Fender Tune: Guitar Tuner App Reviews

by Retoohs1

Thought because it was Fender that it would be cool. It isn’t. I checked it out for a little bit and then deleted it. The cool parts of FenderTune needs to be purchased. With an acoustic/electric that has a built in tuner and a snark for my electrics, I don’t need the free part of FenderTune . If you really want an excellent app get Tabs. Also there are many sites that offer free rhythm beats so you don’t need FenderTune for that. As for lessons, I’ve found it difficult to follow especially on a phone as opposed to a live guitar teacher. You’ll spend more time going back to see something again, and hoping you don’t go too far back, in order to watch it again. All in all, very disappointed that I wasted my time with this but felt compelled to voice my opinion.

by GatorNation2019

I downloaded the Fender App and I was satisfied at first When I downloaded FenderTune so I could tune my guitar but later I had to retune it because I had put a new strings when I went to re-tune using FenderTune FenderTune could not tell me the difference between any of the cords or tunings following that it couldn’t tell me the correct cord for Each string. Being FenderTune is from The fender music company I am very displeased at the apps performance I had no issues the first time the second time I had multiple issues I am not a pro Tuner-subscriber and I did not pay for that The microphone on my iPhone was on and it was close enough to the amplifier where it could pick up the sound and still no results again I am very displeased with this performance I will be sure to spread the word and heat warning of FenderTune I will never utilize FenderTune or download it again.

by Jermjumper54

I don’t know what the deal was, maybe it was my phone but I doubt it because other tuning apps work fine. This thing cannot tune a guitar I’m better off doing it by ear and I can’t tune by ear. The custom setting does not work, it refuses to hear some of the notes you’re trying to and attempts to tune to a different string and changes the note automatically, and then it’s extremely inaccurate. I got frustrated, gave up, went back to standard tuning and switched over to a different app and just standard tuning was completely off. I wasted 2 hours of my precious day off trying to get this hot garbage to do the bare minimum, thank god I didn’t give you people any money.

by RBW In NJ

Over a year ago I downloaded FenderTune and purchased the premium features. Recently Fender released an upgrade and the premium features are now locked. If I want then, I need to log into my account and subscribe to newsletters and other marketing material I do not want.

This is completely unethical on Fenders part. They are denying me access to features I already paid for. In addition they are attempting to coerce me into subscribing to products I do not want in order to gain access to what I already purchased. Their reason is simple; market items to their customers weather they want them or not. Increase customer information in their database for even more focused and unwanted marketing in the future. Finally, sell your information to third parties so they can target you. Apple should not allow this type of activity and I should be able to downgrade back to what I had. Shame on both of these companies.

by InstaviewF*@kYou

From a company as well known as Fender I would really expect their software/firmware be at the highest standard possible. I’ve tested this tuning app about 22 times now with other professional grade tuners at its side and have broken countless strings while conducting these experiments because the application would say I haven’t yet reached the desired note when other tuners have said I was way over. I have tested with numerous guitars that have come into the shop after getting complaint after complaint about the customers who use FenderTune to tune their instruments. FenderTune just cannot pick up the sound fast enough or at all sometimes. From a professional guitar tech in the field for 17 years I DO NOT recommend anyone download FenderTune. Unless you like driving back and forth to the music shop to buy more strings.

by Cabematt911

FenderTune was great! When it worked! It’s always broken, either it doesn’t detect noise at all, thinks you’re playing a strong your not playing, or makes you tune way beyond what it is! I tried to tune my guitar and it said the e string wasn’t low enough so tunes lower, still not good, ok so even lower then, still not good, I tune lower and the string breaks because FenderTune mislead me! When it DID work which was rarely, it was great! This was just the final straw for me, I only ever used FenderTune because it was free but I think the creators know that and know no matter how many times people complain they’ll still get downloads, and I’m not the first one to complain about this, it’s been complained about for a year now! Has it been fixed? Nope, until this is fixed I’m never coming back to FenderTune nor will I change this review (like the developers care anyways) and I’m definitely warning my friends not to use this either.

by Ebnebben

Every time I try to tune with FenderTune now, if says it’s 49 cents flat. This causes me to question my tuning and tune up. I see that other people are having the same issue and even causing some to break strings. I used to not have any trouble with FenderTune, it was great, and I paid the extra money for the advanced tuning. When it worked, it was great. If they fix this, then I will change my review, but for now, just know FenderTune will not tune your guitar unless you like playing a half note sharp. (Also, I looked in all the settings to see if there was some option to tune like a half step down or half step up, there is not. Also, it shouldn’t matter when you use the chromatic tuner.

by Aguyontheinternet

I like being able to whip out a phone to quickly tune something. However, in FenderTune as notes die out when reference tuning, they suddenly go flat by about a quarter step, causing much confusion and inaccuracies. That’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. If this could be fixed, I’d be much happier with it, but as it stands I have to try to tune very quickly and stop the playback from FenderTune in order to accurately tune. That said, this is more of a backup app when you’re already pretty close, I wouldn’t trust it (or any other tuner that’s based on a phone) to be my primary tuner.

by Eclipse Dowley

I have been playing guitar for about 2 years now, and I'm trying FenderTune out, but though I watched the tutorial and understand what I'm doing, plus I know my speaker and mic work just fine, I adjusted the settings and went to tune my guitar, but when I went to start with bottom E, I plucked my string, waited, and did that about 5 times but it never picked up on FenderTune . Along with the fact that when I'm trying to tune a string it keeps changing from to flat or to sharp, so I never know what to do.

