Guitar Tricks VS Simply Guitar (Comparison)
Our pick: Guitar Tricks
Though Simply Guitar has some value for beginners, kids, and as a supplemental practice tool, Guitar Tricks is easily the stronger program - at all skill levels - with a better course structure and an extremely thorough song section.
This is a comparison of a Guitar Tricks membership and a premium Simply Guitar membership. Simply Guitar is primarily an iPhone and iPad app developed by Simply - formerly known as JoyTunes - that works in the same vein as Yousician and Amped. It listens to your guitar playing, analyzes it, and then gauges your progress based on how well you're playing.
Read more: Best Guitar Learning Apps
Guitar Tricks, though it too has an app version, focuses entirely on streamable video and courses and does not utilize a listening system like Simply Guitar and Yousician do.
What we want to do here is help you figure out which one is right for you.
For starters, here are a couple full reviews on Guitar Tricks and Simply Guitar, which might be helpful to you as you weigh your options:
You can use the comparison tool below to look at some of the features and pros/cons of Guitar Tricks and Simply Guitar, side by side.
Guitar Tricks VS Simply Guitar Comparison Tool
Lessons | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guitar Tricks | 92.8 | |
 | Simply Guitar | 81.9 |
To support our work, we use partner links to programs we trust, like Guitar Tricks and Simply Guitar. If you click through our orange buttons and buy a membership or a free trial, we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you. We're so grateful to all of you for supporting us over the years! - Bobby and Danielle
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Guitar Tricks Details
The Guitar Tricks home page as of July 2022.
Guitar Tricks is one of the longest-running guitar lesson video platforms in existence, having gotten its start way back in 1998. They utilize pre-recorded and streamable videos with tightly organized courses and a separate song lesson section.
We like Guitar Tricks because of how well organized they are and how they have their material setup for beginners.
Read more: Best Beginner Guitar Lessons
Instead of throwing you into songs and chords right away, Guitar Tricks does a good job of laying a foundational knowledge base of the guitar and then slowly showing you how to apply it.
Songs are not even part of the core course material. You have plenty of those to choose from, but they're a separate part of the site, with over 1000 licensed song lessons ready to go.
We recommend Guitar Tricks for beginners, self motivated learners and those who like a tight, structured approach to learning.
Simply Guitar Details
The Simply Guitar app download page as of July 2022.
Simply Guitar relies more on their listening system, which listens to your guitar as you play - through your iPad or iPhone microphone - and analyzes what you're playing. This is similar to a number of apps that have come out in recent years, the most popular of which is probably the Yousician guitar program.
And while we like using this type of system for certain elements of practice, we wouldn't say it can substitute for a full video course.
The app does a good job of picking up your notes and listening to you, but the depth of education in Simply Guitar - compared to programs like Guitar Tricks - is just not there. Though the app is decently organized, doing a good job of introducing you to topics and then following that up with relevant application.
It's an app that certainly prioritizes fun, and getting you into playing quickly, as opposed to building a solid foundation of skill.
Then again, they market themselves as such, focusing on beginners and kids, primarily. It's hard to completely fault Simply Guitar for setting out to do something that it never claims to do.
We'd recommend Simply Guitar as a practice supplement in some situations and not as a full guitar course.
Summary of our Comparison
Between these two programs, we would almost always recommend Guitar Tricks over Simply Guitar. Guitar Tricks is better with song lessons, course structure, and organization, all without relying on any kind of listening software. We find that programs like Simply Guitar and Yousician rely too heavily on the fun side of their programs, and don't put enough emphasis on building/organizing great courses.
Though we can see Simply Guitar having value as a supplemental practice tool, certainly for beginners and those looking for courses that are well organized. Even if the courses fall short of our standards for educational depth and foundational knowledge, they have value in the right context.
Still, in most cases, Guitar Tricks is going to be the better option.
If you have questions about Guitar Tricks or Simply Guitar, feel free to leave them in the comments section below. We'll jump in and do our best to help out.
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Written by Bobby on Lessons and Reviews
Written by Bobby on Lessons and Roundups
I’m trying to find piano lessons for my 8 year old and guitar lessons for my 9 year old. They love music, and really want to learn their instruments. Something fun and interactive to catch their attention is definitely needed, which is why I was thinking “Simply”, but I also want it to be serious, and teach them proper technique. I have no musical background, and this will be used for a music class during homeschooling and also for fun for them on their downtime. I need something that will critique them along the way, as I will not know what to say or how to help them.
Any help on this decision would be very much appreciated! Thank you!
Hey Stephanie – for guitar, for your 9-year old, I’d probably say go with Guitar Tricks or use Justinguitars free program. For piano lessons, I’d say Simply Piano or Flowkey are both decent options to start with:
– https://www.guitarchalk.com/flowkey-vs-simply-piano/
– https://www.guitarchalk.com/online-guitar-lessons/
Those two resources will give you more info. Hope this is helpful!
Would you recommend Simpmy Guitar for a six year old ?
Hey Connie – I think it could actually be a good fit for younger kids. That or Guitar Tricks or Justinguitar. My two boys (5 and 8) use Guitar Tricks, but I think they could also do similarly well with Simply Guitar. Hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any additional questions.