Guitars are more than just an instrument; they’re an icon of musical expression across multiple genres, from rock and country to EDM and hip-hop.
As a music producer, incorporating guitar sounds into your tracks can add a layer of authenticity, richness, and emotional resonance that few other instruments can offer. However, getting that perfect guitar sound can often be a challenging and expensive task, especially if you don’t play the guitar yourself. But not to worry - we'll explore the 5 best free guitar VST plugins that can help you create epic compositions and get super realistic guitar sounds at zero cost.
By the end of this article, you’ll be well-equipped to include epic guitar sounds that can help skyrocket your track’s appeal.
So, let’s dive in…
#1. Ample Guitar M Lite II
Ample Guitar M Lite II promises to bring the iconic Martin D-41 Acoustic Guitar sound right into your digital workspace. this free plugin gives you access to the authentic acoustic guitar tones you often hear on professionally produced tracks.
It features Rich Fingering Noise to make your guitar tracks more vivid and realistic.
When you’re making a complex acoustic beat, every nuance counts, and this free guitar VST plugin offers various articulations like:
- Sustain
- Hammer-ons
- Pull-offs
- Palm muting
Key Features Of This Free Guitar VST Plugin:
Sampling:
- Size: 848 mb, 16bit 44.1khz
- Finger Instrument libraries to fit different needs.
- DFD (Direct from disk)
- Rich Fingering Noise - more vivid and realistic.
- Each Cycle & Rhombic Sampling structure - Separate sample cycle for each note and velocity layer to improve sample utilization efficiency.
- Sustain, Hammer On & Pull Off, Palm Mute, Popping 5 articulations.
Technology:
- Capo Logic - Intelligent play according to guitar rules.
- CPC (Customized Parameters Control) - any controller can be controlled by MIDI CC or Automation.
- Double Guitar - different samples at L & R channel.
- Poly Legato and Slide Smoother.
- Alternate Tuner.
- Capo - Transpose without the need to modify midi.
Strummer:
- Real strum samples.
- 14 Strum notes + 28 ways to play for every chord.
- Strum Legato - legato articulations can be played while strumming.
- 4 humanization settings.
- Select and Detect 2 chord modes, any chords could be customized.
- Strum SEQ with customized rhythm.
- Delicate presets with Drag & Drop Support.
Tab Reader:
- The Tab Player can load and play several prevalent guitar tablature file formats. Users can load, display and playback any specific track inside a tablature file. When used in DAWs, the Tab Player also allows users to export the tablature as an audio file.
- The Tab Player supports all the fingering, looping, chords, articulations and other markers in the loaded tablature. Supported articulations include: Strum, Natural Harmonic, Artificial Harmonic, Hammer On/Pull Off, Trill, Bend, Tremolo Bar, Legato Slide, Slide In, Slide Out, Vibrato, Tremolo Picking, Palm Mute, Popping, Tapping, Let Ring, Staccato, Dead Note, Grace Note, Ghost Note, Accentuated Note, Fade In, etc.
- As a built-in function, the Tab Player works seamlessly with the Ample Sound instrument engine, which has extremely customized guitar playing logic so as to model a real-world guitar being played. The Tab Player can even judge on its own to automatically add some refining articulations when it thinks it is appropriate, such as slapping on strings or body, or other realistic and indispensable noises.
- Strumming is an important factor of guitar playing. By taking advantage of the Ample Guitar Strummer engine, the Tab Player can not only mingle different articulations into strumming but can also alternate between strumming several strings (i.e. multiple notes) simultaneously and strum at a particular string (i.e. one note).
System Requirements
- Windows: Windows 7/8/10, 64-bit only (32-bit not supported).
- Mac: From 10.9 or higher
- VST2, VST3, AU, AAX and Standalone host.
- 10GB Hard Disk, Intel i5 or higher.
#2. Solaris GTR Lite
Solaris GTR Lite offers an array of electric guitar tones perfect for genres as varied as Lo-Fi, Ambient, Hip Hop, and EDM.
With its basis on famous electric guitars processed through premium effects guitar pedals and virtual instrument plugins, Solaris GTR Lite seeks to provide dynamic and beautiful tones.
This free plugin delivers on this promise with six multi-sampled presets 一 giving you a variety of tones to choose from.
One of the most striking features of this plugin is its meticulous sampling.
Whether you’re creating lush ambient landscapes or pulsating trap beats, the high-quality samples lay an excellent foundation.
Solaris GTR Lite is impressively user-friendly compared to many free guitar plugins.
The interface includes controls for:
- ADSR envelope
- Filter cutoff
- LFO modulation
On the flip side, the built-in effects like reverb, chorus, delay, and distortion let you add depth and texture to your tracks.
This can be a game-changer for genres like Trap, Hip-Hop, and Pop music.
These features are perfect for those who push their guitar sounds into experimental territory.
Whether you’re looking to create a chill, spacey vibe with reverb and delay, or add a gritty edge to your tracks with distortion, these built-in effects can help.
If you love electric guitars, this free plugin is perfect for you.
