About
Pitched Tuner by Stonekick Limited is a full-featured chromatic tuner and pitch pipe application available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Trusted by over a million musicians, the app provides two primary tuning modes: an instrument tuner that displays target notes for a chosen instrument and tuning (e.g., EADGBE for standard guitar, GDAE for violin), and a chromatic tuner that identifies any note being played in real time. Hands-free tuning lets players tune every string without touching the screen, making it ideal for live settings and practice sessions alike. The app ships with built-in tuning presets for banjo, bass (4-, 5-, and 6-string), cello, double bass, guitar (including 7-string), ukulele, viola, and violin, and allows users to create fully custom tunings. A traditional needle-and-dial display shows the detected frequency, nearest note, and pitch error in cents, while a separate volume indicator confirms microphone clarity. Additional features include adjustable reference pitch (away from standard 440 Hz), transposition support for non-concert-pitch instruments like the B-flat trumpet, light and dark themes, and adjustable microphone sensitivity for quiet instruments or noisy environments. The built-in pitch pipe can output pure sine, simulated piano, guitar, or clarinet tones, making it a versatile ear-training companion. Simple controls make it accessible for beginners, while its responsive, precise algorithms satisfy professional players.
Key Features
- Dual Tuning Modes: Switch between an instrument tuner (shows target notes for your specific instrument and tuning) and a chromatic tuner (identifies any note in real time), giving players full flexibility.
- Hands-Free Operation: Automatically moves between strings during tuning without requiring any screen interaction, keeping your hands free on the instrument throughout the session.
- Wide Instrument & Custom Tuning Support: Comes pre-loaded with tunings for guitar, bass, banjo, cello, ukulele, violin, viola, double bass, and more. Users can also create and save fully custom tunings.
- Built-In Pitch Pipe: Sounds a reference note using a choice of pure sine, simulated piano, guitar, or clarinet tones, enabling ear training and string replacement without an external tool.
- Adjustable Reference & Sensitivity: Supports reference pitches other than standard 440 Hz, transposition for non-concert-pitch instruments, and microphone sensitivity controls for noisy or quiet environments.
Use Cases
- Quickly tuning a guitar, bass, or ukulele before a live performance or rehearsal without needing a physical tuner.
- Helping music students learn to tune by ear using the pitch pipe reference note feature.
- Tuning orchestral string instruments like violin, viola, and cello to precise pitch during warm-up.
- Creating and saving custom alternate tunings (e.g., open D, DADGAD) for quick recall during a session.
- Tuning instruments in noisy environments by adjusting microphone sensitivity and using a clear visual dial display.
Pros
- Highly Accurate: Responsive algorithms display pitch error in cents, giving both beginners and professional musicians reliable, precise tuning feedback.
- Broad Instrument Coverage: Supports a wide range of stringed and other instruments out of the box, and allows completely custom tunings for anything not included.
- Hands-Free Convenience: Auto-advance between strings makes the tuning process faster and more practical, especially in live or rehearsal settings.
- Beginner-Friendly Interface: Clean visuals, a traditional needle-and-dial display, and clear note indicators make it immediately understandable for players of all skill levels.
Cons
- Reported Reliability Issues: Some user reviews note occasional freezing or unresponsiveness when detecting a note, requiring the app to be restarted mid-session.
- Ad-Free Experience Requires Purchase: The free version includes ads; removing them and unlocking the full experience requires an in-app purchase, which may be a barrier for casual users.
- Not Verified for macOS: While listed on the Mac App Store, the app is not officially verified for macOS and may not deliver the same polished experience as on iPhone or iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments does Pitched Tuner support?
Pitched Tuner includes built-in tunings for guitar (including 7-string), bass (4-, 5-, and 6-string), banjo, cello, double bass, ukulele, viola, and violin. You can also create fully custom tunings for any instrument not listed.
What is the difference between the instrument tuner and chromatic tuner modes?
The instrument tuner shows you the specific target notes for the instrument and tuning you have selected (e.g., EADGBE for standard guitar), making it easy to tune string by string. The chromatic tuner identifies any note being played in real time, which is useful for instruments with many notes or when switching between tunings quickly.
How does hands-free tuning work?
In instrument tuner mode, Pitched Tuner listens continuously and advances to the next string automatically once it detects that the current string is in tune. This means you can tune all strings without touching the screen.
Can I use Pitched Tuner as a pitch pipe?
Yes. The app includes a pitch pipe feature that plays a reference note so you can tune by ear. You can choose from a pure sine wave, or a simulated piano, guitar, or clarinet tone.
Does Pitched Tuner support non-standard reference pitches?
Yes. You can adjust the reference tuning pitch away from the standard 440 Hz and also enable transposition for non-concert-pitch instruments, such as a B-flat trumpet.
