TabMaker

TabMaker brings a broad set of tab workflows to web, macOS, iOS, and Android. It is most compelling for players who want to move from a short recording to editable notation, playback, and export without paying upfront.

Overview

The service combines tab and standard notation, audio conversion, MIDI output, playback, and sharing. Its main compromise is storage: free tabs remain in the browser’s local storage, while cloud storage requires a subscription. That makes the free tier a useful way to work without registration, but a weak choice for anyone who needs dependable backup or access to saved tabs across devices.

Key features

Audio conversion

TabMaker can create tabs from guitar riffs recorded through a microphone. Its file-based AI generator accepts MP3 and M4A files up to 6 MB, processes them locally, and offers Quick Tabs, Enhanced Tabs, and Chords Only modes. Local processing is a practical privacy advantage for this workflow; the 6 MB ceiling, however, makes it better suited to short excerpts than lengthy recordings.

A separate Guitar & Bass to MIDI tool converts MP3 recordings into standard MIDI files with detected notes and musical properties. That gives players a way to carry musical material into MIDI, alongside the tab-focused conversion options.

Editing, playback, and sharing

Tabs can be organized, played in the browser with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, or banjo sounds, and exported as PDF or ASCII text. Browser printing and link sharing round out a useful workflow for keeping a part, reviewing it, and passing it to someone else. Shared links let others view a tab in their browser; they do not change the free plan’s local-only storage arrangement.

The iOS app supports ASCII tabs and full music notation, playback, cloud saving, link sharing, community tabs, and PDF, MP3, MIDI, or text export. Its instrument range is unusually broad: guitar configurations from 5 to 12 strings, 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses, plus banjo, ukulele, mandolin, and charango. Those mobile capabilities are valuable for players working beyond standard six-string guitar, though cloud saving is a paid-user benefit.

Pricing

TabMaker has three plans. The free tier costs nothing, requires no registration, and keeps tabs in local browser storage. Ads or features may be limited, and there is no cloud backup. It suits casual use or trying the workflow, not a library that must survive a browser change or be available across devices.

The Monthly subscription costs $3.99 a month, billed monthly. It includes unlimited access, removes ads, and adds cloud-based tab storage, making it the lower-commitment choice for regular users who want their work backed up. The Annual subscription costs $34.99 a year, billed annually, with the same unlimited access, ad-free use, and cloud storage. It fits users confident they will rely on TabMaker over the year; the monthly plan avoids that longer billing commitment.

Platforms

TabMaker supports web, macOS, iOS, and Android. The browser-based app is central to its editing and conversion workflow, while the iOS app adds mobile notation, exports, cloud saving, and community tabs. The platform range offers several ways to use the product, but free local storage should not be mistaken for cross-device synchronization.

Who it's for

TabMaker is a good fit for guitarists and bassists converting short audio ideas into tabs or MIDI, and for players who want playback, printable exports, and link sharing in the same toolkit. Its support for ukulele and banjo, along with the mobile app’s wider instrument selection, broadens its appeal. It is less suitable for people who need cloud-backed work without a subscription or who routinely convert audio files larger than 6 MB.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Local processing for MP3 and M4A tab conversion keeps that workflow on-device.
• Pros: Tab, standard notation, MIDI conversion, playback, PDF and text export, printing, and link sharing cover several stages of working with music.
• Pros: No-registration free access gives casual users a way to try the service without a subscription.
• Cons: Free tabs are stored only in browser localStorage, with no cloud backup.
• Cons: The AI audio upload limit is 6 MB, a constraint for longer recordings.
• Cons: Cloud storage and ad-free use require a paid subscription.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Guitar Tab Software.

• Cesure is worth considering if you want a free plan with three saved scores, unlimited version history, and five AI transcriptions per month, or broader desktop platform coverage.
• Guitar Tab Maker is a free alternative for users who prioritize no account, no credits, and no watermarks.
• Guitar Tabs X is an option for Android, iOS, macOS, or Windows users who want basic functionality free and do not need a published Pro price to compare.
• Guitar2Tabs may suit users who want unlimited demo transcriptions capped at 20 seconds each and PDF downloads on its free plan.
• Soundslice is an alternative for users focused on scans, with a free allowance of two scan pages per month and a Plus plan offering 100 pages per month.
• TuxGuitar is a free guitar tablature editor for users who prefer Linux or Windows support.
• Guitar Tab Creator is a free option on iOS and web, with a standard editor available without an account.
• Note2Tabs is another web-based freemium option.

Verdict

Choose TabMaker if you want audio-to-tab and MIDI conversion alongside playback, exports, and sharing, especially if its 6 MB audio limit fits your projects. The free plan is a low-friction starting point, but anyone who values cloud backup will need to pay; users who need longer audio uploads or free cloud storage should look elsewhere.