![\"\"](\"http:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5308\/5555068160_6d16b0f4bb.jpg\")
Image via\u00a0Flickr<\/a>\u00a0by Rob\u00a0Boudon<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Songwriter\u2019s Pad ($19.99,\u00a0iOS\/Android)<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you’re looking for a lyric writing tool that you’ll find useful practically anywhere, then\u00a0Songwriter’s Pad<\/a>\u00a0is a great choice. Not only does it offer you the ability to write lyrics and create audio recordings of your ideas, the app also has\u00a0numerous\u00a0features to kickstart your creativity.<\/p>\nThese include the idea tool, which generates clusters of words and phrases; and a fully functional rhyming dictionary, which will help you in nailing down a perfect piece of wordplay. You’ll\u00a0find these features crucial\u00a0whenever\u00a0you\u00a0encounter\u00a0a nasty case of writer’s block. This app is also\u00a0currently\u00a0available on iTunes for the discounted price of $4.99, so there’s no time like the present to download it.<\/p>\n
Garageband\u00a0(Free,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlthough this app has been available on Mac for years,\u00a0Garageband\u00a0for\u00a0iOS<\/a>\u00a0recently became available for mobile devices on iTunes. The app includes\u00a0a wide range of\u00a0touch instruments, audio recordings, and loops. It’s basically a\u00a0miniature portable recording studio that will allow you to use your iPhone’s mic (which is actually fairly decent) to record audio. You can arrange and mix songs up to 32 tracks, and it allows musicians to fine-tune tracks by setting echo, volume and\u00a0reverb. There are also\u00a0numerous\u00a0effects you can add to your songs.<\/p>\nThis app is perfect for doing quick demos and for fine-tuning your own sound, and it syncs with all other versions of\u00a0Garageband\u00a0thanks to its cloud-based functionality. Just make sure you’re connected to your home\u00a0wifi\u00a0via an ISP like\u00a0hughes\u00a0internet<\/a>\u00a0when you start syncing this app. Otherwise, you’ll probably run out of data with a quickness.<\/p>\nNanostudio\u00a0($13.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you’re looking for something a little more full-featured than\u00a0Garageband, then\u00a0Nanostudio<\/a>\u00a0is arguably a good option. It’s filled with cool features such like advanced mixing tools, sequencers, and sample trigger pads. This app also lets you upload your mixes directly to Soundcloud.<\/p>\nWhile an app like\u00a0Garageband\u00a0will probably meet most musicians’ needs, this one will definitely appeal to the music tech geek set. Just make sure you already know what you’re doing with a soundboard, or you could find yourself wasting money on this one.<\/p>\n
ProChords\u00a0($8.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nFor those times when you’re really trying to concentrate on a new composition,\u00a0ProChords<\/a>\u00a0is just a great all-around app. You begin by setting the key in which you want to write, and then the app makes chord suggestions based on the chords you\u00a0input. It also displays a rating for each of your options.<\/p>\nThe suggestions will change as you continue writing the progression, so it’ll save time in trying to figure out where to take your song next. You might find this app\u00a0to be\u00a0really useful if you aren’t familiar with song structure and theory; otherwise, it really works as a time-saver and a good rule of thumb.<\/p>\n
Cleartune\u00a0– Chromatic Tuner ($3.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere isn’t really too much more to this app than the name implies \u2014\u00a0Cleartune<\/a>\u00a0is simply a chromatic tuner and a\u00a0pitch pipe. It’s nice, though, because it’s just one less device that you’ll have to carry around with you to your gigs. And it’s really helpful if you either haven’t yet developed an ear for tuning, or if you just want to save a little time before your show begins.<\/p>\n
These include the idea tool, which generates clusters of words and phrases; and a fully functional rhyming dictionary, which will help you in nailing down a perfect piece of wordplay. You’ll\u00a0find these features crucial\u00a0whenever\u00a0you\u00a0encounter\u00a0a nasty case of writer’s block. This app is also\u00a0currently\u00a0available on iTunes for the discounted price of $4.99, so there’s no time like the present to download it.<\/p>\n
