Here's the thing about learning guitar: it's hard. Your fingers hurt, the chords sound terrible for weeks, and most kids give up before they can play a single song all the way through. Simply Guitar tackles this dropout problem head-on.

The gamification actually works. Instead of abstract exercises, kids are playing recognizable song fragments from day one. The app breaks everything down into 10-15 minute sessions—short enough that it doesn't feel like homework, long enough to build real skills.

The instant feedback is surprisingly accurate. The app listens through your phone's mic and tells you immediately if you're playing the right chord or if your timing is off. No waiting for next week's lesson to find out you've been practicing something wrong. For kids who hate feeling stupid or making mistakes in front of a teacher, this private feedback loop is huge.

It meets kids where they are. The song library includes actual songs kids want to play—not just "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." We're talking Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, classic rock, pop hits. The motivation of "I want to play that song" is powerful.

Let's talk money because this is where things get real.

The app is free to download with a limited trial, but to actually use it you'll need a subscription:

For context, in-person guitar lessons typically run $30-60 per session, so $120/year breaks down to about $10/month—roughly the cost of 2-3 traditional lessons. If your kid practices consistently, the math works out.

But here's the catch: you still need a guitar. A decent beginner acoustic runs $100-200. Add the app subscription and you're looking at $250-350 upfront, then $120/year ongoing. Not nothing.

The lifetime option ($300) makes sense if you have multiple kids who'll use it over time, or if you're confident your kid will stick with it for 2+ years. Otherwise, start with the annual subscription and see if they're still playing in six months.

Ages 8-10: Can definitely use the app, but they'll need a smaller guitar (3/4 size) and probably some help getting started. Finger strength is a real issue at this age—those first chords HURT. Expect to sit with them for the first few weeks.

Ages 11-14: The sweet spot. Old enough to have the finger strength and coordination, young enough to still be excited about gamified learning. This is where Simply Guitar really shines.

Ages 15+: Still works great, though older teens might feel like the gamification is a bit childish. The actual instruction is solid regardless of age, but the aesthetic skews younger.

Adults: Honestly? It's excellent for adult learners too. The learn guitar as an adult journey is real, and this app makes it way less intimidating than trying to decipher YouTube tutorials.

Yes, with caveats.

Simply Guitar teaches fundamentals really well: chord shapes, strumming patterns, basic music theory, reading chord charts, timing and rhythm. Kids who stick with it for 3-6 months will absolutely be able to play recognizable songs and have legitimate guitar skills.

What it doesn't teach as well:

Think of it like this: Simply Guitar will teach your kid to play guitar. It won't necessarily make them a musician. For many families, that's totally fine! Not everyone needs to join a band or write original songs. Being able to play "Wonderwall" at a campfire is a legitimate goal.

vs. YouTube tutorials: Simply Guitar is infinitely better for beginners. YouTube is free but chaotic—you're jumping between different teachers, different teaching styles, no structured curriculum. Great for learning specific songs once you have basics down, terrible for starting from zero.

vs. In-person lessons: Traditional lessons win on personalization, immediate correction of bad habits, and music theory depth. Simply Guitar wins on cost, convenience, and not having to drag your kid to lessons every week. Many families do both—app for daily practice, occasional in-person lessons for guidance. Check out our guide on alternatives to Simply Guitar for more options.

vs. Simply Piano: Same company, similar approach. Piano is arguably easier to start (keys are keys, no finger pain), but guitar is more portable and has that cool factor. Pick based on which instrument your kid actually wants to play.

vs. Yousician: Yousician covers multiple instruments and has more gamification. Simply Guitar is more focused and has a cleaner interface. Both are solid—Yousician might be better if you want one subscription for multiple instruments.

This is active screen time, not passive consumption. Your kid is holding an instrument, reading music, coordinating hands and eyes, building a real-world skill. This is fundamentally different from scrolling TikTok or watching YouTube.

That said, the app wants daily engagement and uses all the standard retention tactics: streaks, notifications, "don't break your progress!" messaging. You'll want to have conversations about why they're practicing—intrinsic motivation (I want to play guitar) vs. extrinsic motivation (I need to maintain my streak).

No social features, no chat, no user-generated content. It's just you and the app, which from a safety perspective is about as low-risk as apps get. The biggest "danger" is the subscription auto-renewal—set a calendar reminder to evaluate whether it's still being used before it renews.

Simply Guitar is legitimately good at what it does. It's not going to replace music school or turn your kid into the next guitar virtuoso, but it's an excellent, structured way to learn guitar basics without the cost and commitment of weekly lessons.

It's worth the money if:

Skip it if:

Want more options? Check out our guides on best apps for learning music and screen time that actually builds skills.