TRUE Review of Fret Zealot LED Guitar Learning System (Guitar Teaching Tool)

This is my true and honest hands-on review and demo of Fret Zealot LED Guitar Learning System. Here is a teaser: I played with Fret Zealot for two weeks, unlike many other youtubers, who just filmed their reviews in a day. So I will tell you all the truth.
So, Fret Zealot is a LED system which you should put on your guitar (electric or acoustic) and connect to your phone. And then it shows you exactly where to put your fingers when you play a song or just jam.
Also there is written on it's web page that it's the best way to learn guitar. Let's see if it is true.
While I was doing this review, I found some pluses and some minuses of Fret Zealot.
Light up my day with your like, don't forget to subscribe and leave a comment!
Make Rock - Not War!
#FretZealot #guitarlesson #learnguitar

[@ritz1119]

Mykola, your sense of humour is wonderful. Your videos always light up my days! Keep it up.

[@elim162]

"But now... You still learned nothing" LMFAO

[@onerandombruh]

My man went full savage there...

[@TreeShark]

Amazing 😂

[@maconmemories3085]

I laughed the rest of the video after he said that, but it looks like it works and I'm just learning. I might pick it up. I haven't seen the price yet.

[@FretZealot]

Thanks so much for the honest review! We loved the light saber effect in the beginning :-). We are here to answer questions if anyone has them! Two notes: -the battery pack can be extended with any commercially available 4-conductor audio cable. -the coating definitely should not be coming off like that (we'll have to look into why that's happening). The good news is that the coating is entirely superficial and not necessary for functionality :-).

[@Lucina..]

Hello! I’m looking to buy this soon. I don’t think the answer will change my decision to buy because it’s a brilliant system, I’d just like to know if the coating problem has been fixed as it’s going to be a gift for somebody that will definitely be using it a lot

[@FretZealot]

@@Lucina.. yes indeed! That was a pretty random issue that only affected a super small batch (~100), but is thankfully now several production runs in the past :-). FYI you also get our 1 year warranty, so if you did have an issue like that, we'd send you a replacement!

[@Lucina..]

@@FretZealot thank you so much! I’m so impressed by the responses I’ve seen from you and the reviews. I’ll be buying this 💯

[@FretZealot]

@@Lucina.. great to hear! And thank you for the kinds words. We're definitely available to answer questions any time :-).

[@AMadScientist]

@@FretZealot I can vouch for that. I used mine for about a month when a few rows of lights stopped working. Four days later I had my replacement.

[@itsthelittlethings100]

LOL @ 4:22. As a beginning guitar player for 40 years, I need this.

[@nitevisionimages]

haha I feel you! I have been a learner for way too long. This made me laugh. I'm glad I'm not alone!

[@mike66atx45]

Haha started with a tennis racket when I first heard "Won't Get Fooled Again" had to switch to air guitar because my mom got tired of buying new tennis rackets. Learned one strin playing from a friend then 2.. I can tune all the strings so when I push them down they sound like a beefy power chord. OH and I can tap like Eddie lol. So yathis sounds perfect

[@jimdep6542]

@@mike66atx45 It was a left handed badmitten racket for me. I was playing air racket long before the term "air guitar" was ever used.

[@mike66atx45]

@@jimdep6542 likewise! When I first heard "Feel like makin love" by bad company on my first stereo at 8 years old, i had no way to know how to react, i just felt the thundering guitar and freaked the fuck out.

[@jimdep6542]

@@mike66atx45 HA......I can relate. My little 6 year old friend was pretending to be John Lennon with his racquet and I was McCartney with my lefty racquet acting out a Beatles set with our 45's. I ended up being a lefty player for life......which kinda hurt going into music stores where all the guitars and basses are right handed ! Thanks McCartney.

[@michaelb.42112]

If this was around in 1985 when I started learning I'd had got this in a heartbeat.

