Best guitar tuner & learning apps
Top 58 by 17,338 real reviews. We scored the product itself, not the storefront star that gets gamed.
We read up to 500 real reviews per app and rate the product itself. We look at accuracy, depth and original writing versus generic AI filler. Price and bug complaints we ignore as noise. Star authenticity compares the storefront rating with what people actually write.
People genuinely like it: a fast, simple tuner with lots of tunings, a metronome, no ads, no sign-up and no payments, it even catches the low string, and users praise its accuracy. Weak spots are rare but real, some find the sound is not picked up and the tuner drifts after a glitch, and a few users note the app asked them to leave five stars, so the very top of the rating is slightly inflated.
StrongMany tunings for free, accurate, no ads or sign-up, has a metronome, catches the low string, very simple
WeakSound not picked up for some, drifts after a glitch, prompts for a five-star review, wants a song library and a better metronome
ForGuitarists of any level who want a free, accurate tuner with multiple tunings and no ads
Valued as a rare tuner built specifically for bass rather than a six-string: a simple clear interface, a built-in metronome, free and ad-free, easy for a beginner to get in tune. It breaks on detection, some find it will not register the bass even at full volume, confuses D and G, and a few angrily report the tuner kept telling them to go higher until a string snapped.
StrongBuilt specifically for bass guitar, simple interface, built-in metronome, free and ad-free, easy for beginners
WeakWon't register the bass even at full volume for some, confuses the D and G notes, a few complaints it drove the pitch up and snapped a string, prompts for a five-star review
ForBass players, especially beginners, who want a free simple bass-specific tuner with a metronome
People love it as a fast, clean chord reference with no ads: it is handy to grab a chord shape on the fly, the graphics are pleasant, and it suits beginners and intermediates. It breaks on completeness, users complain about missing chords like A, B, F# and flats, and only one or two variations per chord, so advanced players feel boxed in. Beginners with no base sometimes cannot tell how to read the fret diagram.
StrongFast and clear chord reference, pleasant graphics, no ads, simple interface, good for beginners
WeakMissing A, B, F# and flat chords, only one or two variations per chord, too limited for advanced players, no guidance for beginners on reading the fretboard, not updated in a while
ForBeginners and intermediates who want a quick reference of basic chord shapes at hand
A basic-chords tutor where you can rotate the 3D guitar model and inspect finger placement from any angle, which genuinely helps beginners and visual learners more than a book. The downsides are small, you can't switch the guitar type to an electric, the app lags in places, and the interface is a bit dense on a phone, but there are almost no serious complaints.
Strong3D guitar model you can rotate, see finger placement from any angle, helps visual learners, no ads, free, better than a book
WeakCan't switch guitar type to electric, lags in places, dense interface on a phone, wish for more 3D detail
ForBeginners and visual learners who learn basic chords and want to see finger placement from any angle
A beautiful, deep chord reference with inversions, string sets and a built-in metronome, and many call it the best chord dictionary and say it finally helped them get it. It works for bass too via the first four strings. It stumbles on price, with extended chords and moving up the neck sold piecemeal, and on a bug where a paid neck unlock doesn't kick in. It also lacks bookmarks for favorite chords and fingering display.
StrongBeautiful and visual, inversions and string sets, built-in metronome, best chord dictionary, works for bass too
WeakExpensive with piecemeal unlocks, bug where paid neck unlock fails, no bookmarks for favorite chords, no fingering display
ForA guitarist and bassist wanting a beautiful, deep reference of chords and inversions for songwriting and learning
The main plus is that the tuner is free and needs no forced sign-up, and it is accurate for basic tunings. The weak spot is that on low strings it darts between notes and stubbornly reads the low E as G or B, stretching tuning into minutes. Custom tunings work sometimes and break other times, and rare tunings like drop A are missing.
StrongFree tuner with no forced sign-up, accuracy on basic strings, many tuning options, works with different guitars
WeakConfuses low strings and bounces between notes, missing rare tunings like drop A, custom tunings break after updates, slow to catch the thick E
ForA guitarist who needs a free tuner for standard tunings without hassle.
A strong tool for memorizing the fretboard and working with scales: it shows one scale and one position at a time, colors the scale degrees, and keeps a beginner from drowning in notes, and many use it daily for years. It breaks on two things: musicians are angry that a former lifetime purchase now asks for a monthly subscription again, and the app writes flats in scales where the key signature calls for sharps, which makes it unfit as a teaching reference.
