Long time user
I have been using this app for over 3 years and up till then I was using different backing tracks of varying degrees of quality. I still use Steve Kaufmans workout tracks but mostly it is strum machine.
The flexibility of this app is amazing, the control over tempo and volume control for all the instruments is perfect.
Luke seems to have a keen eye as to what the average player wants or needs. The ability to record your backing tracks for off line practice is great, the different rhythms have allowed me to add jigs and reels and even the odd polka to my practice routine. If I was asked what has helped me the most in my playing it would be strum machine, it really is one of the most useful apps on here.
The flexibility of this app is amazing, the control over tempo and volume control for all the instruments is perfect.
Luke seems to have a keen eye as to what the average player wants or needs. The ability to record your backing tracks for off line practice is great, the different rhythms have allowed me to add jigs and reels and even the odd polka to my practice routine. If I was asked what has helped me the most in my playing it would be strum machine, it really is one of the most useful apps on here.
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Closes immediately
The app closes immediately after opening. Works great on my phone and laptop but doesn’t work on my iPad.
Outstanding Tool
I am a long time guitar player of various genres. Primarily these days I am in to Bluegrass flatpicking both Guitar and Mandolin. Without question, strum machine has done more to advance my music, not only in terms of skills but also in enjoying my practice sessions than any other tool. These days I don’t ever practice without first turning on Strum Machine and utilizing it’s many tools. Also, Luke and his team are constantly upgrading and improving the tool. Well worth the annual minimal fee!
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Strummachine
My guitar and banjo picking have improved enormously since I began using this great backing track. Hugely flexible in terms of key and speed. E.G. I like to learn some fiddle tunes in two keys and SMachine allows you to modulate between keys without a hitch. I think it's brilliant!
Payment system and support problems
No way to subscribe in the usual way via Apple. No PayPal option, and Strum Machine "sypport" offered no meaningful help in this regard.
Although they were quick to reply, they implied you could just purchase a supscription through the Apple Store, but thats not the case.
As things stand I cannot recommend this app. And as a partner in a music school, recommending useful apps to students via our teaching staff is a thing I do daily...
So for the time being, we continue to recommend iReal Pro as the recommended powerful, versatile and affordable tool to support their lessons.
I hope Strum Machine get this resolved because it has potential.
Although they were quick to reply, they implied you could just purchase a supscription through the Apple Store, but thats not the case.
As things stand I cannot recommend this app. And as a partner in a music school, recommending useful apps to students via our teaching staff is a thing I do daily...
So for the time being, we continue to recommend iReal Pro as the recommended powerful, versatile and affordable tool to support their lessons.
I hope Strum Machine get this resolved because it has potential.
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Does Everything I Can Ask
I was struggling trying to get Band in a Box to perform the simple task of giving me backing tracks. A friend told me Band in a Box is great and on that (bad) advice I spent $100 on it. It's so convoluted and tedious to set up. And then all of their Bluegrass backing tracks sound like just noise. I couldn't figure out how to get just a boom chuck strum with mandolin chops. And I couldn't get it to sound right in split time. I'm sure with a lot of work and study, it is possible to get it sounding great but I don't have time to master a programming language just to get some backing tracks. Anyway...
I heard about Strum Machine from Marcel and it seemed like an option, but I had some questions:
-Can I use it offline?
-Can I put in my own songs?
-Does it provide the solid rhythm I need?
-Is it easy to use?
-Can I use it on my ipad? And is the app easy to open and activate each time?
The answer to all of these is "yes". Strum Machine has been nothing but a joy to work with. It's so simple to set up and gives me exactly what I need for backing tracks. I can't say enough good things about it.
I heard about Strum Machine from Marcel and it seemed like an option, but I had some questions:
-Can I use it offline?
-Can I put in my own songs?
-Does it provide the solid rhythm I need?
-Is it easy to use?
-Can I use it on my ipad? And is the app easy to open and activate each time?
The answer to all of these is "yes". Strum Machine has been nothing but a joy to work with. It's so simple to set up and gives me exactly what I need for backing tracks. I can't say enough good things about it.
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Great practice aid
Great to use when learning new tunes or trying to improve on learned tunes. I use an iPad with external bluetooth speaker. Really helps to have realistic backing track when playing. Not as fun as playing with others but the second best option.
Love it!
This app does the basics and it does them very well. This is a really good practice tool.
A change that I’d request is midi and/or audio export. Fingers crossed.
Great job.
A change that I’d request is midi and/or audio export. Fingers crossed.
Great job.
Fantastic!
This app is absolutely FANTASTIC!
Strum Machine’s advertised purpose is as a practice tool, doing backing tracks that are much more interesting than a metronome. Perfect!
But wait, there’s more. Do you like using Nashville Numbers style charts for gigs? Strum Machine is perfect for that too. It has a very easy and intuitive editor to set up cleanly formatted NNS style charts. You can easily add lyrics into the notes field. And then easily build set lists. The whole shebang displays nicely on your iPhone, so you can clip your iPhone to your mic stand. It’s wonderful. It just works!
Strum Machine’s advertised purpose is as a practice tool, doing backing tracks that are much more interesting than a metronome. Perfect!
But wait, there’s more. Do you like using Nashville Numbers style charts for gigs? Strum Machine is perfect for that too. It has a very easy and intuitive editor to set up cleanly formatted NNS style charts. You can easily add lyrics into the notes field. And then easily build set lists. The whole shebang displays nicely on your iPhone, so you can clip your iPhone to your mic stand. It’s wonderful. It just works!
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Outstanding Tool
I am a long time guitar player of various genres. Primarily these days I am in to Bluegrass flatpicking both Guitar and Mandolin. Without question, strum machine has done more to advance my music, not only in terms of skills but also in enjoying my practice sessions than any other tool. These days I don’t ever practice without first turning on Strum Machine and utilizing it’s many tools. Also, Luke and his team are constantly upgrading and improving the tool. Well worth the annual minimal fee!
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