# GuideTone — Loop, slow & chart any song

> Musician's practice tool for looping, slowing, and isolating song parts. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Colon.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guidetone/id6782237670 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Michael Colon](https://appshunter.io/developer/6782237672)
- Category: Music
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 48 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-09
- Data updated: 2026-10-13
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guidetone/id6782237670/reviews.md

## What is GuideTone?

GuideTone turns any recording into your personal practice room.

A guide tone is the 3rd or the 7th of a chord — the note that tells you where the harmony is going, and the one worth hearing first.

That is the whole idea: show you what actually matters in a song, so the practice can start. Import a track, loop the hard parts, slow them down without changing the pitch, pull the band apart, and see the changes written out — all on your iPhone or iPad, and all without an internet connection.

WRITE YOUR OWN MUSIC
Start a new score with its key, time signature and tempo, then tap notes in on the piano and hear each one as it lands. Add dynamics, accents, slurs and chord symbols, lay out repeats and endings, copy and paste bars, or write a phrase through all twelve keys. Export a PDF to print, or a MusicXML file that opens in MuseScore, written for your instrument or at concert pitch.

OPEN SCORE FILES
Bring in a MusicXML or .mxl chart and read it engraved: as written or at concert pitch, one part at a time, with a tap on any note to hear it. Anything GuideTone can't draw yet is listed, and your original file is kept.

IMPORT MUSIC YOU OWN
Bring in tracks from Files, iCloud Drive, or AirDrop — MP3, M4A, WAV, AIFF, FLAC. GuideTone renders a clean waveform so you can see the music while you work. (Streaming subscription downloads are copy-protected and cannot be imported by any app.)

LOOP & SLOW DOWN
Set A/B markers and loop any passage. Change tempo and pitch independently, a fast lick at half speed without the chipmunk effect or a friendlier key, and ramp the tempo up rep by rep with the Speed Trainer.

ISOLATE THE PARTS (ON-DEVICE)
Split a song into 2, 4 or 6 stems right on your iPhone or iPad. Mute the vocals for karaoke, mute the melody and take the solo, or solo the drums to lock in your time. Nothing is uploaded.

SEE THE CHORDS
GuideTone listens to the song and writes out its chords, laid out bar by bar on a Chord Ribbon that follows along as it plays. Choose a Pop or Jazz vocabulary. Wrong chord? Correct the label, set its exact spelling, or retime it by hand — your edit sticks.

READ THE WORDS
GuideTone listens to a song and writes down its lyrics on your iPhone or iPad, each word lined up to the audio. Read them as a chord sheet, or open the Karaoke page to read from across the room: each word lights as it's sung and the page turns itself. Tap a word to jump there, hold a line to loop it, and fix a word right in the sheet.

READ IT ON THE STAFF
Open the Chart to read the chords on a properly engraved lead sheet that follows the playhead, re-engraves when you transpose, and takes your edits right on the page. Engraved or handwritten-jazz notation, your choice. Tap Edit to write your own notes on it in the Transcription Editor.

KNOW THE SHAPES
Every chord in the song, drawn for guitar and for piano — and they sound when you touch them. Switch benches to see the same chord either way, with the positions and inversions laid out beneath it.

CAST THE WORDS TO A TV
Cast the Karaoke page to a TV or a second screen, with words lighting as they're sung and chords in time, while your iPhone or iPad stays the remote.

RECORD YOUR TAKES
Play along and capture it with a built-in count-in, then balance the backing against your mic before you save.

EDIT LIKE A PRO
A live, non-destructive audio editor: cut, copy, paste, fade, gain, one-tap normalize and snap to the beat. Hear every change at once, then save, or save a copy.

TUNER & METRONOME
A precise chromatic tuner and a sample-locked metronome are built in, and the song's own tempo and beats set the metronome and the count-in.

EVERYTHING STAYS ON YOUR iPhone or iPad
Your audio, your recordings, and your practice happen on-device. No account required.

