I Need A Guitar Application

Should I mention that I play the guitar in my college application?

When I applied to Harvard, I included a recording of myself playing an instrumental piece that I had written for two guitars. It was a very short piece, probably about 60 seconds long.At the time I had only been playing guitar for about 3 or 4 years. I'd only had about 6 months of lessons at a local music shop. I was not exactly what you might call "classically trained." This was in 1994, before smartphones and other easy ways to make digital recordings. I didn't have any decent recording equipment.  But I did have a small stereo boom box with a dual tape deck recorder and a built-in microphone. So I recorded myself playing both  guitar parts on an audio cassette.  I remember the only way to do it was to play one guitar part on the left audio channel, then rewind the tape, and then record the second guitar part on the right audio channel. There was no real way to adjust the mix. It was really poor quality. But I submitted it anyway.Now I'm a Harvard graduate.By all means, submit your stuff. It will show how well rounded you are and will set you apart from other applicants.EDIT: Since the question specifically asks about a college application, my answer doesn't address whether it would be a good idea to include guitar playing in a graduate level application. In general, I tend to think that most undergraduate programs are looking for anything that sets applicants apart from the crowd. In no way, however, am I suggesting that guitar playing should replace or obscure whatever the school is otherwise looking for in an applicant.

What is the best guitar tuning app?

Last time I tried the Guitar tuna app and a bunch of others they all charged for advanced features including most of the alternate tunings. I use Pano Tuner, the free version. With the popularity of drop or alternate tuning in guitar music today a standard tuning only app is extremely limiting. I'm in no way an advanced or even a very good player. I resisted alt tunings for years but once I discovered YouTube tutorials I found out how easy and fun they can be.Pano Tuner the free version is a simple no frills chromatic style tuning app. It allow you to tune any string or any instrument including your voice to any note in any octave you want. I can't comment on its accuracy in the way someone with sensitive high quality audio equipment could but for general use it does the job extremely well.It has a kinda cool retro analog tuner format or look but it does lack some of the cute and unnecessary features other apps have. It won't tell you what string your plucking or the standard tuning for that string. I don't think it has lights that tell you when your getting close, just a needle. If you actually need that kind of information then memorizing the numbering system and standard tuning should be a top priority.

Should I buy a new guitar tuner or should I use guitar tuning apps?

I’be been playing and studying guitar for more than 25 years now. I still remember that when I started learning the instrument, I used to give my guitar to my teacher to tune it since I was unable to tune it correctly myself.If you just started playing guitar you can use a good mobile tuning app to help you tune your instrument. You probably going to tune it in a room or a quiet place. But as you advance and you start play music with others and you are on a stage (performing etc.), or a studio or rehearse with other musicians, then you cannot use your mobile phone to tune your instrument. You just can’t! There is too much noise for the phone app to pick the pitch correctly.You will need an electronic tuner or a clip-on tuner.With an electronic tuner you will have to plug the cable from your guitar (electric or electro-acoustic guitar) into the tuner and it will display the pitch for every note you will play. These tuners usually need a power supply to work and some of them have batteries. They are not affected by ambient noise but they are bulky.Now, the easiest way for me, and the one I use all the time (when I play at home or in a gig, or when play with others in studio etc.) is to use a clip on tuner.I have the tuner clipped on the head-stock of my guitar and just turn it on, tune my strings and then turn it of. It takes a few seconds to tune my guitar correctly.There are so many clip on tuners out there… The one I use is good for novice and amateur musicians, but also good for professionals and experienced guitar players. It has so many features and it is the only clip on tuner that I know that features and internal mic for tuning.So you can tune an instrument with the tuner clipped on the guitar (or ukulele, banjo, trumpet etc.) or you can tune it using the mic function (just like you would do if you used a mobile tuning app).If you are interested you can find it here: Real Tuner - Chromatic Clip-on Tuner for Guitar, Bass, Violin, Ukulele, Banjo, Brass and Woodwind InstrumentsIt is called “Real Tuner” and it is my latest addition to my guitar gear. I carry it with me all the time. So far so good.Music is the only thing that will stay with you till the end. Playing an instrument is a blessing. So keep playing music!!