The Fender name is held in high esteem for good reason – Leo Fender's original ‘Spanish solid body’ electric design is still the template for good, pragmatic, easily repairable instruments. Fender Play sees the brand branch out into digital learning, with a ‘platform that eschews traditional theory-based lessons in favour of instructor-guided videos’. This appears to buck general expectation – my theory-centred tuition is reputedly deemed uncommon – but are these online sessions a good substitute?
Divided into acoustic and electric, different styles are on offer: rock, country, pop, blues and folk, and ukulele lessons are included with guitar subscriptions. Besides techniques at various designated levels, the service features part and whole songs in a range of genres, from traditional and Christmas songs to metal and more. Most of the wide-ranging selection is demonstrated in simplified arrangements by several teachers, in split-screen, each using a Fender instrument, of course.
A helpful section covering tone is rightly included. Besides basics and exercises, some theory is given while a handy glossary delivers mostly audio definitions. A variety of articles cover allied subjects to aid the learning process. Navigation between subjects is easy and Fender Play attempts to track your progress with regular recommendations on what to study next.
I found some of the instructions questionable – being told to ‘squeeze tight’ without further instructions – and what's described as ‘tablature’ is often chord diagrams over six-line staves. The lack of clef notation may discourage those who dislike TAB. Audio and visuals do not always match: a ukulele version of an Otis Redding song promises two versions of C chord but the second, a three-fingered C6, is not shown – additionally, a B-flat chord is shown and a B-flat major 7 played, and the verse sequence is shown incorrectly. However, these are minor glitches in a substantial body of work.
On sale here is neither tuition nor lessons, but instruction and demonstrations of a decent standard. A far cry from attentive learning with a dedicated tutor, but a useful service nonetheless.
£9.59 monthly, £46.79 for six-months or £85.19 per year
