The 15 Best Free [Guitar] (VST/AU/AAX) Plugins 2020

After searching for good free guitar plugins here and there, I finally came up with a couple of dope ones that will sound at least similar to regular guitar instruments.

Bear in mind that these are free plugins, so, you should do your test on which you prefer, what are you waiting for, go get ’em below!

Starting with…

1.) Ample Guitar M Lite II

Ample Guitar M Lite II is the lite version of the Ample Sounds amazing AGM guitar simulator which aims to bring the Martin D-41 Acoustic Guitar sound to your instrument toolbox.

It comes bundled with over 800 samples and has a separate sample cycle for each note and velocity layer to improve sample utilization efficiency. Also, it features DFD which stands for Direct from disk, this way, you can always ensure you are saving enough CPU resources.

The Limitation of Ample Guitar M Lite II is, you can only play four strings in strum mode, and the sample rate is pegged at 16bit/44.1khz which isn’t bad considering you won’t even get most of the free version features in some paid guitar plugins

Anyways, these are some of its features:

• 866 Samples, 16bit 44.1khz.
• DFD(Direct from disk).
• Controllable Resonance.
• Rich Fingering Noise – more vivid and realistic.
• Finger Instrument libraries to fit different needs.
• Each Cycle & Rhombic Sampling structure – Separate sample cycle for each note and vel layer to improve sample utilization efficiency.
• Sustain, Hammer On & Pull Off, Palm Mute, Popping 5 articulations.

Sampling:

• Size: 848MB
• Finger sample libraries.
• Stereo and Mono Modes.
• Sustain, Hammer On & Pull Off, Palm Mute, Pop 5 articulations

Technology:

• CPC (Customized Parameters Control) – any controller can be controlled by MIDI CC or Automation.
• Double Guitar.
• Poly Legato and Slide Smoother.
• Alternate Tuner.
• Multiple Capo Logics – providing various options of automatic fingering logic to cover different performances such as solo, chorus, and so on.

System Requirements:

• Windows: Windows 7/8/10, 64-bit only (32-bit not supported).
• Mac: 10.9 or newer.
• VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, and Standalone host.
• 10 GB Hard Disk, Intel i5 or higher.

Click The Download Link and once you get to the Ample Sound website, click the overview tab to download

Download Ample Guitar Lite

 

2.) Ample Sound – ABPL II

This is another amazing guitar plugin from the guys at Ample Sound. Ample Bass Lite is a free version of ABP that is recorded on a Fender Precision Bass.

One thing I love about ABP lite is the Tab Player, it can load and play several prevalent bass tablatures 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.

Another is that the Tab Player supports fingering, chords, articulations, looping and other markers in the loaded tablature. An example of the supported articulations includes Strum, Harmer On/Pull off, Tremolo Bar, Legato; slide in and out, Vibrator, picking and lots more.

I personally use this on some occasions, so, you should definitely give this a try, here are some of its features:

• 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.
• New technology: Auto Buzz system.
• CPC (Customized Parameters Control), any button knob etc can be controlled by MIDI CC or Automation.
• Poly Legato.
• Slide Smoother.
• Open String First Function.
• Manual vibrato wheel designed specifically for string instruments.
• Capo – Transpose without need to modify midi.

Sampling:

• 443 Samples, Size: 450 MB, 16bit 44.1khz
• DFD(Direct from disk)
• Rich Fingering Noise – more vivid and realistic
• Each Cycle & Rhombic Sampling structure – Separate sample cycle for each note and vel layer to improve sample utilization
• Sustain, Hammer On & Pull Off Accent.

System Requirements:

• 6 GB of free hard disk space.
• Windows Vista or newer, Pentium 4 or Athlon processor with 2 GB RAM.
• Mac OS X 10.7 or higher, Intel-based Mac with 2 GB RAM.
• AU, VST, AAX or RTAS host application and professional sound card recommended. Stand-alone version included.

Click The Download Link and once you get to the Ample Sound website, click the overview tab to download

Download Ample Bass Lite

 

3.) Mildon – Strummer

Strummer is an intuitive guitar plugin by Mildon which gives you the ability to strum any guitar SoundFont, VSTi, or even sample player. To get started, all you have to do is either load a SoundFont or you connect a second VSTi and you are ready to become a strummer ninja 😉

One missing features of some great sounding plugin guitar are that they usually do not have supports strumming, which is why strumming by Mildon is built, with this plugin, you can ensure a universal solution that can be used for a wide variety of sample players and virtual instruments.

Did I mention it is free, go download it below. Make sure you watch the Walk-Through video below:

Download Mildon's Strummer

 

4.) Keolab – Spicy Guitar

Spicy Guitar is a free plugin by Keolab which is a physical model of an acoustic guitar synthesizer. The great things about Spicy Guitar is that it has 2 different positions for each chord, chord inversions, one-hand up and down strumming, adjustable strumming speed, assignable switch key to trigger controls and much more.

Features:

• 9 guitars, 2 types of strings
• physical-based sound design
• astonishing expressivity
• easy-to-use strumming engine
• many types of chords, 2 positions
• 5 guitarist playing techniques
• Spicy Guitar is built on a simple but powerful playing mode. Piano chords are automatically detected and converted into guitar chords on the fretboard.

System Requirements:

Available as a free download for Windows and Mac (VST/AU).

