After we the best apps about the preferred programs and learning systems with interactive lessons, video tutorials and exercises in the article in the article: Today we are devoting ourselves to the small, useful little helper who should not be missing on any smartphone of a guitarist.
Almost everyone carries the computing power of a small computer in their pocket today. Even if your smartphone may be a distraction from the guitar play, it can also be valuable support. The best guitar apps can really help with your musical activities by fitting into your exercise regime and supporting you to become the guitarist who has always wanted to be.
Regardless of whether it is a simple tunnel device or a full multi -track recorder with which you can implement your ideas using equalizers and effects: the contemporary guitarist has a variety of options when it comes to the guitar playing apps - and these are always better.
You also don't have to be an experienced player to benefit from these applications - there are numerous excellent apps that help you to consolidate what has already been learned through targeted exercises, such as metronome and looper .
To facilitate the search for the various options in the Google Play Store or App Store, we have put together a careful selection of the best guitar apps that are currently available. The exception are pure learning app for guitars that you can find by clicking on the link in our separate contribution.
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A. vocal appliances and tuner apps
Guitar tuner apps use the microphone of your smartphones, tablets or a laptop/PC. If a microphone is activated on your device, tuner apps can be used without any problems. However, they are not operational without a functioning microphone. When the microphone is switched on, the app captures the sound of your guitar.
While some smaller vocal devices are attached directly to the head plate of your guitar and use vibrations for vocal correction, this does not apply to tuner apps.
However, these tuning applications for the smartphone are usually very able to recognize the frequency of each string without having direct contact with the guitar. However, there should not be too much disturbing ambient noise.
01 Fender guitar tuner
Prices/costs: free of charge
Features: metronome, rhythm/beat generator, song playback, 7000 interactive chords and scales, drum traces
What we like:
- Excellent graphic representation
- Several voice settings (for guitar, bass, electric guitar, ukulele)
- Many additional functions
- No advertisements in the Free version
- Free use of Tuner Plus
We like that less:
- Registration is required for additional functions
- Setting the BPM is a bit fiddly
The Fender Guitar Tuner presents itself with two modes of car tuners and manual tuners - which are suitable for both electrical and acoustic guitars, bass guitars and ukuleles.
The app combines elegant simplicity with reliability and offers an extremely intelligent graphic user interface. The auto tuner impresses with an excellent display that is easy to understand even for beginners, while the manual tuner plays a grade for voices, which may be the preferred choice for some users.
For those who register, a "Pro Tuner" with chromatic mode is available; However, the standard options for everyday use are more than sufficient for most musicians.
Although votes are the focus of this application, it offers a variety of other functions such as a metronome, chords, scales and even songs to play along. In order to be able to access these extra features, Fender will ask you to create a user account - which is currently free. If this is okay for you (including occasional advertising offers), the Fender represents the best tuner app that is available.
02 Boss Tuner app
Prices/costs: free of charge
Features: voice area A#0 (29.14 Hz) to G8 (6.2 kHz), voice accuracy +/- a cent
What we like:
- Offers excellent voice accuracy
- Suitable for a variety of instruments
- Free use
We like that less:
- Requires low -noise surroundings for exact results
- No additional functions
The Boss Tuner app is an indispensable tool for every guitarist, whether beginners or experienced professionals. Her usability is remarkable, and with over a million downloads in the Google Play Store alone, she shows that it fulfills its function excellently.
The mood options range from A#0 (29.14 Hz) to G8 (6.2 kHz), which means that you can correct every instrument in the entire frequency spectrum, not just guitar and bass.
The app also offers two different designs-one is based on the classic Boss Tu-3 Chromatic Tuner pedal, while the other is based on the Waza Craft TU-3W version. A tuner for guitars is of great importance for every musician.
Since you are probably carrying the smartphone with you all the time, you can use the BOSS Tuner app to ensure that you always find the right tones with your instrument.
B. metronome / clock provider
A metronome is a tool used by numerous musicians, and not just guitarists. It represents an excellent tool that helps you to train your feeling of rhythm and play in an even bar. The metronome generates an even bar in defined time intervals, which we call the pace
How sophisticated does a metronome actually have to be? As long as it keeps time stable, it should be sufficient, right? This may vote for a simple metronome, but today's apps offer a variety of exciting and modern functions that can significantly improve your exercise units.
We downloaded numerous of these apps and tested ourselves to select the best two metronome applications for you.
03 The metronome by sound burner
Prices/costs: free of charge
Features: speeds of 20 to 400 strokes per minute, 64 tact types, 20 metronomy sounds
What we like:
- Comprehensive selection of tempos and tact types
- Opportunity to save songs and setlists in order to call them up later
We like that less:
- Does not do more than give the pace
- Advertising from Sound burner
We tested numerous metronome apps in the Google Play Store and have come to the conclusion that The Metronome from Sound burner is the best among them.
