Whether you’re just starting out, looking to involve some technology in your musical lifestyle, or you just need a little help, our list of Top 10 Android Apps for Musicians should have something for you.
Tuner – gStrings
One of the first apps that people think of is some sort of tuner for their stringed instrument, most commonly a guitar. For this sort of thing, you want something that’s accurate, reliable and a little versatile. That’s why gStrings is still one of the best options out there, as it can tune your violin, viola, violoncello, bass, guitar or piano as well as some wind instruments. A great tuner that does exactly what you want it to, gStrings is a no-brainer for this sort of thing.
Metronome
When learning to play a song, or getting one of your own creations just right, timing is one of the most important things you can’t forget. Having said that, there’s not always a metronome to hand, unless you’re a metronome salesman. Not many of you I take it, so this simple Metronome will prove a big help to a lot of you. Perfect for your smartphone and tablet, this allows you to take a Metronome wherever you need one and it’s a fun-looking one, too.
YouTube
An obvious choice, perhaps, but one that could no less open your eyes and ears to a whole new world you didn’t know existed. I use YouTube to help me with Guitar tutorials and learned some of my first songs using the service. It’s great for advice, connecting with other musicians and can be an excellent way of getting your music out there, especially if you’ve got some friends to help out with a music video or two. YouTube is also good for gear reviews as well, which can help you more effectively spend what’s probably a small budget on much-needed gear.
HD Audio Recorder
Sure, your fancy Android smartphone already comes with a voice recorder, but if you’re looking on using your smartphone to the best of its ability, it’s well worth looking into getting your heads on a proper app. HD Audio Recorder is a good choice, it has a good-looking interface that’s easy to use and allows you to record 16-bit audio (the highest Android itself supports) into all manner of difference formats and can help you record things on the go to a good idea of something you want to make better back at the studio or at home.
MuseScore
One for classical lovers, MuseScore can help you practice reading sheet music, pick out which parts to learn how to play and more. Specifically designed for tablets, this is an Android app that will make the most of your large screen friend and hopefully improve your playing. It’s an interesting app and allows you to store all of your scores in a folder just for you which allows you to handily allows you to replay your friends whenever, wherever you are.
Metronome Widget
From the same developer of gStrings comes a Metronome on your homescreen. Wherever you want it, whenever you want it, this little app can help you bring up a metronome and keep time faster than anything else, which is perfect for those impromptu play sessions. A nice and simple app, it does what you want it to.
Walk Band
Walk Band is an app that we recently reviewed and we really enjoyed it because it allows you enjoy a number of different instruments no matter where you are. As such, it’s a great way of being able to experiment with drum beats or even guitar chord arrangements that are your in head on the way home or whatever. It’s also just a lot of fun to mess around with, but as I found out in my review there’s a lot of depth here and yes, you can use this to record your creations while on the move, too.
Perfect Ear 2
Perfect Ear 2 is one for those learning to play piano or keyboard, but it’s also an excellent way of training your ears to recognize certain notes, chords and their forms and more. It’s like boot camp for your ears, and it can really help improve your recognition and your memory when it comes to performing certain notes or chords. A nice little app that works well on tablets, Perfect Ear 2 is good for music students and budding musicians alike.
SoundCloud
It goes without saying that if you’re serious of becoming a recording and performing artist, you need to get your work out there. For that, SoundCloud is easily one of the best options out there. It’s free, people can hear your music from the Android app, you can embed the player into websites, and easily share it throughout the web. Not just that, but it’s insanely popular, which means that there’s already an insane amount of people listening and looking for something fresh. We use SoundCloud for our podcast and some of the bigger artists out there still use SoundCloud to show off new work or whatever. A great option, SoundCloud could be just what you’ve been looking for.
Sheet Music Trainer
This app basically does what you think it does, and can help you learn how to read sheet music, while actually using your chosen instrument (mostly strings). With Sheet Music Trainer, you’ll need to play the note that appears on the display in music and the app will listen to your note and let you know if you’re right or not. Learning the music itself is one thing, but playing it on cue with your own instrument is a lot harder than you think. This is a great app, and taught me a lot while I was learning guitar over the summer, so take a look at my review and see if it’s for you.