PRICING
Try every feature free for 14 days. After that, unlock GuideTone forever with a single one-time purchase — no subscription. Restore Purchases is built in.

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

## Key features

- Import songs from various sources
- Loop and slow down audio sections
- Isolate or mute instruments on-device
- Record practice takes with built-in console
- Non-destructive audio editing
- Chromatic tuner and metronome

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WoodShed Lifetime Unlock | $29.99 | one-time |


## Is GuideTone safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess GuideTone.

## Is GuideTone legit?

GuideTone has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for GuideTone is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guidetone/id6782237670/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Actually pretty good

*2026-09-12*

I was pretty skeptical at first because almost every other music app wants a subscription just to do basic stuff. Bought this last week to learn some tracks for a gig and it works great.
I can split audio right on my phone and slow things way down so to play at my level. chord finder messes up sometimes on wierd jazz chords but you can just edit it yourself. I’m just happy it isnt another BS subscription I have to pay.

### 5/5 — Everything I’ve been looking for!

*2026-08-16*

I’ve been searching for an app that slows down songs in order to learn jazz guitar solos. This one not only does that perfectly but also has excellent isolation capabilities. Every time I use it I find another useful feature that I can use. 
I’ve tried quite a few similar apps but this one is by far the best and easiest to use! Hats off to the developer!

### 5/5 — Great for Musicians, Students and Teachers!

*2026-08-05*

I’ve been a professional musician and educator for the last quarter of a century and just started using this app in the last couple of weeks and without exaggeration it has fundamentally changed the playing field!  I grew up using a metronome, a very famous brand of book with CD, and have tried every practice tool under the sun including similar apps, but I’ve never been more excited to hit the Woodshed (clever name) as I am now.  In a single app I can do the following.

1. Change tempo in increments of 1% manually without it getting distorted like on Youtube.
2. Change keys, so if I want to have a backing track for ANY tune playing in ANY key it can do it with just the click of a button.  This makes shedding phrases or entire songs in 12 keys a breeze.
3. Detect full 7th chords (No other app does this for some reason)
4. Create editable charts from said chords if you want a lead sheet, and if for some reason the app detects it wrong or you didn’t like a reharm the pianist did you can always override it.
5. Loop, cut and paste the track.  This could be helpful for composers, but for me it let’s me repeat a bridge on an AABA tune a few times for every chorus.
6. Use a "speed trainer" that can increase the tempo from a given percentage after a select numbers of repeats either in the song, a loop or in the built in metronome.  I literally was transcribing a solo this week, set it to 60% tempo where I could hang after learning the whole thing and then just set it to loop and increase tempo 2% every three repeats.  Gone are the days of having to use the forward and back arrows on my audio player and manually having to change tempos on YouTube in 5% increments!  Did I mention, it seems not to distort at all?!?
7. Isolate each instrument into a separate track so you can hear only the one instrument you're trying to learn by ear OR remove a single instrument to play along with the rest of the band.
8. Record yourself with the backing track.  This is going to be INCREDIBLY useful for getting my students’ All State and college audition materials. 9. It also has a built-in tuner, cool bonus!

The last thing I wanted to note is that I provided them some feedback about being able to save the changes I made to a track, specifically the key, and they already made that update happen!  
I’d give this app 10/5 stars if I could!

## Frequently asked questions about GuideTone

### What is the short name for WoodShed Music?

The short name for WoodShed Music is WoodShed. This is derived from the full name 'WoodShed Music' by removing the subtitle and any punctuation.

### How much does WoodShed Music cost?

WoodShed Music is free to try for 14 days, offering access to all features. After the trial, a single one-time purchase unlocks the app permanently. There are no subscriptions required.

### Does WoodShed Music have ads?

No, WoodShed Music does not contain advertisements. The app is designed to provide an uninterrupted practice experience for musicians.

