Guitar Start Guide
If you have ever wondered whether a video game could actually turn you into a guitar player, this Rocksmith review is written for you. Rocksmith+ is Ubisoft’s subscription version of the game that plugs a real guitar into your computer or phone and grades your playing note by note. It is genuinely one of the most fun ways to practise — but “fun” and “the fastest way to learn the fundamentals” are not always the same thing, and that distinction matters if you are starting from zero.
We have spent time with the app, compared it to the other big beginner tools, and pulled together the honest verdict below. If you are brand new, it is worth reading this alongside our Start Here guide so you know where an app like this fits into the bigger picture.
What Is Rocksmith+ and How Does It Work?
Rocksmith+ is a learning-through-songs app. You connect a real electric or acoustic guitar — either with the Rocksmith Real Tone cable or, on mobile, using your device’s microphone — and the game listens to what you play. Notes scroll toward you on a highway, and the app scores your accuracy in real time. Get a section wrong and its dynamic difficulty quietly simplifies the part; nail it and it feeds you more notes until you are playing the real thing.
The headline feature is the enormous, ever-changing song library, streamed rather than bought track by track like the older Rocksmith 2014. There are also lessons, technique videos, and practice tools such as riff repeater, which loops a tricky bar so you can grind it out slowly.
Does Rocksmith Actually Teach You Guitar?
Short answer: yes, but with a caveat. Because you are playing a real instrument and building real finger strength, muscle memory, and timing, the skills transfer to unplugged playing in a way that button-tapping rhythm games never could. The motivation loop is excellent — you will practise for an hour without noticing, which for a beginner is worth a lot.
The caveat is structure. Rocksmith is brilliant at getting you playing songs, but weaker at explaining why — chord theory, reading rhythm, clean technique from day one. It is easy to develop sloppy habits chasing a high score. Many players get the best results by pairing it with a structured course for the fundamentals and using Rocksmith as the daily practice that keeps them hooked.
Rocksmith+ vs Other Beginner Apps
How does it stack up against the other tools beginners consider? Here is a quick comparison of the things that actually matter when you are choosing.
| Feature | Rocksmith+ | Simply Guitar | Yousician |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Song practice & motivation | Absolute beginners | Gamified structured path |
| Needs real guitar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Detects your playing | Yes (cable or mic) | Yes (mic) | Yes (mic) |
| Structured fundamentals | Light | Strong | Strong |
| Song library size | Very large | Moderate | Large |
| Free tier | No (trial only) | Freemium | Freemium |
If a curated, tap-along beginner path appeals more, read our Simply Guitar review. If you want the gamified-lesson approach with a clear skill tree, our Yousician review breaks that down. All three are worth trying against Rocksmith depending on how you like to learn.
Rocksmith+ Pricing and Value
Rocksmith+ is subscription only, with monthly, quarterly, and annual plans. At the time of writing the monthly option sits at around $15, dropping to roughly $10 a month if you commit to a year. There is no permanent free tier, though Ubisoft usually offers a short trial so you can test whether your setup and playing are detected properly before you pay.
- You will also need a compatible guitar and, ideally, the Real Tone cable for the most reliable detection.
- Mobile mic mode works but is fussier in a noisy room.
- Because it is streamed, cancelling means losing access to the whole library — you are renting, not buying.
For a sense of how subscription apps compare on cost, our breakdown of how much Simply Guitar costs is a useful benchmark, since the pricing model is similar.
Who Should Use Rocksmith — and Who Shouldn’t
Rocksmith+ is a great fit if you already own an electric guitar, you are motivated by playing real songs, and you struggle to stick with dry exercises. It is superb for lapsed players returning to the instrument. It is a weaker first choice if you have never held a guitar and want carefully sequenced fundamentals, or if you only own an acoustic and dislike the mic-detection fiddliness. Browse more options in our guitar apps hub before committing.
Skip the overwhelm: Rocksmith+ makes practice feel like play, yet the fundamentals land more reliably through a step-by-step course such as Jamorama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you learn guitar with Rocksmith alone?
You can get surprisingly far, especially on technique and song vocabulary. But most players benefit from pairing it with a structured course so their chord knowledge and rhythm reading do not lag behind their song list.
Do I need the Real Tone cable?
Not strictly — mobile mic mode works — but the cable gives far more reliable note detection, especially with distortion or in a room with background noise.
Does Rocksmith work with an acoustic guitar?
Yes, via the microphone on mobile, but detection is less consistent than with a plugged-in electric. If you only play acoustic, a mic-first app may suit you better.
Is Rocksmith+ worth it in 2026?
If you value motivation and a huge, streamed song library and already have gear, yes. If you want the cheapest path to the fundamentals, a freemium app or a one-off course may give better value.
What to Read Next
- Simply Guitar Review 2026: Honest Take for Beginners
- Yousician Review 2026: Does It Actually Teach You Guitar?
- How Much Does Simply Guitar Cost? Price, Free Trial & Is It Worth It
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.