# FormKey — Unlock Your Music Potential

> Isomorphic MIDI controller app for music creation and learning. (iPhone/iPad app by Polyhedra.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formkey/id1535350561 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Polyhedra](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535350563)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $2.99)
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 70 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-10-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-13
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formkey/id1535350561/reviews.md

## What is FormKey?

Unlock your music potential. FormKey is the first music suite that helps you become the musician you've always imagined being, just by using it.

FORM
Form is a new way to read and write music. Notes become shapes. Octaves become colors. Duration becomes at-a-glance simple. You can learn to read and play music in minutes. This is the first release of the Form notation language, and it's openly licensed so other creators can build on it too. Our goal is for Form to become a standard you'll see everywhere.

THREE MODES: CREATE, LEARN, AND CONTROL
• Create mode gives you a 16-track sequencer built on the classic drum machine workflow, modernized for today. Use your own AUv3 plugins or the two we built in to create full tracks from the ground up.
• Learn lets you play and read your way through classical pieces while Form teaches you exactly what the music is doing, note by note.
• Control turns FormKey into a MIDI controller for your external workflows, so it fits right into the setup you already have.

TWO BRAND NEW AUv3 PLUGINS
• Tone is a fully interactive subtractive synth that makes synthesis make sense. Every knob and connection is something you can hear and understand, so the architecture of a sound stops being a mystery.
• Wave is a file-based sampler that lets you chop audio from your own device into something new. Slicing, shaping, and rearranging samples feel effortless instead of technical.
Both work in any host, so the instruments you learn on in FormKey come with you into every project you make.

SCALE MODE
Reshape the keyboard to any of 26 scales, so every note you play stays in key. Choose from:
• Major and minor: Major, Natural Minor, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor
• Modes: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian
• Pentatonic and blues: Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Blues
• Symmetric: Whole Tone, Whole-Half Diminished, Half-Whole Diminished, Augmented Hexatonic
• World and exotic: Hungarian Minor, Neapolitan Minor, Byzantine, Enigmatic, Hirajoshi, In Sen, Kumoi, Iwato

We've refined the interface across the app, making FormKey easier and more enjoyable to use.

Every feature in FormKey is free to try. In celebration of our launch, $14.99 unlocks everything for the life of the app. We hope you love it as much as we do.

## Key features

- Shape-based note input
- Color-coded octaves
- Isomorphic key layout
- Pattern recognition aid
- Chord discovery assistance
- Future update commitment

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FormKey Full Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formkey/id1535350561/reviews.md

### 1/5 — USELESS with zero features

*2021-09-30, version 1.0.2*

Dont understand the point of this app, waste of money and time, You cant even choose or change your scale, smh.

### 5/5 — Great Design

*2021-06-21*

I look forward to more updates, great app

### 3/5 — How to make sound.

*2020-12-30*

I would like to hear the sound it makes on the iPad or iPhone. Please include clear instructions in a link. 

I understand it’s a MIDI controller. 
But so want to hear the sound on the iPad. 
I have Garage Band or native iPad sound.

**Developer response:** Do you mind elaborating on what exactly you’re trying to do? If you’re trying to control MIDI within the iPad itself that feature isn’t implemented yet but it’s coming. As of right now this is meant to control external DAWs.

### 3/5 — Hope for the future...

*2020-12-25*

First, I couldn’t connect it to any of my iOS synths, then I could, then I couldn’t get it to connect to a synth in AUM, then I could (but it doesn’t have AUM support so you can’t see it but you can connect by using ‘AUM’ Destination). Can’t get it to show up yet in Cubasis, Nanostudio, apeMatrix, - don’t know about GarageBand. I presume it has midi record because of the controls, but they don’t seem to work. 
There is much more information they need to provide upfront from my point of view. They should of put it on TestFlight as a beta and work with the feedback there. I’ll be checking and testing it various apps ( I got it to work with the Midi Rotator app ?!).

**Developer response:** Hi there! Thanks for your feedback! Formkey in its current state is designed more for use with DAWs like Logic, Reason, and Live. The transport controls are designed to be used in those DAWs as they do not have built in recording functionality as of now. But we are working on a lot of the functionality suggested here. Thanks again.

### 4/5 — Intriguing musical interface fun

*2020-11-23, version 1.0*

Interesting to work out the diatonic and chromatic scales. And then modulate them with the same patterns.

I’ll be pondering the shapes and how they work to make the system easier to understand. Looking forward to more exploration with this. 

