# Doctor Drone — Intonation Practice Companion > Music intonation practice tool with custom drones, bass lines, and metronome. (iPhone/iPad app by Eddie Ludema.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doctor-drone/id1275326589 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Eddie Ludema](https://appshunter.io/developer/1275326588) - Category: Music, Education - Price: $1.99 - Rating: 4.50/5 from 26 App Store ratings · 21 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 127 MB - Released: 2017-11-21 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doctor-drone/id1275326589/reviews.md ## What is Doctor Drone? Innovative Practice Tools brings you Dr. Drone, a simple, affordable and powerful practice tool. Dr. Drone gives you the freedom to create your own bass lines, chord sequences and drone tracks and set them to a metronome. It opens whole new avenues of practicing for professionals, pedagogues, ensembles and students. It will become your favorite tool for developing great intonation and stability. - Want to prep for a specific piece? Enter a bass line to your favorite tune, or enter a melody using either note names, scale degrees or solfege syllables in an intuitive entry pad. - Need more time to lock in each pitch? Vary the tempo between 40 and 500 BPM (because why not?), set each drone from 1 to 60 seconds, or select "Tap to Advance" Mode to tune along at your own pace. Heads up: "Tap to Advance" is compatible with your favorite Bluetooth pedal, or anything that can send arrow or enter key signals to your device! - Trying to expand your range and stability? Dr. Drone will repeat sequences and can transpose them in a number of patterns (transpose the sequence around the Circle of 4ths, move up chromatically, etc.) - Want to practice tuning within a chord? Add a Perfect 5th, Major 3rd or Minor 3rd to your drone (using just intonation) to practice fitting your sound right into the harmony. - Want to tune to custom chords? Create your own voicings with up to 10 pitches in "Chord Entry" mode. - Toggle between Just Temperament and Equal Temperament. - Got some 'go-to' exercises or warm-ups? Save and organize your tunes along with their settings for repeated use. - Need to practice for your next orchestra gig that requires A443, or your next baroque service that calls for A420? Easily adjust your Concert Pitch A to be ready for any intonation situation. - And if you really want a challenge, Dr. Drone includes a feature that allows you to randomly silence beats for the ultimate test of time and pitch independence. From classical to jazz and from pop to gospel, this app is perfect for serious musicians and music educators who want to have a steady and flexible reference drone. Its sleek design, friendly features, and video tutorials will have you using it like a pro in no time. Welcome to the 21st century of intonation practice with Dr. Drone! ## Key features - Custom bass lines and chord sequences - Adjustable tempo (40-500 BPM) - Variable drone length - Tap to Advance mode with pedal support - Chord tuning with Just Intonation - Customizable Concert Pitch A - Save and organize practice sessions ## Recent user reviews (10 of 21) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doctor-drone/id1275326589/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Organization *2025-09-25* Great app. Only thing it needs is more features. It would be great to be able to highlight and loop sections or have markers that we can regularly start from in each file. That way if there's a specific spot that needs fixing we don't have to play the entire section or make a new section for that one spot. I would love to see an option for a Pythagorean tuning option as well as being able to choose the key center. I'm not sure how accurate the just tuning is at the moment as the notes are tuned to the bass note instead of the key. Better organizational features would be great. At the very least we should be able to have our presets saved in alphabetical order instead of a random order as it is now. The best option would be to let us drag presets around. It would also be nice to be able to have a bigger variety of note values although I understand this will take time. ### 4/5 — Organization *2025-04-20* Great app. Only thing it needs is more features. The simplest one is organization. At the very least we should be able to have our presets saved in alphabetical order instead of a random order as it is now. The best option would be to let us drag presets around. It would also be nice to be able to have a bigger variety of note values although I understand this will take time. ### 4/5 — Volume *2025-04-19* I just got the app this morning. I think it is going to be a great tool. It would be very useful to have a volume control to allow balancing level when using in combination with another app. It is too limiting to have to only use the volume control on the phone. Thanks ### 5/5 — Really useful and easy to use *2024-12-08* Great app! This is practical and useful for ear training and singing exercises. Is it possible to provide movable solfege labels both ascending and descending. Thanks Update Dec 2024. Still a great app. Really useful to practice voice exercises, scales intervals across all keys. Two items for wish list: 1. Can change flats to sharps - enharmonic. Example d major shows Gb instead of F# 2. A list of scales with octave short to start at any point on keyboard. Would like to hear and practice different keys. Otherwise, still a fantastic app that I really like. One of the best I have purchased. ### 4/5 — This is *2022-03-06* Great for learning to hear and play in tune. It would be better, if I can change the length of the notes and chords on any given setup. ### 5/5 — Really useful and easy to use *2021-12-16, version 2.51* Great app! This is practical and useful for ear training and singing exercises. Is it possible to provide movable solfege labels both ascending and descending. Thanks ### 4/5 — Great app for tuning outside of a piece *2021-11-30* Super useful for practicing intonation in isolation. I unfortunately cannot find a way to set rhythms or at least different numbers of beats for each note or chord to create a drone that moves with you in context. ### 5/5 — Exceptional app *2021-11-25* This app is a wonder and essential for musician. Unlike a tuner with Dr. Drone you concentrate on the aural aspect ; not the visual. Dr. Drone has become an essential tool for my warm up routine - scales patterns, long tones, Well worth you time! ### 5/5 — Incredibly Helpful App *2021-11-09* This app is incredibly helpful for brass musicians. Now with just intonation. Great for warm up and practice drills. **Developer response:** Thanks for the positive vibes, SF Horn! ### 5/5 — One of the best practice tools out there *2021-10-02* Thanks for the update… chords yay! ## Frequently asked questions about Doctor Drone ### What is Doctor Drone used for? Doctor Drone is a practice tool designed to help musicians improve their intonation and pitch stability. It allows users to create custom bass lines, chord sequences, and drone tracks with a metronome. ### How much does Doctor Drone cost? Doctor Drone is a paid application, available for $1.