Customer Ratings & Reviews

I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, I’ve started multiple times using different methods but each time I never stuck with the method as motivation quickly left. I thought that if I could gamify the process, I could most likely stick with learning long enough to learn how to play. I saw that there was a Guitar Life: Lesson 1 by Hori for the Nintendo Switch, which comes with a Guitar like controller that connects with the switch. I decided to give it a go. Pros: - Easy to get playing. - Guided lessons are easy to follow for beginners. -Controller matches real guitar finger placement and pressure. Cons: - Requires a Switch 1 Right Joycon to work with Switch 2. - Game and Lessons could be more engaging for the player. Out of the Box: Included in the box is the Guitar Joycon compatible controller, a guitar pick, and a code for downloading the Guitar Life: Lesson 1 game. The Guitar Controller requires a Switch 1 Right Joycon to be slotted into the controller to work, a Switch 2 Joycon will not work. Luckily, the Switch 2 is backwards compatible with Switch 1 controllers. You will just need a separate charging stand if you only have a Switch 2. Initial setup is very simple. Make sure the Joycon is paired with your Switch before starting the game, startup the game up and slot the Right Joycon onto the Guitar controller then strum the Guitar to proceed to the main menu. Game/Lessons: From the main menu, the options are; Lesson, Musical Performance, Free Play, Cord Run, My Data, Guide, and Options. All can be easily accessed by navigating over via the Joycon attached to the Guitar controller and pressing the A button. Lessons contains most of the game & learning; you unlock additional lessons as you complete each lesson and more levels with the full completion of all lessons within that level. Each Lesson teaches you the placement of a Chord, showing you your finger placement on screen while playing, then has you play the Cord at timed intervals along with strumming. A score is provided at the end of the Lesson, if you succussed you can progress or repeat if you didn’t quite get it. Building on each learned Chord and stumming technique, until you can complete a full song. The main gamification is done through completing lessons, which earn you points and those points level your account up. I was hoping for a bit more “gamification” within the actual lessons to help provide additional drive to play and learn. The lessons are easy to complete, and build on each previous lesson, but the overall motivation is just a linear path of learning more not so much gaming. The progression is very basic; complete the lesson to unlock additional lessons and finally a song which you can play with the accumulated lessons knowledge. Completing a full lesson a song will unlock additional Lesson levels; completing Beginner unlocks Intermediate, which unlocks Advanced and finally Expert. Musical Performance provides guided performances on 13 songs, which is a great way to practice once you’ve completed the required lessons. I wish there was a larger selection or a way to add additional songs. Free Play is just that, it provides the ability to play the Guitar controller like an actual Guitar without any guidance. Cord Run kind fits the mini games I was hoping to see in the lessons to learn the different cords. You’re tasked with hitting the different cords at the right time as a character run across the screen, providing some level of “gamification” to the challenge. It is very basic, though I’ve only started the initial sets, so it might become more challenging as you unlock additional cords later. My Data provides a summary of all your activities within the game, a nice “report” card on your progress. Guide is helpful if you want to look up specific cords or other inputs for the controller or a guitar in general, it’s a helpful tool to review how to play. Options provides adjustments for playing the game. Build & Feel: The Guitar Controller is made of a black matte plastic, which is light weight but solid enough to play on without concern of breaking it. The light weight made it easy to play for a duration without feeling fatigue in my hands or wrists, as there is not over the shoulder strap for the controller included but adding one wouldn’t be too difficult. For being a game/toy, the Guitar Controller felt good in hand as an adult, I could see the controller might feel tiny for a larger adult or slightly big for a child. But in both cases, because the size of the controllers’ inputs (frets and strumming fins) matches that of a standard Guitar, the experience would be the same as using an actual Guitar. I found the Guitar controller to be way more comfortable of a learning experience than using an actual Guitar, as the fins and strings are a rubberized material, instead of metal strings that can hurt your fingers if you don’t have calluses built up. Which most beginners would not have, I’d recommend being cautious when switching from the game controller to an actual Guitar, as your fingers will probably not have the calluses from playing an actual Guitar yet. Conclusion: Overall, I found the Guitar Life: Lessons 1 by Hori to be a fun and easy way to learn the basics of playing the Guitar, I’ve been playing it for an hour or so each day since I got it, progressing slowly but steadily. I’m already further along than any of my other attempts at learning the Guitar, so I’ll keep at it for now. I do wish the Lessons were more gamified but have been keeping up with the step-by-step building of knowledge. It will be a while before I can actually play, but one Lesson at a time.

Was looking for something to bring our Switch out of the drawer and back to life and came across the Guitar Life Lesson 1. I figured it would be fun for the grandkids and the older kids. First thing it looks cool and is comfortable to hold with or without the strap. The joycon mounted and the game loaded up fine and we were off and running. Guitar Life is really good at teaching you finger placement for chords and fairly easy to follow the lesson. The included songs are for an older generation but fun none the less. For us though the buttons that are to mimic guitar strings were a little awkward and didn’t give the feel of strumming strings. We also had connection issues with the joycon. It would lose connection quite often taking some of the fun away. I don’t know if it was our joycons or the mounting the guitar?And this was with 2 different sets of joycons. Overall the Guitar Life is fun when it keeps the connection. And does a good job at showing correct finger placement for chords. As to how well you will learn to play an actual guitar will definitely vary by user.