Cool project! 🪗

### 5/5 — Something Different

*2020-10-27*

This is awesome! You can tell that this app is in it’s early stages but what’s here so far has really good design and aesthetics. It’s kind of early to tell but this maybe my favorite playing experience on the iPad. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

## Frequently asked questions about FormKey

### What is FormKey?

FormKey is a paid MIDI controller app for iPad that uses shapes and colors on an isomorphic keyboard to help musicians learn and create music more intuitively. It aims to improve pattern recognition and chord discovery.

### How much does FormKey cost?

FormKey is a paid application, priced at $2.99. This one-time purchase grants access to the app and all future updates.

### What devices does FormKey support?

FormKey is currently supported on iPads. It is designed to leverage the larger screen size and capabilities of tablet devices for its musical interface.

### Is FormKey suitable for beginners?

Yes, FormKey is designed to make music creation easier, especially for beginners. Its isomorphic keys and visual cues for notes and octaves aid in pattern recognition and discovering new chords.

### Does FormKey have ads?

No, FormKey does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted user experience focused on music creation.

### How often is FormKey updated?

FormKey was last updated on November 23, 2020, with version 1.0.2. The developer has committed to providing future updates to enhance the application.

### What is the age rating for FormKey?

FormKey has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content.

### What makes FormKey's keyboard unique?

FormKey features an isomorphic keyboard layout. This means musical intervals are represented consistently across the keyboard, aiding in learning and improvisation by making patterns transferable.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 2.0.2 — 2026-08-11

Bug fix. Small polish update to settings and learning view. Made common notation and interval overlays less intrusive.

Recently added in 2.0.1:
• Introducing Form, the first release of our visual notation language. Notes become shapes, colors, and simple durations, so you can learn to read and play music in minutes.
• Three new modes:
    – Create, a 16-track sequencer built on a classic drum machine workflow.
    – Learn, for reading and playing through classical pieces.
    – Control, for using FormKey with your external MIDI workflows.
• Two brand new AUv3 plugins that work in any host:
    – Tone, an interactive subtractive synth that makes synthesis make sense.
    – Wave, a file-based sampler for chopping your own audio.
• Scale mode to reshape the keyboard to 26 different scales.
• A refined interface across the app, making FormKey easier and more enjoyable to use.
• New pricing. Every feature in FormKey is now free to try. In celebration of our launch, a one-time $14.99 unlocks everything for the life of the app.

And if you already purchased FormKey, all of our updates are free for you, forever. You took a chance on this when it was just a small idea, and we will never forget. Thank you for being here from the start.

### 2.0 — 2026-07-29

From the beginning, FormKey was meant to be more than a MIDI controller. This release makes that vision real: a full music suite for creating, learning, and performing.

New in this version:
• Introducing Form, the first release of our visual notation language. Notes become shapes, colors, and simple durations, so you can learn to read and play music in minutes.
• Three new modes:
    – Create, a 16-track sequencer built on a classic drum machine workflow.
    – Learn, for reading and playing through classical pieces.
    – Control, for using FormKey with your external MIDI workflows.
• Two brand new AUv3 plugins that work in any host:
    – Tone, an interactive subtractive synth that makes synthesis make sense.
    – Wave, a file-based sampler for chopping your own audio.
• Scale mode to reshape the keyboard to 26 different scales.
• A refined interface across the app, making FormKey easier and more enjoyable to use.
• New pricing. Every feature in FormKey is now free to try. In celebration of our launch, a one-time $14.99 unlocks everything for the life of the app.

And if you already purchased FormKey, all of our updates are free for you, forever. You took a chance on this when it was just a small idea, and we will never forget. Thank you for being here from the start.

### 1.0.2 — 2020-11-23

- Added Dark Mode
- Minor bug fixes

### 1.0 — 2020-10-24

No release notes.

## Apps similar to FormKey

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [OPL AUv3 FM Synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opl-auv3-fm-synth/id1516617949) | 4.3 (23) | $9.99 | Music |
| [Aphelian](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aphelian/id1435855056) | 4.6 (43) | $11.99 | Music |
| [RF-1 Reverb](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rf-1-reverb/id1097763239) | 4.6 (12) | $5.99 | Music |
| [ChordMaps2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chordmaps2/id1098330720) | 4.2 (25) | $9.99 | Music |
| [RM-1 Wave Modulator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rm-1-wave-modulator/id1436855751) | 4.6 (18) | $9.99 | Music |
| [In Theory - Interval Keyboard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/in-theory-interval-keyboard/id1667984658) | 5.0 (4) | $4.99 | Music |

## More apps by Polyhedra

- [FormKey Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formkey-lite/id1539569904)

All apps by Polyhedra: https://appshunter.io/developer/1535350563

---

*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 2026-08-13.*
