20 Must-Have Apps for Musicians and Bands

Whether you’re a novice musician or the frontman for an internationally touring rock band, these apps - or electronic tutors - enable musicians to perform any number of musical tasks and tweaks in just a fraction of the time those same tasks would have taken just a couple of decades ago.

With all that said, here are our 20 must-have apps to make your life that much easier and keep your music on the right track.

The best apps for bands and musicians

‍

Ditto Music

- Free
- Download here

Kicking off our list is our very own Ditto Music app. Designed to help musicians track and monitor their music on the go, the Ditto Music app is the perfect partner for independent artists - letting you manage your music career wherever you are. 

Check out your live streaming stats, get notified whenever someone adds your music to their playlists, and dive deeper into your listener demographics by using our expertly designed Analytics tab.

Whether you're a solo artist or just starting your own record label, the Ditto Music app lets you stay on top of all your account's earnings and withdraw royalties straight to your bank in just a couple of clicks. Download it today to start managing your music from your pocket. 

‍

GarageBand

- Free
- Download here

Billed as an affordable audio workstation, GarageBand allows users to transform their smartphone or tablet into a mobile recording studio. With GarageBand, musicians can create, record and edit music on the fly - and even create state-of-the-art podcasts. At just a shade under five dollars ($4.99), this is a must-have app for anyone interested in setting up a home recording studio.

‍

GuitarTuna

- Free
- Download here

GuitarTuna is the world’s number 1 online instrument tuner. With over 100 different tuning settings, artists can use the app to fine tune their guitar, ukulele, bass, violin, mandolin or banjo.

‍

Ultimate Guitar Tabs

- Free
- Download here

Guitarists, this one's for you. Ultimate Guitar Tabs is a free application that gives you immediate access to nearly 1 million guitar tabs and chords. In addition to this great musical library, the app doubles as a helpful learning aid for beginner guitarists, instructing them on how to play riffs and solos through its interactive tabs. Ultimate Guitar Tabs also includes a metronome and digital guitar tuner.

‍

The Metronome by Soundbrenner

- Free
- Download here

Another highly useful addition to your virtual music toolkit is a metronome app. The Metronome by Soundbrenner is highly regarded as one of the best tempo-keepers in the game and has been trusted by over 10 million musicians. Offering users a powerful metronome, an advanced practice tracker, and an exact tuner, this app is a must-have for recording artists. Oh, and it’s also free to download.

‍

Magic Piano

- Free
- Download here

Are you an aspiring piano virtuoso? If so, Magic Piano may be just what you need. Magic Piano is a virtual keyboard that allows novice pianists to learn basic piano strokes and play any one of the hundreds of songs included in the app’s library.  For those who want to test their musical chops before actually investing in an expensive piano or keyboard, Magic Piano is a definite must.

‍

Tenuto

- $4.99
- Download here

Those seeking a deeper understanding of music and music theory will find the Tenuto app simply indispensable. This popular and affordable app offers users a wide selection of customisable exercises aimed at providing them with an in-depth comprehension of music - teaching them how to recognise chords by ear regardless of the instrument.

‍

Songwriter’s Pad

- Free
- Download here

If you’ve ever ventured into the field of songwriting, you already know how time-consuming (and often frustrating) the process can be. Not so with Songwriter’s Pad. With its idea-generating features and rhyming dictionary, Songwriter’s Pad can help make writer’s block a thing of the past, and because users can also insert chords as they go, the app serves as an all-in-one tool for mastering the creative process.

‍

Spotify for Artists

- Free
- Download here

Arguably the biggest streaming music service you need to concentrate on building your platform on nowadays is Spotify. The Spotify for Artists app allows you to build your fanbase, develop your music brand, and get the most out of your music.

Exclusive features such as Canvas, Countdown Pages and the ability to fully customise your artist profile mean that you’re able to better connect with your audience and really share the story of your music. Learn more about how to set up a Spotify for Artists profile and explore the rest of the features you can access.