StrongColor-coded scale degrees, one scale and position at a time, helps memorize the fretboard, rich choice of scales, a daily tool
WeakMoved from a lifetime purchase to a monthly subscription, wrong flat-versus-sharp notation for the key, dated interface, no explanation of note order for beginners, no bass mode
ForGuitarists learning the fretboard and scales who are willing to pay a subscription
The tuner works well and holds pitch firmly, which is why people have loved it for years. The problem is that it used to be just a fast tuner, and now every launch makes you swipe past a subscription pitch, with a banner popping up right after tuning, and that frustrates people. You can only tune the standard tuning for free, and everything else plus ad removal costs money.
StrongHolds pitch firmly, fast and accurate tuning, large song library, teaches chords
WeakYou must swipe past a subscription ad before every tuning, an ad pops up right after tuning, only standard tuning is free, the promised free trial charges immediately
ForSomeone who needs a reliable tuner and is not bothered by a subscription ad on every launch.
It is a reliable chord reference with an extensive library across the whole fretboard, the CAGED approach, and practice for switching between chords, and many use it for years. But people are angry about the move to subscriptions: things they once bought for life or as a one-off, like reverse chord lookup and the scales section, are now locked behind a yearly charge, and old purchases will not restore on a new device. There are gaps in the library and finicky guitar detection through the mic without an external audio interface.
StrongExtensive chord library across the whole fretboard, CAGED approach, practice switching between chords, a reliable reference for years, the Scale Bank companion for scales
WeakThings once bought as a one-off or for life now locked behind a subscription, old purchases will not restore on a new device, gaps in the chord library, mic finicky at hearing the guitar without an external audio interface
ForBeginner and intermediate guitarists who want a reliable chord reference and practice switching between chords
One login opens four schools at once (drums, piano, guitar, vocals), and people praise the Drumeo method as the best way to learn, especially kids. Almost everyone loves the content. But after a recent update the app became a pain: lessons do not load, your place is lost, started courses disappear, and a white screen shows up after a lesson. People also complain about refund refusals.
StrongFour schools for the price of one, the Drumeo method, friendly capable teachers, real skill progress
WeakAfter the update lessons fail to load, progress is lost and courses disappear, confusing navigation, refund refusals, video and audio drift out of sync over AirPlay
ForPeople who want to learn music systematically via the Drumeo method and can tolerate a rough app for the quality of the lessons
A fretboard-knowledge trainer built on note- and interval-recognition games, and for many it is the only thing that actually made them learn the fretboard, right up to the moment it clicks. It works for mandolin and bass too. But the interface is confusing, several paths lead to one screen, there are errors in frets and intervals, and the real-instrument mic mode often simply does not work. Plus a subscription and settings reset every month.
StrongThe games genuinely teach the fretboard until it clicks, interval and note training, works for mandolin and bass, theory and videos
WeakConfusing navigation with multiple paths to one screen, errors in frets and intervals, the mic mode often does not work, subscription and monthly settings reset
ForPeople who want to finally learn the fretboard and theory through drills and are willing to pay a subscription for the training
Justin as a teacher is genuinely strong, he explains clearly and with theory, and adult beginners play real songs within a couple of weeks. But the app is weaker than his own website: ads pop up every 15 seconds during practice, the mic hears chords poorly, lessons don't register as completed, and the app version only offers the first three grades, which are free on the site.
StrongJustin explains clearly with theory, fast progress on real songs, good structure and exercises, responsive support
WeakAds every 15 seconds during practice, mic hears chords poorly, lessons don't register as completed, the app only has the first three grades that are free on the site, favorite songs removed from the library
ForAn adult beginner who needs a clear teacher and structure and is willing to tolerate ads or move to the website.
The core value is a huge, easily searchable library of tabs and chords, plus genre song lists and printing that saves buying tab books. But tab quality is random: for every accurate one there are hastily thrown-together ones, the midi playback lags a couple of seconds behind the cursor, and the interface is clunky in places with unresponsive buttons and hangs. Ads in a paid app are a separate annoyance.
StrongHuge library of tabs and chords, easy search, genre song lists, printing saves buying tab books, one-time payment instead of a subscription
WeakTab quality is random, sound lags a couple of seconds behind the cursor, midi instead of live sound, clunky interface with unresponsive buttons, ads in a paid app
ForGigging and practicing guitarists who want a large tab library on hand for learning songs and live sets
A powerful mobile guitar-tab editor where people write their first songs and capture riffs and ideas, praising fast input and support for their own effects. The interface is quirky with a steep learning curve, and beginners struggle even after the tutorial. Playback is weak, notes ring at full sustain and jumble together, hammers, slides and bends are missing, plus complaints about crashes and paying twice on iPhone and iPad.
