Answering the question “do they have an app for that?,” the answer is again yes, as famed musical instruments company, Fender, is getting into the software business with an app for guitar lessons.
Scottsdale-based Fender Musical Instruments’ electric guitars have powered music from Jimi Hendrix to Nirvana. Its new app, "Fender Play," teaches guitar to first-time users.
CEO Andy Mooney says the company is launching the app to keep new guitarists playing. He says 45 percent of the company's guitars sell to first-timers, but 90 percent abandon the instrument within a year.
Electric guitar sales have fallen from 1.2 million units in 2011 to just over 1 million in 2016, according to the publication The Music Trades.
The guitar industry hoped video games like "Guitar Hero" would ignite interest among teenagers, but guitar sales remain below a 2005 peak.
