In the 21st century, musicians worldwide are turning to mobile technology to help them write, record, perform and practice music. Below is a selection of the best applications suitable for iPhone, iPad and Android systems. This isn’t a ranking in order… more just an overview of what’s available. Musicians should always try a variety of apps to find something that works for them!
1) ForScore: £19.99
Average rating on App store: 4.7/5 (160)
“Go Paperless. Get organised.” say ForScore – far from a bad idea!
It would be easy to keep lots of photos of sheet music in your tablet or phone’s photo memory. However, ForScore allows user to store their sheet music with ease – a library app with a difference.
ForScore stores sheet music in the app instead of the cloud, which means users do not have to be connected to the Internet to access sheet music online. This makes it especially handy for outdoor gigs or any other area without WiFi.
Gosport musician Jamie Crook says:
ForScore is great for putting you PDF sheet music on and you just swipe to turn the page. You can create multiple set lists so it will just go straight to your next song. So useful.
2) Musyc: Free
Average rating on App store: 4.4/5 (73)
Musyc is all about using the touch interface to make music. It allows you to draw shapes on the screen and listen to your musical creation while “viewing sounds” bouncing around the screen.
It can be beneficial for getting out of creative ruts or just having fun! Please note that Musyc is not compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 3 and iPod touch 4. Musyc also offers a paid-for version of their app called “Musyc Pro” with additional features, priced at £3.99.
3) BeatMaker 3: £24.99
Average rating on App store: 4.6/5 (423)
INTUA’s BeatMaker 3 offers a sequencer, a drum machine, a “craft your own instrument” feature with 128 banks of 128 pads, and a mixer, as well as all sorts of other features.
The number of instrument tracks available is limited by the user’s hardware, but every track and every pad has it’s own channel with unlimited effects and up to 8 sends. Users can experience the true genius of the app by sampling and editing directly into it.
4) Jamzone: Free
Average rating on App store 4.2/5 (525)
Jamzone is a very flexible app that can be used in a variety of different situations. The app offers you thousands of backing tracks to jam along to, as well as live lyrics and chords. The multitrack mixer allows you to blend different levels, and the whole app is smooth, sleek and well presented.
5) Songwriter’s pad: $5.99
Average rating on iTunes: 3.8/5 (37)
Specifically designed for songwriters, the Songwriter’s Pad offers musicians a tool to make the process of songwriting more organised.
The app allows the user to record snippets of the song and comes with a ‘get ideas’ button, which brings up a selection of rhymes, thesaurus, phrases, and words. The app also lets the songwriter layer up multiple tracks of recordings.
6) iBooks: Free
Average rating on App store 3.7/5 (2k)
While iBooks might not sound like an obvious choice to include in a list of music applications, the app has a great ability to store and open PDF documents easily.
Those looking for a simple way to store lyrics, chord charts or sheet music can simply create their own PDFs via another app (or computer) and then select to open them via iBooks once loaded onto the iPad. While this provides limited ability for editing once loaded, it’s a reliable and easy to-use-system for storing PDFs.
7) Garageband: Free
Average rating on App store: 4/5 (14.9k)
Garageband is a famously easy-to-use app for recording demos. Featuring the ability to multi-track record, as well as a selection of programmable instruments, it’s also possible to add effects and mix before exporting your finished demo.
Free and simple, Garageband is used by a surprisingly high number of professional composers and songwriters to record their initial ideas quickly or on the move.
8) Metronome/MetroTimer: Free
Average rating on App store: 4.7/5 (24.2k)
Claiming to be “the most accurate metronome app on App Store”, this is an App that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Great for practising on the move, you can use the tap tempo function to find the speed of what you’re listening to or pre-select a speed and choose from 8 metronome sounds.
9) Setlist Helper: Free
Setlist Helper is another app for the organisation of lyrics. It supports Bluetooth pedals (such as Airturn) or has an auto-scroll feature. You can also easily reorder your setlists with its drag-and-drop feature.
10) Spotify/Tidal/Deezer etc: Various
While their overall effect on the music industry can be argued from several different perspectives, having easy access to an online streaming service for music has obvious benefits.
Whether it’s taking one last, listen to a new song before going onstage, organising playlists for between sets, or simply chilling out and listening to something on the drive home, selecting an easy source for accessing music on gigs is essential. A quick google search can help compare the various apps available on Apple devices or Android.
11) Mobile Sheets Pro: £14.99
Play Store rating: 4.8(100k+)
Claiming to be “the ultimate sheet music reader for Android tablets”, Mobile Sheets Pro lets you get rid of cumbersome folders or binders of charts and replace them with just your tablet!
The app supports many file types, and other features include side-by-side page viewing, the ability to annotate with freeform drawing, and a free companion app for PC to help create and edit scores.
Last Minute Musician, Geoff Valenti, says:
Mobile Sheets pro is the probably the best for sheet music storage, it’s even got a built in MP3 player to connect backing tracks to the chart.
12) Backing Track Studio: (Free demo)
Play Store rating: 4.3(157)
Backing Track Studio is an app specialising in assisting in organising and playing backing tracks during a live performance. As such, the player claims to be “simple and clear” in its design and “allows you to complete all tasks easily and quickly”. Something not considered by some other apps, the player utilises a dark theme to be easy on the eyes during a stage performance. It also features the ability to auto-pause at the ends of songs or automatically load the next song when finished, depending on your preference.