[@w1pev695]

For those of us who used to own a Fretlite guitar, the problem with having LED's directly under the strings is that in order for your eyes to line up the correct LED with the right string, you'll have to hold the guitar's fretboard at a very uncomfortable angle while playing. Looking straight down on the neck of the guitar makes it almost impossible to see the string associated with the correct LED. That was the biggest problem with the Fretlite and that's the biggest problem with this system. You'll probably hear seasoned players post that this isn't an issue but for the beginner this is a huge issue (Unless you want to play standing in front of a mirror).

[@FretZealot]

We can see why you'd think that! Fortunately we've accounted for that :-). The LEDs are fundamentally different and much more directional to the top plane versus old school LEDs that are like light bulbs (light in all directions). You see the glow on both the string and your finger when it's in the right position. It's actually so effective that you can find finger positions at greater than 180 degrees because of the glow on your finger.

[@griffin6002]

Nah... I own both the Fretlite and the Fret Zealot. I can always tell what note is being lit up with only a slight angle of the guitar. You learn to judge the distance and you can see the glow on the bottom of the string. For the record, I almost always play standing up and I have no need for the fret markers on the fret board because I've learned the distances from one string to another. You can also tell what string you are on just by how thick it feels. Beginners should try playing in pitch darkness or with a blindfold. You will be amazed at how fast you learn where everything is without having to look. There is a reason why blind players get so good. They listen instead of look.

[@jakwire]

@@griffin6002 -- would you do a video compaire/contrast the two systems? Seems the 'listen' feature on FZ is an advancement. Seems like the solid-state nature of the FL is better, but hearing plenty of issues with buzzing on any kind of magnetic pickup... and for me it is all about which ever system will help me learn/riff in full chord view better... would be happy to interview you to get the video done too if that helps!

[@xXDjBlareXx]

I feel it would be useful to just set it up and just study where the notes are at while its playing. Instead of trying to play along with it.

[@tombeach1262]

The peeling you refer to is supposed to come off after you install it - it's a protection covering.

[@jakwire]

this is not correct, see the answer below from the company

[@aggabus]

I agreed but I wrong according to jak

[@tombeach1262]

Then its a defective product - too late for a refund. @@aggabus

[@reneorozco2195]

Thanks ive been on the fence about buying. 200 bucks is alot to take a chance on

[@simona7517]

Really good review, the best I've seen for this product. Thanks!

[@leftofpunk]

"Now you still know nothing, but can play right note" Excellent!

[@eugenejoseph7076]

Yus veal great teacher! Really, love the accent dude and great video. I'm subscribed now!

[@redjacemory4404]

I already know how to play. Is it durable enough to use onstage as a lighting effect?

[@ohnhai]

Plus points for the Casio VL-1 beat :D

[@nektardymski6025]

Had a great time watching this!

[@JasonRostro]

Thank you for this AmaSING review very insightful and helpful.

[@MrHardguitar]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@frontcentermusician]

THis is great but I would like to know "why" I am hitting those notes where they are. Glad I learned the old fashioned way, By ear!

[@nonyaanon6801]

Good Video, thank you for that of the product review, i dont like the hanging cord in the way of the first fret, not good. wondering if it is worth the money though, i dont like the different colors for the led lights on different fingers for learning leads, they should be all the same color to not confuse a person all the more. but that is just me. i think its nonsense or poor made on that part. the rest seems really good, wondering who buys this and what they have to say after using it for a couple of months?

[@konajohnson6182]

I have a very important question, I have an acoustic electric guitar with a scale length of 25”, should I order the larger 25.5 or 24.75. I’m not exactly sure if it’s better to have it slightly smaller or moderately bigger. Please get back to me ASAP on this, planning on ordering soon before Halloween. 😊

[@JunkBondTrader]

the way it attaches on the headstock isn't cool, but having learner lights on your fretboard is totally badass 😎 haha, I kid. Great review.

[@stevelewis8919]

I was hoping you could use it 1/2 speed for learning songs.

[@ptfsndsw7028]

Do you need a subscription to use this feature and add songs and what not?

