With the ever-growing popularity of the rhythm game genre comes a surge of wanna-be rock stars. Many have become inspired enough to drop the plastic instruments in exchange for the real deal. But many don't have the time or budget to take classes with an instructor, or want to learn at their own pace. Enter Optek's Fretlight Interactive Learning System; a deceptively normal-looking electric guitar hoping to act as a bridge for gamers to become musicians. The idea behind the Fretlight guitar is that when plugged into a PC or Mac via USB, the LED lights hidden in the fretboard illuminate in conjunction with a lesson playing on the computer, showing the student exactly where to place their fingers.

The guitar (FG-421 Standard) appears to be just as any other; 21 frets, 6 strings and a Stratocaster-like body. Because the LEDs are behind the fretboard, there is no physical indication of their existence until it is plugged into a computer with one of the various pieces of Fretlight software running. I loved the hardware. The guitar had a good weight to it and did not feel 'cheap' or flimsy. Optek has an amplifier for sale on their site but the Fretlight works with any amp and sounds just as good as any Fender Strat-Clone I've seen. The body is contoured and very ergonomic for a natural, comfortable feel and it's really nice to look at too. The one I tested was "Renegade Red" with a pearloid pickguard which had a vintage look about it.

The main selling point, and the letdown, of the Fretlight is the software. There are a few programs that are compatible with the Fretlight and purchasing the guitar includes the Fretlight Lesson Player for free. This is their oldest piece of software and it shows. It reads like an e-book with hyperlinks that, when clicked, open a pop-up audio player to play samples of what you should sound like or pro-tips from the virtual instructor. Overall, it feels clunky and antiquated but there is a ton of information in there. The Lesson Player includes over 30 beginner lessons, interactive chord and scale charts and a solid introduction to music theory, complete with a glossary in case of confusion. Despite it's appearance and interface, I did eventually grow accustomed to the Lesson Player and learned some new chords and scales. This program is also expandable via DLC in "Lesson Paks" that feature more lessons you choose depending on what playing style or genre you would like to learn. Lesson Paks are on sale at the Fretlight store and range from $14.99-$19.99 each.

Their newest program (Windows only as of this writing) is the Fretlight Video Player which is a significant improvement over the Lesson Player. I tinkered with the trial version, which included a few lessons, and found that it feels like a less-slick version of Apple's new Garage Band guitar lessons. This program looks like Windows Media Player and uses video lessons as opposed to reading along in an e-book. One of the great features of the video player is the ability to set loop points so you can practice the same section over again with the instructor and a speed slider that allows tempo adjustment. This is important for new players who might not be able to keep up with the instructor at full speed right away. Another great feature about the Video Player is that whenever the instructor does anything on the guitar, from a lesson to just messing around, the LEDs on your fretboard show you exactly what he is playing as he is playing it. The Fretlight Video Player is on sale at the Fretlight store for $29.99 with a slew of additional video packs priced at $14.99 apiece. Lessons across all programs are available at all levels of expertise so advanced players can learn something new as well.

All in all, this was a different experience in my short journey of the world of music. It was convenient to have the lessons available at my home, ready for whenever I wanted to play. It was also much less in cost than hiring an instructor, but the antiquated software was a bit of a turn-off. My suggestion, for those interested in making a purchase, would be to download the free trial versions of the software directly from Fretlight.com to see if you feel that this system will work for you.

The Red Fretlight FG-421 Guitar is available for purchase here, directly from Optek. Optek ships all guitars custom tuned for your region's climate.