Nothing can replace the true feel of an instrument, but sometimes we find ourselves in a place where there aren’t any guitars, drums, synthesizers, or even a piano to play.
There are many best iPhone apps available which could be great for a musician that’s on-the-go. They can be used to compose, tune, play, and even keep your calendar so you’ll never be late to a gig or miss an audition. So which ones are better than the rest? Not all of these iPhone music apps are free, so are you willing to spend up to $20? Even the ones for 99 cents can add up when you keep downloading and not thinking of how many you’ve already bought.
We’ve found some best iPhone apps that would work well for those with a love for playing music.
1. PocketGuitar by Shinya Kasatani
iTunes
$0.99
The PocketGuitar app gives you the option to hear sounds from six different popular stringed instruments. Acoustic-electric guitar, classical guitar, electric guitar, muted guitar, ukulele and bass.
Main features:
This version features bug fixes. Now you can release the strings when lifting your finger and options to save have been improved.
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2. Drum Kit Lite by CrimsonJet, Inc.
iTunes
Free
Drum Kit Lite gives you the feeling of playing real drums. This is about as close as you’ll get with an iTune app. Good for beginners and experienced drummers alike.
Features
- six piece kit (4 times, snare, bass, hi-hat, crash, ride, splash)
- visual feedback as you tap the drum head
- play multiple drums simultaneously
- add beats or fills as you play along with existing music.
3. Cleartune – Chromatic Tuner by bitcount
iTunes
$3.99
Cleartune is great for tuning your stringed instruments along with brass, woodwinds, tympani and other instrument that can sustain a tone.
the uniquie note wheel interfaces allows you to quickly find the desired pitch, pairing with a highly responsive fine-tuning meter for the perfect tune.
Features:
- Note wheel display
- Needle Damping option
- Precise to 1/100 semitone — check symbol used on itune store description
- Temperaments and notations are selectable and user defined
- Adjustable A4 calbration in 0.1Hz increments
- Choice of automatic or manual note selection
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4. Thereminator by Yonac
iTunes
$2.99
Thereminator is great to record sci-fi or spacey type sounds.
Features:
- Optional note/ frequency and volume grids
- Touch-tracking lines
- Increased size of playing area
- Replaced triple-tapping/ two-finger tapping zoom feature with dedicated zoom in/ out buttons
- Improvements to user interface
5. Ellatron by omenie
iTunes
$2.99
Ellatron is a synthesizer inspired by the Mellotron.
Features:
- 27 voices
- 16 banks of programmable chord buttons
- Fat keys for improved playability
- Save/restore voice settings
6. Bebot – Robot Synth by Normalware
iTunes
$1.99
Bebot is a polyphonic musical synthesizer with a unique multitouch control method. You’ll find four synthesizer modes are available with analog-sounding filters, a delay/ looping effect and overdrive distortion. Bebot also gives you the opportunity to play along with your iPhone/ iPod touch music.
Features:
- An improved overdrive effect gives you pre-mixer mode for cleaner and more ersatile distortion effects
- Presets for loading and saving
- New chorus effect adds depth to your sounds
- Quick access to on-screen hotkeys giving you more control and better playability
7. Finger Beat by The Elionze Group
iTunes
$3.99
This is a cool app if you’re looking to create new rhythms. Finger Beat was inspired by retro synthesizers and samplers You are able to record external sounds using the built-in microphone or load existing ones from the library.
Features:
- Low latency pads
- x8 pads/channels with volume, balance mixer and mute functions
- x6 pattern blocks per kit
- x6 themed skins plus user photos option using iPhone camera or gallery
- 16bit 44Khz sampler using an internal microphone
- Ability to use microphone with external speaker source
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8. Tempo by Frozen Ape
iTunes
$0.99
Tempo is the best-selling metronome on the app store. It provides accuracy and stability for only 99 cents!
Features:
- Landscape or Portrait orientations
- 17 Different time signatures,including compound and complex meters
- 6 rhythm patterns for simple meters and 3 for compound
- Customizable accents to create complex rhythms
- Tap tempo function
- Tempo ranges from 20-250
- Setlist for storing presets
9. BeatMaker by Intua
iTunes
$19.99
Features:
- 16 sample-based trigger pads, with multi-touch support (up to 5 pads at once)
- Low latency playback and sample-accurate audio engine
- Live pattern recording and arranging
- Audio recording from microphone or headset (iPhone and iPod Touch 2nd gen only)
- Step sequencer with different resolutions for easy and precise pattern creation
- Change the volume, pan, groove and pitch of each steps to compose rich melodies and beats
- Multi track song sequencer: manage easily your patterns into complete songs
- Create unlimited number of patterns of different sizes (one to four bar)
- Export your songs to Audio file (WAV) and MIDI score and share them with your friends
- Original sound library provided with multiple genres: BreakBeat, Drum & Bass, Dub, Electronica, Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Rock
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10. Randgrid Synthesizer and Drum Machine by Retrolink HB
iTunes
$7.99
This app provides a real synthesizer and drum machine. The latest version 1.0.5 released on July 18th, has improved many imperfections from the past. It’s been tested on 3.0 and now works like a charm. Rangrid synthesizer and drum machine has a great user interface making it easy to create some really cool techno beats. You can even find some video tutorials on their website http://randgrid.com/.
