Best Apps for Musicians

Music and Podcasts Streaming

Spotify

“Spotify is undoubtedly the best app for music streaming and the only one I use. Spotify has one of the largest databases of music so it’s easy to find any song you’re looking for. Additional features such as the availability of lyrics and the idea to create your own playlists according to your own liking are essential.

If you create music, Spotify is a great platform to place your song on since the AI of Spotify guarantees that many people will hear it and hence benefit the musician. “

Pros: “The AI used on the app is one of the most incredible technologies I have ever come across. The app recommends songs to you based on what you have listened to and enjoyed in the past and the recommendations are spot on!

The interface of the app is simple and the design is intuitive because of which the user does not struggle to use the app.”

Cons: “The only feature that is missing on the app, in my opinion, is the chance to scan a song and identify which one it is like on Shazam.“

Stavros Zavrakas – Orthogonality Ltd

Guitar Tuner

GuitarTuna

“I love the GuitarTuna app. It is a great tuner and even has a chromatic tuner instead of just standard like some other apps. It is also a great learning tool that teaches new chords, with a variety of instruments. One thing I would like to see on this app is a metronome to play along with. I believe that would help even more musicians, especially those that are learning.“

Noah White – Ark Insurance Group

Accurate Tuner and Metronome App

Soundcorset Tuner & Metronome

“It is exactly what it sounds like an app that has a tuner and metronome for all your guitar playing needs. The tuner is very accurate and the metronome is perfect for rehearsing difficult songs that need some practice. After my rechargeable clip-on guitar tuner, it’s probably my most used tuning method simply because I always have my phone on my person.“

there – Spells and Curses

Music Practice App

iReal Pro

“I’ve had this on my phone for a few years as well. It is basically an app where you can write out chord charts for any song. There are even expansion packs that have the entire Real Book on there. Do jazz heads know exactly what that means? It’s perfect for writing or practicing songs with chord charts on the go! I’ve even sat in on a jam session with it on!“

there – Spells and Curses

Audio Recorder, Mixer, and Editor

Avid Pro Tools Control

“It is used in conjunction with the Avid Pro Tools software, but with the app, I can assign instruments to different outputs, and monitor levels from my phone instead of being tied to a keyboard. I also use it to mix remotely during a session.”

Pros: “It is an excellent companion to the traditional ProTools software, and allows for mobility and ease of use.

It works with several programs and is easy to understand.”

Cons: “The only con I have seen is that it is not meant as a standalone, but is used with one of the paid editing programs.“

Melanie Gall – Melanie Gall

Music Learning Tool

Tunefox

“an essential tool for any musician who wants to improve their sense of time and rhythm. It includes a metronome, practice loops, and a feature that lets you record yourself and listen back to identify areas where you need to focus.“

Oberon Copeland – VeryInformed

Metronome App

Time Guru

“an essential tool for any musician who wants to improve their sense of time and rhythm. It includes a metronome, practice loops, and a feature that lets you record yourself and listen back to identify areas where you need to focus.“

Oberon Copeland – VeryInformed

Music Learning Tool

Anytune

“a must-have for any musician who wants to learn how to play by ear. Slow Downer lets you slow down songs without changing the pitch, so you can easily hear the individual notes and work out the correct fingering on your instrument. You can also create looped sections so you can practice specific passages over and over again until you’ve got them perfect.“

Oberon Copeland – VeryInformed

Recording Studio App

GarageBand

“If you’re looking for an app that will help take your music skills to the next level, look no further than GarageBand. This app is packed with features that will allow you to create professional-sounding tracks. And best of all, it’s extremely user-friendly, so you’ll be able to get started right away.”

Pros: “For starters, it comes with a wide variety of built-in instruments and sounds. This means you can create a full song without ever having to leave the app. And if you do want to use external instruments, there’s no need to worry – GarageBand is compatible with most MIDI controllers.

Another big plus is the app’s ability to record multiple tracks at once. This makes it perfect for recording live performances or jam sessions.

It is a very user-friendly app that is easy to navigate. Additionally, GarageBand offers a wide variety of features and tools that can be used by musicians of all levels. Some of the key features include the ability to record multiple tracks, add effects and loops, and mix and edit your recordings.

It is available for both Mac and iOS devices. This means that you can use the app on your iPhone or iPad when you’re on the go, and then switch to your Mac when you’re back in the studio. Another big plus is that GarageBand is relatively inexpensive compared to other music production software programs”

Cons: “One of the biggest cons of Garage band is that it can be quite overwhelming for beginners. There are so many features and options, which can make it difficult to know where to start. Another downside of this software is that it can be quite resource intensive, so if you’re not using a powerful computer, it may run slowly or crash often. Finally, some people find the interface to be somewhat dated and not as user-friendly as some of the newer music production software on the market.”

Gideon Waxman – Strong Sounds

EQ Ear Training App

Quiz Tones

“My favorite app for musicians is called Quiz Tones, which is an amazing tool for musicians who want to sound better live or learn how to improve at mixing. Quiz Tones is a simple app that plays a tone at different frequencies and then quizzes you on which frequency is playing. This helps you learn what different frequency sounds like so that you can quickly remove something that sounds bad or boost more of a frequency that’s missing.”

Pros: “The pros of the Quiz Tones is that it makes it fun and fast to learn how to identify different frequencies.”

Cons: “The only con is that it’s not free, though it is very affordable.”

Evan Oxhorn – Stock Music Musician

Multitrack Audio Editor

Hokusai Audio Editor

“In my opinion, the Hokusai Audio Editor app is excellent for any type of audio creator, including musicians. I use the app because I am able to edit multiple soundtracks on my phone without having to export them to a laptop in order to get a more detailed editing experience. It has so many features and it’s also incredibly easy to navigate. I like those users of the app are able to either record tracks straight into the software to edit, or they can choose to import tracks. This opens up a huge number of possibilities as to what you can create through a phone!“

Brett Robinson – Wired Clip

Guitar Chords and Tabs App

Ultimate Guitar (Tabs)

“When you need to learn songs, there’s no app better than Ultimate Guitar’s tab app. Their database of songs is the biggest on the internet, and the app’s usability makes accessing those songs super easy. A big bonus is the ability to transcribe songs into any key at the touch of a few buttons. One downside of the app is its search functionality. If you have a typo in your search, it makes it next to impossible to find a song or artist.“

Andrew Dodson – Really Simple Guitar

Metronome App

Pro Metronome

“As a musician, staying on time is extremely important. Pro Metronome is the easiest metronome app on the market. The free version is great, but I sprung for the premium version, which opens you up to non-standard times, which is really helpful for more complicated songs.“

Andrew Dodson – Really Simple Guitar