# Talking Tuner

> Music

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id421065079](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id421065079)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id421065079`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** HotPaw Productions
- **Category:** Music
- **Rating:** 3.50 / 5 (15 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.4.4
- **Last updated:** 2021-06-04
- **First published:** 2011-02-26
- **Size:** 554 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-10
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/talking-tuner/id421065079)
- **Website:** [http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw/](http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw/)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw/app\_privacy\_policy/](http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw/app_privacy_policy/)

## Description

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.

## Rankings

- #313,166 — Overall

## Review summary

Talking Tuner is highly valued for accessibility and ease of use, with accurate tuning readings across instruments and good value. Common drawbacks are that the spoken feedback can be fast or hard to understand at times, and pitch detection can be inconsistent, occasionally requiring restarts. When it functions well, it’s a transformative tool for blind musicians.

### Pros

- Excellent accessibility: the app provides spoken feedback for tuning, making it usable for blind and visually impaired musicians.
- Very easy to use with a clean, simple interface; requires only playing to get a reading.
- Accurate pitch detection when it works, comparable to dedicated tuners.
- Works across multiple instruments (guitar, mandolin, ukulele, banjo, etc.).
- Great value for money; users feel it’s worth the price.

### Cons

- Speech output can be too fast or unclear, making it hard to understand for some notes.
- Pitch detection is not always reliable and can fail to hear the pitch, sometimes requiring a restart.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id421065079)