SoloTuner: Chromatic Tuner

PaguSoft

About this app

SoloTuner is a precise chromatic tuner for acoustic, electric and classical guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, cello and every other string instrument, and it follows your voice when you sing. It is free, with no ads, no account and nothing locked behind a subscription. It works offline and has a metronome built in. Solo means one clear job: no lessons, tabs or clutter, just tuning and time.

Instruments and tunings

Over 100 tunings cover guitars, basses, ukuleles, cavaquinhos, mandolins, bouzoukis and citterns, banjos, balalaikas, bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, double bass) and more. That includes 7- and 8-string guitars, 5- and 6-string basses, baritone ukulele, tenor and 5-string banjo, and Irish and Greek bouzouki.

Alongside standard tuning you get Drop D, Drop C, Drop B, DADGAD, Open G, Open D, Open E and Half or Whole step down for guitar, Open G and Double C for 5-string banjo, Irish trad for tenor banjo, Low G and Slack key for ukulele, and cross-tuning for fiddle. Star your favourites, or build a custom tuning string by string.

Tuning display

A large chromatic gauge shows the nearest note and how many cents sharp or flat you are. One tap on the icon at the bottom left adds the exact frequency in Hz and the cents as numbers, and the app remembers your choice. Go full screen for a bigger readout; the screen stays on while you tune.

Below the gauge, the string row picks out the nearest string automatically, lights it up and follows your pitch with a marker, so you know which way to turn the peg. Tap or slide across the strings to hear plucked reference notes long enough to tune by ear.

Intonation trail and waveform

The trail shows intonation over 2 to 10 seconds, handy on strings and when wind players and singers follow a phrase. The waveform shows volume, articulation and dynamics.

Singers, winds and other instruments

Because the tuner is fully chromatic, it reads any note within range, not only open strings. Singers and wind players can follow pitch through a phrase, and string players can check intonation note by note.

Reference pitch (A4)

440 Hz is the default. Tap the A4 label under the gauge to pick 432, 440, 442 or 443 Hz, or set any value from 420 to 460 Hz in steps of 1 Hz or 0.1 Hz to match an orchestra, a band or a recording.

Detection modes

Switch between modes from the icon on the gauge. Ranges were tested on real instruments:
Fast: a little quicker to react. Detection range about A0 to F7.
Balanced: for everyday tuning, slightly calmer on the display. Detection range about A0 to E7.

Metronome

An essential metronome from 20 to 300 BPM with tap tempo. Set 1 to 12 beats per bar for odd time signatures and up to 12 subdivisions per beat for triplets or sixteenths. In the beat grid each cell takes one of three accent sounds or stays silent, each accent has its own volume, and named presets are ready for the next rehearsal.

Day to day

On stage, at rehearsal or on the sofa: open it, play a string, turn the peg. Beginners get a clear gauge and string row; experienced players get exact Hz, cents and an A4 you can set to a tenth of a hertz.

Privacy

The microphone is used only for tuning. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere. When you switch apps or the screen turns off, the mic stops and resumes when you come back, and you can mute it with one tap.

Tips for a steady reading

Tune in a quiet room, play one string at a time and let it ring, and keep the phone close to the instrument. Fresh strings help too.

Tell us what you think

If something feels off or you have an idea, links to send feedback and report problems are at the bottom of About.

Whether you need a quick guitar tuner before a gig or a steady reference for violin intonation, SoloTuner is ready.

What’s new

Choose Pitch trail instead of the string area to see how your intonation moves over time, with the waveform. Check dynamics and articulation, and set it from 2 to 10 seconds.

The string area has Capo. Turn it on, pick the fret, and notes and sounds rise by those semitones. Each string's button plays its continuous reference tone for tuning by ear.

The metronome screen has been improved on phones, especially on tablets.

The tuner holds the note more steadily and the needle moves more smoothly.