Strum - Play Guitar serves a specific niche within the music education market by focusing primarily on chord-based song instruction. Rather than offering comprehensive video courses or note-by-note tutorials, the app aggregates chord charts and lyrics, allowing users to play along with a scrolling display. This approach caters to learners who have grasped basic chords and wish to apply them to real music quickly, effectively digitizing the traditional binder of printed tabs or chord sheets. The core functionality revolves around a searchable library of songs. Each selection displays the chord shapes above the corresponding lyrics in a synchronized, scrolling format, which helps users follow along in real time. Key tools include a chord dictionary for reference, a metronome, and a capo indicator to adjust for different keys. The interface is built for practicality, emphasizing clear chord diagrams and straightforward playback controls over flashy graphics or gamified learning systems. For the self-taught guitarist, this creates a focused practice environment dedicated to repertoire building. In real-world use, the app is most beneficial for players in the beginner-to-intermediate range looking to expand their song knowledge. A typical scenario involves a user learning basic open chords, then using Strum to practice transitions within the context of a familiar pop or rock song. The ability to loop difficult sections and adjust tempo is particularly useful for mastering chord changes. However, the experience is heavily dependent on the accuracy and arrangement of the chord charts provided within the app's library, which can vary. User feedback, as seen in app store reviews, highlights a significant divergence between the utility of the core product and frustrations with its monetization. Many reviews, even those awarding five stars, praise the app's effectiveness for learning songs rapidly, with users reporting they learned multiple songs within weeks. Conversely, a persistent and notable criticism centers on an aggressive subscription prompt that some find difficult to dismiss, creating a negative initial experience that contradicts the app's advertised free tier. This creates a paradoxical sentiment where the instructional content is highly valued, but access to it is perceived as cumbersome. Overall, Strum delivers on its fundamental promise as a convenient, mobile song library for guitarists. Its strength lies in its simplicity and direct application to playing actual music. The primary limitation is not its educational content but the implementation of its business model, which can overshadow an otherwise useful tool. For those willing to navigate the paywall or subscribe, it offers a streamlined method to build a repertoire, though the initial user experience could be significantly improved.