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all its features for practicing. ### What devices is Doctor Drone compatible with? Doctor Drone is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users looking for a dedicated intonation practice solution. ### Can Doctor Drone be used offline? The provided description does not specify offline functionality. However, practice tools like Doctor Drone are typically designed to function without an internet connection once installed. ### How often is Doctor Drone updated? Doctor Drone was last updated on February 22, 2022, with version 2.52. While not a frequent update schedule, it indicates ongoing support for the application. ### What is the age rating for Doctor Drone? Doctor Drone has an age rating of 4+. This suggests it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content present. ### Does Doctor Drone offer different tuning temperaments? Yes, Doctor Drone allows users to toggle between Just Temperament and Equal Temperament. This flexibility is crucial for practicing various musical styles and historical tunings. ### Can Doctor Drone help with practicing specific pieces? Absolutely. You can enter a bass line for a favorite tune or input melodies using note names, scale degrees, or solfege syllables. This makes it ideal for preparing for specific musical repertoire. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.52 — 2022-02-22 - Added "solfege mode". Functions the same as "scale degree mode", but... uses solfege syllables! Aural Skills students rejoice! - Bug Fix: When repeating using a transposing pattern, the selected octave "range" is adhered to again! ### 2.51 — 2021-09-25 UI fix for iPhone SE (2nd Generation) ### 2.5 — 2021-09-13 - Tap Mode. Play the next (or previous) pitch when you tap (instead of relying on beats or seconds). - In Tap Mode, you can use any Bluetooth device (foot pedal, wireless keyboard, whatever) that sends key press data. This way, you don't need to be tied to your phone/tablet to move through your sequence. Check out the video tutorials on how to set this up! - A handful of non-pitch based metronome clicks are now available in the sound options. More cowbell, anybody? - Simple Keyboard Entry: Now you can enter single pitches using a full length piano keyboard. This increases the overall range of possible drones (all the way down to a useless 3Hz if you transpose the lowest A all the way down :) - Chord Entry: Similar to Simple Keyboard, but with the added ability of selecting up to 10 simultaneous pitches. Watch the video tutorial to get some pointers on how best to use this mode! - In line with the new Chord Entry mode, the ability to switch between just and equal temperaments has been added to the sound options panel. For just intonation to work right, while in chord entry mode, long press the pitch that will serve as the root of your chord. It will turn orange. The just intervals will be calculated from that root. When you use equal temperament, the root is ignored (though you can still set it). - Transposition is now reflected in the displayed pitches. The background of the note display turns blue and increases in intensity the larger the transposition is. - If Dr. Drone is closed down (via device reboot or app shutdown), when it restarts, it will automatically open your last opened/saved set. ### 2.12 — 2018-06-21 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. - Folder system implemented. Organize your tracks as you wish! - Sharing implemented. To share a track or entire folder's contents with another user, touch the [Folder] icon on the home screen and touch the [Share] icon (looks like an arrow) for any folder or track. To open the shared track or folder, simply open the shared file on another device that has Dr. Drone. The app will open and take care of the rest! - Backup storage implemented. In the [Settings] menu, [Backup File System] is now available. - Metronome and Drone attack envelope synchronized (to avoid a sense of jitter on a drone's attack) ### 2.11 — 2018-06-10 BUG FIX: Fixed issue with rests not sustaining for the selected amount of beats, and skipping beats in notes before rests. ## Apps similar to Doctor Drone | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Ambient Soundscape - Drone Pad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ambient-soundscape-drone-pad/id1642952073) | 4.5 (153) | Free | Music | | [Drone Piano & Drum Loops](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drone-piano-and-drum-loops/id1587903801) | 4.7 (219) | Free | Music | | [PedalTone - Drone + Metronome](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pedaltone-drone-plus-metronome/id1601553272) | 5.0 (5) | $1.99 | Music | | [Intonia](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intonia/id1397570622) | 5.0 (35) | Free | Music | | [ScaleMate - Visualize Harmony](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scalemate-visualize-harmony/id1538285671) | 4.8 (23) | $3.99 | Music | | [Dronometer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronometer/id1358112227) | 3.3 (11) | Free | Music | ## More apps by Eddie Ludema - [Set Class Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/set-class-calculator/id1505848977) All apps by Eddie Ludema: https://appshunter.io/developer/1275326588 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*