[@nicktumi]

Not worth $200 tho. Should only cost $50

[@Itsjustjess352]

$50 is a realistic price point for what it is. Their only competitor, Fretlight (around since the early 90s I think), offers guitars with the built in lighting system…for just slightly more than what they’re asking for this product…which is really kinda bonkers. 😬

[@dummekunst7708]

I tried Fred Zealot but it was totally useless. I don't play guitar so I attached it to my kazoo and the lights were flashing and it made no sense and about halfway through playing Anarchy in the UK i blacked out, that's when i discovered i have light sensitivity that triggers epileptic fits. Every time i woke up it was still flashing so i was having non stop fits for 4 solid days until the batteries wore out. I got a pizza after that. It was pepperoni with extra mozzarella.

[@NinasIdeas]

Very nice review.Thanks.

[@griffin6002]

There is a reason why musicians like Mozart were said to "hear in color." The Fret Zealot will allow you to develop this skill, too. The Fret Zealot's ability to assign colors to notes is great for learning the true language of music. Forget about the concepts of 7ths and 9ths and submediants and hypertonics and all the rest. That stuff is not how the human brain thinks. We think in color. Learn to think of music as colors. For instance, in my system, in a C major scale, the C note is color-coded yellow because it sounds happy. The A note is colored blue because it is sad. All the other notes get their individual colors based on how they make me feel. So a typical six string A minor chord would be color coded, from the low E to the high E strings: blue-green-blue-yellow-green-blue. Think of it as a color spectrum or color smear. If you want to change how that chord color spectrum sounds, say you want a "happier" note on top of the chord, replace the blue on the high E string with the closest yellow note. If you are soloing and playing individual notes, it is much easier to go from one color to another to evoke a particular emotion than to think of soloing in terms of numbers or Roman numerals or Greek names. Go find some melody you know, like Fur Elise or the intro to Sweet Child O' Mine, and instead of thinking about it in terms of alphabetical letters like A, B, and C, color code that melody. A whole new musical world will open up for you. There is a reason why musicians like Mozart were said to "hear in color." The Fret Zealot will allow you to develop this skill, too.

[@bigwetsalmon1]

I have a Native Instruments komplete s61 mk2, the light guide has made me actually want to learn to play piano. I think this may have the same effect 😊

[@wonderwalls3565]

We think in color? wow what a bold statement.

[@ArneWidding]

Interesting concept. Would love to see a video where you explain it further.

[@addictum4119]

@@ArneWidding We don't think in color but We can use it as a guide to remember stuff. There is many techniques to put thoughts into our long term memory , one of is to associate it with something, like a long number with words. I can't explain more but I had book somewhere on other techniques. Will look it up tomorrow.

[@ArneWidding]

@@addictum4119 it’s OK. I am a memory athlete myself so I’d probably know them anyway.

[@dereklawler8804]

A bit of double sided tape and you could stick the power pack to the back of the headstock

[@deathforall2045]

Is there something similar for bass?

[@phillipjknight]

This is great as you are always concentrating on your guitar ....... like a carpenter concentrating on the nail he’s hitting and not the hammer 😂

[@Nafan60]

Cool little thing. Thanks!

[@blankwavemessiah]

i actually really want this THANKS!

[@HannaShevchenkoUA]

Great review! And you're gear too 😉

[@buzytodylan6986]

Dónde puedo comprar ese equipo de led para la guitarra

[@epiphanyvideomarketing7541]

Just bought mine. Pretty cool stuff. Especially for learning scales. Question: does anyone know if the song "it follows" by Alice In Chains is programmed in the device?

[@TheScorpion615]

Based on what I see from this review I'm interested and it look's pretty awesome I can definitely see this being something big for musicians who already do it for a living would make an awesome live show. But as far as beginners goes I'm skeptical on how well it work's?

[@johnrobles1572]

Thank You for this video.

[@MrHardguitar]

You're welcome!

[@flintdavis2]

Can you slow down the playing of lights? To learn a song at slower pace?