Garageband\u00a0(Free,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAlthough this app has been available on Mac for years,\u00a0Garageband\u00a0for\u00a0iOS<\/a>\u00a0recently became available for mobile devices on iTunes. The app includes\u00a0a wide range of\u00a0touch instruments, audio recordings, and loops. It’s basically a\u00a0miniature portable recording studio that will allow you to use your iPhone’s mic (which is actually fairly decent) to record audio. You can arrange and mix songs up to 32 tracks, and it allows musicians to fine-tune tracks by setting echo, volume and\u00a0reverb. There are also\u00a0numerous\u00a0effects you can add to your songs.<\/p>\nThis app is perfect for doing quick demos and for fine-tuning your own sound, and it syncs with all other versions of\u00a0Garageband\u00a0thanks to its cloud-based functionality. Just make sure you’re connected to your home\u00a0wifi\u00a0via an ISP like\u00a0hughes\u00a0internet<\/a>\u00a0when you start syncing this app. Otherwise, you’ll probably run out of data with a quickness.<\/p>\nNanostudio\u00a0($13.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you’re looking for something a little more full-featured than\u00a0Garageband, then\u00a0Nanostudio<\/a>\u00a0is arguably a good option. It’s filled with cool features such like advanced mixing tools, sequencers, and sample trigger pads. This app also lets you upload your mixes directly to Soundcloud.<\/p>\nWhile an app like\u00a0Garageband\u00a0will probably meet most musicians’ needs, this one will definitely appeal to the music tech geek set. Just make sure you already know what you’re doing with a soundboard, or you could find yourself wasting money on this one.<\/p>\n
ProChords\u00a0($8.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nFor those times when you’re really trying to concentrate on a new composition,\u00a0ProChords<\/a>\u00a0is just a great all-around app. You begin by setting the key in which you want to write, and then the app makes chord suggestions based on the chords you\u00a0input. It also displays a rating for each of your options.<\/p>\nThe suggestions will change as you continue writing the progression, so it’ll save time in trying to figure out where to take your song next. You might find this app\u00a0to be\u00a0really useful if you aren’t familiar with song structure and theory; otherwise, it really works as a time-saver and a good rule of thumb.<\/p>\n
Cleartune\u00a0– Chromatic Tuner ($3.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\nThere isn’t really too much more to this app than the name implies \u2014\u00a0Cleartune<\/a>\u00a0is simply a chromatic tuner and a\u00a0pitch pipe. It’s nice, though, because it’s just one less device that you’ll have to carry around with you to your gigs. And it’s really helpful if you either haven’t yet developed an ear for tuning, or if you just want to save a little time before your show begins.<\/p>\n
This app is perfect for doing quick demos and for fine-tuning your own sound, and it syncs with all other versions of\u00a0Garageband\u00a0thanks to its cloud-based functionality. Just make sure you’re connected to your home\u00a0wifi\u00a0via an ISP like\u00a0hughes\u00a0internet<\/a>\u00a0when you start syncing this app. Otherwise, you’ll probably run out of data with a quickness.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for something a little more full-featured than\u00a0Garageband, then\u00a0Nanostudio<\/a>\u00a0is arguably a good option. It’s filled with cool features such like advanced mixing tools, sequencers, and sample trigger pads. This app also lets you upload your mixes directly to Soundcloud.<\/p>\n While an app like\u00a0Garageband\u00a0will probably meet most musicians’ needs, this one will definitely appeal to the music tech geek set. Just make sure you already know what you’re doing with a soundboard, or you could find yourself wasting money on this one.<\/p>\n For those times when you’re really trying to concentrate on a new composition,\u00a0ProChords<\/a>\u00a0is just a great all-around app. You begin by setting the key in which you want to write, and then the app makes chord suggestions based on the chords you\u00a0input. It also displays a rating for each of your options.<\/p>\n The suggestions will change as you continue writing the progression, so it’ll save time in trying to figure out where to take your song next. You might find this app\u00a0to be\u00a0really useful if you aren’t familiar with song structure and theory; otherwise, it really works as a time-saver and a good rule of thumb.<\/p>\n There isn’t really too much more to this app than the name implies \u2014\u00a0Cleartune<\/a>\u00a0is simply a chromatic tuner and a\u00a0pitch pipe. It’s nice, though, because it’s just one less device that you’ll have to carry around with you to your gigs. And it’s really helpful if you either haven’t yet developed an ear for tuning, or if you just want to save a little time before your show begins.<\/p>\nNanostudio\u00a0($13.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
ProChords\u00a0($8.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cleartune\u00a0– Chromatic Tuner ($3.99,\u00a0iOS)<\/strong><\/h2>\n