners who prefer a short and simple course. However, this really depends on your goals – if you don’t want to apply yourself and invest time in lessons, Guitar Tricks might not be for you.

Factors to Consider When Deciding if Guitar Tricks is Right for You

If you’re still wondering if Guitar Tricks is a good option for you, let’s take a look at some of the factors that might affect your decision.

Lesson quality

Guitar Tricks is known for its quality content. Lessons have great production quality, and the app is well-designed and easy to use. The app has useful features that make learning easier and more enjoyable. And the material is very comprehensible and suitable both for beginners and experienced learners.

Structure and curriculum

Guitar Tricks lessons are linear, but you can complete them at your own pace. You can choose from different learning paths and, therefore, focus on the style or technique you’re interested in.

The whole Guitar Tricks program is well-rounded and it covers a wide range of styles, concepts, playing techniques, and music genres.

Platforms and devices

Guitar Tricks works on multiple devices. You can access it on your computer or via the Guitar Tricks available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Songs

Guitar Tricks has an extensive song library with over 1,000 songs. The library covers all kinds of music genres and songs, from popular hits to lesser-known tunes. You can browse through pop, surf, metal, blues, acoustic, and much more.

All song tutorials are broken into sections so you can learn them step-by-step, and some songs are simplified to the basic chords.

Price

Guitar Tricks offers a monthly subscription ($19.95/month) and an annual membership ($179.99/year). They also offer a number of free lessons as well as a free 14-day trial.

And if you’re not satisfied with the program, there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Extra Features

Guitar Tricks offers numerous tools and features. For example, in the Toolbox section, you can find scale finder, metronome, chord finder, reference tuner, and so on. All these extra options will enrich your learning experience and make the whole process easier.

Who is Guitar Tricks For?

Guitar Tricks is for people of all levels and ages searching for linear, in-depth online guitar classes.

The Core Learning System will help beginners gradually take their skills to another level, and specialized courses will be beneficial to experienced players. It’s also an excellent learning source for players who want to expand their repertoire or learn a specific style

Similar Platforms

A platform similar to Guitar Tricks is the popular TrueFire. The program also contains a large number of lessons and a team of brilliant instructors. There are comprehensive lessons for beginners as well as enough content for intermediate and advanced players.

Although the platform has some amazing features and great quality, Guitar Tricks has a bit more structure with its Core Learning System which is important to beginners.

JamPlay is another popular guitar learning course. It offers a bunch of video lessons, as well as live online sessions and masterclasses. The advanced content is somewhat more scarce than in the Guitar Tricks curriculum, but it’s informative and well-designed.

JamPlay also includes some fun features such as training games and provides a lot of downloadable resources.

Read our alternative platform comparisons:

Guitar Tricks Review – Final Thoughts

Guitar Tricks is among the top online guitar courses for a good reason. Its lessons are detailed, focused, and easy to follow.

There’s a variety of songs and styles to choose from, and they are taught by an amazing team of instructors. You can even have one-on-one lessons with them.

And with the addition of helpful learning tools and an active community, you’ll really feel like you’re in an online music school. On top of that, the learning atmosphere will be relaxed and the schedule will be completely up to you.

So, if you want to improve your guitar skills, learn at your own pace, and fulfill your free time with something fun and rewarding, trying out Guitar Tricks is definitely a great idea!

FAQs

Is Guitar Tricks actually good?

Yes, Guitar Tricks is among the best online guitar programs. It offers high-quality video lessons, an extensive song library, and an impressive roster of teachers. It also features useful online learning tools.

Does Guitar Tricks teach theory?

Although Guitar Tricks focuses on techniques and playing songs, music theory is integrated into its lessons. Some lessons cover main concepts in music theory such as musical alphabet, intervals, timbre, and so on.

Does Guitar Tricks teach fingerstyle?

Yes, Guitar Tricks teaches fingerstyle. Fingerstyle is used to play different music genres, but some Guitar Tricks lessons are focused specifically on fingerpicking, a technique that is a part of fingerstyle.

How long does it take to learn guitar with Guitar Tricks?

It’s possible to learn how to play guitar with Guitar Tricks within months. However, it all depends on your practice, persistence, and goals.

Is Guitar Tricks good for intermediate players?

Guitar Tricks is good both for beginners and intermediate players. Some lessons cover more advanced techniques and styles so experienced learners can improve their guitar skills. And thanks to the program’s extensive song library, they can also expand their repertoire.

Which is better Guitar Tricks or JamPlay? 

Whether you should pick Guitar Tricks or JamPlay depends on your goals and preferences. Both platforms have their benefits. JamPlay offers a variety of lessons including MasterClasses focused on styles of famous artists, and Guitar Tricks has a more extensive song library and more content for advanced players.

You can read our in-depth Guitar Tricks vs JamPlay guide for more detail.

Will Fenton

Will, the founder of MIDDER, is a multifaceted individual with a deep passion for music and personal finance. As a self-proclaimed music and personal finance geek, he has a keen eye for futuristic technologies, especially those that empower creators and the public.

view profile

Best violins for beginners
Previous Story

10 Best Violins for Beginners: Ultimate Buying Guide

Fender Play review
Next Story

Fender Play Review – Is It Actually Good?

Latest from Guitar

best metal guitars

10 Best Metal Guitars

Calling all wild things, our list of the best metal guitars beckons. As a metal musician, you have your own unique ethos,