### What devices is WoodShed Music available on?

WoodShed Music is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. The app is designed to work seamlessly across these Apple devices.

### How often is WoodShed Music updated?

WoodShed Music was last updated on August 2, 2026, with version 1.1.8. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support.

### Can I use WoodShed Music offline?

Yes, WoodShed Music can be used entirely offline. All audio processing, including instrument isolation, happens on your device without requiring an internet connection.

### What are the main benefits of using WoodShed Music for practice?

WoodShed Music allows musicians to focus on difficult song sections by looping and slowing them down without altering pitch. It also enables instrument isolation for targeted practice and provides recording capabilities.

### Is WoodShed Music suitable for beginners?

Yes, WoodShed Music is suitable for musicians of all levels. Its intuitive interface and powerful features, like the tuner and metronome, aid in learning and refining musical skills.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.0 — 2026-10-06

GuideTone 2.1: write notes on your own songs.

Open a song's Chart and tap Edit. The Transcription Editor opens over your recording, on the song's own bars, so a melody, a solo or a riff you write lines up with what you hear. Tap Write, pick a note value and play the piano. The first note in a bar of slashes turns the rest of that bar into rests, ready for the next. The song's chords, its key and time signature from any bar, marks and phrases are all on the same page. Tap a note to hear it on the piano, and play the song underneath to check what you wrote against what was played.

Everything on the Chart now saves as you go, on the staff and on Karaoke alike: there's no Save or Discard anymore. Tap Done to leave, and Undo steps back through your changes in the order you made them.

When it's ready, ⋯ then Export… on the Chart sends the song's chart with your notes onto paper as a PDF, or to another app as a MusicXML file that opens in MuseScore.

Also in this release:

- A Bluetooth or AirPlay speaker plays a little late, so the chords and the words could change before you heard them. Now GuideTone tells you when one connects, and Settings → Speakers sets how much later they follow — remembered for each speaker.
- Read the Chart at one of five staff sizes, from the Chart's settings or with ⌘+ and ⌘− on a Mac. Each song keeps its own.
- The song's key has moved from the Chart's settings to Edit, under Key & tempo, beside the time signature: set either for the whole song or from any bar. A song without a beat grid keeps its key in the Chart's settings.
- The note-value keys now count along the row of buttons, 1 the whole note to 6 the 32nd; pick MuseScore under Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts for the old digits.
- A new guided tour in Help, Write notes on your song, walks the page.

### 2.0.0 — 2026-10-01

GuideTone 2.0: write your own music, and export it.

Tap Add in the Library, then New score. Pick a key, a time signature and a tempo, and start writing: tap notes in on the piano, or on a Mac type them from the keyboard, and hear each one as it lands. Note values, dots, rests, ties and triplets are a tap away. Add dynamics, accents, slurs and hairpins; write chord symbols over the beats; change key, meter or tempo from any bar; and lay out the form with repeats, first and second endings, segno, coda, D.S. and D.C. Copy, cut and paste bars, or write a phrase through all twelve keys in one go. Everything saves as you work, and Undo takes back any step.

When it's ready, export it: a PDF fitted to the number of pages you choose, ready to print, or a MusicXML file that opens in MuseScore, written for your instrument or at concert pitch.

GuideTone also opens the charts notation apps make. Bring in a MusicXML or .mxl file from Add, or straight from the Files app on iPad, and it appears in your Library as a score of its own, engraved on the page. A transposing part reads as its author wrote it, or at concert pitch. Tap any note to hear it, and tap Edit to change it. Anything the file carries that GuideTone doesn't draw yet is listed under Not shown yet, and your original file is kept.

New to it? Help has a guided tour, Write your first bar, and a Help page for every part of the Composer.