Key Features Of This Free Guitar VST Plugin:
- 6 Multi-Sampled Presets
- LFO modulation controls
- Lowpass/highpass filter cutoff
- ADSR envelope controls
- Built-in Chorus
- Built-in Delay
- Built-in Reverb
- Built-in distortion
- Samples meticulously edited one by one
- Easy to use
- 100% royalty-free
System Requirements
- Windows 8.1/10/11 - macOS 10.14 And Above
- 425 MB Disk Space
- 300 MB RAM
- VST/VST3 host 64-bit
#3. Zak Sound Sapphire Guitar (Essential)
Zak Sound Sapphire Guitar (Essential) is a unique offering in the realm of free guitar VST plugins.
Unlike traditional free guitar VST plugins, which primarily aim to emulate the nuances of physical guitars, Sapphire Guitar takes a more experimental route.
It blends the essence of various guitars (ranging from acoustic and electric to folk and classical) with rich, ambient textures.
What results is a fascinating palette of sounds that can inject a sense of ambience and atmosphere into your tracks. A noteworthy feature is the ability to select from 18 different stringed instruments.
Each are based on actual recordings of guitars played with various techniques, such as:
- Palm-muted
- Open strings
- Harmonics
This provides a level of dynamic range that can be a treasure trove for depth and authenticity in your guitar sounds.
To help you further shape your sound, Sapphire Guitar includes a range of additional features like:
- Low-pass filters
- High-pass filters
- Delay settings
- Built-in effects like chorus, drive, and reverb
These parameters are essential for tailoring your guitar sounds to fit seamlessly into any and every mix.
Key Features Of This Free Guitar VST Plugin:
- 18 different stringed instruments based on real guitar recordings.
- Unique ambient texture controls.
- Built-in LFO with speed, waveform, and depth controls.
- Additional tonal controls like LPF, HPF, and ADSR.
- Built-in effects.
- Delay settings and master settings.
System Requirements
- Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 (only 64 bit) - or macOS El Capitan to Monterey.
- A VST3-compatible DAW.
- 4GB RAM (Recommended)
#4. Haunted Guitar Lite By Electronik Sound Lab
If you’re looking to add an element of the ethereal or downright eerie to your compositions, Haunted Guitar Lite by Electronik Sound Lab is a free VST plugin you won’t want to miss.
Based on a multi-sampled Fender Stratocaster Plus Deluxe Electric Guitar, this free VST plugin takes the familiar and catapults it into the realm of the extraordinary.
Each on of its 8 presets come packed with 28 samples processed through a diverse range of high-quality effects.
The interface is incredibly user-friendly, like NI’s Guitar Rig, and features a straightforward array of knobs and settings.
This includes very beneficial and worth-while factors such as:
- ADSR amplitude envelope controls
- LFO modulation
- Filters like high-pass & low-pass with cutoff
What separates Haunted Guitar Lite from other free guitar VSTs are its built-in effect modules (built-in reverb, distortion, and delay effects). You can easily tweak time, feedback, and wet/dry mix 一 offering a wealth of ambient possibilities.
Its versatility doesn’t end at its horror-infused timbres.
It can be a valuable tool for adding a different flavor to various genres and subgenres.
Haunted Guitar Lite is perfect for providing a haunting lead line in a rock song or adding texture to an electric guitar track.
Key Features Of This Free Guitar VST Plugin:
- 8 Presets
- 224 Samples
- ADSR
- HP / LP Filter
- LFO Modulation
- Filter type selector
- Voice mode
- Built-in vintage reverb
- Built-in distortion
- Built-in delay
System Requirements
- Windows 8.1/10/11 - macOS 10.14 And Above
- 400 MB Disk Space
- 500 MB Ram
- VST or VST3 host (64-bit)
#5. Shreddage 3 Stratus Free By Impact Soundworks
This is a free guitar VST plugin that packs a ton of premium features.
Developed specifically for KONTAKT PLAYER, it offers:
- Deep-sampled sustain
- Palm mute
- Choke articulations over three octaves of playing range
But that’s just scratching the surface…
With up to 24 samples per note and an array of performance options, this free plugin is designed to be the ultimate electric guitar sample library over all other guitar sample libraries.
Each electric guitar string is sampled up to the 12th fret with different strokes and dynamic layers, providing unprecedented realism.
Shredded 3 Stratus also comes with dozens of production-ready tone electric guitar snapshots.
They range from hi-gain amped options to more ambient, clean settings.
Whether you’re crafting a blistering solo or laying down some clean, rhythmical chords, it’s got you covered. The user interface is as wide and beautiful as its sonic capabilities, ensuring a smooth workflow.
Key Features Of This Free Guitar VST Plugin:
- Deep-sampled sustain, palm mute, and choke articulations with extensive playing range.
- TACT 2.0 technology for advanced articulation control.
- CONSOLE modular FX rack for extensive sound shaping.
- Pristine 24-bit recordings with DI through the neck pickup.
- Compatible with KONTAKT PLAYER & higher memory systems for optimal performance.
- One of the best guitar plugins of 2023.
System Requirements
- Windows 7/8/10 - macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11 or 12
- KONTAKT Player 6.7+
- 1 GB Disk Space
- 4 GB Ram
Summary
We’ve searched the digital world to present you with the 5 best free guitar VST plugins. Each offers a unique and astonishing palette of guitar tones and capabilities.
These plugins are not just placeholders but powerful tools that can impart depth, texture, and realism to your music. With these resources at your disposal, you’re not just tweaking sounds - you’re shaping musical experiences.
Prepare to have your tracks not just heard, but felt.
'till the next blog...
10th WAVE
- email: 10thwaveproduction@gmail.com
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