Pocket Guitar Trainer Chord Practice Tool Portable Guitar Neck w/ Screen

My hubby and I were taking our yearly trip to Mexico, he has been learning the guitar and I go this for him for Christmas so he could take it with us on vacation and continue to learn while away from home. It does not play music, so it doesn't disturb anyone, but keeps him practicing and retaining info. I wish they had one for the ukulele, which I am learning to play. =)

This pocket practice guitar is NOT a good tool for learning chords. The neck is smaller than a both a full-size guitar and a half-size guitar. The spacing between the strings, and the distance between the frets, are smaller and more narrow than standard guitars. Therefore your fingers CAN'T develop the proper muscle memory when you place them on the strings. I thought the digital chords and metronome would be helpful for developing speed and accuracy in changing chords, but the metronome is silent and the Chinese-translated directions for use are incomprehensible. Nothing can replace the repetition and consistent practice on a real guitar. A tuning key is included but accurate tuning is impossible. Hearing the sound of the chords is essential to getting accurate fingerings, and this is not possible. Save your money! This is an expensive piece of junk.

I wrote a scathing review when I first received it. I have grown to think that most of the bad reviews are a result of misunderstanding what this product IS or how to use it due to instructions that seem incomplete. This is NOT a guitar!! This will NOT play music! This is a practice tool for while you’re sitting around doing nothing you can practice your fingering for the guitar. This is a piece of plastic that slides down to reveal a wooden block with guitar strings strung over a few frets. Then there is an electric component. When you first get it (it comes with batteries) you will see the finger depression to open the battery case. Inside is a small cube like sponge, don’t remove that even though the first time I closed the battery compartment it felt like I’d break the little door trying to compress the sponge. The flat side of the battery faces up. Lost press the power button to turn it on. You will then see a chord appear with the finger positions. I do wish it would check your accuracy, but aside from that it’s actually a cool little tool for those of us who are just learning. I’ve read several reviews that say it sounds bad. This is NOT a guitar! If you want the chord sound, then get a guitar. If you want to be able to sit on public transportation or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and practice fingering chords, this will help you. Again, if you are looking for a pocket sized guitar, this is not it. I think technology has spoiled us a bit and we suddenly expect everything to be amazing and miraculous. This is a basic but kind of cool learning tool for those of us with no God given talent for guitar outside of desire. If that’s what you want, to feel actual strings beneath your fingers as you try to practice finger placement on the neck, this will help. It will not play, nor is it a full neck. I don’t think these reviews speak much of the product honestly, but more of people’s expectations as mine was at first. I wanted a feedback device that was intuitive and provided feedback. That’s a little lofty. This is simple, but effective if you’re looking to simply practice.

Serious guitarists: this is what you need to know. First off, to everyone complaining that it doesn’t sound like a guitar. It’s not meant to be a guitar, strings aren’t meant to be tuned to pitch. With that blaring fact out of the way, let me tell you what exactly this is. This is a mock guitar neck to practice chords, build dexterity and MAYBE learn some chords with the little chord library. I REALLY wanted to like this thing and tried to convince myself it was worth it. But the biggest deal breaker besides the fact you can’t actually play it was that in full extension, the joint break would snap off (not break but annoying to snap back into place). If you try to use this thing as a mock guitar, the ergonomics won’t even allow it because there’s nothing to counteract the left hand so you’re effectively struggling to hold it and “practice”. The little computer seemed to work fine enough but might I suggest an app called ChordShapes, it’s free and does the same thing. If you’re willing to spend this much on mock guitar, I think you’re better off saving a little more and just getting an actual guitar. The only thing that will make you better is actual real time with the guitar, and this will only take away that time. If convenience and portability is a factor, I would suggest just getting a smaller guitar-related instrument like a ukulele or guitarlele. They’re all the same notes, just small snapshot sections of the fretboard of a normal guitar. Heck even a mini guitar would be better than this. As always, it’s not about the gear that’ll make you better. It’s the time you put into it.

Awesome device when you want to practice but don't want to disrupt those around you or want to develop muscle memory and strength. Yes, when I originally purchased this, I imagined listeming to this. Don't get me wrong it might be possible to invent a small version that can play the right notes. This is something that you can practice with in a theater, plane, long trip without driving, doctors office beach, etc. it is not an instrument though. just a tool to help with finger exercises and muscle memory. Enjoy this device it is definitely worth it. If you have the extra money to spend $500.00+ then just buy another guitar ie Travel ,Mini, Ukulele etc. if you want a device that you can practice spacing, and other exercises then buy this. you won't be disappointed.

It's all plastic...which I didn't expect. I should've read the description better, but even the frets are molded into the plastic, they are not metal. The screen for the chords is cool, but really unnecessary in hindsight. I mean, why would you try to learn a new chord from scratch on this thing? You should know the chord before you even pick this thing up! Overall, just thoroughly unimpressed. I returned it and bought one made of wood and metal...and no chord screen.

I take time to practice fingering on the subway every day. I can get familiar with chord changes without carrying a whole guitar. Last week, I played a piece on a real guitar when I went to a friend's party. Everyone said that I made great progress! It is easy to carry and the practice effect is surprisingly good. It is worth recommending!

Personal opinions here but... it did not come with instructions which was the first strike. It needed tuned, which without the instructions was annoying (strike two). It is a bit awkward (strike three). And as if that was not enough, the little tuner I just bought verifies chords so it made this awkward, annoying little thing... useless. But.. that's just me.

As advertised and described

excelente para practicar

Compra inútil, es un pedazo de plástico con cuerdas y una pantalla de jueguito de mercado, no es cómodo para practicar.

This product is useless. Garbage!

What I was expecting.