TrueFire Review – Is it worth the money?

TrueFire is an online platform dedicated to guitar and music education. Founded in 2005, TrueFire has become one of the largest and most popular sites for learning guitar and improving musicianship. With over 1,000 instructors and 35,000 video guitar lessons, TrueFire offers an incredibly deep library of lessons covering styles like rock, blues, metal, jazz, country and more.

In this TrueFire review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the platform's features, content library, instructors, and overall value as an online guitar learning resource. We'll highlight the pros and cons of TrueFire and who can benefit most from using it. Read on for the full review.

Table of Contents

Overview of TrueFire

TrueFire aims to provide high-quality, structured guitar lessons from top instructors to help users improve their guitar skills. The platform currently offers:

Over 1,000 instructors
35,000 on-demand guitar lesson videos
500+ multi-lesson guitar courses
Topics covering technique, theory, styles, songs, gear and more

Instructors include famous names like Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa and Martin Miller as well as top session musicians and educators. Most lessons are taught by the instructors themselves in a structured format combining teaching, close-ups, tab/notation, jam tracks and more.

Users can access the lessons online through TrueFire’s website or apps. The platform uses an all-access subscription model rather than pay-per-lesson. Various subscription options are available including monthly, 3-month and annual plans.

TrueFire also regularly releases new lessons and courses, holds live events and offers additional resources like member forums. Overall, the platform aims to provide a comprehensive learning environment for both beginners and advanced guitarists.

TrueFire's Video Lesson Library

The core of TrueFire is its extensive on-demand video lesson library. With over 35,000 video guitar lessons currently available, TrueFire has one of the largest collections of online guitar instruction anywhere.

Lessons cover topics like:

Guitar techniques – Chords, scales, arpeggios, speed/sweeping picking, slide guitar and hundreds of other techniques. All taught from beginner to advanced levels.
Genres – Rock, blues, metal, jazz, acoustic, bluegrass, classical, country and more. Thousands of genre-specific lessons available.
Theory – Music theory, ear training and fretboard knowledge explained and demonstrated clearly.
Songs – Detailed lessons teaching both beginner and advanced songs note-for-note. Covers rock, pop, metal, blues and other genres.
Gear/software – Using effects, amps, pedals, guitar gear maintenance, DAW software and recording lessons.
Artistry – Improvisation, songwriting, performing, expression and developing creativity on guitar.
General skills – Exercises, warm ups, basic chord changes, how to read tab/sheet music and fundamentals.

The library strikes an excellent balance between structure and variety. It includes both single concept lessons focused on specific techniques as well as longer, comprehensive courses. This allows users to either learn individual skills or follow a complete training curriculum.

While offering many thousands of lessons, TrueFire takes a quality over quantity approach. All instructors are vetted guitar masters and lessons follow core learning principles. Overall production quality is excellent – most lessons filmed in HD video with multiple camera angles and studio sound.

For any style or topic you want to study on guitar, TrueFire likely has you covered with its massive video lesson selection.

Instructors

TrueFire’s impressive instructor roster sets it apart from other online guitar learning platforms. Rather than using unknown teachers, TrueFire lessons are taught by famous musicians along with top educators.

Some of the big name musicians you’ll learn from include:

Steve Vai – Legendary rock virtuoso of the highest calibre. Offers lessons on advanced techniques and artistry concepts.
Joe Bonamassa – Premier modern blues rock guitarist. Teaches blues mastery through concepts and licks.
Zakk Wylde – Lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and metal icon. Lessons on shredding and metal guitar.
Guthrie Govan – Mindblowingly skilled multi-genre wizard. Jazz, fusion, shred and improv lessons.
Dave Mustaine – Founder and guitarist of Megadeth. Hard rock and metal rhythm lessons.
Joe Satriani – Pioneering virtuoso player and musician’s musician. Rock improv and strange chord ideas.
John Petrucci – Dream Theater guitarist and master of progressive complexity. Advanced progressive concepts.

Along with the big names, TrueFire also has top session musicians like David Becker, touring pros like Andy Wood and the platform's own instructors like Corey Congilio, Jared Meeker and many others teaching across genres.

Having access to lessons by such renowned guitar talent is an invaluable resource. You gain insights into their playing approaches, philosophies and the concepts that have made them incredible musicians. All taught in an organized, structured format optimized for learning.