I've always wanted to play actual guitar, I've paid for lessons a couple times but nothing has really stuck. When I came across Hori Guitar Life for Nintendo Switch, I was curious, but not too sure how it would translate to a video game peripheral. This one is built to teach you real chords, finger placement, and technique on a controller shaped like a guitar, then let you put that to work on actual songs. It runs on Switch (I used the original Switch), the OLED model, and Switch 2, and the idea is that picking up guitar can start out feeling like a game instead of a monotonous lesson. I went in curious whether a Switch accessory could really get me playing guitar, so here's how it's going. - Unboxing/Design/Build Quality/Setup - My first impression with the box is that it does a great job with the idea of actual guitar lessons and not just a toy. The controller is designed like a compact guitar with a black body and a slim neck. Instead of real strings you've got pressure sensitive strings you press along the neck, with a strum area down by the body where you actually pick or strum. A right Joy-Con controller slots into the side, and that's the piece that connects wirelessly to the Switch, so the guitar itself uses the Joy-Con's connection rather than needing to pair on its own. Setup was simple. All I had to do was enter the download code and it downloaded Lesson 1 for me. From there you place the Joy-Con in (it slides in easily and is very easy to use when you're making selections in between lessons) and you're ready to go. Setup took about 5 minutes and I was already on my first lesson. I love the guitar. It's light, but it feels ergonomically like a guitar. It's easy to strum with your hands, a little harder for me with the pick, but it still works fine. The online lessons remind me of the classic Nintendo simulation games in the way they talk to you and almost treat your lessons like a story. I think it's a great idea, and it works very well. I was learning quickly thanks to the repetitive nature of the lessons, but most of all the lessons keep you interested. It's easy to get hooked and want to do just one more. I think it's a great idea for all ages. I'm in my 40s, grew up playing video games, and can totally relate. This is the easier way to learn guitar before stepping up to the real one. - Comfort - Comfort is great. The guitar is light and it just feels right in my hands. My fingers feel fine on the neck, a lot like a normal fretboard. You do have to stretch your wrist and hand the same way you would on a real guitar, but I actually see that as a plus. It's good practice, and it's the same movement you'd be building toward on the real thing anyway. - Performance - I didn't notice any lag while I was playing. When I pressed the strings and strummed, the game kept up with what I was doing, so nothing felt disconnected between my hands and what showed up on screen. I played around with the different modes and the lessons themselves were the part that stood out to me. I was picking things up quickly because of the way they repeat and build on each other, and I stayed engaged the whole way through the lesson instead of losing interest. What's smart regarding the software is you can literally just knock out a few lessons in minutes. It doesn't feel like a chore. - Pros/Cons - * Pros * Build to teach real guitar skills, not just a rythym game * Lightweight and comfortable * Fretboard feels real * Lessons are engaging and quick enough to keep going * Easy setup * Controller works well with guitar * Software is very well done * Guitar is very responsive * Suggestions/Needs Improvement * Song library could be a little more dynamic * Pick doesn't work as well as fingers while strumming For me, this does what I hoped it would. I've tried real lessons before and they didn't stick, but the game format kept me coming back and I was actually learning. It's light, comfortable, and easy to pick up, and it treats learning like something fun instead of a chore. If you've wanted to learn guitar but haven't been able to stay with it, this is a solid way to build the basics before you step up to a real guitar. I can't think of much they can improve upon here. Hori really delivered a polished product. I highly recommend this peripheral for all ages.

As someone who played guitar for years and was self taught, I thought this might be worth a try to see if I can actually learn fundamentals that I never learned before. Keep in mind, I haven’t actually picked up my guitars in over 10 years so I would be starting extremely rusty. I feel the fret board is laid out pretty well and will help users learn the lay of the land. The chords I still remember translated accurately to the fretboard of the controller which I was happy to see. My only grip with the controller would be where you would pick the strings. I don’t feel this is anywhere near an accurate representation of what it feels like to strum a real guitar whether it be steel or nylon strings. There just didn’t feel like there was enough give. But then I started thinking about it and think this could be a good thing as it slows you down and may help me focus on individual string picking which I admittedly have always been sloppy with. The lessons have been pretty solid I love the fact that it forces you to stay in time and tells you when you hit the note to early, too late, or just right. Timing in music is extremely important and I feel this feature is excellent not to mention it shows if your chords are accurate. Overall, I see this as an excellent tool to use to learn and practice with in a fun way. Bringing the video game element to training really helps keep interest and I am enjoying it.

