# Twelve Tone — Composition and Analysis Tool

> Music composition and dodecaphonic analysis tool for musicians and educators. (iPhone/iPad app by Patrick Q. Kelly.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twelve-tone/id411708898 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Patrick Q. Kelly](https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 16 App Store ratings · 8 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 50 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-01-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twelve-tone/id411708898/reviews.md

## What is Twelve Tone?

An extensive music composition and analysis tool. An indispensable resource for any musician or music teacher interested in dodecaphonic and set theory analysis.

• Enter a tone row by touching the staff or playing the piano keyboard. 
• It lets you know if any notes are repeated by highlighting both notes, checking enharmonic values regardless of octave or accidentals.
• Automatically creates the Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion Magic Square.
• Constantly updates the Interval Vectors and Circular Analysis of the tone row as you edit it.

• Save your rows (rows may contain from 1 to 12 notes), complete with name and current P, R, I, RI matrix markings. Saved rows appear in a list with their name and midi numbers to help you identify them.
• Share a pdf of the notation, piano keyboard, and circular analysis.
• Watch and listen to your row played with a selected rhythm pattern.
• Playback:
- Prime
- Prime then Retrograde
- Retrograde then Prime
- Retrograde
- Inversion
- Inversion then Retrograde Inversion
- Retrograde Inversion then Inversion
- Retrograde Inversion
• Each can be repeated and transposed with each iteration.
• The Root is kept within an octave above and below the original pitch when looping and transposing.

• Matrix Audio: Hear the pitches as you mark them in the matrix square. The marks indicate the row form in which the pitch belonged; Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion.

• Lock the prime row and transpose it to C to use the Absolute Pitch Method for row labeling in the matrix.

Comes preloaded with the following rows:
  Alban Berg's Lyric Suite 
  Babbitt's Composition for Four Instruments 
  Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra Op.31 
  Schoenberg's Piano Piece Op.33a 
  Webern's Concerto Op.24 
  Webern's Piano Variations Op.27 
  Webern's String Quartet Op.28

## Key features

- Enter tone rows via staff or piano keyboard
- Automatic generation of Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, RI matrices
- Real-time Interval Vectors and Circular Analysis updates
- Save and manage tone rows with names and markings
- Share PDF of notation, keyboard, and analysis
- Listen to row playback with selected rhythm patterns
- Matrix audio playback for pitch identification

## Recent user reviews (8 of 8)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twelve-tone/id411708898/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Difficult to use

*2021-05-25*

Maybe I’m not looking at the right part but it’s very hard to do anything

### 4/5 — Somewhat Limited

*2019-12-28*

A reasonable app’ but somewhat limited and, though reasonable, is not entirely intuitive .

### 4/5 — Super Update

*2015-07-12*

Danke für das Update. Jetzt kann man einigen Nutzen aus der Verwendung der App ziehen.
Einige Wünsche bleiben offen:
- Bedienungserklärung/Hilfe in der App
- Export nach MIDI
- Grafischer Notenexport auch mit den Varianten der Reihe (Krebs, Umkehrung etc).
Aber es wird immer besser. ;)

### 5/5 — Manual

*2013-08-19*

Hi Patrick. Can you put together a manual for the Twelve Tone app? It's a cool looking app, but I need help with the interface. Do you have a website or a walk through tutorial? Thanks!

### 5/5 — Fantastic!!!

*2012-09-17*

What a bold and beautiful app for the musically daring. I can put my scales and melodic pattern books away now.
Please add a loop function and the ability to play the full range of the piano or tone row.
Very Cool.......Thanks!
Ed.
The update made a great app even better! I'm a composer this app is not for amateurs but for musicians and composers looking to unlock ideas beyond traditional scales and chords. This is by far the best app on this subject on the app store. Another Cool update......Great!!

### 5/5 — from the developer

*2012-04-07*

you can change the timing of the notes by touching the note value in the control bar. - a popover appears with many options. - these are for playback. - not notation. rewriting the notes as different values seems a pointless feature for this app. so the playback IS changeable. just not the appearance on the staff. press the play button and hear the rhythmic pattern you chose. I hope you try it and update your "review"

### 2/5 — Not impressed

*2012-03-06*

No way to change timing of notes, only whole notes could be used.  Help menu was worthless in my efforts to fix,  save your money.

### 5/5 — Unique and incredible teaching tool!

*2011-07-27*

I lecture in music, recording and composition at a large institution (dBs Music, Plymouth, UK) in both FE and HE sectors and Patrick's apps are just incredible for teaching with. There are plenty of coders writing music apps in the App Store but his show the unique musical insights only an expert and practicing musician would have. Amazing stuff. Amazing value. You will turn to these apps time and time again. Buy.

## Frequently asked questions about Twelve Tone

### What is Twelve Tone used for?

Twelve Tone is an extensive music composition and analysis tool. It is designed for musicians and music teachers interested in dodecaphonic and set theory analysis, allowing for the creation and manipulation of tone rows.

### How do I enter a tone row in Twelve Tone?

You can enter a tone row by touching the staff directly on your device. On iPad, you also have the option to play the piano keyboard to input notes.

### Does Twelve Tone check for repeated notes?

Yes, Twelve Tone alerts you to any repeated notes by highlighting them. It also checks enharmonic values, disregarding octave and accidentals to ensure accurate analysis.

### Can I save my compositions in Twelve Tone?

Yes, you can save your tone rows, which can contain between 1 and 12 notes. Saved rows are stored with their name and current matrix markings, appearing in a list with MIDI numbers for easy identification.

### What sharing options are available in Twelve Tone?

Twelve Tone allows you to share a PDF of your composition's notation, the piano keyboard (on iPad), and the circular analysis. This makes it easy to distribute your work or analysis.

### How does Twelve Tone handle playback?

Twelve Tone offers comprehensive playback options for your tone rows, including Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion. Each can be repeated and transposed, with the root kept within an octave of the original pitch.

### What is the price of Twelve Tone?

Twelve Tone is available for a one-time purchase of $4.99. This grants you full access to all its composition and analysis features.

### What devices is Twelve Tone compatible with?

Twelve Tone is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. It requires iOS 4.0 or later.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.0 — 2026-06-22

Added Piano to iPhone. Updated User Interface. Minor updates and stability improvements.

### 5.1 — 2019-02-04

Added Interval Vectors and Circular Diagram.  Bug fixes and other essential updates.

### 5.0 — 2018-05-25

Looping transpositions. Interface updates. Derivation selection doesn't change the row, allowing you to create derivative rows that include inversion and retrograde variations. PDF creation is improved. Other minor fixes and improvements.

### 4.0 — 2015-07-11

Massive overhaul, many additional features and improvements. 
Added iPhone support (now it's a Universal App)
Share pdf of notation and magic square to email, printer, iMessage, etc.

### 3.0 — 2012-09-01

Improved audio, user interface, graphics, and performance.
Added features.

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## More apps by Patrick Q. Kelly

- [Maestro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maestro/id310068984)
- [Maestro Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maestro-lite/id313724078)
- [Bored](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bored/id324715902)
- [SMPTE Score](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smpte-score/id343770624)
- [Lock Master](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-master/id348792868)
- [Fingering](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fingering/id353809211)

All apps by Patrick Q. Kelly: https://appshunter.io/developer/310068987

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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 2026-08-26.*