Top 5 Guitar Tuning Apps, Ranked By Musicians

In the digital age, learning to play an instrument has never been more accessible and precise, thanks to a plethora of innovative apps designed for both beginners and seasoned musicians. You don’t need to learn to tune a guitar by hand if you are just getting into playing. The best guitar tuning apps offer a blend of accuracy, ease of use, and advanced features, such as alternate tunings and metronomes. With instant feedback, these apps are now a must-have for guitarists of all levels.

Many of the apps offer a basic free version with the option to unlock advanced features through in-app purchases or a subscription. A majority are designed to cater to users across platforms, with versions available for Android,  iPhone, or both. When choosing a guitar tuning app, consider your specific needs, the features you value most, and whether you’re willing to pay for advanced capabilities. The best choice for you will depend on your level of expertise, the type of guitar you play, and how you prefer to tune your instrument. We’ve assembled a list of the top five best guitar tuning apps most frequently recommended by guitarists, drawing from nine musical websites. Did we miss one you and your band can’t live without? Let us know in the comments below.

The List: Best Guitar Tuning Apps, According to Experts

1. GuitarTuna

This is the easiest tuning app to use, which is one reason it tops our list. Just pluck a string, and the app tells you how much tuning is needed. The only thing Digital Trends does not like is the need to pay for an upgrade to do more advanced tunings or to tune other instruments. This app is free if you play in standard (EADGBE) tuning.

The app is available for both Android and iPhone users and Guitar World agrees it’s the best one on the market.  According to the website, the app will help you “advance as a player” with a massive song library that can keep up with you as you play.

GuitarTuna will help you tune any hand-held string instrument and Music Radar says it’s “very thorough” and “will appeal to technical players.” The app offers a free seven-day trial if you want to check out the full subscription plan.

2. Fender

The Fender Guitar Tuner features auto and manual modes for electric, acoustic, bass, and ukulele tuning. Music Radar loves the “user-friendly graphic interface” and says it’s great for beginners. The app is available for Android and iPhone users. It’s free, but you can sign up to unlock a “Pro Tuner” chromatic mode.

Fender is synonymous with electric guitars and their tuning app lives up to the company’s image. Digital Trends says the app is easy to use and offers a “variety of different tunings, including DADGAD, Drop D, and more.” You can even save custom tunings by signing up for an account.

You don’t have to make an account to use the app, but if you do, you’ll have access to thousands of chord diagrams, scales, metronomes, and more. According to Guitar World, if you just want the tuner, no sign-up is needed.

3. Guitar Tuner Pro

This is another great app for iOS and Android users. Show4me says it will “help you tune bass and ukulele instruments.” Boasting manual and auto modes, it also offers a library of over 2,600 chords.

If you want most of the premium features you’ll have to upgrade the app, but there is a free version. MI says it’s “a guitar, bass, and ukulele tuner all-in-one.” It also includes a metronome with a time signature.
This tuner is not only accurate but easy to read. Guitar World says you can tune by ear or automatically and there’s a “needle at the top that lets you know if you’re flat or sharp.” It does have backing tracks and a metronome.

4. BOSS Tuner 

This app is also free to use, but you will get bombarded with notifications to upgrade unless you change the settings. MI says it’s “easy to use, easy to read, and provides a great user experience.” It’s available for iOS and Android devices.

Musicians around the world own the physical version of this tuner. Guitar World says now you can have the app that gives you the look of the TU-3 on your smartphone or tablet. It may not work as well as some of the paid apps, but it’s free.

The controls on this app may be limited, but the settings offer features such as sensitivity and adjusting reference pitch. According to Music Radar, you can customize the unit visually by “choosing between the classic ‘Boss TU series look’ or their limited edition, black ‘Waza’ version – though it should be said, functionality is the same in either mode.”

5. Pitched! Tuner

You get a turner needle and a dial to measure the frequency with this app. Beebom loves that it offers “both chromatic and instrument tuning modes.” It can define custom tunings and you can enjoy either the free version with ads or pay upgrade to the full version with no ads.

This tuner may not appeal to everyone because Music Radar says it uses a more traditional way to tune. The best part of the app — you can upgrade for under $5 to unlock your tuning templates. But, if you want the free version you’ll still have access to plenty of “pre-built templates.”

While this app will appeal to all skill levels, it works well for beginners. Through in-app purchases, Musician Wave points out you can “use custom tunings and remove advertisements.” The website calls the app “sleek and functional.”

Sources:

• Beebom
• Music Radar
• Sound Brenner
• Show4me
• Lefty Fretz
• Musicians Institute
• Guitar World
• Digital Trends
• Guitar World
• Musician Wave

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.