📦 UNBOXING: Inside the box, you will find the guitar, a manual, a thick guitar pick, and a redemption code for Guitar Life: Lesson 1 on Nintendo Switch. 💪 BUILD: Right off the bat, it’s important to note that the guitar controller requires a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con (R) controller. This game is not compatible with a Joy-Con 2 (R) controller. If you’re using a Nintendo Switch 2, you will have to use a Joy-Con (R) for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED. The guitar controller itself is largely plastic. A Joy-Con (R) slides into the controller, so no additional batteries are required. The fretboard (where your left hand goes) uses a silicone or rubber material as the strings. This makes it easy for your fingers to press down strings. The bridge area (where your right hand goes) also uses this same material as strings for strumming and picking. In my experience, you ought to pick fairly firmly for it to register, while the fretboard doesn’t need you to press down terribly hard in order to register your finger placement for a chord. There are also two bolts on the guitar in case you want to use a guitar strap, but one isn’t included in the box. With that said, I did all my testing without one, and found that it was comfortable enough in my lap—something I can’t say about a lot of real guitars that surprised me about this “toy” guitar. 🛠️ SETUP: You will need to use the included redemption code to download Guitar Life: Lesson 1 from the Nintendo eShop. One quirk about this game is that they require you to pair both the left and right Joy-Con as a controller. Even though you won’t actively use the left Joy-Con, it must remain paired or else the game will prompt you to re-pair it. This means the left Joy-Con’s battery will drain even though it’s not actively being used. So if the battery is low and the left Joy-Con dies, you will need to keep it charging in order to keep playing. The box and manual only mention that the Joy-Con (R) is required. So from that perspective, I think Hori should be a bit more transparent about this requirement. ⚡ LATENCY: If you’re using your console docked to a TV with an external sound system, there is a chance that there will be additional latency that is really not great for a game like this. For most games, that added latency is not an issue, but for a game like this where audio feedback is critically important to the performance, that added latency can be a dealbreaker. Even with Low Latency modes enabled on my TV, I found the added audio latency in my home setup was simply too much. Undocking the Switch from my TV and playing in tabletop mode was not ideal, but quickly demonstrated how much better the latency was. So for some folks who cannot get lower latency, this might end up being the best way to play. I’d recommend trying undocked first so you understand the intended latency, then try docking the Switch to see if the latency that your system adds is tolerable. For me, it was not tolerable, but this is not Hori’s fault. Despite this, it could be a challenge that Hori has to overcome due to the nature of this being a rhythm game. 💿 LESSONS: The game itself has different modes, but the primary one will be the Lesson Mode. Lessons will introduce newcomers to guitar on the basics like frets, strumming, chord charts, and learning to play actual chords. A typical lesson will have you play chords against a song, following the rhythm. It will have you play the song 5 times, but each time it will remove some assistance. For example, the first time you play a lesson, it will have Automatic Strum Input, Simplified Strum Mode, Display Chord Fingering, and Mini Chord Diagram. Once you complete your first playthrough of the song, the second playthrough will remove Automatic Strum Input, so you’ll be required to strum. The third playthrough will then additionally remove Simplified Strum Mode so there will be more strumming and you’ll be required to match the rhythm and upstroke/downstrokes in the song. The fourth playthrough will then additionally remove Display Chord Fingering, so you will no longer have a diagram showing you how to orient your fingers to play the chord; you’ll need to rely on the chord diagram. And lastly, the fifth playthrough will additionally remove the Mini Chord Diagram, so you’ll need to remember the chords by their name in order to play them. To move onto the next playthrough within a lesson, you’ll need to reach a certain level of proficiency, so you won’t be rushed onto the next playthrough until you’ve had a sufficient number of hits. Lessons whose songs introduce new chords will typically have you first learn the name of the chord, and show you both the chord diagram and fingering, and have you practice strumming the chord correctly before you begin your playthroughs of the song. This helps make sure you’re not just walking in blind. The lessons and songs are simple and repetitive, but that’s by design. Learning to play guitar requires you to get good at memorization, be quick with your finger placement, and develop a good sense of rhythm and strumming. I have been playing guitar for about two decades, so I decided to have my partner (who is completely new to guitar) play the game as well. Interestingly, she found that using the mirrored chord diagrams was very helpful, as she found the conventional diagrams to be unintuitive for her. This is something that never crossed my mind, so it’s great to see that Hori added these options to accommodate different players who find that mirroring what they see is more intuitive than looking at the conventional “top-down” representation of the guitar fretboard. With that said, are lessons fun? I think “fun” is subjective, but for my partner and I, I think Guitar Life: Lesson 1 can be considered “educational software” rather than a “game”. While it tries to be somewhat visually interesting, I think the focus here is mostly for learning purposes rather than as a game that anybody should want to pick up. 💿 OTHER MODES: Guitar Life also supports a few other game modes like Musical Performance where you can learn and play a number of songs, Free Play where you can openly play the guitar however you like, Chord Run to help you practice and quickly transition between chords in a rhythm style game, and Rhythm Riff which lets you bypass learning chords entirely and lets you just play entire chords simply by holding a single note on the fretboard. 🧐 CONCLUSION: Overall, I think Hori Guitar Life: Lesson 1 is educational software that is best suited to someone who has genuinely expressed interest in learning to play guitar. While the lessons aren’t going to be as thrilling as most popular rhythm games, the fact that you can learn to play real guitar in a structured way from your Nintendo Switch makes this a worthy pickup for someone who is genuinely interested in learning how to play. The lessons you will experience won’t turn you into a pro, but can genuinely get you off the ground and teach you how to read chord charts. And while it doesn’t teach you music theory, such lessons aren’t necessary to learn the basics of playing a guitar. I think Hori Guitar Life: Lesson 1 can help get a complete novice off the ground and push them to keep learning beyond what is included in the software.

My kids have been asking for guitar lesson for a while and trying to learn on their own but struggling. This honestly seems like a far better solution to recurring payments to apps or tutors as it is a one-time payment and they can learn at their own pace. *What’s included?* The guitar comes with a game download card that is compatible with the Switch and the Switch 2. It is important to note that this guitar is only compatible with the original Switch right-side joycon. We have both and wanted to use the guitar with the Switch 2, so we had to find all of our old joycons to find working ones, recharge them, and then found out the left-sided ones are incompatible. Luckily, we managed to find a working right-sided control after some trial and error. *Construction and Function* The guitar is lightweight with an almost a hollow feeling. Its shape closely mimics the feel of a real guitar, and it is easy for young hands to hold but sligthly small for adults though still usable. The “strings” are highly sensitive to touch, and the strum closely simulates the feel of strumming a real guitar. Because this is like a real guitar, having long nails will be problematic. *Game* The game could use some improvements. It is great at teaching, and we have already learned from it, it is slow and visually easy to understand. The problem we have from it is that it shows the fingering as you would see it if the guitar was flipped in front of you. That is, the strings that are the top for me when I hold the guitar are visually at the bottom on the screen. This throws us off and it has made it hard to advance. My kids outright gave up after their initial frustration whilst I have persevered but had to repeat the same level many times. I am hoping that the game could get an update that allows a setting to change this according to learning preference. *Conclusion* Overall, this is a great idea and a fun game for kids and adults to gain real life skills using the Switch. The guitar itself is sensitive and simulates a guitar very well, but the game could use a learning preference update in my opinion. This may not be an issue for everyone and just something my family has trouble with though so I don't feel right detracting too much based on this. It is still pretty fun to use and learn with.