This app offers an impressive selection of speed settings that range from 20 BPM to insane 400 BPM.
In addition, you can create any variants of the tactart, starting with the classic 4/4 clock up to unusual tact types such as 11/8. You have the option of storing your metronome rhythms and organizing in set lists so that you can access it at any time.
As a nice additional gimmick, you can flash your phone in the rhythm of the clock.
04 metronome beats
Prices/costs: free of charge
Features: Tempo adjustments, complex rhythms, speed trainers, set lists and song tracks (with upgrade)
What we like:
- Some appealing and original functions
- The user interface is clear
- The pace can be adjusted quickly via slider
- The metronome indicates during the adaptation of the blows per minute and the pace marker
- Separate layout for larger screens
We like that less:
- Subdivision function is missing, which in our opinion is essential for every metronome
- Many advertisements
A versatile metronome that was developed for both amateurs and professional musicians. With German voice output. The metronome beat app can not only be used for practicing and making music, but also to maintain the rhythm during playing, dancing and many other activities.
What makes the metronome Beats by Stonekick app special is their function "tempo trainer" . This gives you the opportunity to program bars where the pace is increased or reduced at fixed intervals. In addition, the app offers the option to automatically switch off the metronome according to a certain number of bars.
Apart from the advertising banners at the bottom of the screen, there are unfortunately numerous functions in the app, for the use of which you have to pay or download an additional add.
C. guitar tabs, songs & chords
A guitarist, whether beginners or advanced, can benefit from apps for guitar tabs, songs and chords in many ways. These digital aids offer a wealth of functions that can make learning, practicing and performing significantly easier and enrich.
Apps for guitar tabs and chords offer quick and easy access to a variety of songs and musical styles. They allow the guitarist to learn new songs and familiarize themselves with a wide variety of playing techniques.
Thanks to interactive functions, such as slowly playing difficult passages or the looping of certain parts parts, the musician can specifically work on his weaknesses and continuously progress.
05 Ultimate Guitar Tabs
Prices/costs: free (free version), € 24.99 annually for per version
Features: Over 1.6 million tabs and chords (which can be saved for offline access), 7,000 HQ-tabs with backing tracks, metronome & tuner, forum, online community
What we like:
- The most comprehensive tab library under the sun
- Ideal for guitar, bass and ukulel players
- Helpful forum and active online community
We like that less:
- Many advertisements in the free version
- You have to upgrade Pro for a fee to get the best out of the app
- Partly buggy and unstable
- Not all tabs and chords are correct
A whole generation of young guitarists started playing their instruments after being inspired by the tab website "Ultimate Guitar" , which was launched in the late 1990s.
UG has developed over time and now offers a special app for Android and iOS, which means that the largest tab database in the world now fits comfortably in its pocket. With almost every conceivable song as well as a variety of lessons, scales and chord tables, this app is a true treasure trove for autodidactic learning.
If you switch to the Pro version, you can discover an impressive selection of high-quality tablings that you can replay, accelerate, slow down and even convert into different keys.
This is one of those apps that have hardly any reason not to install them on the smartphone. The possibility to quickly find a chord leaf for a song or to determine the right grades for a scale is a real blessing for every musician - be it a beginner or an experienced player.
06 Chordify
Prices/costs: free (free version), 8 € per month for Premium
Features: Over 22 million songs, transposing (premium), MIDI export (premium), tuners with extended functions (premium), metronome with drumming hythm (premium), chord training and battery identification (premium)
What we like:
- The most comprehensive available chord library
- Chords for guitar, piano and ukulele
- Tunting unit for polyphonic sounds (several strings at once)
We like that less:
- There are no regular tabs
- Premium upgrade necessary to unlock most functions
Chordify offers the most comprehensive chord database for electric guitar, ukulele and piano with over 22 million songs. The user interface is extremely well implemented and clearly structured, which makes it perfect for beginners in the guitar play.
The functioning of the app differs somewhat from other learning apps. She plays the song you want to learn about a YouTube video and at the same time shows you the right chords in the right timing.
This gives the user an excellent feeling for the rhythm of the song, which is far more effective than just looking at a chord leaf and trying to recall the feeling.
In order to use Chordify in a sensible framework, an upgrade to Premium is required. With the upgrade, your access to a number of very useful functions, such as transposing, accelerating or slowing down the playback and downloading MIDI chords for use in other software.
Another feature of Chordify is the ability to correct all strings at the same time-similar to the polytune pedal of TC Electronic-although this is not particularly practical in practice and will probably be one string after another.
D. Amps, Effects & Presets
Virtual amps, effects, cabinets and presets offer guitarists a revolutionary way of shaping and expanding their sound without the need for physical equipment. These digital solutions combine a variety of functions and advantages that are attractive for both beginners and for experienced guitarists.
