Strumetra Studio
Get ready to practice.
The score, trainer, metronome, and drum machine are available in the web app, iPhone app, iPad app, and Mac App Store app. Practice stays local; microphone input and compatible fretboard lighting are optional.
Recommended: use the iPhone app or iPad app for direct Bluetooth fretboard connection. For the web app, use current Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, Linux, or Android over HTTPS. Safari and Firefox do not currently expose Web Bluetooth, so the music tools work there without compatible fretboard lighting.
Independent compatibility notice: optional fretboard lighting is compatible with Fret Zealot and Fret Zealot 2. Those marks belong to their respective owner. Strumetra Studio is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by that owner.
Choose your build
- iPhone and iPad app: use the installed app on an iPhone or iPad. It connects a compatible LED fretboard through device Bluetooth after you choose to connect an LED fretboard. Live Drum Trainer MIDI input uses CoreMIDI after you select Connect MIDI Input, including class-compliant USB MIDI devices and a local Strumetra Studio destination for another app on the same device. Pair a wireless pad with Bluetooth MIDI.
- Mac App Store app: use the installed app on your Mac. It works in App Sandbox, opens only user-selected files with read-only access, and keeps preferences and Recent Files bookmarks in local app data.
- Web app: open strumetra.app in a modern browser. Chrome or Edge over HTTPS is required only for optional Web Bluetooth lighting; the other practice tools also work in browsers without Web Bluetooth.
- MuseScore projects: MSCZ and MSCX are interpreted locally by the built-in importer in the direct desktop, web, iPhone, and Mac App Store editions. No MuseScore installation or external conversion process is required.
No sign-in or purchase recovery: Strumetra Studio has no in-app account, subscription, analytics, advertising, or in-app purchase flow.
Connect a compatible fretboard
1. Check the app or browser
On iPhone, use the installed app and allow Bluetooth if iOS asks. In the web app, open the HTTPS address in Chrome or Edge and keep the tab visible while connecting. In the Mac App Store app, allow Bluetooth if macOS asks. Private browsing, managed-device policy, a denied permission, or a disabled Bluetooth adapter can make Bluetooth unavailable.
2. Prepare the fretboard
Turn on the compatible fretboard and keep it near the computer or Android device. Disconnect it from another phone, tablet, or app before trying to connect here.
3. Choose the device
Bluetooth scanning and connection start only after you choose to connect an LED fretboard; then choose the compatible device when prompted. LED commands are sent only to the directly connected hardware. System pairing is not required. If no device appears, turn Bluetooth off and on, restart the fretboard, and retry.
Open and play a score
- Select Open File and choose a supported GP-family, MusicXML, MIDI, CAPX, or AlphaTex score. Every version parses the selected file locally and does not upload it.
- The Mac App Store file picker grants the sandbox read-only access to the selected score. A local security-scoped bookmark may be saved for that same file in Recent Files; Strumetra Studio does not edit the source file.
- For an MSCZ or MSCX project, open the project directly. If a rare MuseScore-only engraving object is not supported, export MusicXML as a compatibility fallback and contact support with the original file format and MuseScore version.
- If playback is silent, interact with the page once, confirm the selected output in Settings, and check the system output volume.
- In the web app, reloading clears the current in-memory score. In the Mac app, choose the file again if its saved bookmark no longer grants access.
Recent Files and reset
The Mac App Store app stores preferences and security-scoped Recent Files bookmarks only in its sandboxed local data. If a recent file was moved, deleted, or is no longer readable, trying to reopen it removes the unavailable entry from the list.
Reset Mac App Store data
Quit Strumetra Studio. In Finder, choose Go → Go to Folder, enter ~/Library/Containers/app.strumetra.studio, and move that folder to the Trash. Reopening the app creates fresh local data. This resets preferences and every Recent Files bookmark; it does not delete score files stored elsewhere on your Mac.
Reset web data
Use the browser's site-data settings to clear data for strumetra.app. This removes saved preferences and offline app resources, but it does not delete score files on your device.
Reset iPhone or iPad app data
Delete Strumetra Studio from the iPhone or iPad, then install it again. This removes the app's local preferences but does not edit or delete the original score you selected.
Microphone and Audio trigger
Microphone access is optional. A browser, iPhone, or macOS may show the native permission prompt while Strumetra Studio initializes its audio-device list on first run, before you select a feature; the prompt does not start continuous microphone processing. Microphone audio is processed only while the audio-device list is refreshed or while the optional audio trigger is running. A refresh opens a temporary system-default input stream only long enough to reveal device names and then closes it. The audio trigger advances on a sound attack; it does not judge chord accuracy, record, upload, transmit, or monitor input through the speakers. You can revoke access later in browser site settings, iPhone Settings, or macOS Privacy & Security settings.
Drum Trainer and MIDI input
Drum Trainer opens a MIDI or MusicXML file with a drum part and scores live pad hits against it. MIDI access is optional and is requested only after you select Connect MIDI Input; the request never includes SysEx. Connect an e-drum kit, drum pad, or controller over USB or Bluetooth MIDI, then choose it from the input list. On iPhone and iPad, Connect uses CoreMIDI and lists class-compliant USB MIDI devices after they enumerate; use a data-capable USB-C cable or hub, not a charge-only cable. Some modules need a powered hub. Connect also publishes a local destination named Strumetra Studio so another app on the same iPhone or iPad can send notes. Keep both apps visible in Split View, then choose that destination in the sending app. Pair a wireless pad with Bluetooth MIDI. Incoming notes are matched to trainer lanes with the General MIDI drum map, and any pad can be remapped per lane. Hits are processed locally for timing feedback and are not recorded, uploaded, or transmitted. In a web browser, Web MIDI requires a Chromium-based browser such as Chrome or Edge; Safari and Firefox run the Drum Trainer without live MIDI scoring. If hits read consistently early or late, adjust the latency offset in the Drum Trainer panel.
Offline use and updates
The iPhone app, iPad app, and submitted Mac App Store version 1.23.0 include their interface, music font, and sound font in the installed application and generate Drum Machine sounds locally. The submitted Mac version does not contain the acoustic drum sample bank used by the current web build. After one successful online load, the web app can reopen its cached interface and bundled sounds offline. Web scores are intentionally not cached; choose a local score again after reopening. Reconnect briefly to receive an updated web app shell. If an update appears stuck, close every tab for the site, reopen it online, or clear only that site's cached data.
Report a reproducible problem
Email support@strumetra.app. Include the app version or web address, macOS version or browser name and version, score format, compatible fretboard model if relevant, exact steps, and the visible error text. Do not attach a private or copyrighted score or an audio recording unless you have the right to share it and support specifically requests it.
Privacy details are available in the privacy policy.