Tempi ($1.99)
When you need a tempo on the go, Tempi is for you. Offering accurate tempos (something missing from a few iPhone metronomes) and an easy to use interface, Tempi can’t be beat (sorry). It also features a Tap mode for calculating tempos. If you’re looking for a larger visual display of the beat, check out Visual Metronome ($1.99).
7 Chords ($1.99)
Don’t let the name fool you. 7 Chords is one of the easiest to use and most complete chord dictionaries available on the iPhone. With just a spin of a wheel, track down those tough-to-memorize chords in all positions, along with the components of each chord (root, 3, 5, etc.). Best of all, the interface is clean and easy to read, so you won’t have to strain your eyes to find what you’re looking for. If you want to hear the chords, check out Chord Pro ($1.99).
Transpose (FREE)
Unless you’re working in Nashville, it can be tough to jump keys in the middle of a jam session. For those who find the concept difficult, Transpose will prove to be a gig-saver. Simple enough, it can transpose a key in either numeric steps or semitone forms. Be lost no more.
Guitar Toolkit ($9.99)
If you’re looking for the ultimate all-in-one reference tool that includes a tuner and metronome, check out the Guitar Toolkit. Featuring myriad scales in a variety of tunings, over 260 chord maps with 1300 variations, a tuner, a metronome, and even an interactive fretboard to plunk around on, the Toolkit is a complete solution for the busy guitarist. If you only need a scale reference, formatted in easy to read tab, check out Scale Buddy ($1.99).
Oblique Strategies (FREE)
Songwriting isn’t all fun and games—sometimes you run up against a particularly tough case of writer’s block that just won’t crack. Our secret: Oblique Strategies. Originally designed in 1975 by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, the iPhone version features a full deck of cards, each carrying a cryptic, oblique message that will encourage you to look at your creative problem differently. Voice your suspicions. Ask your body. Be less critical. Give it a try.