If you are not yet familiar with these terms:
Virtual amps are digital replicas of guitar amplifiers and offer a wide range of sounds that range from classic tube amplifiers to modern high-gain amps. They allow guitarists to use different amplifier models without changing physical devices.
Effects (FX): Virtual effect processors offer access to a variety of effects such as distortion (distortion), delay (delay), Hall (reverb), modulation effects (chorus, flanger) and more. These effects can be individually adapted and combined to create unique sound landscapes.
Virtual cabinets (speaker boxes) simulate the behavior and the sound characteristics of real guitar boxes. They offer the option of experimenting different speaker models and microphone positioning in order to achieve the desired sound.
Presets are preconfigured settings that contain certain combinations of amps, effects and cabinets. They offer immediately ready -to -use sounds for different music styles and make it easier for guitarists to quickly find the desired sound.
07 IK Multimedia Amplitube 5 Max (V2)
Prices/costs: € 99 once for software download (contains 2 activities)
Features: 111 stomp boxes, 111 amps, 106 cabinets, 33 loudspeakers, 18 microphones, 48 rack effects and 8 rooms; Up to 57 effects, 3 cabinets and 3 amps at the same time; Vir (volumetric impulses response) cabinet emulation with up to 600 pulse responses per speaker; Load your own impulse responses; Dynamic Response Modeling
What we like:
- Huge collection of amplifiers (amps) and effects
- Complex RIG configuration : Users can configure a complete signal chain with amps, cabinets, microphones and effects
- Modeling is first class
- Loop and recording function: With the built-in 8-track DAW and LOORER function, guitarists can capture and edit their ideas
- approved by large brands (UA Fender, Marshall and Mesa/Boogie)
- Extensive routing options
- Enormous fun factor
- for professional studio applications and live performances
- Custom Shop bows access to a variety of additional modules that can be purchased separately
We like that less:
- The user interface is ultrary, but therefore a bit chunky
- To this extent only available as a desktop software and not available as a smartphone app (Light variant for the smartphone: amplitude CS)
- Possibly somewhat overwhelming for beginners
Guitar plugins like amplitors have developed much more extensive than just an amps and FX collection. The software enables every guitarist to use models of amplifiers who can never pay for most in the physical form, such as a bandmaster from 1957.
However, the real joy of amplitors is to develop sophisticated routings that would be almost impossible to configure in real life. Amplitudes are no longer just a chic collection of amplifiers and effects, it is a comprehensive sound design package.
Amplitube 5 is available in three different variants. First there are amplitube CS , the slim version, which is available as an appetizer free of charge via the Android and Apple app stores and offers 42 amplifiers and effects.
AMPUTE SE sees as a somewhat tasty snack, which with 80 equipment components for unbeatable € 49 at Thomann breastfeeds the little hunger. With this desktop software you have the option of adding individual components within amplitors or buying larger packages as upgrades.
Amplitbe 5 Max is the opulent feast. This version contains almost all conceivable options-over 400 equipment models, including 11 brand/artist collections-and at Thomann costs a very fair one-off flat rate of € 99 . In the past, the manufacturer IK in his online shop was $ 599.99 for it.
The sake of completeness is mentioned that this is the version with which we mainly dealt with amplitube 5. Nevertheless, the cheaper variants share a large part of their basic functionality and they only lack the complete catalog of reinforcements and effects.
With version 5, Amplites has converted to an extremely powerful platform for sound design. The quality of the emulations is first -class, the variety of devices available is unmatched, and the possibilities that result from it are limited solely by their imagination.
08 Bias FX 2
Prices/costs: free (in-app purchases for extras)
Features: pedal/amplifier emulations, guitar match technology, looper, metronome, return (session recorder), backing track library
What we like:
- Integrated effects and amplifier modeling
- Impressively detailed tuning
- Also available as desktop software
We like that less:
- Only very simple base tuner
- Audio interface required for effects
- Large memory size (approx. 1 GB) for the smartphone
- Bias FX 2 Mobile is currently only available for iOS (no Android version)
Bias FX 2 of positive grid is primarily known for the excellent modeling and the effects of its software and hardware.
Bias FX 2 enables you to vote and maintain a complete setup with pedal boards and an impressive amplifier sound in a single place, so that you do not have to sit down and vote before you prepare a practice setup.
The tuner is a bit hidden, but convinces in the company with high level of detail, even if it sometimes reacts somewhat sensitive via the microphone of your instrument.
The Looper is an ideal companion to capture riffs and solos for your musical ideas. Bias FX 2 Mobile offers seamless integration with audio bus, garage band and other IAA host applications. So you can refine your sound design.
In order to be able to optimally use all functions of Bias FX 2, you should get an audio interface that is compatible with your device. In addition, this makes the tuner less susceptible to external disorders.
Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