StrongFast tab input, helps record first songs and riffs, adds drums and bass, supports your own auv3 effects
WeakConfusing interface with a steep learning curve, weak playback with full sustain, no hammers slides or bends, crashes, double charge on iPhone and iPad
ForA songwriting guitarist willing to master a tricky interface to write tabs and capture ideas on a phone
People come for deep courses taught by real instructors and the synced video-plus-tab view, and it keeps them around for years. But the app has gone unfixed for ages: it freezes loading video, you cannot get back to the home screen without restarting, and login on iPad is broken. Many are annoyed that after paying for all access, some content is still sold separately.
StrongWide roster of instructors, synced video with tabs, deep step-by-step courses, calm clear teaching
WeakFreezes when loading video, no way back to home without a restart, confusing navigation with no standard back button, some content sold beyond all access, login problems across devices
ForPeople who want to grow systematically through courses from real teachers and can tolerate a rough, buggy app
People learn on Guitar Tricks for years and consistently praise the instructors and the clear, from-scratch lesson progression. But the app itself lags behind the website: it forgets where you stopped and restarts courses, and part of the catalog (licks, chord charts, tuner) only works in the browser. On a phone the tabs are too small to read alongside the video.
StrongStrong instructors, gentle start from zero, clear lesson ladder, handy for learning on the go from a phone
WeakDoes not save progress and restarts courses, some features are web-only, tiny tabs on phone, freezes when pausing video, no built-in tuner or chord charts
ForBeginners and intermediate players who want a structured video course with real instructors and do not mind occasionally using the website for the full set
Exactly how you want to drill notes on the fretboard, the app calls out a note, you play it, it listens and checks, and the developer actually responds to bug reports. But the mic struggles, especially on thin strings and above the 12th fret, it often asks to recalibrate and confuses neighboring notes, and many see the latest redesign as a step back.
StrongFretboard drilling by dictating notes, many instruments and tunings, responsive developer Ryan, genuinely teaches in 10-15 minutes a day, clean design
WeakMic poorly catches thin strings and above the 12th fret, constantly asks to recalibrate, progress sometimes drops on correct notes, latest redesign made it worse
ForPeople who want to memorize notes across the whole fretboard in short daily sessions
A good-looking, easy tuner with a one-time price and no ads or subscriptions, which is why people keep it as their main one. It supports open tunings and different frequencies like 415 Hz. But it hasn't been updated in ages, looks bad on newer screens, freezes and crashes after the third or fourth string, struggles to catch low E and bass, and some find the accuracy lacking versus a hardware tuner.
StrongOne-time price with no ads or subscriptions, pleasant look and ease of use, open tunings and various frequencies, useful for checking other instruments
WeakLong unupdated, looks bad on newer screens, freezes and crashes after a few strings, struggles with low E and bass, accuracy not always enough, no full chromatic mode
ForA guitarist who wants a good-looking tuner bought once, with no ads or subscriptions
As a tuner it is accurate and reliable, and many use it for years and praise the broad support for tunings and instruments. But the free version is buried in full-screen ads that are deliberately hard to close, and basic tunings were suddenly locked behind a subscription. A separate pain is that premium sometimes drops or works only intermittently after paying, plus the screen is stuck in one orientation.
StrongAccurate reliable tuning, many instruments and tunings, stays the go-to tuner for years, fine adjustment after a clip-on tuner
WeakFull-screen ads that are hard to close, basic tunings locked behind a subscription, premium drops after paying, screen stuck in one orientation
ForGuitarists who need an accurate tuner with rare tunings and are willing to pay to remove the ads
A rare tuner that plays the reference note itself so you can tune by ear, and it holds a pile of alternate tunings (drop D, whole-step-down). That is why people keep it for years. But it does not listen to the microphone or tell you whether you hit the note, so some feel misled. The common pain: the note rings too briefly, forcing you to pluck the string dozens of times. Plus bottom ads, sometimes tasteless.
StrongPlays a reference note for tuning by ear, many alternate tunings and drop D, reliable over years, helps when no tuner is around
WeakDoes not listen to the mic or confirm you hit the note, the note rings too short, bottom ads sometimes tasteless, portrait mode only
ForGuitarists who tune by ear against a reference note and value a deep bench of alternate tunings
A reliable ukulele tuner with string visualization and chord diagrams that's handy for those who can't tune by ear, and it's free. But it's confusing for beginners, sometimes shows the wrong string and tells you to keep tightening until a string snaps, picks up background noise, and a full-screen ad pops up every time you return to the app.
