100 free tools for musicians - · pdf file100 free tools for musicians 100 free apps ......
TRANSCRIPT
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100 FREE TOOLS FOR MUSICIANS
100 FREE APPS
for the
Everyday Life of a
Musician
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We have compiled this list of free apps and
software for musicians in July 2016.
The list contains apps that help you in every
stage of your musicianship: Learning,
Rehearsing, Recording, and Video and
Graphic Production for your albums and
music videos.
If you find something especially useful,
consider helping the developers of the app
by buying a premium version (if available) or
linking to their website.
You can find more useful resources for
musicians on our blog at:
http://blog.sofasession.com
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CHAPTERS
Learning Apps ......................................... 5
Music Theory ........................................... 8
Samples ................................................ 11
Sheet Music .......................................... 14
Production and Recording Software ...... 16
DJing ..................................................... 20
Design Software .................................... 22
Music Video Production Tools ............... 25
Music Players ........................................ 27
Songwriting Tools .................................. 28
Tuner ..................................................... 31
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Promotion .............................................. 34
Music Notation ...................................... 37
DAW Plugins ......................................... 39
Selling Music ......................................... 41
Sources and Shoutouts ......................... 42
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Category 1
Learning Apps
Uberchord - Learn to play the guitar with
chords. Free app for iOS.
https://www.uberchord.com/
Jamplay - Free Website and iOS/Android
App that let's you learn the guitar with
videos.
http://www.jamplay.com/
Yousician - Free App to learn Guitar, Bass,
Piano available for iOS and Android.
https://get.yousician.com/
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Pianist HD - Free App to learn songs on the
piano on Android.
http://www.rubycell.com/game_detail/Android/Pianist-HD/
Sing Sharp - Free App for learning how to
sing. Only limited songs available at the
moment.
http://www.singsharpapp.com/
Chords plus - Guitar chords and tabs free
Android and iOS app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.xssembler.ch
ordsplus&hl=en
Saxophone Fingerings - Simple
saxophone fingering chars for Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_S
uhadisapari.Saxophone
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Saxophone All-in-one - Free iOS and
Android app with fingering charts, types of
saxophones, scales, tuner and more.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saxophoneal
lin1pro
Viruoso Piano Free - Free iOS Piano App
for Singers, Saxophone players and more.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/virtuoso-piano-free-2-
hd/id304075989
Gamestar Perfectpiano - Free Android
Piano app, Perfect Piano.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamestar.pe
rfectpiano
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Category 2
Music Theory
Toby Rush - Music theory for musicians and
normal people – Nicely designed
infographics about music theory, perfect for
print-out.
http://tobyrush.com/theorypages/index.html
Skillshare - A bunch of free video classes
about music composition, education,
production and theory.
https://www.skillshare.com/search/?query=music&enrollmentTy
pe=free
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Circle of Fifths - Beautiful & interactive
circle of fifths.
http://randscullard.com.s3-website-us-east-
1.amazonaws.com/CircleOfFifths/
MusicTheory.net - Free music theory
lessons & exercises like ear training.
http://www.musictheory.net
Chordify - Turns any youtube, soundcloud
or deezer link to a song into a chord
progression.
https://chordify.net/
Songtive - Free iOS chord and scale
dictionary.
http://www.songtive.com/products/piano-companion
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Pitchimprover - Ear training exercise: free
pitch trainer.
http://pitchimprover.com/index.php?type=Perfect
MetronomeOnline - Free online
metronome.
https://www.metronomeonline.com/
MetronomeApp - Free metronome app for
iOS.
http://metronomeapp.com/
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Category 3
Samples
Incompetech - Collection of user composed
music for free download under Creative
Common License.
http://incompetech.com
Daft Club - Collection of Daft Punk samples
downloadable from their website.
http://daft.club/tagged/Daftabase
FreeSound.org - Collection of sounds for
free download and use in your production.
(Check license if author needs to be
credited).
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http://www.freesound.org
99sounds.org - Collection of free sound
samples for production.
http://99sounds.org/free-sound-effects/
Goldbaby - Free collection of sounds. Very
popular with hip hop artists.
http://www.goldbaby.co.nz/freestuff.html
Samplefino - 60 free drum samples.
http://samplefino.com/free-drum-samples/
Prime Loops - Prime Loops is a collection
of free sounds, samples, vocals, synth
presets and more.
https://primeloops.com/sounds/samples.html
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Noisli - Background noise generator.
http://www.noisli.com
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Category 4
Sheet Music
Petrucci Music Library - Over 100.000
works of music downloadable.
http://imslp.org/
Classtab - Classical guitar tablature works.
http://www.classtab.org/
Practicesightreading.com - Website to
practice sheet music reading.
https://practicesightreading.com/
Ultimate Guitar - Huge selection of guitar
tabs, also as app.