Also in this release:

- The Mixer has its own play button, so the song keeps running while you set the levels. On a Mac, Space plays and pauses it too.
- The Chart's player minimizes with the arrows on its tab and stays where you put it, from song to song.
- The Chart draws at one size across the full page again; a wider window gives each bar more room.
- The Metronome sets its time signature on two wheels.
- The Trainer walks you in: set a loop, then turn on the speed trainer or the key trainer.
- With Reduce Motion on, GuideTone's screens and sheets fade in place instead of sliding.

### 1.13.0 — 2026-09-11

Guidetone now puts the words on the TV.

Open a song with lyrics, and when there is a TV or a second screen to go to, a Stage button appears beside Record. Pick where the words go and the Lyrics page goes up big enough to read from across the room: words lighting as they are sung, chords in time above them, while the device in your hand stays the remote for play, loops and tempo. It works over a cable or AirPlay Screen Mirroring, and on a Mac on any screen it has, its own included. If the words land a hair early or late, Lyrics timing trims them and remembers it.

On iPhone and iPad you can also cast to a Chromecast or Google TV and choose Sound on the TV: the TV plays the song, this device goes quiet, and its own lyrics follow the room.

Karaoke rides along: on a song you have separated, turn on Sing along in the Stage picker and the vocals drop out while the words stay up on the wall.

Also in this release:

- Detect lyrics now asks what to listen to, the whole mix or the vocals alone, in place of Quick and Thorough.
- Guided tours for Lyrics and the Chord Guide, plus new Help articles on lyrics, the Stage and chords. Tours you have finished are marked, and you can take them again.
- In the chart, the tucked-away player has its own play button, with the pin right beside it.
- Recording through an AirPlay speaker now warns you that it adds delay, as Bluetooth already did.

One thing changes on iPhone and iPad: while Guidetone is open or playing, Screen Mirroring to a TV shows Guidetone's Stage screen instead of a copy of the app. Connect the Stage from the picker to put your lyrics there.

### 1.12.0 — 2026-09-07

Guidetone now hears the words.

Press Detect lyrics and the app transcribes what is sung, on your device, then lines every word up with the audio. You get two readings of the same song: a chord sheet with the words under the changes, and a Prompter you can read from a music stand across the room.

The Prompter is built for playing rather than scrolling. Words light up as they are sung, the page turns itself a phrase at a time, and you pick the reading size for where you actually stand. Chords sit in time above the words on a bar ladder you can touch: tap to scrub, drag to loop, hold to drop a marker, and fix a chord where you see it. If a word comes back wrong, correct it in place. Words appear as soon as they are heard, while the timing is still being sharpened, so you read a page instead of watching a progress bar.

Also in this release:

- Setting a song up is far faster, and the wait finally tells the truth: real progress, a time estimate, and a Cancel that stops it.
- The Mixer opens straight from the transport, so you can pull the vocal down without leaving the chart.
- The Library has a proper Import button, and an import that names what it is working on and can be cancelled.

One thing is gone: tapping the time signature on the engraved page no longer opens its own dialog. Feel and Reset to detected moved into the Meter tool, where the bars are. Shift beat 1 is retired outright — if a song's downbeat lands a beat off, re-detect it.

### 1.11.0 — 2026-08-31

WoodShed is now Guidetone.

Same app, same one-time purchase, and every project, recording and saved loop exactly where you left it — a new name for the tools you already use. A guide tone is the 3rd or the 7th of a chord: the note that tells you where the harmony is going, and the one worth hearing first. It is what this app has always been for.

Also in this release:

- All Fourths tuning (E A D G C F) joins the tuner and the playable neck — every adjacent pair is a perfect fourth, so one fingering carries all the way up.
- The Chord Guide's guitar/piano switch is now a proper slider. The piano diagrams were always there; now they are impossible to miss.
- Turning the play-along on no longer drops the track out mid-song.

One thing is gone: the mixer's MAIN fader is retired. It scaled everything by a single number, which is what your device's own volume already does — so the desk is narrower and covers less of your song.

You will be asked to accept the Terms once on first launch, because the app's name changed inside them.

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*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 2026-10-13.*