‍

Apple Music for Artists

- Free
- Download here

‍Alongside Spotify at the top of the music streaming game is Apple Music. Apple Music for Artists’ official app provides insights to help build your audience and reach new fans through insightful analytics tools and stream count charts. The Apple Music for Artists app also allows you to check out your performance across Shazam too thanks to the company’s partnership with the sound discovery platform. Scroll down our list here for more info about Shazam. Make sure to verify your Apple Music for Artists account to unlock all their exclusive tools.

‍

TikTok 

- Free
- Download here

‍If you aren’t already familiar with TikTok and how it can boost your music’s reach, then where have you been?! Only joking (kinda). TikTok has taken over the social media landscape over the last few years and presented itself as a must-have tool for any artist taking their music promotion seriously. Check out our tips on promoting music on TikTok to get a better idea of how to make use of this awesome social media platform.

‍

SoundCloud 

- Free 
- Download here

‍Another highly useful app for musicians, especially those making electronic and dance music, is SoundCloud. SoundCloud is a hub for artist collaboration and offers a global community for you to share your music to. You’ll quite often find releases on here which aren’t available on other platforms as well as mixes from live sets and festivals. Upload music to SoundCloud today with a free 30-day Ditto trial.

‍

Deezer for Creators

- Free 
- Download here

‍If your music is on Deezer, then you’ll also want to make use of their artist-dedicated platform: Deezer for Creators. As with Spotify and Apple Music’s apps, you’re able to learn more about your listeners and break them down into categories - such as genders and software. Definitely worth checking out if you’re releasing music on Deezer.

‍

Amazon Music for Artists

- Free 
- Download here

‍Another platform you need to be active on is Amazon Music for Artists. A particularly useful feature of this app is the ability to promote and sell your merch from the app. Amazon will help you get started with their Print on Demand service and even let you set up a one-stop shop. Who better to help you start selling your merch than the world’s most valuable retailer? 

‍

tape it

- Free
- Download here

‍tape it is a super helpful app that provides a home for all of your song ideas - no matter how small or rough.  Think of the app as a more advanced notes app. tape it also offers a de-noiser tool that removes the static background noise from your recordings to give your music that authentic studio sound.

‍

BandLab

- Free
- Download here

‍If you’re looking for apps that allow you to create music from your phone or laptop, then BandLab have you covered. Over 100 million artists are already active on the music platform so you’re in good company. Whatever your experience, you’ve got all of the tools you need to start your music production journey from your own hand-held music studio.

‍

Logic Pro

- $199.99
- Download here

‍A popular, more comprehensive alternative to BandLab is Logic Pro. Despite the near $200 cost, Logic Pro offers a collection of creative tools to help with every stage of music production - whether that be songwriting, mixing or editing. You’ll also gain access to a full suite of instruments, effects, and samples to help you craft your beats.Learn more about the best DAWs here.

‍

Discord

- Free
- Download here

‍Starting out as a video gaming and livestream platform, Discord encourages conversation through video calls, live streaming, voice chat, and text, allowing users to connect however they please.Global artists such as Disclosure and Fred Again.. have utilised Discord to connect with fans and provide behind the scenes access into their production techniques. Learn how to promote music on Discord here.

‍

Shazam

- Free
- Download here

‍We’ve all been there. In a club, at the shops or even in a friend’s car. Hearing a song but not knowing what it’s called or who it’s by. Shazam has solved this quite frankly, HUGE inconvenience we face. In just a matter of seconds, Shazam’s technology scans giant catalogues of music to identify the song that you’re hearing. Upload your music to Shazam with Ditto and let new listeners discover your music wherever it gets played.

‍

CapCut 

- Free
- Download here

‍A particularly useful app for independent artists managing their music promotion and marketing on their own is CapCut. This tool is an all-in-one creative service that allows users to edit videos and design images with help from AI. CapCut is available across all browsers as well as on Mac, Windows, Android and iOS.

Each of these apps we’ve included here can be useful for musicians and bands, regardless of their skill level or instrument of choice. From apps that help users practise and fine-tune their instruments, to songwriting tutorials and to all-in-one recording studio programs, these apps have collectively broadened and enhanced the musical experience and helped introduce scores of new users to the world of music.

‍

‍

‍