10BEST
iPhone Apps for Guitarists
combinations you may never have considered before. Each selection includes a key,
a scale and a tempo for use with a metronome. Simple but effective.
Tempi ($1.99)
When you need a tempo on the go, Tempi
is for you. Offering accurate tempos (
something missing from a few iPhone metronomes) and an easy to use interface, Tempi
can’t be beat (sorry). It also features a Tap
mode for calculating tempos. If you’re
looking for a larger visual display of the
beat, check out Visual Metronome ($1.99).
Don’t let the name fool you. 7 Chords is
one of the easiest to use and most complete chord dictionaries available on the
iPhone. With just a spin of a wheel, track
down those tough-to-memorize chords in
all positions, along with the components of
each chord (root, 3, 5, etc.). Best of all, the
interface is clean and easy to read, so you
won’t have to strain your eyes to find what
you’re looking for. If you want to hear the
chords, check out Chord Pro ($1.99).
Transpose (FREE)
Unless you’re working in Nashville, it can
be tough to jump keys in the middle of a
jam session. For those who find the concept difficult, Transpose will prove to be a
gig-saver. Simple enough, it can transpose
a key in either numeric steps or semitone
forms. Be lost no more.
Guitar Toolkit ($9.99)
If you’re looking for the ultimate all-in-one reference tool that includes a tuner and metronome,
check out the Guitar Toolkit. Featuring myriad
scales in a variety of tunings, over 260 chord
maps with 1300 variations, a tuner, a metronome, and even an interactive fretboard to plunk
around on, the Toolkit is a complete solution for
the busy guitarist. If you only need a scale reference, formatted in easy to read tab, check out
Scale Buddy ($1.99).
Oblique Strategies (FREE)
Songwriting isn’t all fun and games—sometimes
you run up against a particularly tough case of
writer’s block that just won’t crack. Our secret:
Oblique Strategies. Originally designed in 1975
by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, the iPhone version features a full deck of cards, each carrying
a cryptic, oblique message that will encourage
you to look at your creative problem differently.
Voice your suspicions. Ask your body. Be less
critical. Give it a try.
