Tanbur Sim vs Maqam
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tanbur Sim
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Immerse yourself in the deep and resonant tones of the tanbur, an iconic string instrument that holds a special place in Turkish and Middle Eastern classical music. Tanbur Sim brings the authentic sound of this ancient instrument to your fingertips, offering an engaging and realistic experience for musicians, learners, and enthusiasts alike. About the Tanbur The tanbur is a long-necked lute with a rich history in Turkish classical and Ottoman music. Known for its deep, mellow sound and extraordinary sustain, it has been a key instrument in maqam-based music traditions. With its delicate fretting and intricate finger techniques, the tanbur allows musicians to explore expressive melodies and create atmospheric compositions. Why You’ll Love Tanbur Sim Authentic Tanbur Sounds Enjoy meticulously sampled tanbur tones, capturing its rich, resonant, and expressive character. From deep bass notes to shimmering high tones, the app faithfully replicates the tanbur’s unique sound. Customizable Interface Adjust the key layout and tuning to suit your playing style. Whether you’re performing traditional maqams or exploring contemporary music, Tanbur Sim adapts to your preferences effortlessly. Three Dynamic Play Modes Free Play Mode: Play multiple strings simultaneously to create layered harmonies and flowing melodies. Single Note Mode: Focus on individual notes, ideal for mastering maqams and tanbur techniques. Soft Release Mode: Add a natural fade-out effect for smooth and authentic performances. Record Your Performances Capture your tanbur music effortlessly with the built-in recorder. Perfect for refining your skills, composing new pieces, or sharing your artistry. Share Your Music Easily share your tanbur performances with friends, family, or audiences worldwide to showcase the beauty of this traditional instrument. What Makes Tanbur Sim Unique? True-to-Life Sound: Every note replicates the tanbur’s deep, resonant tones, capturing its full emotional depth and musical range. Cultural Significance: Dive into the heritage of Turkish and Middle Eastern maqam music, exploring traditional and modern possibilities. Elegant Design: A sleek, intuitive interface ensures a seamless experience for musicians of all levels. Creative Freedom: Whether performing classical maqams or experimenting with fusion styles, Tanbur Sim inspires endless creativity. Download Tanbur Sim today and let the timeless sound of the tanbur inspire your music!
Maqam
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Maqam is a precision tuner and metronome for 24 Eastern stringed instruments and guitar, built for serious musicians who play makam music. INSTRUMENTS COVERED • Bağlama family: long-neck, short-neck (kısa sap), meydan sazı, divan sazı, çöğür, bozuk, tambura, bağlama curası, tambura curası • Ottoman classical: ud (Turkish + Arabic), kanun (24 perde groups), mızraplı tanbur, yaylı tanbur, klasik kemençe, Cüneyd Orhon kemençesi, lavta • Folk: cümbüş, Karadeniz kemençesi • Greek: bouzouki (trichordo + tetrachordo), lyra (Cretan + Pontian), baglamas • Levantine: buzuq (modern + Matar Muhammad) • Caucasus: Azerbaijani tar (11 strings + sympathetic) • Guitar: 6-string, 7-string, 8-string, 12-string AUTO STRING DETECTION Don't know which string you just plucked? Just play. Maqam listens to the incoming pitch and locks onto the closest tuning string within ±250 cents, then guides you to the exact target. Tap any string manually to override. ANALOG GAUGE A vintage half-circle needle gauge shows pitch deviation in cents. Green sweet-spot at ±15¢, red caution zones beyond. Bold, modern, no-nonsense. 90+ TUNING SYSTEMS • Bağlama: Bozuk Düzen, Bağlama Düzeni (Aşıklama), Misket, Müstezat, Hüseyni, Hüzzam, Sürmeli, Eviç, Abdal, Fidayda, Kayseri, Acemaşiran, Sabahi, Segâh, Kemençe, Zirgüle, Do Müstezat, and more • Ud: Klasik (Tanburi Cemil), Bam La, Bam Mi • Kanun: Çargâh Natural with all 24 AEU perde positions • Guitar: Standard, Eb, D, Drop D, Drop C, Double Drop D, DADGAD, Open G/D/E/A/C, Open D minor, Nashville, All Fourths, New Standard Tuning, lute/vihuela, baritone; 7-string B, Drop A, Russian, Brazilian; 8-string F#, Drop E; 12-string with every octave pair listed TSM TRANSPOSITIONS Concert pitch and TRT Türk Halk Müziği standards built in. Switch between La 220, Si bemol 233, Do 262 (TRT THM), and Re 294 reference frequencies on the fly. METRONOME Built-in metronome with time signatures 2/4 through 10/4, tap tempo, visual beat dots. LANGUAGES English, Türkçe, العربية, Ελληνικά, فارسی, Español, Italiano — switch any time in Settings. PRIVACY-FIRST Microphone audio never leaves your device. No analytics. No tracking. No account. No internet required. MAQAM PRO ($9.99 one-time) Unlock all 90+ tunings, 12 Bolahenk ahenk presets (Mansur, Kız, Süpürde, Bolahenk, etc.), AEU 24-perde notation display, 53-TET Holdrian koma precision, and recording. One purchase, lifetime access. Built with love for the Eastern music community. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://maqam.pro/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Maqam at none against Tanbur Sim's shown. Maqam also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months). Tanbur Sim's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Tanbur Sim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Maqam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Tanbur Sim ships an update every 5 months, Maqam every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tanbur Sim | Maqam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 118 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alper Kahriman | Alpgiray Kelem |
In-app purchases
Tanbur Sim
- Get Premium$7.99
Maqam
- Maqam Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Maqam Pro Lifetime$29.99









