This app was made for people who do not want to always be fiddling the keyboard and mouse while trying to play along a song. With Guitaryst, you only need to enter either your online music account or use the search bar to find a song then press start. As the song plays, the guitar tab is displayed so you are not distracted while playing.

Guitaryst currently supports last.fm, like.fm, and libre.fm, so that you can play your favorite songs with this tool. There will also be an iPad app and added bass tabs feature to come.

Features:

• Free; no sign up required.
• View guitar tabs while song plays.
• Supports last.fm, like.fm, and libre.fm accounts.
• Similar Tools: ZentaoGuitarLessons, Jamlegend, or read the 4 Awesome Websites To Find Guitar Chords For Songs.

Check out Guitaryst @ www.guitaryst.com

The site, the brainchild of a bass instructor with over 2,000 students experience, aims to supplement in-person electric bass guitar lessons online (although if you have enough discipline you could conceivably use the site to teach yourself a lot.) The site consists of lessons to read, supplemented with videos and audio clips, as well as a variety of exercises, quizzes and songs.

A study guide takes you through the basics of music theory, including reading music and the role of the bass guitar in modern music, and eventually onto playing the blues and complex chords.

A word of advice from the site’s creator: if you’re going to use this site without the help of an in-person instructor, be sure to record yourself regularly. This will allow you to hear yourself as you really sound and (hopefully) allow you to be self-critical.

Features

• Online supplement to in-person bass lessons.
• Topics range from basic to in-depth.
• Text lessons supplemented by music and video.
• Quizzes and exercizes for most lessons.
• Songs to practice what you’re learning in the form of PDF sheet music.
• Similar sites: TuneMyBass, Get-Tuned and ZentaoGuitarLessons.

Check out StudyBass.com @ StudyBass.com (thanks to Download Squad for the great find!)

You can use VirtualPiano to record your own composition and play it afterward. Moreover you can change the music and the style of the piano. This virtual piano mimics a 5 octave electronic keyboard with 61 notes, 36 white and 26 black. If you are not sure what to play, you can try the sample keys provided by the application or view different compositions created by other users on the VirtualPiano Facebook group.

Features:

• Play piano online with your keyboard or mouse.
• Record and play your own composition.
• Option to enable the sustain mode.
• View complete mapping of keyboard keys to the piano keys.
• No registration required.
• Similar sites: VirtualKeyboard.

Visit VirtualPiano @ www.cmagics.com/beta/pian0 (Via Blogoscoped)

How it works:

1. Choose your instrument (4 string bass, 6 string guitar…)
2. Select one of preset tunings for your bass or guitar
3. Wait while your tuning loads
4. Hover your mouse over each string to hear the corresponding tune

step 1,2

step 3,4

You can also create your own custom instrument tunings or change the default guitar/bass tuner settings from the above bar.

Features:

• Online guitar and bass tuner.
• Tune up bass guitar using preset tunings or modify the tuner settings to fit your needs.
• Articles and tutorials for guitar and bass players.
• Free, no registration needed.
• Similar sites: Get-Tuned and ZentaoGuitarLessons.

Check out TuneMyBass @ www.tunemybass.com

Simply choose your instrument from Piano, Organ, Saxophone, Flute, Pan Pipes, Strings, Guitar, Steel Drums or Double Bass, and start playing. All the keys are labeled so it is easier for beginners to learn. If you are not a big fan of clicking each key with the mouse, you can use keyboard instead.

The application also provides 6 different drum beats and the chord mode so you can create your own chords.

Main Features:

• Play musical instruments online using a virtual keyboard.
• Create your own chords and play them back.
• 9 different instruments to choose from.
• No registration or download required.

Check out VirtualKeyboard @ www.bgfl.org (by Tehseen from Ijaar.com)

It is very simple yet a very detailed step by step guide and does what it says: takes you from an absolute beginner to an experienced player, provided you learn each previous lesson before proceeding to the next one. Each lesson includes all the necessary information and complementary music files, all in one place.

Even though this tutorial is meant for electric guitar learners, all the general guitar tips and advice will work for acoustic guitars as well. And if it doesn’t have what you are looking for then see Essential FREE Tools to Learn Guitar Playing Online.

When you are done learning and feel more comfortable with the guitar, you can check out the homepage for more guitar related information such as general music theory, practice lessons, how to read guitar tabs and diagrams and more.

Features:

• Free step by step electric guitar lessons for dummies.
• 9 Lessons in total, to take you from an absolute beginner to an experienced player.
• General guitar lessons both for acoustic and electric guitar learners, but geared more towards learners of electric guitars.
• Each lessons contains the necessary theory, techniques and complementary music (MIDI) files in one place.
• Free, no signup needed.

Check out ZentaoGuitarLessons @ www.zentao.com/guitar/guitar-lessons

To get started, simply select the instrument of your interest and then follow provided instructions. The site is free and doesn’t require users to signup.

Features:

• Set of free online instrument tuners.
• Supported instruments are  Guitar, Banjo, Bass Guitar, Cello, Ukulele, Violin, Mandolin and Viola.
• Clear tuning instructions and tips are also included.
• No email address or signup need.

Thos who are interested in guitar playing in particular may also read a previously published MakeUseOf article on Essential FREE Tools to Learn Guitar Playing Online.

Check out Get-Tuned @ www.get-tuned.com