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https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
Songsterr - Guitar tabs that can be played
back will playing to them. Printing and
saving require a paid account.
http://www.songsterr.com/
Free Scores - Free Scores offers free sheet
music of different styles.
http://www.free-scores.com/
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Category 5
Production and Recording Software
sofasession - Free website to record and
jam with other musicians over the internet.
http://www.sofasession.com
Audacity - one of most popular free source
programs, recording and editing audio,
adjust pitch, bass and treble; simple
interface, set of tools, add effects; issues:
distractive editing.
http://www.audacityteam.org/download/
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Ardour - import video, report and edit,
prepare combination of individual tracks, no
built-in instruments & effects, you need 3rd
party software, not compatible with windows
(linux & mac).
https://ardour.org/download.html
LMMS.IO - Free software to produce beats,
DAW and sequencer.
https://lmms.io/
Reaper - Recording DAW. It's actually not
free, but let's you use it even after the trial
period.
http://www.reaper.fm/
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WarmPlace - Multitracrecorder featuing a
modular synthesizer.
http://www.warmplace.ru/soft/sunvox/
Audiotool - Music production studio right in
the browser.
https://www.audiotool.com/
Audiosauna - Music production studio in
the browser.
http://www.audiosauna.com/studio/
Voice Recorder Free (iOS) - Free Voice
recorder for iPhone.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-recorder-
free/id685310398?mt=8
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Voice Recorder Free (Android) - Smart
voice recorder free app for Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andrwq.recor
der&hl=en
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Category 6
DJing
Mixxx - Free DJ-ying software.
http://mixxx.org/
djay Free - Free DJ-ying app for iOS and
Android.
http://www.algoriddim.com/
edJing - Free DJ-ying app for iOS and
Android. There are paid features available.
http://www.edjing.com/
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Cross DJ Free - Free DJ-ying app for iOS
and Android. There are paid features
available.
http://www.mixvibes.com/downloads/
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Category 7
Design Software
Artwork Creator - Create your CD/DVD
cover; quite old looking though.
http://artworkcreator.duplicationcentre.co.uk/#?
Big huge labs - Make a personalized CD or
DVD cover, upload from Instagram,
Facebook, Dropbox or Flickr possible.
http://bighugelabs.com/cd.php
GIMP - Graphic Editor Programme, free
open source alternative to Photoshop.
https://www.gimp.org/
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Canva - Amazing tool for graphics of any
kind: Social Media, Blogs, CD's etc. Easy to
use online.
https://www.canva.com/
Inkscape - Drawing programme for vektor
illustrations - free open source alternative to
Illustrator.
https://inkscape.org/
Scribus - Create layouts for flyers and
album inlays - free alternative to Indesign.
https://www.scribus.net/
Hipster Logo Generator - Create a hipster
logo in 5 seconds. Super funny!
http://www.hipsterlogogenerator.com/
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Krita - Free sketching and painting program.
https://krita.org/en/
Pixlr - Free picture editor online, very similar
to photoshop.
https://pixlr.com/editor/
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Category 8
Music Video Production Tools
OpenToonz - Free Tool for creating
animation movies.
https://opentoonz.github.io
Lightworks - Video editing tool used by
professionals - free versions lets create
videos up to 720p.
https://www.lwks.com/
Rotor Videos - Create free artistic music
videos in the web app.
https://rotorvideos.com/
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Stupefix - Make videos out of photos,
videos, music and text.
https://studio.stupeflix.com/en/
Movavi - Free Video Editor, works like
iMovie or Movie Maker.
http://www.movavi.com/support/how-to/how-to-make-home-
movies.html
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Category 9
Music Players
VLC - Music player for desktop and mobile
phones that plays almost any format (video
and audio).
http://www.vlc.de/
iTunes - Create practical music library with
your tracks.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
AIMP - Music player which supports 30+
audio formats and hosts internet radio.
http://www.aimp2.us/
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Category 10
Songwriting Tools
Autochords - Chord progression have
never been that easy. Choose style,
instrument and key and get a set of chords
as inspiration.
https://autochords.com/
CheatSheet for Songwriting - All about
progressions and keys.
http://i.imgur.com/k0F0EI3.jpg
Hookpad - Hookpad by Hooktheory. Let's
you create chord progressions in your
browser.