It is quite the interesting premise for Hori Guitar Life. Basically, you learn basic guitar playing with this game. I am not new to this idea, as I have tried the iconic rhythm guitar games and the ones that a real guitar is needed. This is more in the middle of both camps. The guitar feels and looks like a toy as it is made of plastic and rather small. Still, it actually has some decent ergonomics when held as recommended and while seated. The other difference from past gaming guitars is that this one actually has “strings” simulated on the body. The strings do a decent job of allowing finger placement but still feel odd. The guitar comes with a rather large pick and also feels a bit forced on the strings. Once I got used to the feeling, and started going through the lessons, it started to feel more natural. The lessons are very basic and focus on basic chords. The instructions for finger placement on the fret board are confusing, especially if you have no experience with guitars. They show it from the player’s point of view, but they never really explain it well, and seem counter intuitive. The strings can be very sensitive, so one only needs a light touch, which goes against a real guitar’s strings feel. Strumming is the one thing that feels great. There are sections, exercises, and games that help the player get better, but again, one must get the basics down first. In the end, this can be a fun way to learn some basics, albeit with a somewhat deep learning curve. If you really get into it, I can see this being an entry point for the real deal - Just wished the software was more robust.

I confess I ordered the Hori Guitar Life kit equally out of a nostalgia for Guitar Hero and Rock Band and a personal challenge to see if I could learn how to play guitar. I’m getting the gist, but it’s a lot more intricate having to recall where musical notes live than four colored buttons. It’s only been a few days so I’m worlds away from strumming anything less than basic, but I’m impressed and encouraged at what I’ve been able to accomplish. Bottom line is Guitar Life isn’t perfect but has plenty of potential, especially for those with an understanding of musical theory and don’t need a lot of hand holding. For newbies like me it’s a decent interactive tool to acquiring enough understanding of music theory to start the learning process of playing guitar. It provides a prospective guitarist a head start and low cost simulated experience that can help decide if learning guitar is for them. But pushing into advanced beginner skill territory, I don’t feel it’s a substitute for a human instructor. It lacks the personal interaction and advice a teacher offers a student. So, no this is nothing like Guitar Hero if that’s what you were hankering for. Guitar Hero is a fun rhythm challenge wrapped in a music façade. Guitar Life gamifies learning how to play a real guitar, but it’s not a game and it requires dedication to learn the music language, patience, and practice. There are no “cheat codes” here. It takes a session just to learn a few notes. Don’t expect to be rocking familiar songs overnight. THE “FINE PRINT” REQUIREMENTS In the box is the guitar controller and a Nintendo eStore download code for Guitar Life Lesson 1. I installed it on my Switch 2 but had to borrow my Switch OLEDS’ Joy-Cons as only the right OG Joy-Con fits into the guitar controller. If you will be installing on a Switch 2 too, you’ll need to sync an OG right Joy-Con to it before using Guitar Life. Also, I noticed when downloading the software, it stated it was not compatible with the Switch Lite. For those using the OG Switch you are good to go right out of the box. In hindsight I wish I installed Guitar Life on my Switch OLED just to avoid all the setup snafus. While it works fine on my Switch 2 it deletes the Joy-Con as a synced controller when I remove the Joy-Con from the guitar. I then have to re-sync again the next time I use Guitar Life. THE GUITAR The controller mimics a 1/4 size guitar and its essential functions. While ¼ is considered a youth size, as an aging Gen Xer, I find it comfortable to hold. If anything, I miss the comparable heft of a real guitar. This one is light and hollow, though that’s probably a plus for pre-teens and early teen users. I find the fixed rubber “strings” a little weird feeling too. While I’ve never played guitar, I have picked one up before and know how physical strings feel. This isn’t it. But ultimately, Guitar Life sets out to be an affordable and engaging guitar learning gateway, so these details matter less than whether it’s an effective tool for that purpose. The rubber strings are perfectly usable and possibly more durable and maintenance free. The guitar is a controller only, it has no sound output. All its sounds emanate via the Switch’s speakers or audio output. My strumming sounded fine on my Switch 2’s internal speakers but if want higher volume and detail there’s always Bluetooth speakers or use in docked model Power is drawn exclusively from the attached Joy-Con. There’s no available secondary power source. A USB-C input for Joy-Con charging either during practice or when dormant would have been a nice touch. That way you could just keep the Joy-Con “permanently” on the guitar. The only other gadget on the guitar is what looks like a strap button on the bottom. However, there isn’t one on the top or a hole to knot a strap in so I’m unsure what its purpose is other than decor. Also, while a pick is included there is no compartment or slot to store it. I know real guitars don’t have this either, but this is a practice guitar. The pick is going to get misplaced. Come to think about it, where did I place mine? THE SOFTWARE Unlike a human instructor, Guitar Life has no voice dialog. All the lessons are presented in text blocks and by illustration. For me, this does slow down the learning process because it takes me more time to read and internalize vs someone telling me what to do while showing me how. There’s also no one to critique technique or form. But what the software does offer is a glimpse into the complexity of the guitar and a confidence boost that, while difficult, is achievable. And that can be parlayed into a desire for formal professional lessons. In short, I view Guitar Life as a catalyst. “Rhythm Riff,” is the initial lesson and teaches how to hold the guitar and play the C major notes. It’s an interactive course on strumming and using the fretboard to make what sounds like music. It seems trivial but based on my own eagerness to move forward and subsequent failure, I recommend practicing and memorizing these notes after the tutorial is over before moving on. Otherwise, the succeeding lessons will be frustrating From there the lessons require more concentration as the notes become chords and the progression speeds up. The notes to press are displayed both by letter and position on the fretboard. When correctly engaged the note a red (oddly not green) circle outlines it and a word of encouragement like “nice,” or “very good” displays based on speed accuracy. If you miss the note or chord entirely the screen freezes until you press the right note(s). Take your time and just learn the feel of it for next time. There’s no clock to beat here. Initially I stumbled here because the chord placement illustrations were inexplicably upside down. So, I’ll save you some frustration. Press “+/options” and change “Mirrored Chord Diagrams” to “Reverse Up/Down.” This fixes that issue. I don’t know why the flipped illustration is the default position or why this option is buried without any explanation. I can see where this would cause some users to smash their guitar like a ‘70s rockstar. Once you “make the grade” and are proficient in a lesson you can move on to the next. Until then succeeding lessons are locked since you need to have mastered the previous lessons first. A variety of play-related activities are included in the software, but lessons are the primary reason to use it. In fact, using most of the other features depends on mastering the lessons and chords first rather than quick mini-games. The learning technique applied is good, though I have thought of ways to improve my ease of learning here. My main irritation though is that initially the software gets in the way of itself and doesn’t leave a great impression. My previous account of how I had to figure out how to invert the illustrations is one example. What annoys me most is that while the guitar is obviously touch sensitive the software can only be controlled by the Joy-Con or guitar. Perhaps Hori assumed people would only use Guitar Life in docked mode rather than portable. But as someone who uses the Switch as a portable device, I like to get into menus by tapping the screen directly. CONCLUSION Guitar Life is a serious teaching tool not to be confused as, or conflated with, a game. The guitar hardware only marginally feels like a guitar, but it strums and produces chords well enough to learn guitar basics. If all goes well, you’ll eventually buy a real guitar. The biggest flaw with the guitar isn’t its lack of authenticity, but rather that, it only works with OG Switch Joy-Cons and the Switch 2 is an afterthought at best. The software’s look and design are dated and isn’t touch sensitive. Then there is the frustrating and bizarre inverted chord diagrams and buried options to correct it. But ultimately, as computer teacher it does a good job covering the basics of learning to play guitar. In that light, whether you just want to dip your toes in the water or want to see if your rock star dreams are something worth exploring deeper, Guitar Life is a winner.

