When I receive a product for review, I don’t typically run out and purchase a duplicate of the product before I’ve even written the review. In fact, I’ve never done that with an item I’m reviewing. Until ChordBuddy.

See, I was immediately impressed by the ChordBuddy Guitar Learning System and was compelled to purchase a second one to share with a faraway family member. Before I had even shared my thoughts here with my readers.

The story:

My 12-year-old bonus grandson, James, inherited two fabulous guitars when his uncle passed away a couple years ago. James wanted to learn how to play them, yet he’d been busy with other extracurricular activities for a while. Then he was ready to commit to lessons … and Covid swept the world, putting in-person lessons with a stranger out of the question.

James’ desire to learn to play guitar was my first thought when I received an offer to review the ChordBuddy Guitar Learning System method. With James in mind, I said Yes! to the ChordBuddy rep and soon had the system in hand.

Before sharing with James, though, I wanted my husband to vet ChordBuddy. He’s played guitar for more than 40 years—self-taught—and I wanted his stamp of approval before encouraging James to try it, just in case it was a bunch of hooey.

My husband and I watched the entire DVD, with the ChordBuddy device attached to his guitar for him to follow the lessons. We soon realized the system was far from hooey. In fact, my husband picked up some new techniques from the video.

Days later, James came to my house, guitar in hand. Together we perused the package contents:

ChordBuddy Device for non-classical or Spanish “Classical” (Classical guitars are over 2″ wide at nut and have usually some nylon strings)
Instruction Book
App/Lesson Plan book
ChordBuddy Songbook with over 100 Songs
ChordBuddy instructional DVD (Note: The DVD is being phased out as entire lesson plan is available on YouTube. Some older packaging still includes the DVD.)

Then I got the DVD going, and James got ready with his guitar.

Here is the lesson intro, to show the patient, welcoming approach of Travis Perry, the ChordBuddy creator and instructor:

Lessons began with Travis explaining the basics: guitar parts, how to correctly hold the pick, proper strumming, and more.

Mere minutes into the lessons, James was already learning two songs.

James replayed that particular lesson several times and, less than 15 minutes later, he was ready to perform his first ditties for his brother, Benjamin, and Brianna.

After James’ performance, er, intro to ChordBuddy at my house, he took the ChordBuddy system home to continue learning at his own pace. When I asked his thoughts a few days later, he told me that with ChordBuddy “It’s easier to figure out how to place your fingers and learn a little big quicker.” Which must be why many schools use ChordBuddy for music instruction in the classroom.

James also said he most looks forward to learning to play to the point he can take the buttons off the ChordBuddy device and play on his own.

Wait! What?

It’s true! As learning progresses, the buttons on the device are removed one by one so students master playing chords without ChordBuddy. Travis’ lessons guide guitarists through the process. Take a look at Lesson 13:

Pretty nifty … and exactly what led me to purchase a second ChordBuddy Guitar Learning System.

See, my daughter Megan recently set out to teach herself to play guitar. But she’d been frustrated by her inability to master chords without her fingers being sore nor could she find satisfactory instruction on strumming techniques. ChordBuddy addresses both those issues, so I purchased ChordBuddy and had it shipped to her door, much to her delight.

Bottom line is this: ChordBuddy is a fantastic, fast, and fun method for learning to play guitar. Players manage to learn songs without the sore fingers that typically plague new guitarists. Once they know songs, they’re more likely to continue learning to the point the device is no longer necessary and they’re genuinely playing on their own.

Plus, with ChordBuddy, older folks or those with arthritis or other conditions that limit finger placement can learn and enjoy playing guitar, even keeping the device attached, if needed or desired.

The ChordBuddy Guitar Learning System (msrp $54.95) can be purchased for $49.95 on the ChordBuddy website. Older ChordBuddy versions that include the DVD may be available on (affiliate link) Amazon.com for $44.95. The ChordBuddy website also features more about the system, ChordBuddy for ukulele, a Worship edition, plus many other ChordBuddy songbooks and products.

Disclosure: I received this product free for an honest review; opinions are my own … and James’.