StrongReliable ukulele tuning, string visualization, chord diagrams, free, honest with no hidden charges
WeakConfusing for beginners, sometimes shows the wrong string, tells you to tighten until a string breaks, picks up background noise, full-screen ad on every return
ForUkulele owners who need a simple free tuner and can't tune by ear
A handy scales reference with clear fingering, root notes and all the modes, and many keep it as their go-to for drilling scales. A responsive developer answers questions and fixes quickly. It breaks on aging code, crashing and bouncing to the home screen after iOS updates, the sound sometimes plays only the first note, and the redesign to a 'flat' look put many people off.
StrongClear fingering and root-note display, all the modes, responsive developer, helps make sense of scales
WeakCrashes and bounces out after iOS updates, sound plays only the first note, debatable pattern numbering, no alternate tunings, doesn't show open notes, separate purchase on iPad and iPhone
ForA guitarist seriously drilling scales and modes who wants a visual reference
Teaches fast and clearly, beginners play their first song within a couple of days and that genuinely hooks them. It breaks on two things: note detection glitches and marks a note as played when you never touched a string, and after three or four lessons everything hits a paywall, which frustrates people the most. The song library is fine for starting out, but often lacks your favorite artists.
StrongFast start and a first song by day two, clear lesson delivery, songs for beginners
WeakNote detection glitches and counts notes you never played, access gated behind subscription after a couple of lessons, few songs from popular artists, server asset download errors
ForA total beginner who wants to play their first song fast and is willing to pay after the free start.
The app hooks beginners hard: you play live against your own guitar, levels and competition motivate, and people genuinely progress within a couple of months. But it has been dumbed down for advanced players, cut iconic songs over licensing, and input latency plus lost progress after updates erode trust. Many are annoyed that songs and tabs increasingly sit behind extra charges on top of the subscription.
StrongLive play against your own guitar, motivating levels and competition, real beginner progress in a couple of months, clearly explained exercises
WeakIconic songs cut over licensing, input latency, too easy for advanced players, progress lost after updates, songs and tabs locked behind extra charges on top of the subscription
ForBeginners who want to learn by playing along to real songs and enjoy a competitive level-based format
A simple free tuner with no ads, which beginners love: it works offline and handles different tunings and ukulele types. But accuracy wobbles: it has snapped or broken people's strings, sometimes confuses notes, picks up background noise, and does not always tell you whether to go higher or lower. It nails it for some on the first try and is useless for others.
StrongFree and ad-free, works offline, simple for a beginner, handles different tunings and ukulele types
WeakShaky accuracy up to snapped strings, confuses notes, picks up background noise, does not always show which way to tune
ForUkulele beginners who want a free offline tuner and are willing to double-check by ear
A great drill for learning the notes on the fretboard without a guitar in hand: on the bus, in line, in bed, and some memorized the fretboard almost overnight, with a staff-reading mode too. It breaks on ads, one pops up every 24 notes, in game mode you spend more time on ads than playing, and the buy button sits right under the answer buttons so you keep hitting it by mistake. It also has no left-handed mode and some lose sound.
StrongQuickly teaches notes on the fretboard, practice without a guitar on the go and in bed, staff-reading mode, lots of settings, supports different instruments
WeakAn ad every 24 notes, in the game you spend more time on ads than playing, no left-handed mode, buy button under the answer buttons, some lose sound, nagging reminders
ForGuitarists and other string players learning the fretboard notes who want to practice without the instrument
An accurate, simple chromatic tuner that people praise for its clean minimalism and even use to calibrate gear and tune a trombone. It stumbles because only guitar is free, while violin, banjo, cello and the rest cost extra, which angers nearly every other reviewer. People also ask for custom tunings and auto string-switching that aren't there.
StrongAccuracy down to fractions of a Hz, simple minimalist look, works across instruments, adjustable A from 440 Hz
WeakOnly guitar is free, other instruments cost money, no custom tunings, no auto string-switching, mic glitches after iOS updates
ForA guitarist who wants an accurate simple tuner and doesn't mind paying for other instruments
The tuner looks nice and is accurate, and people especially praise that it shows frequency and quickly catches drop D for bass and ukulele. But the learning part stalls: it fails to detect you playing along with a lesson, loses progress, and forces you to restart the lesson. What also grates is that the install is free but you can't get inside without a card, and the promised free trial charges you anyway.
StrongNice look and accurate tuner, shows frequency, quickly catches drop D, works with bass and ukulele
WeakFails to detect playing along with a lesson, loses lesson progress and forces a restart, demands a card right at the free install, some tunings locked behind subscription
ForSomeone who needs an accurate, convenient tuner for various instruments and is fine ignoring the paid lessons.
