Virtual guitar instruments let keyboard players and beatmakers add strummed chords, riffs and leads without a real guitar or amp. Monster Guitar was offered as a free VST on deadloops.com. Free deals can end at any time, so confirm on the official developer or store page that it is still free before you download.
Why use a virtual guitar?
- You can write parts in the piano roll without recording gear.
- You can change chords and tempo after the fact.
- It is quick for demos and pre production.
- It costs nothing when a free version is available.
The trade off is realism. Guitar is hard to fake because of how real players strum, mute strings and bend notes. The tips below help you close that gap.
Programming a convincing guitar part
Vary velocity
No guitarist hits every string with the same force. Randomise velocities slightly, and accent the downbeats.
Stagger chord notes
A real strum takes a few milliseconds from the lowest string to the highest. Nudge each note in a chord a tiny bit later than the one below it, or use a strum function if the plugin has one.
Use the right range
A standard six string guitar in standard tuning goes from E2 upwards. Notes far below that, or huge chord spreads a human could never play, immediately expose a fake.
Add mutes and slides
If the plugin includes articulations such as palm mutes, hammer ons or slides, use them sparingly to add life.
Processing tips
| Goal | Try this |
|---|---|
| Tighten the low end | High pass around 80 to 100 Hz |
| Add width | Double the part and pan the copies apart |
| More glue | Gentle compression, see the Fruity Compressor guide |
| Space | Short room reverb or delay on a send |
Keep the guitar out of the way of the vocal by cutting a little around 2 to 4 kHz, and check your levels using the gain staging guide.
Checking a free plugin before you install
- Look at the official page for the file formats and system requirements.
- Check the download size and whether a sample library is included.
- Read the licence to see whether commercial use is allowed.
- Download only from the developer site.
- Load it in a blank project first to test it.
If a page offers a cracked or unlocked version of a paid guitar library, do not use it. It is illegal and often carries malware.
Alternatives
Browse our collection of 500 free VST plugins for other instruments and effects. A guitar amp simulator can also make a DI or virtual guitar sound more natural.
Building a full guitar arrangement
A single guitar track rarely sounds finished. Professional productions often stack a rhythm part, a doubled version panned left and right, and a lead or melodic layer. With a virtual instrument, you can copy the MIDI, change the voicing or octave, shift the timing a few milliseconds and pan the copies for a wide, believable stereo image.
Think about the role each part plays. The rhythm guitar drives the groove and stays fairly simple. The lead line carries the melody and can be more expressive, with pitch bends and vibrato if the instrument supports them. Keep the two from fighting by placing them in different octaves and different rhythmic spaces.
Genres where virtual guitars shine
- Pop and lo fi: soft chord strums and clean arpeggios under vocals.
- Hip hop: sampled style licks and muted riffs looped over drums.
- Rock demos: a quick sketch of the riff before a real player records it.
- Ambient and cinematic: sustained notes with lots of reverb and delay.
Whatever the style, the key is restraint. A few well placed notes with good dynamics beat a busy pattern that never stops.
One last piece of advice applies to every free download: keep a short note of where you got it, which version you installed and what licence applied. If the developer updates it, moves it or changes the terms, you will know exactly what you are running, and you can reinstall from the same trusted place later. It also makes it easy to back up your plugin folder before a big operating system update.
Key takeaways
- Virtual guitars are great for demos and layers when programmed with care.
- Vary velocity and timing to add human feel.
- Confirm the plugin is still free and get it from the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monster Guitar free now?
It was a limited free offer. It may have ended, so check the official page.
Can a virtual guitar replace a real one?
For demos, yes. For a lead role in a professional track, most producers prefer a real player.
Do I need an amp simulator?
Not always, but adding amp or cabinet simulation often improves realism.
What DAWs work?
Any DAW that hosts the offered plugin format, which is usually listed on the download page.