I have, essentially, 0 knowledge of playing guitar. Each time I've tried to learn in the past, I've bounced off of it, because it just doesn't make sense to me. I play keyboard instruments better, because there's a clear, linear progression of notes. The way the strings on the guitar are all different feels like too much to keep track of to me. After playing this for a few days, I'm mildly ashamed to admit that nothing has changed. I don't know guitar any better than before whatsoever. Now, I'm certain this is more my fault than that of this... game? I'm not sure how to categorize it. Whatever the case, I think this is an excellent starting point for people who want to learn guitar. To start with, the controller. The "strings" you strum are these rubber fins that are quite sensitive to touch, and the "strings" on the fret board are strips of rubber that you press down to change the pitch of the associated "string" you strum. While it's not a perfect replication of an actual guitar (the strumming fins are a little too sensitive to touch, so if you try to rest your fingers on one string to play the one above or below it, it will register as a strum instead), it's good enough to get the basics down. I will say, however, that the included pick is rather necessary to avoid accidentally strumming strings you don't want to play. One aspect of the controller I'm not fond of is that there's absolutely 0 recourse if you like to play lefty. The shape of the controller is oriented exclusively for playing righty - if you try to play it lefty, it's uncomfortable and awkward to hold, not to mention that the Joycon is facing down. You'll have to avoid pressing the buttons if it's against your leg, and you'll have to either flip the controller around to navigate the menus, or feel around and hope you're pressing the proper buttons. The instructions in the game only tell you how to play it righty, and I couldn't find an option to flip the guitar strings for lefty, although I admittedly didn't spend a ton of time searching for it. Still, though, it's frustrating as someone who plays guitars "the wrong way" not to be able to orient it to my needs. The actual software itself is nice. In the box is a redemption code you enter into the Eshop on your Switch, which you use to get the software. It's not massive, so it doesn't take long to download. There's a lot of different features in the software - you can go straight into learning chord basics, to understand how chord progression works, or you can go into the lessons, where you'll be taught everything from posture to playing real music. You can jump into just about any point in the lessons, so you don't have to start at guitar 101 if you already know some stuff. There's also free play mode, where you can just mess around with the guitar and play what you want. It's great. I think this is a fantastic starting point for people who want to learn guitar, without committing to purchasing an expensive instrument, much less lessons. It won't be a 1 to 1 of playing guitar, but it'll be close enough that you can definitely apply what you learn to the real instrument.

