# Free guitar samples

> Free guitar samples: acoustic and electric notes, chords, strums, harmonics and fret noises for producers who don't play, with a licence verdict on each.

36 samples from 3 sources (Wikimedia Commons 13, Openverse 12, Strudel sample banks 11), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=guitar&category=guitar&form=one-shot
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=guitar&category=guitar&form=one-shot"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## One instrument, many sounds

A guitar can be plucked or strummed, clean or distorted, acoustic or electric, nylon or steel. Free guitar samples cover single notes, full chords, harmonics, muted chugs and the small noises between notes that make a part sound human. Multisampled guitars from projects such as the Versilian Community Sample Library and other free libraries let you play a guitar from a keyboard.

## Making samples sound played

Guitarists rarely hit every string at once, so stagger the notes of a chord by a few milliseconds, faster for a hard strum, slower for a gentle one. Alternate up and down strums with slightly different velocities. Most guitar samples have their root note in the title or on the card; tune them against your track before you map them.

For ready-made performances, see the guitar loops collection. For each sample here, the verdict says whether it can go in a release.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Wikipedia guitar solo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikipedia_guitar_solo.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Wikipedia_guitar_solo.ogg` | Guitar, 42 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Guitar solo.wav](https://freesound.org/people/karolist/sounds/370934) | `openverse:b6e0691b-820d-4e19-95c9-c3816d5f9071` | Guitar, 16 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick D2 · 0](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str1_Main_D2_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/0` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Guitar amp feedback - low rumble](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guitar_amp_feedback_-_low_rumble.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Guitar_amp_feedback_-_low_rumble.ogg` | Guitar, 21 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [guitar feedback 2.mp3](https://freesound.org/people/oymaldonado/sounds/74869) | `openverse:e2e3a1d5-13d6-473f-b497-3f6a857f2394` | Guitar, 28 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Electric guitar lick in the style of Chuck Berry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electric_guitar_lick_in_the_style_of_Chuck_Berry.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Electric_guitar_lick_in_the_style_of_Chuck_Berry.wav` | Guitar, 5.6 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick E2 · 1](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str1_Main_E2_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/1` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Guitar clean rif.wav](https://freesound.org/people/LG/sounds/16054) | `openverse:c4b99b5e-1274-4446-9ba7-891119b205be` | Guitar, 3.9 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Steel guitar solo in Ryūkōka](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steel_guitar_solo_in_Ry%C5%ABk%C5%8Dka.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Steel_guitar_solo_in_Ryūkōka.ogg` | Guitar, 10 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick F#2 · 2](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str1_Main_F%232_vl3_rr2.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/2` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [E-Guitar 1](https://freesound.org/people/lennartgreen/sounds/203646) | `openverse:ce76b347-80a0-4f81-95d3-fc544ee3db39` | Guitar, 11 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg` | Guitar, 14 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick G2 · 3](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str1_Main_G2_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/3` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Short Guitar Riff](https://freesound.org/people/masterg180/sounds/232924) | `openverse:b631aea4-af12-4387-a5b8-623e80df2cfc` | Guitar, 4.4 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Electric guitar neck humbucker (hotrail) - full vs split](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Electric_guitar_neck_humbucker_(hotrail)_-_full_vs_split.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Electric_guitar_neck_humbucker_(hotrail)_-_full_vs_split.ogg` | Guitar, 6.5 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick A2 · 4](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str2_Main_A2_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/4` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Electric guitar Metal Riff](https://freesound.org/people/davidkyoku/sounds/133999) | `openverse:54bfa4f3-77d4-4a9a-9a24-e7d3f925cc0f` | Guitar, 6.8 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 14](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_14.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_14.wav` | Guitar, 7.7 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick B2 · 5](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str2_Main_B2_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/5` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [E-Guitar 2](https://freesound.org/people/lennartgreen/sounds/203645) | `openverse:14b14f59-90d0-4df8-8a51-d6d3657851b5` | Guitar, 11 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 05](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_05.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_05.wav` | Guitar, 56 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick C#3 · 6](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str2_Main_C%233_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/6` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 29](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_29.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_29.wav` | Guitar, 1:05 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [guitar 0.wav](https://freesound.org/people/NoiseCollector/sounds/2550) | `openverse:3280c195-54cf-427d-b7af-2f3f69a40b43` | Guitar, 4.0 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick D3 · 7](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str2_Main_D3_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/7` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 21](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_21.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_21.wav` | Guitar, 32 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Classical guitar scale](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171917) | `openverse:ac9e80d7-a4fd-4a51-a0a8-43a87445fb53` | Guitar, 12 s | Openverse | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick A3 · 8](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str3_Main_A3_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/8` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 02](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_02.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_02.wav` | Guitar, 3:56 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [dexnay - guitar sad.mp3](https://freesound.org/people/Dexnay/sounds/82310) | `openverse:fdc1ed14-f61b-4235-970b-6614e1c1b49a` | Guitar, 12 s | Openverse | CC Sampling+ 1.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick A4 · 9](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str3_Main_A4_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/9` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 13](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_13.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_13.wav` | Guitar, 3:21 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Guitar Standard Tuning](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15193916) | `openverse:884ef54a-59cb-4759-a11e-bc0249b54e59` | Guitar, 15 s | Openverse | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · strumstick B3 · 10](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Chordophones/Composite%20Chordophones/Strumstick/Finger/Strumstick_Finger_Str3_Main_B3_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/strumstick/10` | Guitar, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Audio files of spanish guitar chords 18](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_18.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Audio_files_of_spanish_guitar_chords_18.wav` | Guitar, 7.6 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Guitar Riff](https://freesound.org/people/mr-guitarra/sounds/434953) | `openverse:697ede37-530e-4d50-bf86-91a96b2c18c9` | Guitar, 5.2 s | Openverse | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |

## Questions

**Can I build a playable guitar from one-shots?**

A basic one, yes: map single notes across a sampler and use slight timing and velocity variation for strums. Real strummed chords and slides are hard to fake, so chord samples and loops often sound more natural.

**What are fret and finger noises good for?**

Adding realism. A slide squeak or a string release between chords makes a programmed guitar part sound played. Keep them quiet and place them just before the next note.

## Related collections

- [Free guitar loops](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-guitar-loops.md): Free guitar loops: clean electric riffs, acoustic strums, funk licks and ambient textures with BPM and key where known, each with a commercial-use verdict.
- [Free piano samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-piano-samples.md): Free piano samples: single notes from grand and upright pianos for building an instrument, plus chords and loops, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free string samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-string-samples.md): Free string samples: violin, viola, cello and double bass notes, ensemble sustains, pizzicato and staccato for orchestral and pop tracks, with licences.
- [Free Rhodes and electric piano samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-rhodes-electric-piano-samples.md): Free Rhodes, Wurlitzer and electric piano samples: notes, chords and loops for neo-soul, lo-fi, jazz and R&B, with root notes and a licence verdict.
- [Free brass samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-brass-samples.md): Free brass samples: trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba notes, stabs and section hits for funk, film and hip hop, with a licence verdict on each.
- [Free flute samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-flute-samples.md): Free flute samples: concert flute, piccolo, pan flute, recorder and world flutes as notes, phrases and loops for hip hop, ambient and film, with licences.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-guitar-samples