Guitar Start Guide
If your whole reason for picking up a guitar is to play actual songs, you want tools built for exactly that. The best apps to learn guitar songs fall into two camps: tab-and-chord libraries that show you how a song is played, and play-along lesson apps that listen and correct you in real time. This guide covers both, so you can jam along to real music instead of drilling scales in silence.
Two kinds of “song” app — pick the right one
Before you download anything, know what you’re actually after. A tab and chord library gives you the notes, chords, and often a synced playback so you can follow along at your own pace — great once you already know your basic chords. A play-along lesson app teaches you the song step by step and uses your mic to check you’re getting it right — better if you’re still shaky on the fundamentals. Most people end up using one of each.
Best apps to learn guitar songs, compared
| App | Type | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Guitar | Tab & chord library | Free / around $40 a year | The biggest catalogue of songs |
| Songsterr | Interactive tabs | Free / around $10 a month | Accurate, synced note-by-note tabs |
| Yousician | Play-along lessons | Around $10–$20 a month | Feedback while you play songs |
| Simply Guitar | Play-along lessons | Around $10–$15 a month | True beginners learning first songs |
| Fender Play | Song-based video | Around $10–$15 a month | Structured song paths by genre |
Prices are approximate and change over time — check current rates and any free trials before you subscribe.
Ultimate Guitar — the go-to tab library
If a song exists, someone has probably tabbed it on Ultimate Guitar. The free version is enough to look up chords for thousands of songs; the paid tier adds features like auto-scrolling, playback, and official tabs. It doesn’t teach you to play so much as show you what to play, so it shines once you’ve got open chords under your fingers.
Songsterr — the most accurate interactive tabs
Songsterr’s speciality is note-by-note tabs that highlight as the track plays, with the ability to slow songs down and loop tricky bars. For learning a specific riff or solo properly, it’s hard to beat. It won’t give you spoken lessons, but as a practice tool for a song you’re determined to nail, it’s excellent.
Yousician & Simply Guitar — play-along with feedback
These are the apps that listen to you. Yousician turns songs into a game, scoring your accuracy and timing note by note — motivating, and good for pushing past the beginner plateau. Simply Guitar is gentler and more hand-holding, which makes it ideal if this is your first ever instrument; our Simply Guitar review goes deep on who it suits. Both get you playing recognisable songs quickly, which is the whole point.
Fender Play — songs organised into real paths
Fender Play leans on high-quality video lessons that build toward songs, grouped by genre and skill. It doesn’t grade your playing through the mic, but the teaching is clear and the song choices are well judged for beginners. If you like following a person rather than a game, it’s a strong pick.
How to actually learn a song (not just start it)
- Pick a song with three or four chords first — don’t start with a solo-heavy track.
- Learn it in sections; loop the chorus until the changes are clean before moving on.
- Slow the tempo right down, then build speed only once you’re accurate.
- Play along to the original recording — it trains your timing and makes it fun.
- Finish one song properly before starting three new ones half-heartedly.
Not sure which app fits your budget and level yet? Our overview of the best guitar learning apps for beginners compares the all-rounders, and if you’d rather spend nothing, the best free guitar apps guide shows how far $0 can take you. You can also browse everything in the guitar apps section.
Where we’d start: Apps are great for chasing songs you already love, but they rarely explain why chords change or in what order to build technique. If you want the song-learning to actually stick, run a proper course like Jamorama alongside them and let the apps be your playground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free app to learn guitar songs?
Ultimate Guitar’s free tier is the most useful for sheer song coverage, and Songsterr offers free interactive tabs too. For free lessons that teach songs, JustinGuitar is superb.
Do I need to read music to use these apps?
No. Tabs and chord charts don’t require standard notation, and play-along apps show you finger positions visually. You can learn dozens of songs without ever reading a note of sheet music.
Which app is best for learning songs from scratch?
If you’ve never played before, Simply Guitar or Fender Play will hold your hand better than a raw tab library. Once you know basic chords, add Ultimate Guitar or Songsterr for song variety.
Are tab apps accurate?
Official and highly-rated tabs are usually reliable; user-submitted ones vary. Songsterr and the official tabs on Ultimate Guitar tend to be the most accurate, so favour those for tricky parts.
What to Read Next
- Best Guitar Learning Apps for Beginners (2026)
- Best Free Guitar Apps: Learn Without Paying a Cent
- Simply Guitar Review 2026: Honest Take for Beginners
How we reviewed this (updated 16 October 2026): this page is based on the vendor’s official information, pricing and policies and on public user feedback. We have not hands-on tested the products listed.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we genuinely rate.