[@AMadScientist]

Yes

[@HadiLePanda]

Pretty nice tool and review :)

[@dananthony6258]

This would help with Barry Harris 4 , 6th diminished chord scales.

[@diytop6352]

I like it. Cool!

[@rajabell3802]

can you enter your own guitar tabs and then it will light up?? or it only has pre selected songs?

[@FretZealot]

Yep! You can upload your own Guitar Pro files.

[@Cheezy_Bunz]

Whats that song at the beginning of video ?

[@DisturbedBurger]

I need this for scales

[@barrywl01]

Great review Mykola. I would like to use it for practicing scales and arpeggios, in different positions. (not standing on my head upside down while playing .. arrh :) ) Thanks man - yee-uuk-tom kriyou :)

[@MrGoodDreamer]

Great video👍

[@larryshumate6948]

Left handed?

[@Dug6666666]

Yes surprize and a say they thought to give a left hand setting in the options and didn't prioritize random lighting effects over doing this.

[@Dug6666666]

Na I looked up the site and it occured to me that the light strip would need to be a LH version to have the bit along the side of the fretboard be on top. But they make one for ukulele over helping the least catered for for learning: the left hander.

[@DrSagaciousone]

Thank you!

[@bettimllr]

Awseome quality video!

[@profsamujp5975]

Donde lo compro

[@shannonwomaje4123]

Yes, that is a protective film placed on laminated PCB products - You'll see it on bubble-switch products like remotes, microwaves, etc. Just peel that s*** off. But you can make that whole thing wear longer by over-coating the whole thing with 2 part resin / epoxy / gel urethane then it won't wear out ever. It also won't be removable. But why would you want to remove it? As far as whether this gimmick works remains to be seen. Looks cool, appears that all the software links require an account with $139.00 / year... The other similar product Fretlight does not work at all - It doesn't bluetooth connect, and their videos make the software crash! This company assured me they think it works better. For $140 / year plus $199 plus tax, plus a guitar you're at around $600 - $800! How much do real lessons and books cost? And the music instructor always connects, and never crashes. Hmmm.

[@danielharmon9620]

I’ll bet you’re super fun at parties

[@SomethingUnremarkable]

@@danielharmon9620 you must make poor financial decisions

[@chrisjohnson1381]

totally agree with everything you said because this is cool looking! but im the type that would only really get this for my child! i believe it can be helpful but at these prices ide keep teaching myself and my child as of now we are doing just great with our method!

[@Itsjustjess352]

Good grief…they want around $140/yr for software too?? Automatic no for me. I think most of us wouldn’t pay any more than $50-70 for this sort of thing.

[@TeeFetch]

It can damage the guitar if you remove it. I'm P.O.'d

[@Itsjustjess352]

This is why I’d never get fretzealot. For just about the same amount (or maybe slightly more $$), I’d rather get a whole fretlight guitar instead. Zero peeling stickers/film sounds like a win to me. I’d be so aggravated if it ruined even one of my cheapest guitar. It is just way too pricey for what it is.

[@JESSEDART187]

...thank you....thank you...!!!!!!!

[@christophkotter7406]

Danke

[@masterkit9517]

Max price this 20$ (5$ 100pcs ws2812b led)

[@kenmcalpine2215]

Not sure if I want to turn my guitar into SIMON.

[@HypnosisRosemead]

I bought the Fret Zealot LED Learning system installed from Fret Zealot on a beautiful Yamaha (inexpensive guitar). The guitar is great. The Fret Zealot is just a device that I cannot deal with. As It is cumbersome, and has not really taught me anything yet. The lights are too bright to look at, the application has a lot of faults, and it sounds, as a cheap keyboard (try playing BB King like that). It did not come with the black glasses. Also, I bought the guitar from Fret Zealot so that FRET ZEALOT would PROFESSIONALLY install it. I was thinking that they were going to do a good job, as this was done in the factory, but I was surprised, the installation looks really bad. The tape is not properly placed on the top of the fret board, so it does not contact the wood, and the dots from the Fret Zealot do not match the guitars dots on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, or 12th, fret. The worst is the fact that is really not a teaching device, and the fact that they sell it as if it was is deceiving. It is very expensive, this device to me is not worth more than $50.00, and that is because it is an electronic flashy toy.

