Tonaly

What Tonaly is

Tonaly is a songwriting and practice app built around the circle of fifths. It helps musicians find chords, write songs, and learn scales, with chords highlighted by key and suggestions for progressions. Borrowed chords and extensions are supported, and the app can help develop melody ideas for hooks, basslines, or solos. A progression generator and chord audio playback are also available. Practice tools cover scales, progressions, and solos, with key changes and difficulty that increases step by step. Tonaly supports piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, and cello, and is described as suitable for every instrument and skill level. Users can export MIDI and PDFs, share song links for collaboration, and export MIDI to Ableton, Logic, or GarageBand. The app is listed for iPhone, iPad, and Mac; compatibility requires iOS 16.0, iPadOS 16.0, and macOS 13.0 or later, respectively. Mac Pro features include MIDI drag and drop, Core MIDI output, keyboard commands, and lead sheets. The Mac page says iCloud supports working across devices. Tonaly was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. It offers a free plan and trial, alongside annual and lifetime purchases.

Who it suits

Tonaly suits musicians who want chord ideas, songwriting tools, and structured practice across supported instruments and skill levels. It may also fit songwriters who want to share song links or move MIDI into Ableton, Logic, or GarageBand.

Limits

The free plan and free trial are available. Tonaly lists 80+ Scales for $3.99, paid once, PDF lead sheet export for $5.99, paid once, Supporter for $9.99, paid once, Tonaly (App Store in-app purchases) for $39.99 a year, and Tonaly for $79.99, paid once; the Mac page identifies MIDI drag and drop, Core MIDI output, keyboard commands, and lead sheets as Pro features.

Getting started

1. Visit the Tonaly website.
2. Choose the iPhone, iPad, or Mac version that matches your device.
3. Check that your operating system meets the listed compatibility requirements.
4. Start with the free plan or free trial.
5. Use chord, songwriting, and practice tools; export MIDI or PDFs or share a song link.

Verdict

Choose Tonaly if you want chord discovery, songwriting, and practice tools in one app, with MIDI and PDF export. It is a good fit for musicians using its supported instruments and Apple platforms. Look elsewhere if you need reverse chord lookup or a platform beyond iOS and macOS.