the Craic

the Craic

Mobile tunes in abc notation

13 ratings
56 reviews
$4.99
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
January 6, 2013
Updated
April 15, 2026

Features

the Craic screenshot #1 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #2 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #3 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #4 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #5 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #6 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #7 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #8 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #9 for iPhone
the Craic screenshot #10 for iPhone
iphone
ipad
🖼️Get Icon
Icons↘︎

About

This app transforms your device into a portable digital tunebook, offering thousands of traditional tunes in ABC notation. Easily search, play, and organize music for various instruments, with options to create custom sets and collections. Import tunes from multiple sources and share them as ABC or PDF.

✓Searchable tune library
✓Create and play tune sets
✓Organize favorite tunes
✓Import ABC notation
✓Playback with tempo control
✓Edit ABC notation
✓Print and share tunes
Show original description

What users say about the Craic

See all reviews

What's New in the Craic

3.9.1

April 15, 2026

fixed a problem with reordering tunes in a set

5

Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Monthly supporter

Support the Craic on a monthly basis

$1.391 Month
7 Days trial
How to cancel the Craic subscription ⁉️

User reviews

Good basic reader

This is a solid app for creating, importing, and exporting tunes or books, and also for previewing them. My first gripe: if you import files written with an older abc spec it won’t read past the error—in fact it doesn’t even tell you what the error is. That means I have to “prep” it on EasyABC first. My second gripe: no support for multi voice (e.g. SATB grandstaff). It’s like they only included the most functionality of the code, and ABC is capable of doing so much more. But, for the MAIN reason I got it, it is more than adequate.
Show more

Small Note Heads

Why are all the note heads so small? Would be much easier with larger note heads.

Doesn’t cover Concertinas!

Good over all, but does not cover concertinas, especially CG Anglo Concertinas!

Err

App does import complete abc collection files properly. Not all abc tunes get imported.

Unique and Indispensable, with some glitches

Must have for anyone with more than a handful of tunes, and a great help when learning them - particularly for the musically challenged like myself. There’s nothing else quite like it on i(Pad)OS, and the latest version finally supports collections.
Would love to give 5 Stars but there are some nags:
- setting markers when selecting parts/bars for playback is unintuitive and capricious
- selections that start with pick-up notes don’t loop properly (there’s a short pause that messes up timing). Please fix!!
- multiply editing and saving a tune can create multiple copies
- GUI could be a bit more intuitive/standard in some places, although it by and large works really well.
Show more

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

28 issues

Won't read past errors in older ABC spec

Bug

Doesn't report ABC spec errors

Bug

No support for multi-voice (e.g., SATB grandstaff)

Bug

Small note heads

Bug

Does not cover concertinas

Bug

App freezes up

Bug

Not all ABC tunes get imported

Bug

Setting markers for playback is unintuitive

Bug

Selections with pick-up notes don't loop properly

Bug

Multiply editing/saving can create multiple copies

Bug

GUI could be more intuitive/standard

Bug

Freezes up when editing first/second endings

Bug

No iCloud sync for tunes

Bug

No bagpipe option in instrument selection

Bug

App freezes on download

Bug

Gets stuck in a loop during download

Bug

Does not support drum notation

Bug

With iOS 12, staff lines don't display

Bug

Latest version freezes after a couple of minutes

Bug

App freezes on download

Bug

Crashes when deleting tunes

Bug

Default library reappears after deleting all tunes

Bug

Does not allow playback of tunes

Bug

Less than 100 tunes initially

Bug

Does not play tunes

Bug

Too difficult for usage

Bug

Tunes not sortable into books/set lists

Bug

Does not play tunes

Bug
✨

Requested Features

32 requests

Support for multi-voice ABC notation

Feature

Larger note heads

Feature

Support for concertinas (especially CG Anglo)

Feature

Option to select tunes only from Favourites list

Feature

Option to rearrange items within a set

Feature

More intuitive marker setting for playback

Feature

Fix looping with pick-up notes

Feature

Prevent multiple copies when editing/saving

Feature

More intuitive/standard GUI elements

Feature

iCloud sync for tunes

Feature

Wider range for speed adjustment (slower)

Feature

Slight pause before tune starts playing

Feature

Drone note before tune starts

Feature

Choice of two or three GM instruments for playback

Feature

Light, bar, or dot that follows notes during playback

Feature

Provision to stop or interrupt downloads

Feature

Visually highlight notes as they play

Feature

Simpler way to add tunes to a set list

Feature

Groupings for different genres (Irish, Scottish, etc.)

Feature

More stability in the app

Feature

Ability to make entire library from zero

Feature

Export/import entire folder tree on cloud storage (Dropbox)

Feature

Read/write directly to ABC files on cloud storage

Feature

Ability to separate music by collections

Feature

Dark mode option

Feature

Advanced analytics dashboard

Feature

Support for drum notation

Feature

Support for bagpipes

Feature

Support for concertinas

Feature

Support for older ABC spec files

Feature

Better error reporting for ABC files

Feature

Support for SATB grandstaff

Feature

FAQ

What does the Craic app do?

The Craic app turns your iPad or iPhone into a portable digital tunebook. It allows you to search, display, and play thousands of traditional tunes written in ABC notation, ideal for instruments like fiddle, flute, and bagpipes.

What are the key features of the Craic app?

Key features include a searchable library of session tunes, the ability to create and play sets of tunes, organize favorite tunes into collections, import ABC notation from various sources, and edit ABC notation directly on your device. It also offers playback with tempo control and looping.

How much does the Craic app cost?

The app operates on a subscription model, offering monthly or yearly subscription options to support ongoing development. This subscription grants access to the app's features and tune library.

What devices is the Craic app compatible with?

The app is designed for iPad and iPhone, leveraging their portability for use as a digital tunebook. It fully supports external keyboards for easier ABC notation entry.

What kind of music can I find and play with this app?

The app specializes in traditional music, including Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton tunes. It's suitable for a wide range of instruments commonly used in folk music sessions, such as fiddle, flute, bagpipes, banjo, and accordion.