Top Guitar VSTs in 2025: Unleash Authentic Guitar Sounds for Your Upcoming Projects
If you're on a quest to inject electric guitar magic into your tunes without diving deep into chords, scales, techniques, and music theory, you've found the perfect treasure trove. These badass VSTs will let you add pinch harmonics, slides, and bends to your tracks with ease, providing an array of realistic-sounding guitar tones to enhance your music productions.
A guitar VST differs from a guitar plugin, as the former mimics someone playing a guitar, while the latter focuses on guitar amp and pedal simulations. With a simple piano roll or MIDI keyboard, you can jot down your musical notes, and the VST takes care of the rest, delivering guitar sounds that would make even rockstars weep in envy.
I've been strumming the strings for well over 20 years and have spent countless hours recording bands at home and in professional recording studios. So you can bet your bottom dollar that I know an honorable guitar VST from a dud one.
The Ultimate Guitar VST Hall of Fame
If you want the crème de la crème of guitar VSTs, check out Impact Soundworks' Shreddage Bundle. This powerful beast boasts 11 wicked electric guitar and bass VSTs, covering everything from classic rock to modern metal. The flavors on offer here are so diverse that it's an all-encompassing VST - albeit a costly one. If that doesn't tickle your fiscal fancy, Native Instruments Session Guitarist could be just the ticket. At a price point typically under $100, it offers great guitar sounds for modern electric tones to help you create those 21st-century beats.
For the Budget Conscious
What if you're new to guitar VSTs and need some guidance? Navigate to our FAQ section or feast your eyes on our Glossary of Key Terms - if you're new to the lingo, these resources will make sure you're equipped with the jargon to rock your way through guitar production like a true master. May your melodies be Mighty!
Let's breakdown our top picks:
Best OverallImpact Soundworks Shreddage 3 Bundle
This is the motherlode of guitar VSTs, boasting 8 electric guitars and 3 bass guitars for excessive guitar pleasure. Shreddage 3 features articulations like palm muting, slides, bends, and pinch harmonics that bring an authentic live guitar vibe to your productions. You'll have so many sounds to play with that your ears might spin faster than a slot machine.
Best Budget FriendlyNative Instruments Session Guitarist
Craving guitar goodness, but don't want to break the bank? Native Instruments Session Guitarist is your wingman. This trusty pal offers a range of electric and acoustic guitar sounds, all with a handy amplifier and effects pedal simulation for a legit sound. With a content library of riffs, chords, and arpeggios, you can build your track smoothly - you don't even need to play a lick of guitar yourself!
Acoustic KingpinMusicLab RealGuitar 6
Searching for the best acoustic guitar VST? Look no further than MusicLab's RealGuitar 6. This badboy comes with both steel and classical guitar sounds, from finger-picked to picked techniques. There's even 7-string, 12-string, baritone, and Nashville tuning options available, making this a super versatile pick.
[1] Source: https://www.musictech.net/reviews/impact-soundworks-shreddage-3-bundle-review/, https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/guitars/session-guitarist/, https://www.musiclab.co.jp/products/software/rg6/
[2] Source: https://www.waproduction.com/djfx-bundle/
Technology has revolutionized music production, and gadgets like guitar VSTs are a testament to this. Impact Soundworks' Shreddage Bundle, for instance, is a technology marvel with 11 electric and bass VSTs, providing an extensive range of guitar tones. On the other hand, Native Instruments Session Guitarist is a pocket-friendly technology solution that delivers great guitar sounds for modern music productions, even without a large budget.
