A deliberate practice app for guitar players who want to level up

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reception & UI

  • Many commenters find the app “super cool,” well-timed for their own practice, and praise the clean layout, whitespace, and restrained use of color.
  • Some compare it favorably to their own minimal practice tools and call it “god tier” for focused exercises.

How the app works & current limitations

  • Several people needed a few minutes to realize it:
    • Does not listen to your playing.
    • Tracks metronome use and time spent at each tempo.
    • Provides tabs (and optionally embedded videos) mainly for reference, sharing, and custom exercises.
  • The creator stresses it’s best for practicing material you already know, not for learning new pieces from scratch.
  • Desktop use is recommended because of keyboard shortcuts; mobile works but is less ideal.

Requested features & improvements

  • Common requests:
    • Audio/MIDI playback of the tabs, to hear or play along with the exercise.
    • Recording recent practice for self-review, though browser permissions/storage complexity is noted.
    • Auto-scrolling or fitting longer tabs on one screen.
    • Session labels, collapsible tab/video area, and clearer onboarding (e.g., explainer video).
    • Import from Guitar Pro; export already exists via JSON.
  • Some suggest a more ambitious “killer app” that listens, detects weaknesses, and adapts a lesson plan.

Platform & instrument support

  • Android users ask for native apps; the answer is to use the browser and, if needed, alternative apps like Instrumentive.
  • Multiple people ask about bass, piano, and other stringed instruments; underlying AlphaTab/AlphaTex already supports alternate tunings and even piano notation, so extension seems feasible but focus is currently on guitar.

Guitar learning & practice discussion

  • Long subthreads on:
    • The value of deliberate/intentional practice vs “noodling.”
    • Building habits: daily 5‑minute minimum, keeping the guitar out of its case, using acoustics/electrics strategically.
    • Managing finger pain: nitrile gloves/finger cots, callus development, lighter or nylon strings, and minimizing excess fretting pressure.
    • Mixed views on YouTube: great resource vs. risk of passive watching and poor feedback; many recommend local teachers and structured courses like JustinGuitar.

Scales, modes, and theory

  • A deep tangent debates whether scale practice on guitar is “just one pattern” vs many:
    • One side emphasizes guitar’s relative patterns and deriving everything from basic intervals.
    • Others point out multiple scale types, positions, modal patterns, and practical value of memorizing pentatonic and diatonic “boxes.”

Terminology & trust

  • Some dislike the word “deliberate” in the marketing; others note “deliberate practice” is standard jargon in music/learning.
  • One commenter wonders if on-site reviews look “fake,” but this isn’t resolved.