I'll give some context and mention that I've been playing guitar for half of my life. I am not a pro though, and I never learned to play it the "right way". I learned to play by ear and a thing called guitar tabs. I've always wanted a way to learn chords and progressions but admittedly.. Ive never been good about just picking up a book and learning that way. I've always been a hands on / visual learner. So the Hori Guitar Life ( Lesson 1) is a pretty cool way of teaching someone how to learn some chords and basics on the guitar. I wanted to give this thing a 4 star review.. mainly because of a couple of nitpicks I have with the "guitar " itself. Which are 1. It still doesn't really feel like a real guitar in my hands. But to a beginner it might not matter. The silicon pads on the guitar while easy on the fingers do not provide a real and tactile feedback that guitar strings do. 2. Strumming the pads with the included pick feels kind of weird. But again.. Im nitpicking because I already play guitar and my brain just doesn't like the feel of it haha. But the biggest nitpick I have with this product is that there is some delay (latency) when strumming. Not huge, but enough to keep you strumming and picking at a slow pace. All that being said.. it won't matter to a beginner because a true beginner will probably be strumming and picking slowly while moving their fingers on the fret board. Sooo I don't think it is a dealbreaker. The software and lessons you receive from the game completely makes up for it and I think it will provide a good and fun way for someone to start playing guitar. I told my wife she should learn with this and play with me when I am playing at home :) Anywho the game has various game modes to help you start your musical journey. The first two are Lesson 1 and Rhythm Riff. Lesson 1 teaches you the major chords on a guitar and Rhythm Riff teaches you about progression and strumming. There is also a free play mode, Chord Run and Musical Performance mode which will teach you how to play real songs that you made already know and love. I think for the entry price, the total package is worth it. The included "Guitar" is small enough for small hands and children yet big enough for an adult to learn with. While I wish it felt more like a real guitar.. I think it is great anyway. Just keep in mind that only a Nintendo switch 1 joy con will be compatible with this product. You can play it with a Nintendo switch 2 but will need a first gen joy con to pair to the console. All in all, I am enjoying and having fun learning with this product and admittedly it has taught me a thing or two that I didn't know (mainly the names of chords :B) even after playing for half of my life already. If you are wanting a fun way to learn guitar or have your kids learn guitar. This is a cool way to do it! I will probably be buying a second one to give to my nephew who wants to learn how to play.

Really fun and easy to get started with. The guitar controller feels comfortable and responsive, and the lessons make learning songs much more enjoyable than I expected. Setup was simple with the Nintendo Switch and everything worked well right away. Great for beginners, but still entertaining if you already have some experience with rhythm games. Definitely a unique and enjoyable way to practice guitar while having fun.

I’ve owned a guitar since the pandemic, but haven’t been able to learn to play it consistently. I’ve tried YouTube, lesson books, and other methods, but nothing has stuck or kept me engaged. It’s hard to start as an unconfident adult, but even harder when you want to learn with children. That’s where Hori Guitar Life: Lesson 1 comes in. It’s interactive for children, teens, young adults, and anyone of any age, and it’s an unintimidating introduction to learning guitar. I’ve wondered why there hasn’t been an option like this over the years. Yes, there were Guitar Hero and other “guitar-based” games, but they were just button presses synced to on-screen prompts. They never taught the nuance of guitar playing. Pressure-sensitive fretboard and strumming based on a real guitar layout. This uses real “strings”, real hand placement, and real understanding. It’s not just four buttons and an up-and-down toggle. This makes the lessons seem much more transferable to a real guitar, which is the idea. The guitar is well-designed and thoughtfully crafted, and it feels good in the hands. It is slightly smaller than a standard electric guitar but is suitable for people of different sizes. Although the neck is much shorter than a real guitar, it’s the closest match to a concept we’ve all wanted. The game is a series of interactive lessons with gamification elements. It has held our interest so far and is becoming one of the more popular lessons my son and I have done for learning. Although this is an official Nintendo-licensed product, I wish it were a standalone instrument separate from the Switch. It requires a Joycon to connect to the guitar. We have a Switch 2, but I feel this would be perfect as a guitar you can plug into the TV to learn with, rather than a game-based lesson. The idea of more lessons in the future is great, but I wish it were clear how many lessons have already been made. Like many gaming ideas, they sometimes lose steam, and only the introductory game is released. I don’t think that will happen here, but the thought lingers. It’s not exactly a “subscription” based idea, but the thought of several games that need to be purchased until you learn all the lessons could force a fairly expensive way to learn. Although private lessons are much more expensive, YouTube remains a free way to learn. We’ll see if it’s all worth it in the end. I’m not sure how much the standalone lessons will be in the future, but with $100 being the price of the guitar + lesson 1, I am not complaining. There are several songs to learn within the lessons: “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Born to be Wild,” and “Closing Time,” to name a few. There are 13 altogether in Lesson 1. It’s a good mix of songs and genres to please almost anyone. It would be cool in the future to be able to import your own songs or any song and have a library of sheet music to learn from. But I understand the licensing of each song makes that difficult. On the other hand, it’s not difficult to search online to find these once you learn the basics. For a product that doesn’t break the bank but offers a very easy way to get the basics of learning guitar down, I think this is a great product. It is the best option so far for my son and me to learn together without feeling overwhelmed or disengaged. That’s a win in my book.

Please note that this is compatible with the Switch 1 and Switch 2, however you must have Switch 1 right joy-con controller and does not include one. I have Switch 2 and the application was able to be downloaded and installed on the Switch 2 with no issues. The Switch 1 joy-con powers the guitar exclusively and you cannot charge the joy-con from the guitar. You will either need to charge the joy-con from a Switch 1 or use an external joy-con charger. It took me a while to get the Switch 1 joy-con controller to pair with my Switch 2, but once setup it stayed connected fine. Once you have the joy-con charged and connected to the guitar, the Hori - Guitar Life application guides you through connecting. The guitar feels well balanced and is easy for a child or adult to hold and use. There a lot of tutorials that give very good information on how a guitar works, the notes and how to position yourself for the chords. I found it a little difficult, but playing a guitar is not easy at first and this makes it realistic. The application could you some polish to make it easier to navigate, but once you get used to it is pretty easy to get around. There is a full size guitar pic included and the simulated strings are responsive and easy to use. Overall, it is a good way to learn guitar basics. It would be nice if it came with a Switch 1 joy-con controller and allowed the controller to be charged while connected to the guitar. The quality seems good and should last a while.

