I was considering the app subscription and have instantly ran into an issue with the app. It won’t let me subscribe, it thinks I am on a 7 day free trial but lets me access nothing.
So I click to raise an issue which leads me to a service desk where there are many tickets that state “Pending Review” and are multiple years old, still waiting on review.
So as a software developer for 35 years I look at this as a real negative. I come on here and then start seeing all the trouble with subscriptions and being charged multiple times.
So this content has to be second to none to get me to sign up for this.
I honestly think the answer to the question is closely tied to one’s learning style. I believe Justin described the app (at least the songs portion) as “guitar-eoke”, which is a pretty good description IMO. I subscribed for a year, didn’t use it much, didn’t find it an effective learning tool for me. At least at that time (over a year ago) there was no synchronization of lesson progress between the app and the website, which was a significant negative for me. If I could have, e.g., done a lesson in my living room with the app on my tablet and then picked up the next lesson in my music room I might have found it more useful; manually synchronizing progress between the two wasn’t something I wanted to expend time doing. So I stick with the website. YMMV but it certainly sounds like the start-up hasn’t been smooth.
I think @dlemire60 gave a sensible perspective. There are lots of people who have had a good experience in the first stages of learning being able to play along to songs in the way it is presented in the App. I always suggest using the website as the primary source for lessons and the App lessons as convenience when required. But as David, says, people may have different of circumstances, learning preferences etc.
@FannyJustinGuitar@MusopiaApps can we look into his issue and am concerned by the epxerience of the Service Desk. Thanks
Hi and thanks for all the information. From what I am hearing I think I will stick with the web for now and make the most of that.
I will keep an eye on things to see if there are changes and progress but the 2 platform thing is a real bad idea and not something technical that should be difficult to alter.
I found it useful for the guitareoke as an earlier beginner. As a later beginner, I still liked it for that when I was learning new chords and wanted to gain proficiency in chord changes using them, but the update to the newer “karaoke” mode has killed even that for me – the new visuals/scrolling and the sound of the beat even in click mode just do not work for me anymore. I imagine others may have the opposite opinion since they did make the change.
If you’re only using it for the lessons, I’d say stick to the website.
Only you can really answer your question, since we all have different ideas of value. In terms of a learning tool I personally didn’t get any value from the app. I was already using the website for Justin’s lessons, and that content is identical in the app. The convenience of having it on a mobile device is somewhat debatable, given that the guitar you need to make use of the content isn’t particularly portable. It’s not like you can practice on the bus during your morning commute. I actually used the app via emulator on PC too since I hate tiny screens and rubbish speakers, so I could have just as easily opened the website instead.
The value for me came from the “guitar-eoke”. The songs in the app are specifically geared towards people on Justin’s beginner’s course, with some even being tweaked slightly from the original to ensure that they only use the chords being taught. Being able to play along with real songs and feel like part of a band (excluding the midi songs, which I never bothered with) was great fun, and kept me engaged with the learning process. As someone that had previously been on-and-off with guitar, that was valuable.
That said, when it came time to renew my sub the price was hiked quite significantly. In addition, the app had been flooded with the dreaded midi songs. At that point it simply wasn’t worth the price, in my opinion. This is especially true given the number of websites that have popped up since then that do the exact same thing… let you play along with real songs. Many have a free (though limited) option, and pretty much all have far cheaper subs than Justin’s app.
So yeah, I’m sure there are plenty of people getting real benefit from using the app. But given the free website, the current app sub price, and the increased competition from other providers, for me personally it isn’t of value any more.
I used the app to go from grade 1 to grade 3. I have progressed way quicker than I would have going to a private tutor. I follow the 10000 hour rule - that is 10000 hours to become really good(at any thing) The structured learning has helped me towards that goal, I am now doing the grade 4, just slowed a bit learning all the blues riffs. A lot of the lessons I learn on electric than transfer to acoustic. I loved the app
I’m sorry to hear about the trouble and that you ran into an issue with your subscription @gmcoates. I’ve emailed the Musopia team directly to let them know about this thread. Rest assured, keeping our students happy is a top priority for both the app and the website!
Hi Everyone, apologies for the delay in our response here!
The best way to contact support is directly through the email address: justin.feedback@musopia.net or by opening the app’s menu and clicking send feedback. These inboxes are monitored very closely and responded to between the hours of 8am - 4pm GMT Mon-Fri.
Please send us a direct message and we’ll assist asap
Hi, I’m a real beginner and I started with the website. Its practice organizatioin is awesome. But I was having difficulties practicing songs. The tabs I was able to get, even in my own language of songs I definitely know, do not have rhythm marked. So It was a mess for me find out where compass begins and how many beats each chord had. I would have to transcribe the rhythm from the songs. Totally out of question.
If you download the app, it lets you see it in practice for abou 30 seconds in a music. I started testing that way and for me was a no brainer to test the full app for a month. I don’t think it’s cheap, but it definitely has value.
The App totally change that for me. The dynamics really function for me. Initial count down, a sliding bar that gives online where the music is, the following compasses with their chord changes and option to change the bpms are tremendously helpful for me.
I came from almost no music practice to wanting to practice all the time.
I’m sad to hear that the sound was better.
The App, as a product is good, in my opinion. I had no issues till now (3 days).
There are some differences I noticed in the lessons. I’m sticking to the website till now, but I’ve seen that from the first module you already start to practice riffs, which I think is good, since it’s for me a difficult skill to develop.
This review is not exhaustive of the app or the web site contents. Just my point of view as fresh starter.
I got myself the app and am loving the lesson, the early ones are a refresher as much as anything but having the lesson is pointing out little bits I missed learning myself so really pleased with it.
Thanks for all the comments really helpful in making a decision.
