# Talking Tuner

> Sound-activated, talking chromatic tuner for musical instruments. (iPhone/iPad app by HotPaw Productions.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-tuner/id421065079 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [HotPaw Productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853)
- Category: Music, Utilities
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 3.50/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 32 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.4 · 1 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-02-26
- Data updated: 2026-09-09
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-tuner/id421065079/reviews.md

## What is Talking Tuner?

HotPaw Talking Tuner is a hands-off, sound-activated, talking, chromatic, musical instrument tuner.  It talks to tell you if your instrument is in tune or not; so you don't even have to look at it or touch the display.  Talking Tuner uses speech synthesis, and works with or without VoiceOver being enabled.

This app was created because I received a request to develop an iPhone app which could help a vision-challenged individual tune their musical instrument.  This app is the result.

With the Auto-Speak switch turned on, Talking Tuner will listen for a note to be played, and then, after waiting for the end of the sound (so as not to talk over it), will speak the note name, and how many cents sharp or flat the end of the note is estimated to be.  

Using headphones may help make it easier to hear what this app is saying while tuning.  Make sure to turn the volume up high enough to hear it.

The pitch estimation algorithm works best for notes between 2 octaves below Middle-C to 2 octaves above Middle-C.  It may not work as well for very low notes, very high notes, or with any background noise, harmony, or accompaniment present.  The default tuning resolution is about +- 3 cents (3/100ths of the pitch difference between semitones).   Optional higher resolution tuning settings may result in a slower tuning response.

## Key features

- Sound-activated tuning
- Auditory feedback (speaks note and pitch)
- Hands-free operation
- Chromatic tuning
- Adjustable tuning resolution
- Works with or without VoiceOver

## Recent user reviews (10 of 32)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-tuner/id421065079/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Works great

*2026-08-10*

As a blind person, I’ve been searching for a tuner that talks back and gives feedback. This simple app is very affordable and works great. I’m able to tune all my guitars to be in sync with each other which helps when I have friends come over who want to jam.

### 1/5 — App does not talk back even with the Ope switch on.

*2024-01-01*

I came across this app on a YouTube video, because I am a blind, super beginner guitarist. I cannot get the app to talk back to me even with or without headphones.

### 5/5 — Thank you works great!

*2023-12-29*

I’m a blind guitarist who’s been playing for 31 years  and this app works perfect. Highly recommend it. Please keep updating the app to work on the latest version of iOS. Thank you so much Ronald!

### 5/5 — Don’t know what I would do without it

*2023-10-22*

I’m totally blind, and couldn’t play guitar without it. I love it. I’m writing this review to ask if you would please consider making this in an Apple Watch app. That would be awesome. Thanks again.

### 5/5 — Bestes Stimmgerät nicht nur für blinde Musiker

*2022-09-17*

Ich unterrichte blinde Menschen seit Jahren Musik. Die App erlaubt es genau zu stimmen und der Nutzer bekommt, leider nur auf Englisch, den Hinweis, ob die Seite zu hoch oder zu niedrig gestimmt ist. Leider wird dies immer erst nach dem Update von der Seite angesagt. Ist etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Aber so können auch blinde Anfänger Saiteninstrumente gestimmt zu Hause üben.

### 3/5 — 発声しない

*2022-08-17*

弦を弾くと聞き取った音の高さを文字で表示しますが、合成音声による発声はありません
なお、関係ある川分かりませうが設定アプリの通知項目に本アプリは表示されませ

### 5/5 — A must for the Severely Sight Impaired (SSI) Guitar Player…

*2022-04-17*

It is just great to find an app that quite simply does the job.  Although I need to use VoiceOver to navigate to the app and open it, it has its own voice engine providing tuning feedback.

Tip for guitar tuning using this app:  Pick your string then mute the string with your palm for quick feedback.

### 1/5 — Waste of money

*2021-08-30*

Complete waste of time and money

### 3/5 — Nice to find something like this

*2021-03-12*

I’m learning mandolin, and it’s nice to be able to have a tuner that I can use without being able to see. First time I started the application on my iPhone/iPad, it did not work, but force quitting and restarting changed it. Voice is clear and understandable because it works with voiceover on. For some reason it kept saying that my g was six cents too short, and then when I have done nothing with it but came back later on it said it was in tune. Any suggestions on how close the instrument should be to the phone? Nice  update would be an option to have instant speech feedback instead of waiting for the end of the note, which would be useful when wearing headphones and would not create interference.

