FretTutor Support

How do I analyze a song?

Open the Analyze tab and either pick a song from your Music library or import an audio file. You can also drop audio files into FretTutor's folder in the Files app and open them from there. FretTutor detects the key, chord progression, tempo and song structure, builds a tab, and suggests a capo position — all on your iPhone, so it works with no internet connection.

Why won't a song from my Music library import?

FretTutor can only read songs whose audio is actually on your iPhone and not copy-protected. Two common cases fail: Apple Music streaming tracks (they are DRM-protected, so no app can read their audio) and songs that are in your library but not downloaded to the device. Songs you own — ripped CDs, iTunes purchases, or files you've synced — work. For anything else, export the audio as a file and import it via the Files app instead.

The microphone isn't picking up my playing. What do I check?

First make sure FretTutor has microphone permission: Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Microphone ▸ FretTutor. If it was denied at first launch, exercises can't hear you at all.

If permission is granted: play a little louder or move the phone closer to the guitar, and reduce background noise where you can. Grading is tuned to work with softly picked notes, but a TV or conversation in the same room competes directly with your guitar.

Why does the tempo show as unclear for my song?

That's deliberate honesty rather than a bug. FretTutor only reports a tempo when it's confident in the measurement — if a song is played freely (rubato), has a free-time intro, very sparse strumming, or no clear pulse, the app says the tempo is unclear instead of guessing a number that would then make the bar-and-beat labels wrong. Meter detection currently recognises 4/4 and 3/4 and needs a clear, audible accent over at least a couple of bars.

How do achievements work?

Every Gold, Silver or Bronze result you earn — in Play-Along or in the daily exercises — is recorded automatically. Browse them by tier in Achievements on the Games tab, and share any award as a rendered card straight from the app. Awards are stored on your iPhone with a backup slot, so a bad write can't wipe your history.

Does FretTutor need an internet connection or an account?

No, and no. There is nothing to sign up for, and every feature — chord library, fretboard, analysis, games and grading — works in airplane mode. The one exception is optional: if you choose to download an alternative AI recognition model in Settings ▸ Recognition Engine ▸ AI Models, that download comes from the internet and only happens after you explicitly switch on network access. The built-in engine needs no downloads.

Where are my recordings and Shots videos stored? How do I delete them?

On your iPhone, and nowhere else. Practice videos from Shots and recordings from Listen stay on the device; imported audio lives in FretTutor's folder, which you can see and manage in the Files app. Delete items in the app or via Files, and deleting the app removes everything it stored.

What does the capo suggestion in Analyze mean?

After analysing a song, FretTutor suggests a capo position that lets you play the same progression with easier open-chord shapes. The suggestion is chosen to avoid trading one hard chord for another — it won't recommend a position that turns the song into barre chords.