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https://www.hooktheory.com/hookpad
Suggester - Free iOS to suggest chords
and scales to your song. There is also a
Premium version.
http://www.mathieurouthier.com/suggester/
Futurelearn - How to write your first song
online course.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/songwriting
Rhymer - Find rhymes easily.
http://www.rhymer.com/
Rhymezone - Find rhymes, synonyms and
definitions in one place.
http://www.rhymezone.com/
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Jam Maestro Lite - Free iOS app to
compose songs in tab or chord format.
http://www.jammaestro.com/
Chordbot Lite - Chordbot is a songwriting
tool / electronic backup band for iOS and
Android that lets you experiment with
advanced chord progressions and
arrangements quickly and easily.
http://www.chordbot.com/buy.php
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Category 11
Tuner
Guitar Tuner - Very simple and exact tuner
for the guitar on Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovelin.guitart
una&hl=en
Guitar Tuna - Tuner for guitar, bass, ukulele
on iOS.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/guitar-tuna-ultimate-
free/id527588389?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovelin.guitart
una&hl=de
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Pano Tuner (Chromatic Tuner) - Free iOS
and Android Tuner for every instrument.
https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/free-chromatic-tuner-
pano/id449780743?mt=8
Saxophone Tuner - Tuner For Saxophone
Plus Saxophone Metronome for iOS and
Android.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saxophone-tuner-tuner-
for/id817159901?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SaxTuner.Th
ink
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Chromatic guitar tuner - Very precise tuner
for guitar and ukulele, iOS and Android
versions.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gismart.guita
r.tuner
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chromatic-guitar-tuner-
tune/id662890455?mt=8
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Category 12
Promotion
Dizzyjam - Create merch for your music with
this free online service.
http://www.dizzyjam.com/
Bandpage - Create a bandpage for free and
the info is then updated all over the web
including YouTube, Facebook, Google etc.
https://www.bandpage.com/
Reddit Music - Submit your songs and be
heard here.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/
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Spotify - Share your music and get paid per
play.
https://www.spotifyartists.com/
Soundcloud - Share your tracks with the
world.
https://on.soundcloud.com/
Tunecore - Community of independent
artists. Sell your music on iTunes, Amazon,
Spotify and more.
http://www.tunecore.com/
Bandzoogle - Create customized websites
for merch, tickets, videos and more.
https://bandzoogle.com/
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Viinyl - Create song-based websites to best
showcase your music.
http://viinyl.com/#home
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Category 13
Music Notation
Blank Sheet Music – blank sheet music –
Create and print your own music sheets.
http://www.blanksheetmusic.net/
Guitar Tab Creator – Create guitar tabs.
http://www.guitartabcreator.com/
MuseScore – Create musical sheets for
free.
https://musescore.org/de
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Tuxguitar – Free Guitar Tab Editor for
Windows, Mac and Linux.
http://tuxguitar.herac.com.ar/
Noteflight – Create, view, print, share and
listen to professional quality music notation
on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://www.noteflight.com/login
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Category 14
DAW Plugins
Delamar - Selection of free VST Plugins for
your DAW.
http://www.delamar.de/musikproduktion/free-vst-plugins-800/
Dontcrack - Another Selection of free VST
Plugins.
http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/software.php/id/7037/audio/
Plug-ins/plugins/VST/
KVRAudio - Free Plugins ranked by highest
user rating.
http://www.kvraudio.com/plugins/free/highest-rated
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FreeSoundEditor - Free Virtual Instru-
ments.
http://www.freesoundeditor.com/incageneng.html?VSTSynthen
g.htm~main
Superdrumfx - Free Virtual Instruments.
http://www.superdrumfx.com/
Soundprism - Free Virtual Instruments.
http://soundprism.com/
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Category 15
Selling Music
Spotify Artist Insights - Spotify Artist
Insights to analyze your plays etc on Spotify.
https://artists.spotify.com/faninsights
Getty Images Music – Sel your music on
iStock.
http://www.istockphoto.com/music-clips
The Orchard - Distribution company which
helps you to sell the music around the world.
http://www.theorchard.com/
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Thank you!
Sources and Shoutouts
This list was compiled based on own
research, as well as hints from those great
people:
http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2015/02/26/free-resources-
for-music-producers/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/best-free-recording-
software/
And of course or friends at Reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers
Compiled with <3 from the sofasession
Team.