Description of App
ThumbJam is a powerful musical performance experience. You get over 30 high-quality real instruments multi-sampled exclusively for this app. Hundreds of included scales allow you to effortlessly play in any style from rock to classical, whether you are a musical novice or a seasoned professional.
Jordan Rudess, the world-renowned keyboardist for Dream Theater says:
"ThumbJam stands at the very top of the overcrowded music app world. The sounds included absolutely rival those found in pro instruments and making music on the app is a total joy. The only problem I have with this app is that I did not make it myself! Luckily, I'm able to work with the developer and offer a few good feature ideas as well as some choice sounds from my personal collection!"
Two signature sounds from Jordan are featured in the application!
Even if you've only played air guitar, ThumbJam lets you sound like a pro. Pick an instrument and jam -- with all the scales to choose from you'll never hit a wrong note. The high quality instrument samples will make you sound like you just skipped years of music lessons.
For the performing musician, this app is awesome for soloing on an instrument you didn't bring along. Play in any key, any style -- go from a string ensemble to a wailing guitar. ThumbJam was developed and tested by musicians to feel and sound like a real instrument. You'll be surprised at how expressive it can be, make sure to check out the videos and audio at thumbjam.com.
ThumbJam makes use of tilt and shake to add vibrato, tremolo, note bends, and volume swells for more realistic and expressive results. It supports up to five (eleven on iPad) simultaneous touches and up to 24 voice polyphony. Delay and stereo reverb add depth to the sound, and a resonant lowpass filter gives you more tone shaping power. Put on your headphones or plug in to your home stereo to experience some of the highest quality instruments in the App Store.
Build your own loops from the ground up or import your favorites and jam from there. Layer as many loops as you want, with different instruments for each. Export your loops as audio files or Ardour DAW sessions via WiFi. Copy and paste audio from other apps using Sonoma Wire Works AudioCopy/Paste as well the general pasteboard used by BeatMaker, via email, or iTune Document Sharing.
Want to jam with your friends? ThumbJam lets you broadcast tempo, key, and scale to other nearby devices via Bluetooth so you can play together live. Even better, you can use it as a MIDI or OSC controller over WiFi, with any CoreMidi compatible device to control software instruments on your computer, or play ThumbJam with hardware MIDI controllers!
The app includes a huge variety of scales, from western to eastern. Save your favorites for quick access, or create your own in-app. You can even import new scales in the Scala format for complete flexibility.
You can also record your own samples using a built-in or attached microphone and play them instantly. Create your own presets with different settings, scales and keys based on the existing instruments. You can even import samples from other apps using audio copy and paste!
Included instruments:
- Cello, Violin, Viola
- Upright Bass (plucked and bowed)
- Several drumkits
- Darabukka
- Djembe
- Electric Guitar
- Electric Bass
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tenor Sax
- Flute
- Low Whistle
- Acoustic Guitar
- Hammered Dulcimer
- Mandolin
- Cittern
- Grand Piano
- Drawbar Organ (2 types)
- Rhodes
- Pipe Organ
- Synth Strings
- Synth Choir
- Theremin
- Sawtooth Waveform
- Sine Waveform
- Triangle Waveform
- And from Jordan Rudess:
- JR Zendrix
- JR Smooth Steel
Many more for immediate free download in the app including several drumkits, Mellotron instruments, slap bass and more! New instruments posted regularly.
Comments
ThumbJam Accessibility
ThumbJam usage.
Thumb jam update
Version 2.0
The app is quite accessible for the most part, but it can get a little cluttered in the editing parts (recording samples, setting keys, etc).
This is a neet little music app that's pretty accessible with voice over. The price in the App store id $6.99, but it's well worth it in my humble opinion.
A update to Thumbjam has just been released!
Is it better than GarageBand?
So I've used GarageBand before, but I wasn't able to play the instruments well at all. What do people use to do this better? I'm on an iPhone 6.
Play ability of some jam instruments
I find Thumbjam much more playable then GarageBand. In fact, they have a steel guitar… And I can play at the way you would actually play a steel guitar and country music… Three notes at a time… Sliding from a C major chord up to an inverted C-major chord and then down to in a minor chord… With three fingers… And an iPhone, If that tells you anything.
Version 2.4.2 is the latest version
I'm afraid to try the new version as it looks like there are lots of changes to the interface from the description. Is there a way to roll back to earlier version if I don't like the update? I wrote to the developer to see if they tested it with voiceover. Cross fingers that it still works well with voiceover. Or should I cross my thumbs?
Is this app still accessible?
I heard that the app has had major updates since this app entry was added. I was just wondering if this app is still accessible?
seems to be
it seem to work just fine with me, at least when I last used it it did.