# DroneTone Lite — High quality reference pitches > Reference pitch tool with cello drones for musicians to improve intonation. (iPhone/iPad app by James Roberts.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronetone-lite/id1665412716 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [James Roberts](https://appshunter.io/developer/1191100590) - Category: Education, Music - Price: Free - Rating: 2.30/5 from 10 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 88 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2023-01-17 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronetone-lite/id1665412716/reviews.md ## What is DroneTone Lite? Drone Tone Tool is an app created by professional musicians and music educators providing high quality reference pitches with the rich overtones of real cellos. We encourage musicians of all abilities to experience the benefits of reference tone practice! Why real cello drones? There are many electronic tone generators, and while they are better than nothing, they lack complexity of overtones and can be painful to listen to. Our cello drones are pleasing to the ear, rich in overtones and contain layered octaves to facilitate practice in all registers. Purpose and benefit of reference/drone tones: A reference (or drone) tone provides a center of harmonic stability. Our ears are able to discern the way that multiple pitches interact while strengthening our internal sense of pitch. By playing with a movable pitch (instrument or voice) relative to a fixed pitch (drone tone) we can start to perceive truly consonant perfect intervals, and 'shades' or 'colors' within Major/Minor intervals. This heightened awareness of relative pitch leads to artistry through intonation. ## Key features - High-quality reference pitches - Rich cello overtones - Improves internal sense of pitch - Facilitates practice in all registers - Enhances perception of intervals - Develops artistry through intonation ## Recent user reviews (5 of 5) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronetone-lite/id1665412716/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Bru *2026-06-15* You only get 10 minutes per hour and you gota buy the unlimited version to get unlimited time or something’s it’s stupid. Don’t recommend unless you wanna buy ### 2/5 — Pretty bad *2024-01-04* The sound quality gets pretty (which was mediocre too begin with) gets terrible when you put it at louder volumes. Also, without the paid version you only get 10 minutes every hour. Get a different drone tone app. ### 1/5 — No sound.. *2023-05-21* Worthless **Developer response:** Please check to see if your "silent" switch is set to "off"? The app respects the silent switch on your device and will only playback tone sounds if the "silent" switch is set to "off". ### 1/5 — Doesn’t produce sound *2023-03-22* Tried a couple different versions (and price points of this app). None produced any sound. **Developer response:** Please make sure the "silent" switch on your device is set to "off". The app respects the silent switch and will only playback tone sounds if the "silent" switch is set to "off". ### 5/5 — Great app! *2023-02-11* Perfect for practice sessions, highly recommend. ## Frequently asked questions about DroneTone Lite ### What is DroneTone Lite used for? DroneTone Lite provides high-quality reference pitches using the sound of real cellos. It helps musicians develop a stronger internal sense of pitch and improve their intonation by practicing against a stable harmonic center. ### Why use cello drones instead of electronic ones? Cello drones offer richer overtones and are more pleasing to listen to than many electronic tone generators. They contain layered octaves to assist practice across various registers, enhancing the musicality of the practice experience. ### How does DroneTone Lite help with pitch perception? By playing a movable pitch (like an instrument or voice) relative to the fixed cello drone, users can better discern how multiple pitches interact. This practice strengthens the ability to perceive consonant intervals and the nuances within major and minor scales. ### What is the learning methodology of DroneTone Lite? The app's methodology centers on using a stable drone tone to build harmonic awareness. This allows musicians to train their ears to identify precise intervals and develop superior intonation, leading to more artistic musical expression. ### How often is DroneTone Lite updated? DroneTone Lite was last updated on December 18, 2023, with version 2.2.1. This indicates a relatively recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support for the application. ### What devices support DroneTone Lite? DroneTone Lite is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to run on Apple's mobile operating system, making it accessible to a wide range of iOS users. ### What is the age rating for DroneTone Lite? DroneTone Lite has an age rating of 4+. This means it is considered appropriate for children aged four and older, with no mature content present. ### Does DroneTone Lite have ads? No, DroneTone Lite does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and use without any interruptions from ads. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 2.2.1 — 2023-12-18 Resolved an issue where the app would not produce sound while the silent switch was on. Tones will now play even when the silent switch is on! ### 2.2.0 — 2023-01-19 Minor app icon updates ### 2.1.0 — 2023-01-17 No release notes. ## Apps similar to DroneTone Lite | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Part 107 - FAA Practice test](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/part-107-faa-practice-test/id6463893807) | 4.6 (994) | Free | Education | | [Pass FAA Part 107: Drone Test](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pass-faa-part-107-drone-test/id6449745420) | 4.5 (48) | Free | Education | | [爱学琴](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id993480920) | — | Free | Education | | [今日福音-圣经-赞美诗](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1040758040) | 3.4 (5) | Free | Education | | [Music Kids - Free Music Videos for YouTube Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-kids-free-music-videos-for-youtube-kids/id998075980) | 3.6 (147) | Free | Education | | [Kids Deutschen Songs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kids-deutschen-songs/id968014400) | — | $0.99 | Education | ## More apps by James Roberts - [DroneToneTool](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronetonetool/id1191100591) - [DroneTone Concertmaster](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dronetone-concertmaster/id1660461516) All apps by James Roberts: https://appshunter.io/developer/1191100590 ## Related topics [drone music](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/drone-music) --- *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 2026-08-26.*