The Hori Guitar Life Bundle with Guitar Life: Lesson 1 overall is a good game for a beginner. I got it to use on the Switch and it worked fine. The only issue I had is that you can't just search the game like the instructions say. The only way I was able to download the game was by putting in the redemption code and then it came up for download. The box claims this works on a Switch 2 with the Switch 1 joy-con but I was unable to verify this. I have guitars and other guitar games. I can get by playing the actual instrument but I'm far from proficient. This game does a really good job of teaching you chords and rhythms while conditioning your fingers. The unique pressure sensitive silicone strings work for training your fingers on chord positions but also condition your muscles and finger pads. The tips of my fingers were getting sore playing just like they would on a real guitar. The interface seems anime since this started out as a Japanese game but the English text is accurate. Hori advertises more popular songs you can play but they are actually only snippets. They don't have you play the entire song. It is also only the chords and rhythms of the songs. Even though this controller seems to have the capability to play single strings, they don't get into any of that. This is lesson 1 which insinuates a lesson 2 but there isn't one released yet. I wish this game encompassed playing riffs and doing more than just strumming. I also wish that it had entire songs to play. They mostly used the songs as a fun blue print to learn chords from. I'm hoping a lesson 2 comes out that includes these features. If you are really serious about learning the guitar you should probably just get one and dive in with lessons or other games that use the actual instrument. However, if you are just trying it out or don't have the money to get a guitar this is actually a good compromise. Walking away from these lessons you're actually learning transferable skills vs shredding on Guitar Hero and then failing on the actual instrument.

My daughter and I have found this to be such a fun and easy way to start learning the guitar. Set up is extremely easy--just download the Guitar Life game onto the Nintendo Switch with the provided code (we utilized our original/first gen Switch), click the Right Joy-Con into place on the guitar and pair it with the console, and off you go, just follow the directions on the console screen. (There is an included guitar pick.) You can try doing straight lessons to learn the basics, practice and play famous songs, free play the guitar, practice chords, and there is an extremely helpful general overall guide to the guitar/guitar playing and the game itself. There are also such options as choosing the sound style (electric/acoustic/banjo) and guitar effect (reverb/echo/distortion), to name a few. I will confess that while my daughter and I have some musical background (she played the flute/was in the school band for three years, I played the piano for several years when I was younger), I have absolutely no experience with guitar playing at all while she has lightly experimented with a friend's guitar. However, it is such a treat to learn and play the guitar this way, not to mention a great way to utilize our Nintendo Switch for something other than playing video games--for my kids to use it constructively in a learning environment while at the same time having fun. I wholly recommend it! The guitar itself is nice and light, and comfortable to hold. However, two caveats I would point out: for one, my daughter and I are both right-handed and the guitar seems to be made for only right handers (the shape of it makes it look like this); second--and this is a big one--my daughter is extremely annoyed with the sound that the plastic "strings" make when strumming them. She says it really detracts from the musical sounds. Obviously this cannot be helped because it is the nature of the instrument not having real strings. On the other hand, she also pointed out that the plastic "strings" of the fret board are more comfortable than real strings of guitars she has tried, so there is that. My last thought is this--the price is refreshingly not that bad at all and well worth it too.

The Hori Guitar Life guitar seems to have 3 audiences: - a VERY specific kind of kiddo who finds it hard to be separated from their Nintendo Switch for very long, but whose caregivers want them to learn an instrument - someone who wants to learn guitar but needs an accessibility aid - a kiddo who needs a lighter learning tool and visual feedback while learning about where to put their fingers In terms of teaching tools, it actually is very good. The strings are soft-ish and responsive and nicely spaced for small or large fingers, the strumming with a finger is not crazy loud but a kid might have some struggles doing it themselves without the pick because it's not as responsive. There's connectors for a guitar strap as well, which is nice. I don't mind that they didn't include one because it encourages you to go into a local music store and get one. The only major downside to all of this: the plastic pick is CRAZY LOUD while strumming. My kiddo was able to pick up a few chords right away from the lessons. As an adult I found the pacing really slow and with just two modes to start with I got bored quickly. When you think about the cost of picking up a ukulele or renting a guitar from the library or music store... I'm not sure Hori's offering stacks up for adult learning. Here's what I will say, though: as an accessibility tool, this is fantastic. The device is LIGHT, the pairing of the Switch controllers is easy enough, the strumming is easy with the pick, and the software is responsive in showing you where your fingers are, being patient and gentle with corrections, and with extensive info on what you're learning and why you're doing a particular thing and what you're supposed to be doing. So as an accessibility tool or a younger kiddo learning tool, this is 5-stars. Roll your eyes all you want, if it gets kids playing an instrument, it's worth its weight in gold. As a "game", not so much - and as an adult, I'd honestly rather go tool around with a ukulele. I wish there were some more "gamification" things in the app to encourage regular and the pacing is sluggish for kiddos older than 10 (hence 4 stars)... but these are SOFTWARE issues so could easily be patched. As a peripheral, it's pretty slick and you could do worse in terms of learning the guitar.

First thing to note is that while this is compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2, you will absolutely need access to some Switch 1 Joy-con controllers, as the guitar accessory can only plug in those particular ones. I don't know if there are plans to release a version of the guitar that works with Switch 2 controllers, but keep that in mind before you buy. As someone who is not at all a musician, I was confused at the orientation of the controller, as for years I thought a "right-handed" guitar meant the neck of the guitar was held in your right hand, not the other way around as it is with the guitar accessory. Unfortunately, there are no options to flip the control scheme, so it may take getting used to if you have attempted to play a guitar the other way. On the plus side, this controller appears to work pretty well. The "strings" are sensitive enough that you only need a light touch or strum for the game to register your input. There also appears to be the option to attach a strap, though the controller doesn't come with one. The main downside of the guitar accessory is that it does not seem to be compatible with other games out there, at least at this current moment. On the topic of the game itself, it's included as a digital download, included on a small sheet with the redemption code, so be careful not to misplace this while opening. The box lists the game code and the DLC separately, but from my experience the game and DLC come together. The "main" part of the game will be the Lesson mode, where you're encouraged to complete all of these before tackling the "Performance" mode where the songs are included. Patience is definitely key, as you're required to score high enough on each lesson to move on to the next, so you'll definitely know if it's something you're willing to stick with before investing in the real deal. There's also a free play mode, as well as a mini-game which can help you learn finger placement on the strings. One thing I found to be a huge lifesaver is the option to reverse the vertical order of the strings. At first I was thrown off greatly by things being "upside-down", but after changing this setting my performances started getting better immediately. I have no idea if this is recommended for real guitar playing, but as far as this game goes, it makes a huge difference. Whether or not this game works for you as a legitimate way to learn to play will likely vary from person to person. I honestly feel having an actual instructor would be the best option, but consider this game a much cheaper alternative to start out with.

