Skip to main content

Turn your MacBook Pro's Touch Bar into a piano with this app

macbook pro touchbar piano app
Image used with permission by copyright holder
When Apple launched the new MacBook Pro, perhaps the biggest change to the computer was the addition of the Touch Bar, which replaces the function keys with a touchscreen that changes depending on the app that you’re using. Apple showed off a bunch of uses for the Touch Bar at the unveiling of the computer, including enabling DJs to use it to control the music they’re playing. But what about creating music from scratch? Turns out, there’s an app for that.

The app is called Touch Bar Piano, and as the name suggests, it basically puts a piano on the TouchBar. Not only does it let you play piano on the Touch Bar, but it lets you play any of a hefty 128 different instruments.

Recommended Videos

The app is designed for the new MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Pro only. The developer behind it, Graham Parks, says the app does “nothing useful on other Macs.” On top of the piano, you’ll get access to a range of drums, voices, synthesizers, and so on — all of which make use of the tiny display above your keyboard.

Apple caused some controversy when it first launched the MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar in October, largely because it was occasioned by a price hike. On top of that, some suggested that the Touch Bar was more of a gimmick than anything else.

This app probably isn’t going to be particularly useful if you’re an actual pianist trying to play anything more than Chopsticks, but if you just want to noodle around and play with some melodies, it could actually be a cool little app. If you’re still skeptical about whether or not it works, you can check it out in action below.

Touch Bar Piano demo
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
The new M4 MacBook Pro comes with these 7 major changes
MacBook Pro with M4

Apple has officially announced the M4 MacBook Pro in both 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes. In addition to the base M4 model, they also come in M4 Pro and M4 Max configurations in both sizes.

But let's be real: the M3 MacBook Pro was already a fantastic laptop. Is it really worth upgrading to the new model? I won't know for sure until I've tested them myself, but here are the six major changes you need to know about when it comes to the next generation of MacBook Pros.

Read more
Apple’s next-gen M4 Macs look set to embrace serious gaming
The Mac mini on a wooden table.

Apple’s Mac machines and gaming don’t quite fit in the same equation, even though the recent trajectory of its Metal architecture has pulled off a few surprises. But it looks like the upcoming M4-tier machines won’t pull any punches, including the Mac mini.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes that for the first time, Apple’s entry-level desktop computer will offer ray tracing support. For the unaware, it’s a lighting system that adds a whole new level of visual realism to games.

Read more
Next week might be the biggest Mac launch since 2020
Logos from the Apple Mac announcement tweet.

Finally, we have confirmation of the long-anticipated fall Mac launch. The rollout, however, may be a bit unconventional for Apple.

At first, we expected a product event, then we speculated about videos and press releases -- and now Apple has revealed an entire "week of announcements" starting on Monday morning. It's expected that the announcements will include the latest M4 refreshes for the Mac lineup, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, and a completely refreshed Mac mini. While many of those will merely be M4 updates, this may end up being the biggest single window of Mac releases since the initial M1 launch in 2020 in terms of sheer quantity.

Read more