***Complimentary product received in exchange for an honest review***
Fretlight Guitars are
high-end acoustic and electric real guitars (not Guitar Hero or
anything) but unique in that
they use LED technology to light up on the neck of the guitar where
finger placements should go. You can plug them into a computer through
USB for real time interactive lessons, but again, can be used as a
regular guitar when not plugged in. They make learning
the guitar easier and faster than the traditional method and are
perfect gifts for anyone in the family who wants a new hobby or has
always dreamed of rocking out.
My Thoughts
My daughter has wanted to play the guitar for awhile now. Her father bought her an acoustic this summer, but we live in such a small town, I can't find anyone to give her lessons. Her school has band but no guitar lessons are available. My husband are I are both musically inclined but I play the violin and he plays the saxophone so we aren't familiar with cords. She's spent the last few months trying out different online programs and never had any success. At thirteen, patience isn't a virtue, and she was getting pretty frustrated. Then a few weeks ago, we received our Fretlight Guitar and her outlook has completely changed.
Fretlight Guitars are high-end guitars just like the ones you'd get in any music shop. Ours is a Yamaha, one of the most popular brands out there. However, there is one important difference. These guitars come with a special USB cord that you hook into your computer. Using LED technology, when it's hooked up, the neck of the guitar lights up, showing you where to place your fingers on the fret to create cords.
Using the guitar was way easier than I expected. It comes with a software program designed to help you learn. Insert the disk into your computer and enter the code inside the box and the program is installed. In minutes you can begin your lessons and you can work at your own pace. The system walks you through scales, cords, and riffs. The lights show you exactly where to place your fingers, making it easy to play the right cords. There are even full songs available including My Girl and Here Comes the Sun. You can slow the tempo when you first start out until you get comfortable with where to place your fingers. Once you get more advanced, you can gradually increase the tempo. After you've mastered the songs on the disk, there are plenty more available that can be downloaded for an additional fee, so there is always new music to learn. Once you get the hang of the instrument and no longer need the assistance with finger placement, you can still use your Fretlight like any other acoustic guitar.
Another perk worth mentioning--the guitar comes with a gel-type pack that you can drape along the strings and it helps it stay in tune. When it arrived at our house, it was still perfectly tuned. I found this amazing because, being a violist, I know how easily stringed instruments fall out of tune even on a ten minute car ride. This guitar came through UPS and who knows how many transfers.
My daughter has been
playing around two weeks. She uses her guitar about an hour almost every day.
While she is certainly no master musician yet, the progress she's made it well
beyond anything she accomplished in the six months prior. I feel confident that with continued practice on her Fretlight, she will be able to play at least a few songs independently very soon.
If you're planning to get a guitar for your child or even for a beginner adult, the Fretlight is a great option. They don't cost much more than a traditional model and have so many more benefits. In addition to acoustics, Fretlight also offers a large selection of electric models and a bass. To learn more about Fretlight Guitars and all they have to offer, you can visit their website. To keep up with new products and software, be sure to follow them on face book.
***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***
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