ChordBuddy “MADE IN THE USA” - Guitar Learning with Songbook, Lesson Plan, App, and Right Handed ChordBuddy

Great for beginners plays 4 main chords teaches strumming techniques learning through the app is definitely recommended it teaches the basics would recommend for beginners

So I am retiring soon to sail around the world in a catamaran and forget about everything else. What better way to spend the copious time available while circling the planet at nine miles per hour than learning to play the guitar and showing off for the dolphins? Unfortunately, despite a long held desire to learn the guitar, I have the attention span of an over caffeinated squirrel, and as such I knew the patience needed to learn this skill was simply beyond me.... And then I saw the Chord Buddy. "It's cheating", said the purists. To which I thoughtfully replied, "bite me!!", and immediately ordered one, along with a tuner and a competent enough beginner level guitar (a Jasmine cutaway of some type for about $110). It all arrived in good shape, and with a pair of instructional books, although without much in the way of instructions as to how to put it on the guitar. Fortunately there are plenty of YouTube videos to solve that issue, and within half an hour (turns out I am not a very good tuner on top of having a miniscule attention span), I was hammering away at my first chords. And chords they were!! OK. I will not be impressing Mark Knoffler any time soon, but they sounded more or less how one would expect a chord to sound, and I was very pleased with myself. There was an annoying string buzz I could not get rid of, despite scouring YouTube and trying several fixes (more on that later), but after an hour or so I was belting out "Tom Dooley" (I am an artist now, so artistic license was taken in regards to "belting out"), and really rather enjoying the whole thing. But.... There's always a but. That string buzz was really annoying. I found a way to get rid of it. It involved lying the guitar across my lap and using my left thumb to, very forcefully, press the chords while I stummed across my lap. While this was functional, I know the dolphins will laugh at me when they see this, so it is not really a fix. I am not a big fellow (vertically), and have very small hands, so pressing the Buddy hard enough to avoid dead strings, or that damnable buzzing, was simply not doable. I am looking for a work around, and as I am still enjoying the progress I have made, I will continue to try and sort this out. I have thought about adding another layer of rubber to the boots on the D and B tabs to bring them closer to the strings and reduce the pressure needed, but I am not sure that will solve the issue. I will update this review as I continue, and with luck determine a way to make this innovative product more user friendly for me, and give it five stars. I think it is a great way to get your start at learning the guitar, and I am hoping I can continue to make the progress at the rate I have up until now.... And avoid laughing dolphins. 5 Day Update: Unfortunately I can't get this very annoying vibration out of the Buddy. I've looked at all the videos, both from Buddy and from other sources. Double and triple checked it's position and angle. When the buddy isn't being used the strings ring clear. During chords, the metallic vibration is very strong, and quite annoying. The only solution is an almost brutal downward pressure that is unmanageable by my pinky, and nearly so for my other fingers. I'm still looking for a way to add to the length of the booties to decrease the distance between the strings and the rubber, and maybe that will work. A bit disappointed now, as I was initially quite excited. Will update. Update (About 20 hours playing): So I contacted the Chord Buddy folks about the buzzing. They were unable to diagnose the issue, but play tested a Chord Buddy to ensure it worked, and sent it to me for free. Very nice of them indeed. The string buzzing still persists (as you can hear on the video above), but I am enjoying myself anyhow. I am thinking my tiny hands may be causing me to hit other buttons, so perhaps I should try a Ukulele (there's such a thing as a Uke Buddy), but in the meantime I chose a song I learned to show you what progress an absolute beginner had managed after 15 to 20 hours. I rather enjoy this thing, and while yes... its a bit cheaply made... It's a training aid and not supposed to last forever, and the company is attentive and helpful. Worth a shot, folks.

First, I rarely ever leave reviews. When I was 13 I took 1 lesson and was done. I had no tone, rhythm, etc. it’s been 40 years since and I have always dreamed of playing the guitar even just hearing a few notes, sounding good. Using this add on has given me the courage to try the guitar again. It’s allowed me two things, the first, to focus my right hand on the strumming and learning how to keep a tempo. The second, building the strength in my awkward fingers. Sure guitar players will say just do finger exercises or whatever, but the exercises I’m able to do with this and the satisfaction when I play a note that sounds good is so rewarding and has brought so much excitement and interest to properly learn how to play. I think this tool really fits well for those > 21, basically adults or those who don’t have a natural ear or musical capabilities. I think for kids, they are like sponges and fine dexterity in their fingers and rhythm. I don’t think this tool would be helpful for them but hey try anythings. this is a home run for anybody that has ever been scared to try the guitar but wants to!! A great first step!!

I worked for over two hours trying to get it positioned correctly on my guitar with no luck. I have tried it on two different guitars with no luck. I haven’t totally given up yet because I really want this to work. If I ever get it to work I will update my review.

Great for a beginner, didn't scratch the guitar neck, easy to install and was good quality. Was bulky but still worked

Very cheaply made...the rubber pieces that hold the strings don't line up with the strings...the rubber pieces also stick out so much that they hit the other chord tabs so this results in other strings being muted when you don't want them to be. It's a cool idea but again so poorly made it doesn't work as intended. Really disappointing.

Yes very helpful n thanks

Hard to use for me. I think my fingers are just too fat. I like that it’s easy to use but you definitely want to know the chords before playing with this. Although you don’t have to when it comes to the book that comes with this but knowing helps in the long run. This is what gives me instant gratification for playing a song I’m struggling on strumming manually

The item couldn’t fit my classical guitar . It’s too small . It says fits all standard guitar . I like to find one that fits a larger guitar neck . 43mm is the one I got . I need a 50mm plus unit . Can’t find one on Amazon .

So, had this for only a day (never ever played a guitar in my life) and just learning my first song. Make sure you place the chord buddy correctly. Take it slow at your own pace. Love that i can play four chords already and sound good. The chord buddy is making a difference as my fingers are a little chubby. I will be exercising my fingers to move better. Overall this came three days earlier than expected. Love it.

Does what it says however you still need to learn other chords for guitar so if anything still built s your calluses up,and you can practice your strumming easier.

I really do believe this product will help me out. Over the years, do to some accidents I have lost a couple of finger tips. I do want to play the guitar but I can’t reach the strings to make the cords. This product I hope will solve that problem. I’m trying hard to learn to use it but haven’t gotten very far yet. I bought two of these things, one for an acoustic guitar and one for an electric guitar. I had a little trouble getting them both set up but did manage to do it. The part that pushes down on the strings is supposed to come out as you learn but in my case I don’t want them to but they continue to slide out on their own. I will never be able to play without them so this is a bit of a problem. The solution I have come up with is to glue them in permanently. Overall I think the product is a little too cheaply made. I also cannot read music and for me the book lessons assume that I can. It needs to be dumbed down a bit. But I still plan to keep trying to learn to play using ChordBuddy.

Excellent as good as the original