Magic Guitar

Review

Common Sense Media says

Fun way to build musicianship, rhythm; watch social aspects.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Magic Guitar is a music app where players hold the iPhone sideways and play melodies by pressing down on beams of light as they scroll by, dragging fingers to bend notes, and shaking the device to create a vibrato effect. The game is free to play and comes with a handful of songs. Additional songs must be purchased using a premium currency called "Shred." Players can listen in on other players' performances from around the world, but there's no chatting. If players log in with their Facebook account, their Facebook profile picture will be visible to others using the app. Usernames sometimes include iffy language.

  • Ease of use4
    Song speed can be adjusted to slow, medium, fast, or default. There are how-to-play tutorials, and each song can be played in practice mode before trying the real thing.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language3
    Usernames may include iffy language; one user's name included "badass," for example. When kids choose to listen to other players' songs, they see their username and possibly a Facebook profile photo.
  • Consumerism3
    Players are prompted to share songs and results with friends on Facebook, Twitter, and email. The app itself, and a handful of songs, are free, but more must be purchased with in-game currency that can be slowly earned by playing the game a lot, or by paying real-world cash and participating in partner offers like signing up for a service's free trial.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety3
    Some concerns. Players can login using a Facebook or Twitter account. If you log in with Facebook, your Facebook profile picture will be displayed on your profile in the game, which is visible to other players, as is your username. If enabled, the app detects the user's location and broadcasts it to other players as a dot on a world map. Players are also constantly prompted to share status updates and songs via Twitter, Facebook, or email.
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Is it any good?

 

MAGIC GUITAR teaches real guitar techniques like pitch-bending and vibrato, and lets players develop their sense of melody and rhythm while playing along to familiar tunes from pop artists like Coldplay and Lady Gaga, as well as traditional and children's tunes. The songs take practice to play in tune, and players can share performances via Twitter, Facebook, email, and online leaderboards. Overall, it's a unique and enjoyable app that encourages real-life musicianship.

This review was written by Erin Bell

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This review was written by Erin Bell
Topics:music and sing-along
Category:Music
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price:Free
Size:19.20 MB
Publisher:Smule
Version:1.0.3
Release date:January 26, 2012
Minimum software requirements:iOS 4.0 or later
This review was written by Erin Bell
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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