I have a game that I occasionally love playing. Want to join in? It is very simple – when I come across an obscure topic that interests me in some way, I eagerly open the Apple Store to see if someone somewhere decided to make an app for it. I swear that in 95% of the cases my search yields results. I guess apps are more or less becoming mandatory, which is great for me because I love apps.

This got me thinking and searching for what apps are out there that musicians can enjoy and use to improve their skills and knowledge. As you probably guessed the app world is swarming with music related hidden gems and I am eager to share some of them with you. In the first installment of this music app series, let us begin with the basic, or in other worlds music theory. Here you will find a list of several of the most popular and renowned apps out there, the aim of which is to improve your general music theory knowledge.

Music Notation Apps

You can’t learn if you can’t write, right?

Surprisingly enough, there are people with Windows phones, who get exclusive totally amazing apps made just for them. Assholes. What I am referring to in this case is the StaffPad – an app for Windows tablet devices which allows you to write music by hand, then listen back to it and do other amazing stuff with it that we, Apple and Android users, will probably not find out soon. Through the help of handwriting recognition technology, everything you put down on the screen with a pen or your hand gets turned into a score. Should there be a symbol which the program does not recognize, it will leave it as it is and wait for you to go back and revise it. Instead of changing it into something ridiculous and annoy you.

Even though I made it seem hopeless, due to the fact that I am a drama queen, Android and iOS users don’t need to despair, as there is a music notation app they can enjoy. NotateMe is an app that is basically like StaffPad, it can copy, paste, delete and replay your music back to you.

I have to note (get it?) that both of these apps are rather expensive, going on $60-70 a piece, which I guess is further proof that they are really high quality, as all expensive things are worth it, right?

Now that you have somewhere to create your art, let’s continue with learning how to create that art.

Music Theory Apps

I hope I don’t need to explain why having an in-depth knowledge of music theory helps you become a better musician. If you enjoy playing music but have no idea what the hell those scribbles on the staff mean, don’t you worry – app developers have your back. After a quick research, it turns out that there is an overwhelming number of apps aimed at helping you improve your knowledge of music, as well as train your hearing. Here are some of the most notable ones that I came across and tested.

Let’s get this party started with Music Theory and Practice by Musicopolous available for Apple fanatics. It is a great app that continuously adds new content and allows you to test your knowledge on a particular instrument, at the moment they have the options for guitar, piano, bass, violin, cello and viola. Great for beginners and more advanced users. Prepare to spend $3.99 on the app.

Music Theory Pro is another app suitable for people with different skill sets – it has a great design, numerous lessons and features. It covers all the basics like our beloved intervals, chords, key signatures and of course, note names. Get it for $3.99 at the Apple Store. Check out this overview on YouTube for further inspiration:

If you are like me and thus want to learn like a child does, because they get the best animations and sound effects, then you could try Music Theory for Beginners by Music Room. It is colorful and allows you to learn with the help of 2 000+ questions. Once again, aimed only at Apple users for the price of $4.99

Learn Music Theory – Basic Rudiments by UMT is the app for you if you have a very particular love for flash cards. They also promise that you will DRAMATICALLY improve your music skills, which sounds suspicious, but also makes you want to see if they are right. Some of the beginner lessons are free, which is always welcome.

Android users can jump right into their musical theory training with the help of Musical Theory Helper. It covers all basics, such as chords, intervals, note values, scales, etc. and has exercises to help improve your knowledge and listening skills. The app is also completely free. Yay!

As you can see there are so many music theory apps to choose from. I guess, the best thing to do is to just try a few out and see which best fits your own personal needs, style and need for entertainment.

I bet you can’t wait to put all that you managed to learn into practice. Get on Drooble and find some fellow musicians to do scales with… or perhaps just jam for maximum pleasure and musical inspiration.