For any playing level, having this diversity of elite instructors in one place accelerates guitar learning exponentially.

Course Structure and Learning Features

TrueFire organizes its vast lesson library using courses. Courses are multi-lesson modules built around a genre, technique, song or broader topic. This creates a structured path for improving your guitar skills incrementally.

Here are some examples of TrueFire courses:

Beginner Bootcamp – 42 step-by-step lessons teaching fundamentals for any beginner guitarist. Covers from holding the guitar to basic songs.
Blues Lead Crash Course – 17 lessons guiding you to play authentic blues guitar solos and licks in any key.
Country Guitar Technique Essentials – 13 lessons focused on techniques like hybrid picking vital for country guitar.
Mastering Metallica – 10 lessons teaching how to play 10 classic Metallica songs note-for-note.
Prog Rock Guitar Masterclass – 11 lessons on using exotic scales, complex rhythms and advanced techniques for progressive rock guitar.
Slide Guitar Level 1 – 17 lessons taking you from the basics to playing full slide guitar solos.

Courses typically include high-quality video lessons, tab/music notation, jam tracks to play along with, additional materials like PDFs/reference guides and quizzes for reinforcement. They provide structured, step-by-step training on a subject from start to finish.

TrueFire also integrates many convenient learning features into its platform:

Video player allows slowing down lessons, looping sections and setting bookmarks.
Tab player to learn/practice tabbed out examples interactively.
Notation player to view and play along with sheet music.
Scorekeeping to track your progress through courses.
Search/browse tools make exploring massive lesson library easy.
Apps available to learn from any device.
Downloads allow using lessons offline.

These tools optimize and enhance the learning experience when going through TrueFire’s courses.

Community Features

In addition to its lessons and courses, TrueFire has developed a strong sense of community amongst members. This comes via features like:

Member Forums – Active forums create a collaborative learning environment. Get feedback, exchange ideas, find accountability partners and more.

Live Events – Regular live Q&As, clinics and masterclasses with instructors. Allow direct learning from the pros.

Challenges – Regular guitar skill challenges promote consistent practice through friendly competition.

Tunes – Upload your playing for feedback and commentary from the instructors.

The community atmosphere helps keep motivation high and gives you resources beyond the core lessons. Between the forums, events and connecting with instructors, TrueFire does an excellent job leveraging the wisdom of its roster.

TrueFire Subscription Options

Rather than a pay-per-lesson model, TrueFire uses subscriptions. This allows unlimited access to all 35K+ HD video lessons and courses. Here are the subscription options:

Monthly – $19.99/month. Recurring billing, cancel anytime.
3 Month Pass – $14.99/month. $44.97 total billed once. Saves 25%.
Yearly – $11.67/month. $139.99 total billed once. Saves 40%.
Team Pass – $249.99/year. 5 user accounts, saves 55%.
Monthly & Yearly plans include free mobile access to entire library.
3 Day Free Trial available to test it out.

Considering the amount of premium instruction included, the subscriptions represent excellent value. Yearly and Team Pass offer big savings in cost per lesson.

One membership provides full access from any device. You can sample whatever lessons interest you or take courses start-to-finish. At $12-20/month, the pricing remains affordable even on tighter budgets.

TrueFire also regularly offers sales around holidays to lower costs further. Overall, the subscriptions make accessing this level of training extremely budget-friendly.

Standout Aspects of TrueFire

What really makes TrueFire stand out as a premium online guitar learning platform? A few key strengths:

World Class Instructors – The star-studded instructor roster simply can’t be matched elsewhere. Learning directly from legendary players provides incredible insight into their mastery.

Production Quality – Video and audio production values on lessons are top-notch. Makes absorbing concepts easier.

Structured Courses – Lessons aren't randomly assorted. Courses allow you to learn topics comprehensively from start to finish.

Song Lessons – Extremely deep library of lessons teaching songs note-for-note across many genres. Highly valuable for building repertoire.

Community – Active forums, events and challenges keep students engaged and learning together.

Platform Features – Video/tab/notation players, progress tracking and downloads optimize the learning experience.

Affordable Pricing – Subscription model provides unlimited access at a fraction of in-person lesson costs. Great value.