If you could try to fix this it would be very appreciated, especially since this is FenderTune compatible with my phone, thank you.

by CoolioChicken123

Hi, my name is Wren and I am ten years old. I have just started playing guitar and I needed a tuner. I got this one because it had top reviews. At first I thought that FenderTune was not working because I didnt know how to use it, but now I realized it has some problems. First, it is annoying that you have to pay to have the good tuner. Like, you payed for the guitar so why have to pay for FenderTune (or why would you have to pay for the good tuner). Second when you are using the tuner it is a pain on how you cant tell FenderTune to tune one of the strings instead of it figuring it out (it dosnt even pick the right string). Third can I just say how unrealistic the chords are for this tuner than a real one. I once at home tuned it with FenderTune then did a lesson and they had to fix the tuning( you might be thinking “dont you know it can go flat”. Yes I do know but it was the same pitches as when I tuned it at home). FenderTune is not worth getting, just buy a real tuner.

Im not trying to be rude to the creators I just want to warn people before they get FenderTune . - Wren

by Lost_Symphonies

FenderTune used to work really well for me, but over the past year or two, I’ve had problem after problem with it. So much of the time it won’t give me any info on where my tuning is. I’ll see the decibel meter working at the bottom, but nothing shows up to tell me how to tune. Other times it shows up, but it thinks I’m tuning high e, when I’m really tuning the A string. Then, and this happens 9 times out of 10, it gets stuck on the high e string and I have to close FenderTune to get it to recognize other strings. I always make sure I have absolute silence when using this, so that it only hear the guitar, but even then it doesn’t always recognize what I’m playing.

by Hermes228.

I use FenderTune to tune my guitar occasionally, and usually it works fine, but only when I do it using the manual. The auto tuner which is the tuner that tells you when you have the right note does not work very well. For example, say I tune my guitar down a half step then I want to go back to standard tuning, so I use the tuner and it says that I have the right note for each one, then I go back through each note and it says “tune up” or “tune down”. That being said, the manual tuner is a great tool. With the manual tuner you just press the string on the screen and then it will play the sound so then you would try to match your string to that sound. It is good because it is reliable and you just have to listen to it and figure out if you have the right note, which helps train your brain so eventually you won’t need a tuner anymore. So the automatic tuner doesn’t work very well, but the manual tuner is a great tool. Overall it’s a fine app.

by Dylan Christ Mark

This is a great app. When tuning, you get it right every time with FenderTune. However, I believe this one thing needs to be addressed because I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else. I recently just got a Jackson Bass Guitar, and as of writing this post I had it for not even 3 hours. I used FenderTune and the Rumble 25 amp that Fender also built to tune it. I was tuning my G string and it was saying it was still -49cts when out of no where, the guitar string just broke. Now I have to drive back 20 miles to get my brand new guitar restringed, and add to the near $800 bucks I’ve spent on it alone. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else, but I do think that this needs to be addressed. Something needs to be done so Bass Guitars are easier to tune. Other than that, FenderTune really is great.

by Amir808

This is is a nice app. I love the drum tracks and all the different resources available. I only wish FenderTune was a bit more bass friendly. The only place you can choose the bass instrument is when tuning, and there’s only options for 4 string bass tuning. Obviously you don’t need FenderTune to tune your bass to certain notes but, it would be nice if the options were available. When it comes to chords and scales, the bass is nowhere to be found. Bass chords and scales exist!! But other than the lack of bass utility in FenderTune , which is the only drawback on FenderTune, it is fantastic. I’ll definitely continue to use it, mainly for the drum tracks and metronome. Add some more bass utility!! 5 and 6 string included!

by Scuba Gary

I love FenderTune and use it daily. I use mostly the rhythm beats for practicing (much better than a boring metronome). One item I would like to see fixed is the bpm selector button. After selecting the speed you want you have to hit a small arrow which enters that speed and goes back to the playing screen. The arrow is very small and if you don’t hit it exactly on center it changes the bpm to the maximum of 400. Then you have to start all over again. Fender - Please make the arrow bigger. Thank you.

by Rayme38

It’s so nice to have a guitar tuner with me at all times. Seems to work just fine, i have found myself needing one every once in a while, when at camp, and when playing on other people’s instruments or any other instances.
I always seem to have my phone with me so kudos to fender for keeping everyone in tune.
No problems with pitch, and I like to tune 1/2 step down, and no problems setting it to do just that. When I open FenderTune , I don’t have to reset the pitch every time I use it.
VERY NICE TO HAVE FOR FREE!
Thank You Fender

by Jaredsw01

FenderTune is incredible. I have two acoustic guitars and one has a built in tuner, but the other does not and I still have not purchased a tuner for it so I have been unable to play it. Well, thanks to FenderTune, I was able to tune it nicely using the auto tune feature. I was quite surprised at how accurate the tune detection is and how it can recognize the difference between you plucking a string and any background noise around you (I was actively talking while tuning and even double checked that it tuned correctly and it did). This definitely deserves 5 stars. Of course it won’t be as accurate as a normal tuner, but it can definitely get pretty close!

