TabMaker

TabMaker is a browser-based tool for creating, managing, and organizing tabs for guitar, bass, ukulele, and banjo. Its AI can turn a guitar riff recorded through a microphone into tab, or process MP3 and M4A files up to 6 MB in Quick Tabs, Enhanced Tabs, or Chords Only modes. A separate Guitar & Bass to MIDI tool converts MP3 recordings into standard MIDI files with detected notes and musical properties. Users can play tabs with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, or banjo sounds, export them as PDF or ASCII text, print them in the browser, or share a link for viewing. The web app supports tab and standard notation. Free users need no registration, but their tabs stay in browser localStorage; paid plans include cloud storage. The free plan is free. Monthly subscription costs $3.99 a month, and annual subscription costs $34.99 a year. The iOS app adds full notation, cloud saving, playback, link sharing, community tabs, and PDF, MP3, MIDI, and TEXT exports.

TabMaker brings tab editing, playback, conversion, export, and link sharing together. The main distinction to consider is storage: free browser tabs remain local, while paid subscriptions add cloud storage.

TabMaker suits musicians who create or organize tabs for its supported instruments and want browser-based playback or file exports. The mobile app may suit users who need full notation, cloud saving, or more export formats.

TabMaker is a tab editor and conversion tool for guitar, bass, ukulele, and banjo players. It is a strong fit for musicians who want to work with recordings as well as edit and play tabs. The free plan keeps tabs in one browser; paid plans add cloud storage and remove ads.

Overview

TabMaker brings tab creation and organization together with audio conversion, playback, export, printing, and link sharing. It supports tablature and standard notation, so users can work in either format. The range of tools makes it useful for moving from a recording to a shareable score, but free users have no cloud backup and should not treat browser storage as a cross-device library.

Key features

Audio conversion

The AI generator can turn a guitar riff captured through a microphone into a tab. For file conversion, it 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 useful privacy feature, while the size ceiling limits this workflow to relatively short files. A separate Guitar & Bass to MIDI tool converts MP3 recordings into standard MIDI files with detected notes and musical properties, giving players an additional way to reuse recorded material.

Editing, playback, and sharing

Tabs can be played back with acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, or banjo sounds, then exported as PDF or ASCII text or printed in the browser. Link sharing lets others view a tab in their browser. These options cover common ways to review and pass along a score, though the stated playback sounds are narrower than the range of instruments supported by the mobile app.

Mobile app

The iOS app supports ASCII tabs and full music notation, playback, cloud saving, link sharing, and community tabs. Its export formats include PDF, MP3, MIDI, and text. Supported configurations include guitars with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 strings; 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses; 5-string banjo; ukulele, mandolin, and charango. That breadth is valuable for players beyond standard six-string guitar, although the browser feature set and mobile feature set should not be assumed to be identical.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and requires no registration. It keeps tabs in browser localStorage, with no cloud backup; ads or features may be limited. This is the sensible starting point for occasional use in one browser, but not for musicians who need reliable access across devices or a backed-up catalog.

The Monthly subscription costs $3.99 a month, billed monthly. The Annual subscription costs $34.99 a year, billed annually. Both provide unlimited access, an ad-free experience, and cloud-based tab storage. Monthly billing suits users who want the paid features without an annual commitment; the annual plan is the lower-cost option for someone intending to keep a subscription for a year. Neither plan's stated benefits change the 6 MB limit on audio files.

Platforms

TabMaker supports web, macOS, iOS, and Android. The browser workflow is central to its tab tools, while the iOS app has its own listed features, including community tabs and a wider set of export formats. Platform support is broad, but free browser storage remains local rather than cloud-synced.

Who it's for

TabMaker suits players who want one place to convert short recordings, edit or organize tabs, hear playback, and export or share results. It is particularly compelling for guitar and bass players who can use both tab generation and MIDI conversion. Choose a paid plan if cloud storage and ad-free access matter; look elsewhere if your recordings routinely exceed 6 MB or you need free cloud backup.

Pros and cons

• Pros: AI conversion supports microphone riffs and MP3 or M4A files, with local processing for files.
• Pros: PDF and ASCII export, browser printing, playback, and link sharing support several practical ways to use a finished tab.
• Pros: Paid plans add cloud storage and unlimited access at clearly stated monthly or annual prices.
• Cons: Free tabs stay in browser storage and have no cloud backup, making the free plan a poor choice for a multi-device collection.
• Cons: File-based AI conversion has a 6 MB cap, which constrains longer recordings.

Alternatives

Guitar Tab Software is a useful place to compare more options. Choose Guitar2Tabs if you want a transcription-focused alternative with a free tier that allows demo transcriptions up to 20 seconds and PDF downloads. Soundslice is worth considering if scan-page allowances are central to your workflow: its free plan includes unlimited slices but limits scanning to two pages a month, with one page and 32 bars per scan. Cesure offers a free plan with three saved scores, unlimited version history, and five AI transcriptions per month, which may suit users who prefer those explicit caps. Fretride is another option for iOS and macOS users. Guitar Tab Creator offers a free standard editor without an account, with saved tabs and an advanced editor added by a free account. Guitar Tab Maker is a free alternative across mobile, desktop, and web platforms. Guitar Tabs X is an option for users seeking a guitar-tab app across mobile and desktop platforms. GuitarTab is an ad-supported app provided at no cost.

Verdict

TabMaker is an appealing choice for players who want tab editing, conversion, playback, and sharing in one workflow, especially if they are willing to pay for cloud storage. Its local file processing and multiple export routes add practical flexibility. Look elsewhere if you need cloud backup without a subscription or routinely convert recordings larger than 6 MB.