Is there a difference between the app and the wesite other than portability? Also can I use the app on my cell phone and my zenpad (android) as a single unit?
Thank You
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you can use the app on 2 android devices so long as they are using the same account (or app sharing if thats a thing?)
I think the lessons are the same but its only the first 2 grades on the app?
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Although you can view lessons on the app as well as the website, I think the app is more song-focused. It has some cool features that encourage you to practice your favorite songs, backing tracks for example.
My personal preference is to learn on the website because the lessons are very organized, and it has several tools to help you meet your goals and track progress. I don’t know your playing level or goals, so maybe that’s more than you need. The app makes a great supplement to whatever routine you usually follow. I found it especially helpful in my first year. Again, if you’re at a higher level, the app or website may meet different needs for you.
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Donna already summed it up very well. I just wanted to add, that the website provides a “learn more” section and a ressources button under most of the lessons, where the content of the lesson is summarised or additional information as tabs or backing tracks are made available.
Personally I prefer the website to learn, I use the app for excercises and songs.
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This is correct. No Grade 3 lessons yet, despite the first modules appearing on the website over a year ago now. I suppose they’re waiting for the entire grade to be finished before adding it all in one go. However, with the extra lessons, content and features on the website mentioned by Donna and Helen, the fact that you can view the website perfectly well on your phone, and the fact that it’s free… it leaves something to be desired with app as a teaching tool. (In my humble opinion.)
It is great fun playing along with songs that have full backing tracks and vocals though. You can find backing tracks elsewhere of course, but having them all in an app you can use anywhere is pretty handy. Whether that’s worth the yearly subscription or not, only you can say.
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Thank You everyone! That is great info! Thank You
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Thank You Donna, I am only on gr. 1 and module 4. I am stuck on the finger exercises and the dminor chord. Take care.
I noticed you mentioned playing hockey. I spent a great deal of my youth on figure skates Yep, it’s fun getting used to using a completely different muscles. 
Enjoy your guitar journey!
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I think that the app and web based materials are not Cloud based is a significant negative. If it were I could have the same song favorites appear in each (web, phone and tablet) and each would remain in sync for my lessons from one to another. I am hearing that there will be a new version of the app out by year end that will be cloud based - I will be very glad to see it. That needs to be followed quickly by making the web site cloud also.
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Sorry I didn’t reply sooner, I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During the winter growing up, every kid played hockey and had that dream of the NHL. I started guitar at one point when I 13 and took 5 lessons and then quit. Sorry I did now. I am still stuck on lesson 3 grade 1 as I can’t transition fast enough and on lesson 4 as am having a really tough time with getting my fingers far enough apart. Any way Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!!
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Just started going through the Beginner lessons and downloaded the app. I am confused as to what is where, and what I would be paying for. I do not mind paying, but I would like to know what I am getting. And easy example is when the videos tell you to practice some song. Ok, so you look up the song under Songs and there is no real explanation of chords, tempo etc. Just “here is a link to listen to the song, and here is a link to add it to your practice schedule” So I figure the song must be on the app. Go to the app. You cannot do anything at all on the app without paying so… would there be some sort of music sheet on the app if I paid. I tried to look it up in the tabs section, but that too is behind a paywall. So if I pay to see the song on the app can I then see the tabs here, or are those two different things and I would need to pay for both even though one is a complete mystery and the other is just the tabs?
Welcome to the forum Steven.
…in the beginning…
So the website came first. Justin showing first chords and techniques as you progress through the lessons. At some point he starts to introduce songs in order support the learning of the things you are learning, so for these song lessons, each should have a video lesson going through the chords and rhythm etc. For example…
https://www.justinguitar.com/songs/bob-marley-three-little-birds-chords-tabs-guitar-lesson-bs-101
Along comes the app. So with the app, again you progress through the lessons and part of the suggested practice time is learning songs. On the app, you can search through various songs with the appropriate chords and filter according to where you are in your learning journey. Each of these songs provides a backing track for you to play along with and shows which chords to play etc.
So not all songs from the original website course will be available in the app, but on the flip side, you may find a song you connect with more on there. It’s just a different way of going at it.
I always thought that there was a free trial for the app?
The tabs are a separate thing I think.
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Every lesson available in the paid app is available on the website for free. There are also currently more lessons on the website because Grade 3 has yet to be added to the app. To my knowledge, every song that Justin suggests for practice during the lessons is available for free as a video lesson on the website. Not all the suggested songs are currently in the app. (Some were removed due to licensing issues earlier this year.)
Given that the lessons are already on the website, you are essentially getting an app which can teach you to play songs, while providing backing tracks and sometimes also vocals. In other words, you can play along with songs as if you’re part of a band which is good fun. You can also slow the tempo of any song to make it easier to learn.
You should be able to listen to and see the chords for the first 30 seconds of most songs. At least, I can since my subscription expired. It’s enough to give an idea of what the app does and how it does it. If you’ve never used it before, you should also be able to get a free trial.
No. The app shows the chord you need to play and on what beat you need to play it. It also provides strumming patterns (often simplified or wrong due to being beginner friendly) and pictures on how to fret the required chords.
Providing sheet music and tab for copyrighted songs requires licensing fees to be paid, which is why Justin’s TAB section is subscription based. Video lessons get around this for whatever reason, which is why they’re still free.
Nope. The app and Justin’s TAB section are two different things. Note that Justin collaborates to make the app… he doesn’t own it. Musopia does, and they in turn have nothing to do with Justin’s own website.
If you’re in the first two lesson grades and don’t want to have to go searching for decent backing tracks to play along with, then the app can be very helpful. I enjoyed using it for the songs (not lessons) for 2022 and don’t regret the money spent. However, I did let the subscription expire because even with the seasonal discount, the price hike has put the cost of the app too high for what you get… in my personal opinion. But your opinion may be different, so don’t let me put you off.
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Id love the see the app and website accounts synced as one so i can track progress across both together.
What is the difference between (1) the free lessons and joining songs on the website and (2) the Lessons and Sons app in the App Store?
The website has everything that the app has and lots more. It doesn’t have the “play along” with songs part that the App has. The App has the lessons for the early stages of the course BUT nothing beyond that. The website has been here for a lot lot longer than the app (which is provided through a licensing agreement with Musopia).
A lot of starters like the “play along” part of the app at the beginning because even with just a few chords you can feel like your playing a song with the band. Eventually though you will want to move away from it and learn to play songs on your own.
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Exactly what Rossco said in a nutshell. I would highly encourage it through grade 1 and even revision work through grade 2. It is invaluable in learning chords and chord changes; it helped me progress tremendously. After a few power chord songs, then it is kind of past the point of being useful. It also will possibly hinder your ability to memorize songs because you are just letting the app do the chords for you, so you don’t have to memorize as much, there are pros and cons.
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Thank you both. That is very helpful. My husband had the app for a year but it didn’t renew so he’s been just doing things on his own for the past year and working on songs he found on YouTube. So maybe he no longer needs the app. I was thinking the Strumming SOS course (which looks like a one-time purchase) and the Tabs (which is an annual purchase) might be best for him then at this point.
Is he following the lessons on the website ? A far better option than just using youtube. The grade system continues in a structured manner. 
That sounds like a good approach. It’s worth your husband looking at the songs part of the website as Justin has lots of song lessons as well (which are all on Youtube). In general I would say Justin’s song tutorials are some of the best. I think the Strumming SOS course would be a good investments. In terms of the Tabs I’d just check which songs actually have tabs as not ALL songs are covered by this.
Another thing that I invested in that I still use to this day (12 years on) are Justin’s song books…in particular the beginner ones (although all are very good).
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