by MercyB4Sacrifice

Out of tune never works. I've never developed an ear for tuning just right. I have an old dreadnaught with medium gauge "oh-maybe-nylon wrapped with metal" strings or something -- I threw the package away -- all from before the dawn of time. I get an excellent tune in about 2 minutes with Fender-tune. I've little experience with the broad range of options out there. I'm too busy playing my guitar to look far right now. I'm so ashamed -- but not really -- this product works very well for now. What I mostly need is perhaps the ability to quickly tune to a better frequency -- but later -- for now I play for pleasure, and this product gives me more pleasure than any electronic tuner I've used. When well tuned, my guitar nearly plays itself.

by Airplanr Man

I love that FenderTune has lots of different tuning options, e.g. open tunings, and half step down for my vintage instruments. Overall has worked pretty great for me.

Recently had one semi-major unfortunate experience that set me back though. Somehow after updating FenderTune everything was tuning roughly a half step too sharp on all strings. I discovered this after lots of frustration and trying to get tuned in key with my harmonica. It was so tough to figure out what was going wrong. I even bought a new harmonica thinking mine was out of key. I’m sure Fender will find this software bug and fix it soon. So 5 stars since it’s the only drawback after years with FenderTune

by Mrrockandroll

Very accurate, user friendly, and lots of sweet features! The pro version is definitely worth the price and gives you lots of scales, different chord voicings for all the chords and a nice variety of usable drum rhythms. Keep in mind that if you place your mic/phone too close it might pick up the tones/vibrations of more than one string so placement is important (more of an issue with a 12-string than with a 6-string). The best features, imo, are the in app purchases, which are all great for the price.

by Celeste_yma

I downloaded FenderTune so I could finally tune my guitar that had been out of tune for a while. I saw FenderTune and decided to give it a try even though I can tune with my ears. While I was tuning my G string on my acoustic guitar, it broke! It kept telling me to tune down and when I played it a couple seconds before it broke it said to tune down more. So I tuned it down again like it said and it just snapped! I was afraid it would happen to my other strings so I delete it immediately. You can get FenderTune if you want but my experience with it was absolutely horrible!! Just please be careful if you do decide to get it. It’s not always right...

by NeilMichael

Works excellent as a tuner. I wish it had some other features like a metronome and a practice timer. That would be really cool as an all around basic bare bones practice app. I always tune up first, then kick off the metronome (in another app) and set the iPhone timer for five minutes and practice scales. Then I practice chords for five minutes. Then I practice sight reading and sheet music. I don't know maybe there's more people like me that would use those other two features daily as well. But, nonetheless I understand FenderTune is a tuner and it does that well.

by Rush91

Handy to just be able to take out your phone and tune up the axe. Has settings for electric guitar and bass, as well as acoustic guitar. Has all the tunings a player needs from standard to drop d, 1/2 step down and so on. Works well and I have found it to be very accurate. Fender put their name on it, so one would expect nothing but quality from one of the best names in guitar! If you're a beginner, casual player, or seasoned vet, FenderTune will be worth having.

by Weirder Things

I got an electric guitar this Christmas and I had all the basics, the guitar, the amp, and a few pics, but I didn’t have one of those clip on tuners to help me tune my new guitar. So when I found out that there was a free app to help tune my guitar, I was so happy. It’s great considering it’s free, it’s not the best though, but at least I could instantly tune my guitar on the spot, and it does a pretty good job, again considering it’s free. If your not sure about FenderTune, it doesn’t hurt to try it out.

by Grazpop

I tried four or five other tuning apps; they were either focused on extreme accuracy (meaning they wavered and never allowed you to stop getting the guitar in tune), or they were dumbed down to the point that you didn't really know what you were doing. This one hits it out of the park by showing a clear visual representation of whether you are close enough to make the guitar sound good or not, with no extraneous information. Bravo!

by That One Randome Chik

I know absolutely nothing about instruments let alone guitars, and I was able to tune my guitar in about 10 minutes. FenderTune is easy to use and understand, but also fairly basic. All you have to to is pluck a string of your guitar, and it senses which string it is and if it’s in tune or how to make it tuned. My guitar came with a ‘tuner’ and I personally have no common sense and it was very hard for me to use, but FenderTune is so simple and easy to understand. 😁

by Dopple-Depper

Most apps you’ll find of this functionality will constantly get in your face about buying a full version with lessons and what have you. This application simply meets you needs and permits plenty of room for learning how to properly tune stringed instruments you get a hold of. Ask me what FenderTune needs to get better and my answer will remain; nothing.