Fender and Samsung announced a partnership to launch the Fender Play app on Samsung televisions, enabling guitar lessons directly from living rooms. The TV edition debuted at CES and launches in the first half of 2024 to support couch-based practice sessions.
Fender Play originated in 2017 as a platform with virtual instructors catering to guitar players at every skill level, from beginners to advanced musicians. This service delivers structured learning through interactive methods tailored to individual progress.
The app provides video-based lessons covering electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and ukuleles. Users access on-demand courses designed for various skill levels. Each lesson centers on recognizable songs, including The Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License,” allowing learners to apply techniques to familiar tracks.
For users with greater proficiency, Jam Mode offers play-along functionality with genre-specific playlists. This feature enables real-time practice alongside curated music selections, suitable for solo sessions or group involvement with family members observing on the large TV screen.
Currently, Fender Play operates on mobile devices through the App Store and Google Play. Television access exists via pairing an iPhone or Android phone with Apple TV or Chromecast devices. These methods display lessons on bigger screens to clarify chord progressions and finger placements without straining eyesight.
The forthcoming Samsung native TV app eliminates pairing requirements for a more direct experience. It supports only Samsung televisions released in 2025 or later, with no announced compatibility for prior models. The rollout occurs in the coming months.
Subscription plans cost $20 per month or $150 per year, accompanied by a seven-day free trial period. Fender and Samsung position this integration as their 2026 mission to establish “couch shredding” as a standard practice for home musicians.