The content and teachers are genuinely strong, adult beginners take to it and start playing fast. But the app fails on the technical side: it crashes on the onboarding questions, feedback mode glitches, audio sometimes drops during practice, and songs are often simplified instead of full versions. Many say that for 150 a year they only get videos and tabs without the live feedback competitors offer.
StrongStrong teachers and clear delivery, fast progress for adult beginners, well-structured lesson path
WeakCrashes on onboarding questions, feedback mode glitches and the mic hears poorly, songs are simplified instead of full versions, the app is worse than the website
ForAn adult beginner who wants a structured course from good teachers and can tolerate technical glitches.
For beginners the app genuinely makes picking up the ukulele from scratch doable, with lots of songs and a Duolingo-style game format that keeps people going. But a big update angered long-time paying users: they removed song search and saved-song lists, and some people cannot open the app at all. A separate pain is that chord detection through the mic and AirPods works only half the time.
StrongEasy start for beginners, big song selection, gamified streaks, clear video lessons
WeakUpdate removed song search and saved-song lists, chords through AirPods often not detected, some users cannot open the app at all, tuner does not catch all strings
ForAdult beginners picking up the ukulele for the first time who want to learn while playing
Valued for a deep chord library with lots of variations and for playing each chord back with exactly the shown fingering, which helps you understand it. It breaks on two things: ads pop up almost every time you switch back into the app, making it nearly unusable alongside a browser, and many complex chord shapes like C9 or D9 are physically unplayable, as if generated by a computer rather than a guitarist.
StrongDeep chord library, many variations, plays the chord with the shown fingering, well organized
WeakAds almost every time you return to the app, many complex chord shapes are unplayable, no barre chords, some fingering errors
ForPeople who want a large chord library with playback and can tolerate the ads
A strong fretboard and interval trainer for people seriously learning to improvise, the best of its kind according to many, and 10-minute daily sessions noticeably build your skills. But the app is criticized as unfinished and abandoned, note detection often lies (counts wrong notes, won't advance the exercise), some features are grayed out after paying $15 with no explanation, and it's not for beginners.
StrongFretboard and interval training, interval visualization for improvising, metronome support, short daily sessions, best of its kind
WeakNote detection often lies, counts wrong notes, app feels unfinished and abandoned, some features grayed out after paying, not for beginners
ForAdvanced guitarists seriously learning the fretboard and intervals for improvising
For beginners it wins with being free and tuning close enough to get started. But it genuinely sags on detection: it hears the mic poorly, especially on low strings, confuses strings, and sometimes just stops showing the meter until you restart. Accuracy is so-so, and experienced players say a proper hardware tuner is better.
StrongFree and simple, tunes close enough to start, large visual meter display, many tuning options
WeakHears the mic poorly especially on low strings, confuses strings, the meter disappears after pressing buttons and needs a restart, weak accuracy
ForA beginner who just needs a free tuner to get the guitar roughly in tune.
People praise the convenient interface and the big library of songs from classical to modern, and beginners enjoy learning their favorite tracks. But the app rushes through lessons too fast, sometimes drops you into a song without really teaching anything, and often demands payment after a couple of free lessons. The main technical pain is that the mic barely hears the guitar, especially electric without an amp, and scores notes at the wrong moments.
StrongConvenient interface, big library from classical to modern songs, learning favorite songs as a beginner, some free learning in exchange for watching an ad
WeakMic barely hears the guitar, especially electric without an amp, lessons go too fast, drops you into a song without teaching, often demands payment after a couple of lessons, songs chopped into too-small pieces
ForBeginners who want to jump straight into learning familiar songs and can tolerate a jerky learning curve
People use it as a plain reference tone: you tap one of four notes and tune the string by ear, and many have kept it in their pocket for years as a backup. It breaks down because the note plays only once so you have to keep tapping it with the uke in your hands, there is no in-tune or sharp/flat indicator, and the ads sit right next to the tuning buttons so you keep hitting them by accident. Some lost sound entirely after an update.
StrongFast and simple to tune, works for years, pocket backup when you forgot your real tuner, free
WeakNote plays only once and you must tap again, no sharp/flat indicator, ads sit right next to the buttons, some lost sound after an update, too quiet on older iPhones
ForPeople who tune a ukulele by ear and want a pocket reference tone with no frills
A long-timer people used for up to 13 years for its clean interface and accuracy, especially valued for its temperament modes for organ tuning. But it hasn't been updated in years and now freezes, fails to hear low notes below Bb3, crashes on iOS 18, and sometimes just locks up like a screenshot.