So first the packaging. You get a code; there is no physical game in the packaging. You get the guitar body and the pick and a couple paper manuals/pamphlets. The guitar is good quality, and it is minimalist. There is no battery, no lights, no sounds. The "strings" are stiff rubber, and they work well for the function and are durable. The pick is red and oversized, fairly thick, you could just use a regular pick if you lose this one. The one thing I wish they did differently on the guitar, I'd like a slot to hold the pick in when you weren't using it. Once you register the game and download it to your Switch, you are ready to go, put one Joycon from your Switch onto the guitar and off to the music making. The Lessons start out very basic, and it did take me a bit of time to get used to what they were trying to teach me, as I am a complete instruments novice, and guitars in particular. The lessons flowed pretty well once you get use to the mechanics of picking the stiff rubber that act as the strings. I was able to learn a short simple song and get good at it, and then take that to an acoustic guitar and butcher my way through it, sort of. As always, practice makes perfect. This definitely isn't a game per say, but a learning tool.

As a veteran and afficionado of rhythm games played with plastic instruments, I had high hopes for this. Imagine, learning real guitar from a video game! Unfortunately, after sitting down and trudging through a few lessons, I can reasonably say that the best way to learn to really play a guitar is with a real guitar. The guitar controller is an odd beast. It has a fret board that holds 6 touch sensitive pads where the strings would be, set in 5 rows (giving you effectively 5 frets as opposed to the 18 to 24 on a real guitar), as well as 6 fins that you "pluck" with the included oversized pick. The "strings" are of uniform width, unlike a real guitar that has strings that get thinner as they get higher in pitch. Comparing it to my Stratocaster, it is about as wide from the bridge up, so it does feel natural when seated and holding it as instructed. There looks to be a place to put a strap down by the bottom of the guitar, but I couldn't find a corresponding knob near where the neck meets the body. There is also a rail where you slide in a Switch 1 joy con (the right one only, as the left one would leave you unable to press the buttons as the joy con is used for navigating). Included with the controller is a download code for the Guitar Life: Lesson 1 software. Within the software, you can either go through the lessons that teach you the basic open string cowboy chords, or go through what seems to be a music theory lesson but ends up being a confusing mess by attempting to apply Guitar Hero logic to the 5 available frets while giving a lesson on the circle of 5ths. The lessons didn't fare any better. There is no voice over, so you are treated to a series of lengthy texts describing how to hold the guitar and where to put your fingers. The text is very dry, and you have to scroll through several screens before it lets you start to play the guitar. The playing part is also incredibly underwhelming. The first lesson has you play an E minor chord, showing you where to put your fingers and how to strum. It then asks you to play it 4 times. However, if you leave your fingers in place and try to strum 4 times, it will not register properly because the controller does not register your fingers unless you remove them from the controller and repress them before every strum. Now, I've never taken a guitar lesson before, but I'm pretty sure that keeping your fingers held down on a chord while strumming that chord multiple times is ok. Messing around in the Freeplay section and holding that same E minor chord shape, I got a different sound every time I strummed. I thought maybe the controller would be cool to use as some sort of MIDI thing, or maybe use it for Rock Band 3 with some sort of adapter, but being forced to use a joycon to power it means a lot of hacking that I have neither the knowledge nor the desire to even bother researching if it's possible. If you are actually interested in learning guitar, get a real guitar. Even a cheap guitar store special (of the sort they sell with the included gig bag, cable, and practice amp) will be better value for the money. At least with a real guitar, you can sound terrible playing any song you can think of, instead of sounding terrible playing the handful of outdated songs that come with the "game". I've had more fun clapping along to a song than I have using this. I thought that this would help show me the things that I never was instructed on since I'm entirely self-taught, but there was absolutely nothing in here that I couldn't have gotten from a youtube video. Even if you got good at using this, the skills wouldn't necessarily translate to playing a real guitar, as holding down actual strings feels completely different compared to the spongy buttons that don't have any real play in them, and you definitely wouldn't have the same grip strength and calluses that would develop just in the first month. Also, if you only have a Switch 2, you still need to go out and get a right Switch 1 joy con in order to use this.

I find these kinds of controllers are interesting. This still isn’t a substitute for a real guitar, and at this price you could easily buy a used acoustic. That being said this is the most advanced controller for a gaming system I’ve used, so don’t immediately dismiss this as a guitar hero controller like a set of buttons. The connection with and setup with the switch went easily and as expected. The switch app / game shines in a few very specific ways - if you are first learning a guitar. Like literally from zero. You know nothing, this is good for you. As you rise up through the difficulty, it becomes less relevant / useful. The parts where you learn chords are also very worthwhile. Lastly I liked some of the individual songs. The mini games or gamification of the learning process is compelling but could use more work before I would start to recommend this over guitar lessons. This is a compelling alternative to NO lessons at all, and I do think they are on to something. Overall the hardware is well designed and works okay. I would love to see the next version of the app / game.