The Best iPad Music Apps

The Apple iPad is an amazing tool for almost anything you can think of. This can even include music creation and production. Although the iPad may not be as powerful as a high-end PC, its power is nothing to scoff at, and paired with its mobility makes it a great addition to any musician’s repertoire.

There are lots of music apps out there, so if you’re looking for some to download, below is a list of some of the best iPad music apps you can find on the App Store.

Garageband

Though it might be surprising, Garageband is a versatile and powerful music production program. The best part is that it’s free, and you might already have it downloaded on your iPad. It was made by Apple as a free resource for musicians, and it has a lot to offer.

There is a wide selection of software instruments available in the app that you can easily create music with. If you don’t have a higher-end DAW (digital audio workstation) to work with, this program is great for beginners.

GuitarTuna

Are you starting to play the guitar, but don’t have a tuner yet? Well, if you have an iPad, you already have a tuner as well. The GuitarTuna iPad music app will help you tune your guitar to standard tuning, as well as provide some games you can play to strengthen your knowledge of notes.

Besides the guitar, you can also use the app to tune a ukulele or bass. It works very well as a tuner and can help you learn to tune by ear as well. 

Cubasis 3

Steinberg Cubase is a popular DAW, but now the same company has also created a powerful one you can work on from your iPad, called Steinberg Cubasis 3. Despite being on this mobile device, it is a full-powered DAW with everything you need to produce your own tracks.

This iPad music app is a bit on the pricier side, at $49.99 but if you want a complete, professional DAW that you can bring anywhere you go, Steinberg Cubasis 3 won’t let you down. It has lots of presets available already in the app so you can start creating right away.

Casio Chordana Play

Learning to play the piano or want an app where you can use the piano on the go? Chordana Play gives you a mobile piano where you can play songs. The app has 50 songs included in it, or you can import your own MIDI files.

A great feature of this app is that you don’t only have to use the on-screen piano. You can also plug in your physical keyboard through a USB connection. While playing music, the scores are shown in real-time on the screen so you can play along and learn. 

Yousician – Your Music Teacher

Picking up the guitar at first can be hard. And if you don’t have anyone to teach you, it can feel impossible. Yousician is like your own personal teacher, listening as you play and providing you with pointers.

There are also tons of lessons within the iPad music app for you to play along with and learn. Also, the app works for other instruments as well such as a piano, bass, or ukelele. If you want to, you can also take lessons through the app with real teachers. You can start Yousician with a free trial, and then choose a subscription plan to continue your learning.

Tempo – Metronome With Setlist

Metronomes are integral to any musician’s work, and this app provides you with a completely customizable one you can use for any type of music work. You can choose from 35 different time signatures, so no matter what you’re playing you can always stay on the beat. You can also choose from a tempo range of 10 to 800.

Besides the metronome feature, it also offers a setlist where you can add your songs, and save different metronome presets to each one. No matter what task you’re doing, Tempo will be able to adjust to your needs.

EarMaster – Music Theory

Maybe you need to learn or brush up on some music theory? The EarMaster app will help you do this right on your iPad. You can teach yourself to identify notes by ear and learn sight-reading as well as rhythm practice.

With multiple different music theory courses, you can start from the beginning and learn all you need to know. You can use this app for free and get the first 20 lessons of the beginners’ course, interval identification, and chord identification. There are multiple in-app purchases as well to get access to even more music theory lessons and practice.