Looking to Play Guitar? Check Out These Two Must-Have Apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

I have been playing guitar recreationally since my junior high days. The instrument itself remains the same, but the resources I use to enhance my playing have evolved—a little. Besides the built-in GarageBand app, here are two essential apps on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac that I rely on for enjoyable guitar playing.

In 2005, I relied on a Korg guitar tuner that resembled the one shown here, along with printed tabs from the school’s library to master my instrument.

Fast forward two decades, and now I can visualize guitar tabs in mixed reality using Apple Vision Pro while learning a new song.

However, you don’t need AVP to optimize your guitar playing experience. I have two go-to apps that I consistently use on my iPhone and iPad for leisurely guitar sessions.

Tuning Your Guitar

First up is GuitarTuna, which has become my preferred method for keeping my guitar in tune. The catchy name has lodged itself in my memory, and typing “tuna” in Spotlight has become part of my tuning routine. If it’s not already in yours, it definitely should be. The app is free for both iPhone and iPad, with an intuitive interface. While it may prompt you to subscribe or offer lessons on songs, I simply swipe those away since my main focus is tuning my guitar and moving on.

Finding How to Play a Song

Next on my list is Ultimate Guitar Tabs & Chords, serving as the app version of the website I frequented in school two decades ago. (Although it includes a tuner, it’s not as straightforward as GuitarTuna.) Whether on the website or in the mobile app, Ultimate Guitar makes it easy to search for your favorite songs in either tab or chord format. In the 2000s, I would look for the top-rated versions of Green Day or blink-182 songs that were playing on MTV, print them out, and memorize them at the age of 15. Nowadays, I typically use my iPhone in conjunction with Apple Music.

Snapshot of me circa 2005 engaged in guitar activities

While there are numerous other music-related apps that make learning and playing guitar and various instruments easier than it was two decades ago, these two are my essentials on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Got your own favorites? Let us know in the comments!