### 1/5 — Unintelligible and Unusable

*2021-01-26*

This app is a great idea but the talking feedback is waaay too fast to understand making this app unusable. Too bad. My guitar-playing husband is blind and really needed it to work.

## Frequently asked questions about Talking Tuner

### How accurate is Talking Tuner?

The default tuning resolution is approximately +/- 3 cents, which is 3/100ths of the pitch difference between semitones. Higher resolution settings are available but may result in a slower tuning response.

### What musical notes can Talking Tuner accurately detect?

The pitch estimation algorithm works best for notes between two octaves below Middle-C and two octaves above Middle-C. It may not perform as well for very low or very high notes.

### Can Talking Tuner be used with background noise?

The app's performance may be affected by background noise, harmony, or accompaniment. For best results, it is recommended to use the app in a quiet environment.

### What devices does Talking Tuner support?

Talking Tuner is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It was released on February 26, 2011, and its latest version is 1.4.4, last updated on June 4, 2021.

### What is the age rating for Talking Tuner?

Talking Tuner has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 4 and older.

### How does Talking Tuner provide feedback?

When the Auto-Speak switch is on, Talking Tuner listens for a note, waits for it to end, and then speaks the note name and how many cents sharp or flat it is.

### Is Talking Tuner accessible for visually impaired users?

Yes, Talking Tuner was specifically developed to assist vision-challenged individuals in tuning their instruments. It uses speech synthesis and functions with or without VoiceOver enabled.

### What is the price of Talking Tuner?

Talking Tuner is a paid application, available for $0.99. It does not feature in-app purchases or advertisements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.4 — 2021-06-04

Adjustments for better compatibility with the newest iOS devices

### 1.4.3 — 2018-02-15

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Bug fix for iPhone 5s and audio input issues.
Updated for iOS 11.

### 1.4.2 — 2018-02-12

Updated for iOS 11, plus bug fixes.

### 1.4.1 — 2017-06-28

Updated for iOS 10.   This update includes a bug fix for a disappearing auto-speak issue.

The previous version 1.3.2 update included:
An audible strobe option for extremely fine tuning. (This mode produces an audible periodic ticking sound based on small shifts due to slight frequency differences.  This added sound effect an be switched on or off in your devices iOS Settings app).

### 1.3.2 — 2015-10-06

Bug fixes for iOS 9.
Enhancements for the new faster iPhone 6s audio sample rates.
Added an audible strobe tick sound option (can be switched on in the iOS Settings app).

## Apps similar to Talking Tuner

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Pitched Tuner - Tuning App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pitched-tuner-tuning-app/id1457541750) | 4.6 (5,144) | Free | Music |
| [Pitch Pro Tuner & Metronome](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pitch-pro-tuner-and-metronome/id1169667039) | 4.6 (2,682) | Free | Music |
| [Tuner Lite by Piascore](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tuner-lite-by-piascore/id635828559) | 4.5 (9,949) | Free | Music |
| [TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonalenergy-tuner-and-metronome/id497716362) | 4.8 (57,709) | $6.99 | Music |
| [Metronome+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metronome-plus/id434136233) | 4.5 (1,199) | Free | Music |
| [Tuner T1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tuner-t1/id453056916) | 4.5 (10,205) | Free | Music |

## More apps by HotPaw Productions

- [inTuna Strobe Guitar Tuner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/intuna-strobe-guitar-tuner/id285074850)
- [Sing-inTuna](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sing-intuna/id294767812)
- [HotPaw Basic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotpaw-basic/id295464266)
- [MorseTest](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/morsetest/id297010360)
- [XOCubed (3D Tic Tac Toe)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xocubed-3d-tic-tac-toe/id303500525)
- [iAutoharp](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iautoharp/id304091719)

All apps by HotPaw Productions: https://appshunter.io/developer/285074853

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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 2026-09-09.*