7 Best (and Free) iOS Apps for Making Music

It's no secret that technology has changed how musicians learn, play and record music. Whether you're an aspiring musician, a hobbyist, a seasoned veteran or just someone that wants to create some cool beats, there's no shortage of music and musician-oriented iOS apps. Of course, most of them aren't free. Luckily, we've gathered a handful of free options — from music learning apps to full recording workstations — that'll let get you on the path of making some awesome music.

7. Figure

Figure is a clever app that allows musicians of all skill levels to create awesome sounding songs and beats — with no instrumental experience required. While based on real-world Reason synthesizers and drum machines, the app lets users make music that’s always on-key and on-beat with a foolproof touch interface. For the more experienced musicians, you can make a beat on the app and use it as a starting point to create full songs with other gear. The app also supports easy recording and export options, so you can share your tracks with your friends and others. And yes, it’s completely free to use. Download it here.

6. Yousician

If you’d rather leverage your iOS device to learn an analog instrument, Yousician is a great choice. The app is basically a digital music teacher, featuring over 1,500 exercises and tasks that teach users how to play guitar, bass, piano or ukulele. The app even listens to your performance, giving you feedback to help you progress in your training. While the app is free to download and try out, the full version costs around $19.99 a month — which is still pretty reasonable compared to formal music lessons. Download it here.

5. Tuner & Metronome

It doesn’t matter how well you can play your instrument if they’re not tuned properly, especially for beginning musicians. That’s why a good tuner is essential to anyone looking to play analog instruments (you can even test your singing pitch with it). Best of all, it comes with a metronome, so you can work on timing and staying on beat — a skill that musicians know is every bit as important as knowing music theory. It’s also completely free. Download it here.

4. Modular Synthesizer

Once you know the basics of piano, you can use that knowledge to play Modular Synthesizer. It’s a powerful app that mimics an analog synth extremely well, even down to plugging cables into a rack. While based on a keyboard, synth-playing is a whole different ballgame. There is a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, it’s amazing the kind of sounds you can create with this one app. The basic version is free to use, with additional features and sounds available via in-app purchases. Download it here.

3. Tabs & Chords HD

So you have guitar, bass or ukulele technique down, but you want to learn how to play popular songs. If that’s the case, there are few better options than Tabs & Chords HD. Brought to iOS by the prolific website Ultimate Guitar, the app features over a million tabs, chords and lyrics so you can learn to play virtually any song from any era. The basic version is free to use, but there are additional extensions like guitar tuners and metronomes available for in-app purchase. Download it here.

2. djay FREE

If your ambitions are more of the scratch master variety, djay is a great app to get you started on your disc jockeying skills. It’s a pretty powerful yet easy to use DJ app that you can use to rock your next party. It features a low-latency and realistic turntable interface and a slew of different effects and tools. The free version supports a shuffle playlist with 25 songs, but the paid versions of the app are relatively inexpensive and even feature full Spotify and iTunes integration. Download it here.

1. GarageBand

Perhaps the king of free music making on iOS, GarageBand is a pretty powerful digital audio workstation with nearly limitless possibilities. You can play the built-in smart instruments, record vocals, add a variety of loops and effects, and even plug a real bass or guitar into your iPad or iPhone and use the app’s digital amplifiers. The desktop version is beloved the world over by both professional and amateur musicians, but the iOS version is no slouch. And while GarageBand used to be a paid app, it’s now free for all iOS users. Download it here.