Guitar Tricks Review | Guitar Lessons

It’s a Golden Age for Learning Guitar

There has never been a better time to learn an instrument and the guitar is catered to better than pretty much every other instrument, with a wealth of information and training for every level of player and in many formats. This is great but finding the option that suits you can be tricky, with choice paralysis becoming a real issue. Guitar Tricks aims to remove that particular stumbling block with a more holistic approach to learning guitar, that offers multiple pathways, alongside an array of learning tools, so no matter how you learn best, they hope to provide you with what you need.

Guitar Tricks is one of the more established systems out there, meaning it should be a success, as it has all those years of user data and feedback to ensure they get it right. As a player of some thirty years I’ve explored many methods to refresh the fundamentals, pick up new skills and find practical inspiration. With that in mind I spent some time with Guitar Tricks to explore the latest they offer and see if it could be the best platform for six stringed adventures. As mentioned before Guitar Tricks platform offers a multitude of possibilities to enhance your skills, by way of more theoretical lessons, song based learning or technique oriented lessons. The focus is clearly on video lessons, but each is accompanied by a written overview and tabs, giving lessons a well rounded appeal. Then there are the different delivery methods. Guitar Tricks works in your browser but they also offer an app for both android and apple devices.

Too Many Cooks?

While sometimes it is true that you can overcook something with too much variety, in this case Guitar Tricks have got the balance just right. There is a lot going on, including the various lessons that can be found through different pathways, to the number of tutors available and even forums. The sheer volume of assets on offer could be daunting but here it is an intuitive experience.

The web version might be a little tired and look slightly dated but the functionality is fantastic. There is a way for any player to find what they are looking for. If you are just starting out, then the beginner lessons are clearly labelled and navigating a course is simple. If you nail it early, then you can mark it as complete but without the fear of not being able to refresh later. Guitar Tricks has a history tab, so you can easily find a previously watched lesson.

In a similar vein, if you particularly like the teaching style of a tutor you can browse just their courses, making it a doddle to curate an experience that suits you.

Already Got the Basics Down?

Not a problem. Guitar Tricks is just as good for the experienced player as it is for the novice. This area is probably the strongest and most used. You can choose to search for specific songs, browse through them in list form or as curated groups such as British Invasion or Modern Metal.

Alternatively if you want to brush up on tracks by your favourite artist you can do that too, ensuring that your next function gig goes smoothly. You might prefer to simply find and master a loved riff, stretching your skills with bite sized sections of songs. All this and more is available, making each lesson as palatable as needed. A nice touch is that if you learn the riff and there is a lesson to the full song, that will be linked on the lesson page.

This thoughtful design carries across the whole system is that these methods of finding your material of choice aren’t all disparate entities. They are cross referenced and tagged by attributes like tutor, genre, difficulty. This means you can intuitively create a learning path, or easily stumble upon well matched material that you may not be aware of, always cause for celebration.

The Lessons

Typically broken down into manageable and logical sections, lessons are clear and concise, well timed and produced with excellent audio and video quality. Video is frequently split, with inserts for close ups or the instructors face, a big deal for many learning styles. In the web version the window is split into four sections, making navigation a breeze, with no jumping around tabs, breaking concentration. Notation/tablature scrolls automatically too, so you can keep your hands on your instrument.

The tabs and written portions are great but obviously the video lessons are the star attraction and Guitar Tricks have put some effort into this too. The video is crisp and clear and the audio is great, as already mentioned, but it’s the choice of player that impresses here. Video can be expanded to full screen or popped abc into its position in the window but better yet if you hover over the player window you get pop up speed controls. These range from half speed to double speed, with various increments that allow the viewer to dictate the pace. There’s nothing more likely to frustrate learning than an instructor racing ahead or holding back the flow, so this is a very welcome feature, ensuring that lessons appeal to as wide an audience as possible. On top of that it will help newer players tackle songs and riffs they might not have had confidence too, safe in the knowledge they can slow things down, as they get to grips with tricky passages.

There is an awful lot more on offer with Guitar Tricks, with additional features that serve more to support players as they learn. The forum is a community hub, where members can discuss everything from music theory to things like how to set up a microphone to best capture their performances. People with all kinds of background will give advice and this is a hidden gem of the site. The forum, along with some of the other less frequently used parts are where the web version shines. I’d have liked to have seen better integration of all features across the platforms but in reality that is a small gripe. Forums are best served up on the web anyway.

What, There’s More?

Hell yes! Learning an instrument isn’t just about technique, or learning a series of chords. There is a whole ecosystem of tools and aids that help and enhance the journey of being a guitar player. Guitar Tricks knows this and, with its toolbox section, provides the essentials (and some) to subscribers. You get the obvious like a metronome and tuner, which you might expect but on top of that, there are some really exceptional tools. There are fretboard and chord charts, a jam function and some really good fretboard training exercises.

In a separate tab is also a progress tracker, which gives players a place to see just how their skills are improving, showing not just a history of videos watched but also progress in a certain area, like mastering country guitar. As a motivational tool this is likely to be successful, as seeing where you can spend a few minutes practice time could lead to ticking off some skill completion.

Is Guitar Tricks Worth it?

In a word, yes. This is a busy and thriving market, with some offerings appearing more slick or with slightly more modern design but the core of Guitar Tricks is fantastic. The quality is excellent and content is being added all the time. If the riff or song you want to learn isn’t in the library yet, there is a good chance it will be added.

The instructors are excellent. All clear and easy to follow and obviously experts in their field. If you prefer to sit at a computer, or would rather sit on the couch with your phone at hand, you will get a great learning experience from Guitar Tricks. The added features may not make a direct transition from web to app but that’s really the only improvement that needs to be made. Guitar Tricks offers great value for the access you get.

I give Guitar Tricks a huge thumbs up!

Price: Full Access membership $19.95/mo

Free Trial: Yes, 14 days

Money Back Guarantee: Yes, 60 days

Song Library: Yes

Mobile Apps: iOS & Android apps available

Link: Go To Guitar Tricks