StrongAccuracy, clean simple interface, temperament modes for organ and harpsichord, worked stably for years, drone note for tuning
WeakFreezes and crashes on new iOS, won't hear low notes, mic got worse, not updated in 5 years, temperament presets disappear
ForMusicians who need precise tuning with temperaments, if they can tolerate bugs on newer iPhones
The idea is strong: take any song from YouTube and play along by its chords, and people are genuinely grateful for that. But paying users widely hit broken playback, the video disappears and only chords remain without music, even with an active subscription. Also the AI-detected chords often sound wrong, and the promised free songs are effectively unavailable.
StrongAny YouTube song can be broken down into chords, helps learn a song fast, play along with the music, breakdown for guitar piano and ukulele
WeakPaying users hit broken playback and the video disappears, AI chords often sound wrong, promised free songs are unavailable, no ukulele support in the tuner and chords
ForSomeone who wants to quickly break down a favorite song into chords and can live with detection inaccuracies.
A free library of chords and tabs for various instruments where you can add and create your own songs, a favorite for many over the years. But a recent update broke the essentials, the app won't open or crashes every 10 minutes, saved songs vanished, transposing was removed, and even after paying you still get an ad before every song.
StrongFree chords and tabs, handy search, you can create your own songs, large song database, saving favorites
WeakWon't open or crashes after the update, saved songs disappear, transposing removed, ads even in the paid version, support doesn't respond
ForGuitarists who need a free base of chords and tabs with their own songs
When it works it is a simple free tuner that suits beginners, and some people have kept it for over ten years. But for many the needle jumps around wildly and picks up random notes even in silence, and it sometimes freezes so hard that only restarting the phone helps. One person even complained the camera stopped working on an iPhone 8 after installing it.
StrongSimple and free, handy for beginners to tune, works reliably for years for some people
WeakNeedle often jumps and catches random notes even in silence, freezes so hard a phone restart is needed, unreliable pitch detection, broke the camera on an iPhone 8 for one user
ForBeginners who want a free tuner and are willing to risk the instability
A free tuner for guitar, bass and ukulele that clicks for many and is not buried in ads. But accuracy is questionable: it failed to show people which way to tune and snapped strings, and for some it did not work at all. A separate pain is that after updates some tunings and the electric-guitar mode get moved behind payment, and refunding or canceling is hard.
StrongFree basic tuner, covers guitar, bass and ukulele, few ads, precise fine-tuning of each note
WeakDoes not show tuning direction and snaps strings, tunings and electric guitar move behind payment after updates, does not work for some, nagging rate-me prompts
ForBeginners who want a free tuner for several instruments and will double-check the tuning by ear
People like that it teaches without a subscription and really takes a beginner from zero to a first riff in a day, with feedback and playback that help. It breaks on two things: the detection constantly fails to hear a correctly played note and won't let you move on, and the lessons are delivered as text you have to scroll through for a long time, plus a lesson timer that rushes you and example tempos too fast for a beginner.
StrongTeaches without a subscription, takes a beginner to a first riff in a day, has feedback and playback, easy for adults
WeakFails to hear a correctly played note and blocks progress, lessons are wall-of-text with lots of scrolling, timer rushes you in lessons, example tempo too fast, won't work with bluetooth headphones
ForAdult beginner guitarists who want free lessons and can tolerate a flaky mic and reading text
The app extends the Spark amp experience, people like the song breakdowns and the game mode as a way to learn by playing. But key modes are broken, the game countdown reaches zero and everything freezes, video and chords are out of sync, and the content is stuck in 2021 with no updates.
StrongBreaking down any song, game mode as a way to learn, extends the Spark amp, rhythm tabs
WeakGame freezes at zero on the countdown, video and chords out of sync, not updated in years, hard for beginners to figure out, unclear subscription price
ForOwners of the Positive Grid Spark amp who can tolerate broken modes for the song breakdowns
A waveform tuner that a blind musician loved for Voiceover support, and some like matching waves visually without it touching their contacts. But the auto mode, the core feature, misreads the string and sends people tightening the wrong string the wrong way, to the point of snapping strings. Others find it too inaccurate and confusing, and the glowing reviews rarely explain what exactly they praise.
StrongVoiceover accessibility for the blind, visual matching of sound waves, doesn't touch contacts or track you, helps a beginner tune fast
WeakAuto mode misidentifies the string, leads to tightening the wrong way and snapping strings, inaccuracy, confusing interface, glitchy
ForA beginner or blind musician who values accessibility and tuning by ear, if willing to tolerate a broken auto mode
It used to be a good free tuner, which is why people stuck with it for years. Now the mic often stops working after the first use until you reinstall the app, the tuner reads the wrong note, and everything is buried under ads and a demand for a subscription at 8 a week or 50 a year. For people who only need tuning, paying for that feels absurd.
