Toolbox
Apps, platforms and resources we think every blues musician should know about.
Practice & Ear Training
Tools that help you learn songs, slow down recordings and train your ear.
Moises
AI Stem Separation for Any Song
Upload or stream any track and Moises uses AI to split it into separate stems — guitar, vocals, bass, drums, harmonica. Isolate the part you want to learn, remove the guitar to play over the rest, slow it down or change the key without losing quality.
Free tier available — Pro plan ~$3.99/month
Transcribe!
The Musician's Slow-Downer
A desktop application built specifically for learning music by ear. Slow down any recording without changing pitch, loop sections, add markers and use the spectrum analyser to figure out tricky chords.
One-time purchase — ~$39, no subscription
Anytune
Practice Perfected on Mobile
A mobile app that lets you slow down songs, loop sections and change pitch — ideal for learning licks on the go. Simple, clean interface. Connects to your music library so there's no uploading.
Free basic version — Pro upgrade ~$14.99 one-time
Yousician
Game-Style Guitar Lessons with Live Feedback
Yousician listens to your playing through the microphone and gives real-time feedback, like a video game for guitar. Lessons include blues basics — the 12-bar, pentatonic scale, bending and shuffles.
Free tier with limited daily practice — Premium ~$9.99/month
Backing Tracks & Jamming
Virtual bands and backing tracks so you can practise soloing and rhythm.
iReal Pro
A Virtual Band in Your Pocket
Create chord charts and iReal Pro generates a realistic backing band — bass, drums, piano, guitar comping — that plays along in any key, tempo and feel. Comes with hundreds of jazz and blues standards.
One-time purchase — ~$14.99 (mobile) / ~$24.99 (desktop)
Band-in-a-Box
Full Backing Arrangements in Any Blues Style
Type in chords, pick a style — Chicago shuffle, Texas swing, Delta acoustic, jump blues — and Band-in-a-Box generates a full arrangement with real instrument recordings.
Starts at ~$149 — extensive style library, deep customisation
Tabs & Notation
Read, write and play along with tablature and sheet music.
Songsterr
Interactive Tabs That Play Along
A huge library of guitar and bass tabs that play back as you read them — you hear each part in sync with the notation. Useful for learning blues standards, classic riffs and solos.
Free with ads — Plus plan ~$9.99/month removes limits
Guitar Pro
Write, Read and Play Tablature & Sheet Music
The standard software for creating and reading guitar tablature with realistic playback. Write out your own arrangements, slow them down for practice, and share files with other players.
One-time purchase — ~$79.95 (desktop)
MuseScore
Free, Open-Source Music Notation
A full-featured notation editor that's completely free and open source. Write sheet music for any instrument — guitar, harmonica, piano, horns. Especially useful for students and horn arrangers.
Completely free — open source, no limits
Gear & Gadgets
Hardware and apps that shape your tone, keep you in tune and keep time.
Boss Katana / Positive Grid Spark
Smart Practice Amps with Built-In Blues Tones
Modern practice amps controlled from an app, with hundreds of amp models and effects. Both include convincing blues tones — from clean Fender sparkle to cranked Marshall crunch.
Boss Katana from ~$229 / Spark from ~$299
IK Multimedia iRig + AmpliTube
Plug Your Guitar into Your Phone
The iRig is a small audio interface that connects your guitar to a phone, tablet or computer. Pair it with AmpliTube for a portable practice rig with dozens of amp and pedal models.
iRig from ~$49 — AmpliTube has a free tier
Peterson StroboClip / Soundbrenner Pulse
Precision Tuning and a Metronome You Feel
The Peterson StroboClip is the most accurate clip-on tuner — essential for slide players. The Soundbrenner Pulse vibrates the beat on your wrist, so you feel the tempo without hearing a click.
StroboClip ~$59 / Soundbrenner Pulse ~$99
Blues Harmonica Starter Set
Hohner Special 20 / Seydel 1847 in the Essential Keys
A starter set of four diatonic harmonicas in A, C, G and D covers most blues situations. The Hohner Special 20 is the workhorse. The Seydel 1847 is a step up with stainless steel reeds.
Hohner Special 20 ~$45 each / Seydel 1847 ~$70 each
Recording & Gigging
Capture ideas, manage setlists and run a smooth gig.
BandLab
Free Multitrack Recording in Your Browser
A completely free DAW that runs in your browser or on your phone. Record guitar, layer tracks, add effects and mix — all without installing anything. Includes built-in amp simulators.
Completely free — unlimited tracks, cloud storage
OnSong / forScore
Digital Setlists and Charts for Live Gigs
Replace your binder of printed chord charts with a tablet app. Organise songs into setlists, display charts on stage, transpose on the fly, and share sets with your band.
OnSong ~$19.99 / forScore ~$19.99 — one-time purchase
Sing Us a Song
Turn Requests Into Tips
An audience engagement and monetisation platform for live-performing musicians and streamers. Fans scan a QR code to browse your setlist, request songs and tip instantly — no app download needed.
No monthly fee — 10% platform fee on tips only
Know a tool that belongs here? Let us know