[@lookmammesonyaotoob5392]

02:36 violin?

[@rw9207]

Why has no one made a bass with LAD's built in? It seems like a no brainer.

[@jrockinroberts]

They said that it'll come up later in the year on their instruction video.

[@MattJoel]

Over $300 dollars no thank you, I would have give it a go at $35 - 50 max

[@alejandrotarazona5359]

RGB for more speed while soloing

[@kenmiyamoto5562]

Best way to learn any musical ability is first gauge out your eyes.

[@polarbear7577]

Fretlight !

[@akantoch7617]

this gadget should be upgraded to work with the game Rocksmith

[@jeffmcdonald7102]

Rocksmith+ still hasn't been upgraded to work with consoles yet. I'm not certain how much dev time I'd invest there if it was my call.

[@rainerfs4563]

I am so disappointed I had this idea today and shouted "Eureka". Started desiging the project and then I found this product. I think even if God try to create something today it already exists

[@Lebaroonie]

Better off learning it and understanding why the notes are structured that way. Cool concept though

[@HomeRunRealEstate-xi3rm]

Grest invention it looks like i was to late

[@stealthmode9086]

Hey Mike. Doing great on the zealot but your accent needs some work. 😜😜

[@BayandurPogosyan]

Smartest idea I've ever seen. Pretty sure stretching my neck during hours of daily practice just to see my fretboard won't have any adverse effects at all. Let's just agree it's crap.

[@johanrosman9401]

Hmmmm, Fretlight sells for a fair price good guitars where it is all built in. No battery box, no clear film that comes loose, and has a large library, you can use on your computer, IPAD or phoen. This is too restricted.

[@TheOldWitch]

“In Communist Russia guitar plays you!”

[@sese6344]

Nice review until i saw the Price. 199€ ufff I know it cannot be as cheap as a 10€ LED stripe - but 199€ is kinda heavy for this in my opinion. No thx i will stick to books and try to learn more and more to play without looking at the guitar 👋

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

😄

[@johnsmith-hf1hm]

Sure? You too can play like an expert? This thing is a GIMMICK, Hard won knowledge and practice are NOT FOR SALE. It is a TOY.

[@aggabus]

The word that you oft employ .. the word this . That word does not contain the letter Z. Zis is not a word. It cer tainly isno t the word This. Touch the tongue to the top teeth to tell the tone to that tale

[@daber2000]

Hi can songs be added to one's collection somehow?

[@TheBlessedchannel]

a samsung vendo isso kkk

[@IV-V-iii-vi]

This is pretty dumb. I would still go with rocksmith over this. You can swap guitars and tuning quickly, very strong community support, no batteries and phone app bullshit. It's also a hell of a lot cheaper than this thing.

[@wolfram9888]

По акценту похож на русского

[@BillyBongwaters]

What a horrible thing to ever put on a guitar

[@j4m4rmusic95]

And now you still know nothing 😂😂😂

[@Nick-we7lf]

This system sucks. . Its a cool idea but its badly executed. Maybe some other company does a better job re-introducing this concept.

[@mjt11860]

How is it badly executed? On the fence btwn this and fretlight.

[@911spicer]

This product doesn't work for Android users. Has suspicious need for GPS to connect. Don't trust the reviewer (for incomplete honesty) nor the product.

[@FretZealot]

Bluetooth requires location permission (it's a Google requirement). We don't use GPS in any way and say so in the pop-up before asking for the location permission. The product absolutely works for Android, but if you don't allow Bluetooth, you can't connect to your Fret Zealot. Please send us an email to [e-mail] and we'll work with you on this!

[@aggabus]

still know nothing

[@aggabus]

uncool

[@aggabus]

get another mouth