StrongTunes the guitar fast, shows chords, works with ukulele, helps beginners learn songs over a year
WeakMic dies after the first use and needs a reinstall, tuner reads the wrong note, everything is behind a subscription and buried in ads, ads freeze and won't close
ForSomeone who remembers the free version and will tolerate ads or pay just for the convenience of a tuner on their phone.
It helps you quickly find chords for songs, and for some it genuinely helps, including people with disabilities who keep writing music. But the app aggressively demands a review after every tap and will not stop until you leave one, so some one-star ratings are not about quality at all. Plus it does not explain what you are doing wrong, and the simple chord lookup was moved behind a 70-dollar-a-year subscription.
StrongQuickly finds chords for songs, simple and clear interface, helps even people with disabilities
WeakBegs for a review after every tap and will not stop, does not explain your mistake, chord lookup moved behind a 70-dollar-a-year subscription, crashes on launch for some
ForPeople who want a quick chord lookup for songs and can put up with pushy rate-me prompts
A tabs and chords library people loved for years for its huge song database, set lists, transposing, and autoscroll for playing on stage without sheet music. But the developer abandoned it, autoscroll and Bluetooth page-turning stopped working, the app won't even open on newer iOS, support doesn't reply for 4 months, and some features were simply cut.
StrongHuge song database, set lists, transposing, autoscroll for performances, replaces paper sheet music on iPad
WeakAutoscroll and Bluetooth page-turning broke, won't open on newer iOS, support silent for months, features cut after purchase
ForPerforming musicians who need set lists and tab autoscroll, if they can accept the abandonment
Video lessons and campfire songs gathered in one place, and beginners like the clear chord layout and step-by-step flow. But the app begs for five stars and a review in exchange for access, and after you comply everything stays locked, plus it forces ad-watching to get anywhere. Much of the content is just on YouTube anyway.
StrongSong and chord videos, beginner-friendly, everything in one place, step-by-step lessons
WeakExtorts a 5-star rating and review for access, still locked after reviewing, lots of ads, content already on YouTube
ForA total beginner willing to tolerate ads for video lessons gathered in one place
As a basic tuner it works, and people like that it covers not just guitar but bass, violin, banjo and ukulele. The trouble is money and delivery: almost everything sits behind an 8-dollar-a-week subscription, pro ads hit aggressively on every launch, and the cancel button is hidden. Plus it does not always show beginners which way to tune, so strings get snapped.
StrongWorks as a basic tuner, covers many instruments, simple interface
Weak8-dollar-a-week subscription for almost everything, pushy pro ads, hard to cancel the subscription, does not always show tuning direction
ForPeople who need a simple one-off tuner and will immediately turn off the paid subscription
Strong concept: live lessons that adapt to your music style, standard tab, feedback while you play, and a developer who actually responds to problems. It falls apart on the core thing, the pitch detection often fails to hear a correctly played note, so you strum the string several times, lose the tempo, and sometimes random noise gets counted as correct. On top of that almost nothing works without a subscription, and some users get stuck in a payment loop at sign-in.
StrongLive feedback while you play, lessons tailored to your music style, standard tab instead of gimmicky interfaces, responsive developer
WeakFails to hear a correctly played note, you must strum the string several times, counts random noise as correct, tempo breaks in exercises, almost everything is behind a subscription, payment loop at sign-in
ForBeginner and intermediate guitarists willing to pay a subscription and tolerate flaky pitch detection
A playable game-trainer where you play songs by tapping frets, fun for kids and beginners as a way to mess around with a guitar. But the money model annoys everyone, only a couple of songs are free, the rest cost $7-15 each, there are tons of ads, and many call the electric guitar sound outright bad.
StrongFun game for beginners and kids, you can play songs by tapping frets, helps you practice, freestyle mode
WeakAlmost all songs are paid at $7-15 each, too many ads, bad electric guitar sound, above C5 plays the same note
ForKids and beginners who want to play around with a guitar like a game, if they don't mind paying for songs
A chord and tab reference that can bail out a beginner but raises eyebrows for experienced players: odd E fingering and only one position per chord, so you cannot work out the CAGED system. The real pain is how it squeezes money: the base version is crippled, and minor chords, ad removal and the rest are sold separately, while ads still cover the screen.
