Guitarist is a virtual guitar instrument from Sugar Bytes that plays four electric guitar models through a step sequencer that controls chords, strumming and individual strings.
Guitarist at a glance
| Developer | Sugar Bytes |
|---|---|
| Type | Instruments / Synth |
| Formats | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone |
| Operating systems | Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.12 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Free trial | Available |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €127.93 |
What Guitarist does
The instrument is built around a sequencer rather than a traditional keyboard or tab input. Sixteen steps decide whether a chord is triggered and which strings are played when a strum goes, and each string can be played individually at any time, which allows arpeggios and muted, dead-note patterns. Lower lanes define the chord sequences, and a Loop function repeats a part with dead and damped notes included, with a half-tempo option.
Chords are set by selecting a root note and one of twelve chord types, each available in three voicings, and up to 24 user chords can be created by clicking the fretboard, including chords that a human hand could not form. An Action Section gives real-time control during playback, a Human Touch page with Busy Fingers Animations adds extra finger movement, and slides, vibratos and portamentos are included.
Key features
- Four electric guitar models. Three guitars are built in, including a Fender-style model, and a Starplayer model is included in a bright and a normal version, with more models announced.
- Sampled strings and round robin. Each guitar was recorded with more than 2,000 samples per six-string, covering fretted notes and open strings, with round robin alternation and a random mode that selects a sample from the pool on each triggered note.
- Chord and strum control. Root note, chord type and voicing are chosen per step, and strum direction and string selection define how each chord is played.
- Action Section. The Action Section offers real-time intervention during playback so that a pattern can be altered while it runs.
- Mute and de-tune per string. Individual strings can be muted or de-tuned, which is used to create slides and dead-note effects inside a pattern.
- Amps and effects. Two amp models are available with a direct-out mode, and two effect units provide ten effects in total, with FX1 covering modulation including chorus, phaser and auto wah, and FX2 covering delays and reverbs including a reverse-buffer delay.
- Wah and talk. A wah-wah pedal and a talk mode are included among the effects.
Use cases
- Arpeggios and muted patterns. Single-string playback and damped dead notes are used to build arpeggios and rhythmic muted parts within the step sequencer.
- Chord progressions with strumming. Sixteen steps with per-step chord and strum settings produce chord progressions that can be looped at normal or half tempo.
Compatibility
Guitarist is offered as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone for Windows and macOS (64-bit), requires macOS 10.12 or Windows 7 at minimum, and lists native support for Apple Silicon. A trial is available.
Who it is for
Guitarists and producers who want to program guitar parts from chords and strum patterns rather than play them, and sound designers who need sampled electric strings in a sequencer-driven workflow.
Guitarist compared with similar plugins
Strum Session from Applied Acoustics Systems is a virtual instrument for strummed guitar parts in VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone and RTAS formats on Windows and macOS. SPARKLE 2 from UJAM is a virtual instrument in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats on Windows and macOS.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guitarist | Sugar Bytes | Synth | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €127.93 |
| Strum Session | Applied Acoustics Systems | Synth | VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €9.91 (regular €41.60) |
| SPARKLE 2 | UJAM | Virtual Instruments | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €129.00 |
| IRON 2 | UJAM | Virtual Instruments | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €129.00 |
| MODO BASS 2 | IK Multimedia | Virtual Instruments | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €237.99 |
Price and availability
Guitarist was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €127.93. A free trial is offered. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
Guitarist FAQ
Which formats does Guitarist support?
It is offered as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone, so the AU crack and AAX crack builds match the AU and AAX formats.
Does Guitarist run on Apple Silicon?
Yes. Native support for Apple Silicon processors is listed, with macOS 10.12 as the minimum operating system.