These factors combine to provide an immensely effective platform. The tools are there to develop any aspect of guitar playing at your own pace.

Downsides of TrueFire

For the most part, TrueFire delivers an exceptional online guitar education. But what are some potential downsides to consider?

No Direct Interactivity – Lessons are pre-recorded videos. The platforms' tools help, but you can't ask direct questions like in-person lessons.

Broad Focus – With so many styles and instructors, the platform doesn't specialize in any one genre or technique.

Advanced Player Focus – A significant portion of lessons target intermediate to advanced level players rather than pure beginners.

Song Lesson Gaps – Despite many songs covered, you may not always find a specific song you want to learn.

Cost Adds Up – Monthly billing requires committing to regular cost instead of one-off purchases.

These factors may limit TrueFire's effectiveness depending on your learning preferences and needs. Using it as a supplement to other methods can help overcome the limitations.

Who Is TrueFire Best Suited For?

Given its vast instructional content, TrueFire can benefit most guitar students:

Beginners – Structured courses provide excellent foundations. Tons of lessons for core techniques and fundamentals.
Hobbyists – Diverse styles and songs keep playing fun. Short lessons allow casual learning.
Players wanting to expand genres – Easy access to lessons for many styles. Quickly build new influences.
Advanced players – Elite instructors and deep theoretical content helps high-level development.
Song learners – Huge selection of detailed song lessons improves repertoire.

If you're self-motivated with a passion for guitar, TrueFire has something for you at any stage. Combining it with other learning methods maximizes results.

The platform alone won't make you a master. But consistent application of its teachings can develop skills far faster compared to random YouTube lessons.

Should You Use TrueFire?

So should you subscribe and use TrueFire to improve your guitar skills? Ask yourself:

Do you want to expand your guitar knowledge across styles and techniques?
Are you excited by the chance to learn from legendary musicians?
Do you learn well from structured video lessons and courses?
Can you maintain self-discipline to use it consistently?
Is access to 35K+ HD video lessons worth $12-$20 per month to you?

If you answered yes to these questions, TrueFire may provide immense value. The depth and diversity of instruction can accelerate your guitar progress and abilities.

However, if you learn better from in-person lessons or need specialized genre training, it may not fully meet your needs. Assess your budget, learning preferences and goals to decide if TrueFire aligns.

But for most dedicated guitarists, especially at intermediate and higher skill levels, TrueFire provides world-class instruction. The platform should deliver outstanding returns on the subscription investment as long as you use it actively.

Conclusion

TrueFire offers an exceptional online guitar and music learning experience. Through its huge instructor roster, vast HD video lesson library and structured courses, the platform makes quality instruction accessible for all levels and styles.

While not without limitations, TrueFire excels at providing diverse foundations for self-motivated students. The production values, teaching quality and affordability create a premium learning environment.

Overall, TrueFire stands among the top tier of online guitar education platforms. For any guitarist serious about expanding their skills and knowledge, it's an invaluable resource.

FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about TrueFire:

Does TrueFire offer a free trial?

Yes, TrueFire offers a 3 day free trial so you can test the platform. All features are unlocked during the trial.

Can I download lessons for offline use?

Yes, lessons and courses can be downloaded using the mobile apps or website tools. This allows offline, portable access.

Are tablature and sheet music included?

Most lessons include tab, notation or both to follow along with. These can be viewed using TrueFire's built-in tab/notation players.

Can I get feedback on my playing through TrueFire?

You can upload clips of your playing to the "Tunes" section. Instructors and other members then provide commentary and feedback to help you improve.

Does TrueFire offer live classes or 1-on-1 lessons?

No personal lessons are offered. But there are regular live group events like Q&As and masterclasses with instructors.

Can I use TrueFire on mobile and tablets?

Yes, TrueFire offers iOS, Android and web apps. This allows access to all lessons from mobile devices and tablets.

What makes TrueFire different from other guitar learning sites?

The top instructors, structured courses for every topic, and extremely deep lesson library differentiate TrueFire. Production quality is also much higher.

What subscription should I choose?

The annual plan offers the biggest savings if you know you'll use it regularly. Monthly works well to test it out initially. 3-month subscriptions are good for short term projects.

And that covers the key points for this TrueFire review! Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.