Video Walk-Through:

Download Spicy Guitar Win 32

Download Spicy Guitar Win 64

Download Spicy Guitar OSX VST

Download Spicy Guitar MAC AU

5.) Simple Media – String Thing 2

This is a simple Plucked string based on a new comb filter with advanced controls and filtering. It uses an impulse, Resonator and Resonant Body model similar to ‘Super String Thing’ but specifically tailored to recreating the sounds of acoustic plucked strings.

Download String Thing 2

6.) CutterMusic – Revitar 2

Revitar 2 is a guitar synth by CutterMusic that can produce a wide diverse range of guitar sounds and playing styles.

Realistic guitar sound tends to be difficult in guitar plugins but to mitigate this CutterMusic employs a unique guitar pick, string, and body simulations, this way, it can at least, sound realistic. Also, No samples are used in the entire process, so no two notes ever sound the same.

Features:

• Unique string and body simulation.
• Adjustable pick shape.
• 48 programmable chords, using absolute and relative positions.
• Different playing styles – slides, hammer-on / pull-offs, chords, a single string.
• 6 guitar body types to choose from.
• Fully programmable MIDI control of all knobs and sliders.
• Intuitive user interface.

Download Revitar 2 Win32

Download Revitar 2 Win64

7.) E-phonic – SoloString

Solo String is a physically modeled acoustic guitar synthesizer by e-phonic.

Note: Only Supports Windows VST

Download Solo String

 

8.) bigcat Instruments – MF Concert Guitar

MF Concert Guitar is a sampled nylon strings guitar. The samples were recorded by Markus Fiedler.

Download MF Concert Guitar

 

9.) Iridium Iris – Lethality

Lethality is an electric guitar by Iridium Iris which contains all important articulations and effects to cover the span of alternative and rock genres, and some of them are triggered by standard MIDI note input and mod-wheel.

These articulations and effects include:

• Open / muted power chords with or without Major and minor third.
• Open / muted octave chords.
• Open / muted refused chords.
• Open / muted single notes.
• Down / up or alternating strumming of chords.
• Bending of single notes and chords with automation.
• Pinch harmonic squeals (reachable in algorithm mode from note E5).
• Gain / distortion / fuzz control.
• Palm mute algorithm with automation.
• Hammer on / pull off.
• Portamento/neck slide control with automation.
• Strumming control with automation.
• Unlimited velocity curve.
• Full chokes (all strings mute with G0 and Ab0).
• Patterns.

Download Lethality_Win32

Download Lethality_Win64

10.) Dream Vortex Studio – DVS Guitar

DVS Guitar is based on a sampled electric guitar. It’s good for leads and heavy sounds, and very realistic if your good with a pitch wheel controller.

Note: Only Supports Window VST

Donate To Dream Vortex Studio

Download DVS Guitar

11.) bigcat Instruments – Cute Emily Guitar

Cute Emily Guitar is a sampled electric guitar.

This is an Epiphone SG type electric guitar sampled by Karoryfer. As it was recorded dry, use a guitar amp sim after this plug-in.

Download Cute Emily Guitar

12.) DSK Guitars Acoustic

DSK Guitars Acoustic is a sampled acoustic/folk guitar. Features are:

• High expressive and dynamics sounds.
• Clean and very simple GUI.

Download DSK Acoustic

13.) DSK Guitars Nylon

DSK Guitars Nylon is a classical guitar with nylon strings. Features are

• High expressive and dynamics sounds.
• Clean and very simple GUI.

Download DSK Nylon

14.) Malaclypse the Younger – BJAM 3

BJAM is a Strat electric guitar rompler by Malaclypse which is designed for those familiar with the playing techniques idiomatic to the instrument, and the signal processing techniques used to shape their output.

A steel-string acoustic (called Ella Gitauru) is also included with BJAM.

The steel-string acoustic includes percussion sounds made with the body of the guitar and uses the same general keyswitch layout as BJAM. It can function as a 6-string, 12-string, or Nashville-tuned 6-string. Thanks to Malaclypse (Developer of this guitar) for pointing this out in the comment section.

BJAM 2 also provides a bunch of demos, each of which includes MIDI and graphic showing the inserts used to shape the sound.

Update: An odd twang in the 6 strings has been fixed (It remains present on the 12-string/Nashville side, for the sake of variety and contrast.) The relevant demos (all the ones using acoustic guitar) have been updated accordingly, again, thanks to Malaclypse (Developer of this superb guitar) for pointing this out in the comment section.

Listen To some of the demos

Features Include:

• Sampled S-type guitar with 3 mixable pickups
• An acoustic guitar is also included.
• Playing range C0-G8.
• Hammer-on/Pull-off/Slide mode.
• Harmonics 2, 3, 5, and 7.
• Noise modes include chucks, swipes, and pick taps.
• Controlled by MIDI key switches and CC#7 (Master Volume).
• 3 fretting positions.
• 2 palm mute modes.
• Slap and Pop mode.
• New – 3.5 band EQ with selectable center frequencies
• New – Fine tuning of individual notes

Download BJAM

15.) SuperRiff Guitar

The last guitar plugin on our list is the SuperRiff Guitar which contains a set of custom distorted electric guitar note samples.

Note: SuperRiff Guitar contains only 1 soundbank of samples and each note on a keyboard from E1 to DF can trigger three different guitar sample types depending on which one of the 3 velocity values is triggered.

47 samples per type, 141 samples in total

• Palm-muted single notes.
• Open string single notes
• Vibrated single notes.

Only Supports Win VST

Download SuperRiff Guitar