Features:
- 2x dual oscillator subtractive synthesizers
- 14x sampled drums
- Distortion and stereo delay effects
- Solo/ mute groups
- Multiple patterns
- File manager
- Pattern randomizer
- Parameter locks
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11. GigBaby Free! by ioMetics, LLC
iTunes
Free
GigBaby Free is a great app for songwriting. The free version allows you to up to four setlists while the paid version has up to 42. The track to track synchronization issues have been resolved in this latest version. The recording device could use a little improvement, but considering you can have something so complex in your pocket, it’s not too bad.
Features
- Record and layer multiple audio tracks
- Monitor and mix tracks
- Metronome includes a feature to set tempo by feel
- Adjust tempo with calibrated slider bar
- Volume adjustment for beat pattern
- Manage multiple songs with setlist
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12. iSequence by BeepStreet
iTunes
$2.99
The iSequence is designed to compose and play music in a production environment. Though there is always room for improvements, it’s a great app for those inspiring DJs.
Features:
- 55 professional instruments such as synths, drum kits, leads, pads, basses, classical instruments
- Full featured mixer and effect bus
- Pattern sequencer covers 4 tracks, 3 octaves and up to 99 patterns
- Easy pattern editing
- Low latency audio engine
- Save and load compositions
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13. Stay In Tune – Chromatic tuner by Sonzea
iTunes
$3.99
Stay in Tune is a great app for the musican. While many of us tune by ear when composing or playing, you can see precise readings and add to built in notes.
Features
- Fine tuning for instruments
- Large easy to read display
14. Piano Sharp by Rambax
iTunes
$0.99
Music composition has been made easier with Piano Sharp. The latest version has improved the user interface and fixed known bugs. You now have the ability to play all or selected tracks of imported MIDI files.
Features:
- Record songs in MIDI format
- Pre-record up to three parts of song separately
- Adjustable velocity and tempo
- 5 octaves of high quality sampled piano sounds
- Export recorded songs
- Scroll keyboard
- Adjustable keyboard size
- Metronome
- Demo songs included in application
15. Guitar: Play and Share by Frontier Design Group
iTunes
$0.99
Guitar is an acoustic guitar app which allows you to learn and play songs. The latest version includes export recording to audio track, backtracking tracks, some bug fixes and AirPlay filter improvements
Features:
- 4 acoustic guitar sounds including 12-string
- Adjustable tuning to match recordings
- Reverb effect
- Slide finger between buttons for fast chord transitions
- Shortcuts for fast song editing
- Play along recordings
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16. Noise.io Pro Synth by Amidio, Inc.
iTunes
$8.99
One of the most powerful synth apps available. The great user interface was created with maximum usability.
Featues:
- Hybrid FM/ subtractive sound synthesis
- Innovative FM slider matrix
- ESFM sound engine
- 15 Waveforms
- 4 operators with ADSR
- 120 factory presets
- Custom sequencer
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17. Ocarina by Smule
iTunes
$0.99
Practice makes perfect and you too can play beautiful music with the Ocarina iPhone and iPod touch app. In the most recent update, Smule developers have included a touch mode which allows iPod touch users to play strictly with their hands. iPhone users blow into the mic, then press the holes to change the pitch.
So whether you are a musician or simply an enthusiast of music, you can enhance your performance (or just have some fun) with any of these musical best iPhone apps.
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I own most of apps mentioned above, but the only one that is really usable when it comes to compose MUSIC (not a toy) is iSequence.
I tend to agree with Ruby. I also own most of these and a few more, but it seems to me that the ones which try to emulate the traditional interface (strings, keys, pic of a drum kit, etc…) are not nearly as usable as the apps with custom interfaces. A lot of these could be seperated in to novelty apps and serious musical apps.
I understand the sentiment, but Bebot is not a toy even though it has a cutesy interface. You can do a lot with it, and it is even used live for at least one solo by Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater. Noise.IO is certainly not a toy too – I can’t recall the name of the band that is utilizing it for their shows and recordings regularly but it definitely isn’t a toy either.