StrongBails out a beginner, helps find a chord quickly, has free basic chords
WeakOdd fingering and only one chord position, no CAGED, every little thing is sold separately, ads cover the screen even after paying, the sound is not guitar-like
ForBeginners who want a quick reference for basic chords and will not dig into theory beyond major and minor
A free tuner and tone generator that some people praise for convenience and accuracy, especially beginners with their first guitar. But many write that it tunes a half-step to a full step higher than it should, the tone generator doesn't match the detector, and the Apple Watch version barely works and asks you to tune by ear from a recording.
StrongFree, convenient for beginners, tone generator plus detector, easy to use
WeakTunes a half-step to full step too high, tone generator doesn't match the detector, watch version doesn't work, can't tune to Drop D
ForBeginners with a first guitar who need a free tuner and don't need perfect accuracy
A simple tab editor praised for basic writing and playback, and some like how easy the entry is. But it loses data, tabs vanish or get overwritten by old versions, and those took hours of work. It also lacks basics like hammer-ons, pull-offs, 7-8 strings and custom tunings, the font can't be enlarged, and there are ugly stories of accidental charges in the tens of dollars.
StrongEasy tab entry, has playback, works as a basic free editor
WeakLoses and overwrites saved tabs, no hammer-ons or pull-offs, no 7-8 strings or custom tunings, can't enlarge the font, random large charges
ForA guitarist who needs simple tab writing and doesn't mind risking lost work
It is essentially a guitar-playing game with a big instrument selection, kids and casual tinkerers enjoy strumming along to favorite songs. But the ads here are over the top: they pop up on every tap, when you open a menu, and even when you simply leave and return to the app, and in airplane mode with no ads nothing works at all. For real learning the app is weak and does not truly help beginners.
StrongBig selection of guitars, fun to strum along to favorite songs, kids like it, the playing simulator is engaging
WeakOver-the-top ads on every tap and even when leaving the app, almost nothing works without internet, weak for real learning, sound sometimes disappears after the first launch
ForKids and casual tinkerers who want fun, not people seriously learning to play
The ukulele tuner genuinely works and tunes accurately, which people praise. But everything else hits a subscription, and people get charged 6 a week without warning, with several losing nearly two hundred dollars before noticing. You can't unsubscribe through the app, and the payment screen appears on every launch with a tiny close button, leaving people feeling cheated.
StrongAccurate and simple ukulele tuner, helps learn basic chords and songs, pleasant interface
WeakHidden 6-a-week charges without warning and losses near two hundred dollars, can't unsubscribe through the app, everything but the tuner behind a subscription, payment screen on every launch with a tiny close button, no tunings for different ukulele types
ForA ukulele owner who only needs an accurate tuner and will immediately turn off the subscription and paid features.
It combines a tuner and a ukulele chord reference, and when it works it genuinely helps beginners get in tune and figure out the sound. But ads kill it: they pop up after every note, cover the tuner itself, and sometimes cannot be dismissed for half a minute. Plus people get confused about how to even use the tuner and report freezes.
StrongTuner and ukulele chords in one, helps a beginner get in tune, a free replacement for a broken clip tuner
WeakAds cover the tuner and pop up after every note, sometimes cannot be closed, unclear how to use for a beginner, freezes
ForUkulele beginners who want a free tuner with chords and can stomach intrusive ads or pay for the ad-free version
It used to be a handy free tuner for guitar and ukulele that people loved for years. Now basic tuning is locked behind an aggressive weekly charge of around 8-10 dollars, the subscription screen is hard to exit, and people accidentally sign up for sums like 400 dollars a year. The tuner itself works fine, but the pricing model scares off almost all long-time users.
StrongAccurate and simple tuning for guitar and ukulele, used to be a handy free tuner, many tunings
WeakBasic tuning locked behind a roughly 8-10 dollar weekly charge, subscription screen hard to exit, people accidentally subscribe to large amounts, mic sometimes cannot hear the guitar
ForAlmost no one as it stands, except those who really need this exact tuner and do not mind a weekly charge
At its core the tuner works and people really do get their ukulele tuned quickly, and some like that it beats an old clip-on tuner. But everything drowns in money and ads: the app is presented as free yet charges around 5 dollars a week, bills several times, only tuning and a single C chord are free, and the chord sounds in the lessons do not match the shown diagram.
StrongTunes a ukulele quickly and easily, simple interface, handier than an old clip-on tuner
WeakPresented as free but charges about 5 dollars a week, bills several times, only tuning and the C chord are free, lots of ads, chord sounds do not match the diagram
ForPeople who need a one-off quick ukulele tuning and will cancel the paid subscription right away
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