Last Minute Musician, Geoff Valenti, says:
Backing Track Studio is a good music file player. The best backing track player I’ve found so far. It stops after every track and you can compile various set lists and call them up as required. Other useful features too.
13) iReal Pro: $15.99
Play Store rating: 4.9/5 (6.9k)
“Practice makes perfect,” say the creators of iReal, and we couldn’t agree more! The app was developed to be a great practice tool, allowing you to create and collect chord charts and jam along with a real-sounding band. In fact, you can choose from over 50 different styles of accompaniment! One of Time Magazine’s “50 Best Inventions of 2010”, the app also allows you to record yourself jamming along and offers 50 exercises for practising common chord progressions.
It’s the perfect technology for a practicing musician: high quality digital audio, mixable, transposable into any key and completely mobile.
Tim Westergren, Pandora Founder
14) Dropbox: Various plans
Play Store rating: 4.6 (48k+)
While you’ve probably used (or at least heard of!) Dropbox before, it offers some particular advantages to musicians.
For a start, having external storage space for your device means that it can function as a backup should your device get broken or damaged. By utilising the App, you can also reach and share these files with any device you like, making it incredibly convenient to share charts or setlists with other band members. If you’re a producer or session musician, it is also a handy way to transfer potentially large files, like studio demos or masters.
15) GuitarTuna: Guitar, Bass tuner: Free
App Store rating: 4.8 (94.6k)
Downloaded over 100 million times, there is a good reason why so many musicians trust GuitarTuna. From Ukulele to 7-string guitar, this app will help you stay in tune whether you are in the studio or the practice room.
16) TikTok: Free
App Store rating: 4.8 (32k)
Now, obviously, this addition to the list is going to stand out a little. While TikTok is not an app designed specifically for musicians, it can be of tremendous benefit.
From promotion to learning and duet videos to famous musicians deconstructing the parts of their songs – TikTok can be really useful. You can learn more about using TikTok as a musician by reading our LMM blog.
17) Korg Gadget 2: £39.99
App Store rating: 4.7 (771)
While this app is a little more pricey than most of the others on the list, it also offers a lot of very tangible benefits. Korg Gadget 2 is a music production app that allows you to make quality music on the go.
The app boasts itself as “the best all-in-one music production software and plugin collection” and gives you access to over 40 small synths and drum machines.
18) FL Studio Mobile: $14.99
App Store rating: 3 (2)
FL Studio is designed to be a very easy to use and accessible music production app. Available on your mobile, tablet or laptop, it lets you record, mix, sequence and render entire songs.
Unlike several other music production apps, this one is available across several different platforms.
19) The Metronome by Soundbrenner: Free
App Store rating: 4.7 (38.4k)
Virtually all musicians should practice to a metronome at some point. Whether it is rehearsing scales, rhythmic patterns, or just generally looking to improve your sense of timing, the Metronome by Soundbrenner is here to help.
Completely free, this app boasts a straightforward interface. This makes it very easy to use, even for the least tech-savvy musician.
20) Songwriter Pad: $9.99
App Store rating: 3.6 (27)
Dante Media claim that Songwriter Pad is “used by Grammy Award winners and beginners alike”, and it’s easy to see why. The app is straightforward to use, affordable and a great way to get down those song ideas that have been floating around for ages.
21) Bass Parlour App
App Store rating: 5 (13)
The Bass Parlour app stands out as both the newest addition to the list and for offering a unique service. It is a free mobile app that concentrates on music collaboration contests for artists, musicians, and producers.
Every month, the app holds what it describes as a ‘song collaboration contest’ where you can submit your entry directly on the app, which makes this app an excellent platform to connect with new collaborators from around the world and get rewarded for your music-making efforts.
22) Soundcloud
Play Store rating: 4.7 (100m+)
Billing itself as ‘world’s largest music discovery platform’ Soundcloud might be one of the best apps for both discovering and hosting original music.
Initially starting as just an browser service, Soundcloud is now available as an app on both Play Store and App Store. If you’re a songwriter, producer, DJ, or any other creator of music, Soundcloud is an excellent choice of platform for hosting your latest creations.
You can use the links to send to any music industry contacts you meet or promote your music via the platform. You can also use the app to discover new songs for your enjoyment and inspiration.
23) Bandlab
If you’re looking to collaborate with musicians around the world, during live sessions, then Bandlab might be the app for you. Bandlad allows you to record, mix and collaborate with up to 50 real musicians on whatever project you want to collaborate on.
The app features a fully-functions Digital Audio Workstation similar to other premium products – only this one is completely free. You can then use the app to release and promote your music, as well as monetising it.
24) Shazam
App Store rating: 4.9 (7.1m)
Whether you are out watching a new band or listening to the radio, Shazam is a great app for identifying new music.
Deascribed as “an app that feels like magic” by Techradar.com, Shazam can be a great way to find new songs to add to your set list or just a pleasurable way to discover new music.
25) Spotify for Artists
App Store rating: 3.1 (183)
If you make original music, the chances are that you have already at least considered putting your music on Spotify.
If any of your tracks get playlisted, you stand the chance of getting hundreds of thousands – even millions – of plays, as well as gaining in popularity and receiving payments.
Spotify for Artists serves as a “one-stop shop” for controlling your presence on Spotify, including learning more about the demographics of your listeners and releasing your music.