Wivi Band is also great, made by one of the best woodwind and brass orchestral library creators in the industry. If Ocarina got a mention, Wivi should have as well as it is going to eclipse Ocarina (at least with musicians) IMO.
I have quite a few music apps on my iPhone – 2 of which are listed above – Noise.io Pro and Beatmaker. These 2 apps can work together. I recommend people also have a look at Guitar Pro – which links with Beatmaker too, and Shaker – an excellent free percussion app.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://electricguitarhowtoplay.net
Another one to checkout is iBone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGqFk2cEoYc
Unlike a lot of the simulator apps, it’s very playable — especially if you play trombone. It also lets you jam with your iPod music and includes several songs which it shows you how to play.
A new app is iTanpura – used to play a background “drone” in Indian Classical music. Beautiful sound:
Website:
http://www.upasani.org/home/iTanpura.html
YouTube:
18th on the list could be Hexatone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5usPtRhbyBA
Like nothing I’ve seen before.
Try Extra Piano for free, it’s a genius thing. I like it and
Please check out iPlay CG and iPlay CF – A music app designed for performing music even while you’re walking around. You can record your performances and share them with users around the world. With the built-in music trainer, you can quickly learn how to play other users’ performances as well. Have a good day everyone. I hope you enjoy my apps.
I like Drumtrainer a lot too. It’s a lot like an exercise book but you can slide patterns in and out in real time. I’ve also been using it as a backing track.
Put Sonorasaurus on the list. It’s one of the slew of DJ apps that got approved recently – and IMO the best. Functional, cheap, and loaded with features.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIENR7DKPqA
Nice list of iPhone Apps you sorted here. If you’re looking for more music apps to put on your list, check the “SetlistMonkey” app. Very helpfull for musicians during gigs or rehearsals. It also includes an arcustic metronom and gives you the ability to build different setlists.
http://setlist-monkey.com/
It would be nice, if you compare your notes with us.
May I suggest Maestro. Made for musicians in order to compose music by using a simple, yet powerful UI and set of features. MusicXML compatible and just $0.99 . Personally I use it and I think it’s awesome.
I also run a site dedicated to listing all the best music making apps – http://www.topmusicapps.com/
This is a great collection, I found a lot of great, useful apps listed here that I haven’t been familiar with before!
I have been using Tempo as my metronome for months and with the last update it indeed has no competition. Being an active musician (percussionist, drummer) I definitely recommend it!
Cleartune has a very beautiful design and works smoothly, but I’m not completely satisfied with it especially when I’m tuning a Timpani.
Some more music/sound related apps I find useful or entertaining (both free and paid):
Recorder Pro (formerly iDicto)
Tweaky Beat
NLog (Free)
synthPond (very creative, amazing!)
AmazingSlowDowner (has lite version, desktop version as well)
DrumMeister
TrueDrums (Lite)
Thanks!
Great list, i am a guitarist and was really looking for an application that can help me playing guitar on iphone. it’s nice thanks.
If you like these apps be sure to check out my latest instrument app StretchyBand!
You get 8 default instruments (guitar, drums, piano, and more), but you can also build your very own custom instruments!
Great 3D graphics, over 200 sounds available, and rubberband-like physics!
http://www.StretchyBand.com
Please check out our music apps:
iKeepTime – an iPhone Rhythm Trainer:
http://iKeepTime.com/
DjembePad – an iPad app that emulates the Djembe African hand drum.
http://DjembePad.com/
I’m surprised that Simple Songwriter isn’t on this list, it’s pretty much my number one used app for creating music. Perfect for quick inspiration.
Those are some very cool apps. Another cool one is the AmpliTube iRig. With the iRig you can plug your guitar into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad and jam anywhere with world class guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand.Broadjam.com is giving away 3 AmpliTube iRig. Check out this blog post for more details: http://www.broadjam.com/blog/ik-multimedia-blog-giveaway/
All you need to do is sign up for a free account at Broadjam and answer the questions listed. Thanks.
It’s “aspiring DJs”–not “inspiring DJ’s.”
there’s a new very nice app for guitarist, I found it very useful:
http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/chordguesser/id407799026?mt=8
Im loving the new simple songwriter guitarist app. I use to use the plain simple songwriter but this one is much better and finally has midi.
what is the best app for lyrics live onstage?
Check this out too!
407799026?mt=8
myRMX is a fun free music toy. Sort of Tetris for musicians. They call it a remixer but it’s really a sequencer with samples loaded from an existing song.
Hi, could anybody help me?? i´m looking for an iphone app with synths, like spacey sounds.. with arpeggiator or something like that, can you recommend me apps please??