The 8 Best FREE Guitar VST Plugins
When it comes to finding a great guitar VST plugin, there are some fantastic
options available. There are also plenty of options that aren't worth your time.
Guitars are notoriously difficult to translate into the form of a plugin because
the character and sonic details of a real guitar player are lost in most cases.
I've tried countless guitar VST plugins over the years to try to replicate the tone and
quality of a real guitar, but they almost always sound robotic and overly sequenced.
Some plugins, however, stand out from the crowd, usually due to real-life
articulation of the individual samples and added "humanization" of the sounds.
There are numerous free guitar VST plugins available. Many of these plugins
are surprisingly powerful and versatile, and they can produce great guitar sounds that are
comparable to commercial guitar plugins. I’ll be showing you the best free guitar
plugins you can find on the internet. These plugins will provide you with authentic,
professional guitar sounds without ever needing to reach for your wallet.
Classic.Gtr Lite is a free multi-sampled classical guitar plugin with a rich, warm
character and a simple, stripped-back interface. This guitar VST plugin doesn’t have a high level
of authenticity and realism but it is great for creating ethereal, spacey classical guitar sounds.
By playing around with the onboard parameters, it’s fairly easy to make this sampled classical
guitar sound like a retro synth pluck, as well as other interesting, unique sounds.
Gain control, LFO modulation, a lowpass and highpass filter,
and modulation options are also included. There are also 7 wavey presets to play around with,
so I highly recommend giving this free guitar plugin a shot.
The acoustic guitar has always been the most difficult instrument to emulate
using MIDI technology. An acoustic guitar performance adds a level of personality and
articulation that is extremely difficult to replicate using sampled MIDI notes.
However, Ample Sound’s guitar VST plugins continue to bridge the gap between virtual and
real guitar performances like no other. The sound quality is absolutely stunning,
and the plugin immediately provides a rich, warm tone that is full of detail and clarity.
Each note has a noticeable amount of variation and expression, and these sonic "imperfections" create
an effortless, realistic playing experience. Capo logic, doubling, legato, slide,
string tuner, and other features are also included in the plugin engine.
Kontakt Start is Native Instruments' absolutely massive free bundle, which includes a massive
range of free effects and instruments. This free bundle includes the BAND instrument
collection, which allows you to sample 13 rock and pop instruments, including e-guitars and basses.
The sound quality is absolutely phenomenal, as is always the case with Native Instruments.
It's worth noting that in order to use this free guitar VST,
you must first download the entire Kontakt Start library. However, I would recommend downloading it
regardless, as it is without a doubt one of the best free VST collections available.
The Haunted Guitar Lite is a free VST plugin that was created with a multi-sampled
Fender Stratocaster Plus Deluxe Electric Guitar,
resulting in some eerie, atmospheric guitar sounds.
Electronik Sound Lab's Haunted Guitar Lite includes a variety of preset tones ranging from
"Ancient Void" to "Life Drain" (which is perfect for drill and hip hop beats).
This free guitar VST includes a variety of extra features such as LFO Modulation,
ADSR, various filter types, and more. Overall, this is an excellent choice for darker,
moodier guitar tones with a variety of controllable parameters.
In the world of free guitar VST plugins, DSK's "Dynamic Guitars" is considered a classic.
Don't be fooled by the plugin's amateurish appearance; it can produce some absolutely
fantastic acoustic guitar sounds. Acoustic, Nylon, and Steel guitars are
all sampled in DSK’s Dynamic Guitars. The interface has ADSR controls,
a voice mode selector, a reverb parameter, and other features.
If you're looking for a low-CPU, high-quality FREE guitar VST plugin, this is a must-consider option.
Revitar 2 is a Guitar synthesizer that can generate a wide range of sounds,
not just acoustic guitar sounds. This plugin employs a unique guitar pick,
string, and body simulations to achieve added realism and playing flexibility,
all without the use of any samples. It has 48 programmable chords with absolute and
relative positions, different playing styles like hammer ons, pull offs, chords, and single strings,
and 6 different guitar body types. Revitar 2 does not sound realistic,
but I believe that is part of its appeal because it is so unique and original.
Spitfire LABS provide a fantastic selection of free VST instruments such as guitars,
pianos, strings, and experimental sounds. Their free guitar VSTs include "Moon Guitar,"
"Mandolin," "Guitar Harmonics," and the “Peel Guitar” which is most producers’ favorite.
Spitfire LABS instruments are used within the LABS plugin, which is also free to download and
use. The sound quality of the instruments is also incredible, with the Peel Guitar, for example,
producing a smooth, vibrant, hypnotic tone right out of the box.
Cute Emily Guitar is yet another FREE guitar VST
that emulates an Epiphone SG-style electric guitar.
To be honest, without any additional effects, this plugin doesn't sound all
that great. The dry sound is, admittedly, quite robotic and not at all realistic.
However, some excellent results have been discovered
after incorporating various guitar amp / FX plugins. This is a great guitar VST for
adding small riffs and melody to your tracks, but make sure you first add some effects.