When I checked out Extrack: Stem Separator, Chord on the Google Play Store, I was intrigued by its promise to revolutionize music practice. Developed by Yamaha, a reputable name in musical instruments, the app aims to be a comprehensive tool for musicians of all levels. It essentially deconstructs audio tracks into individual instrument stems, allowing users to isolate, adjust, and practice along with specific parts of a song.
The key feature of Extrack is its stem separation capability. The app claims to break down songs into vocal, guitar, piano, bass, drum, and wind instrument parts. This allows you to mute specific instruments and focus on your own instrument, practice singing karaoke, or isolate the drum and bass to improve your rhythm. Another significant feature is the chord analysis function. Extrack analyzes the chords of the song and displays the chord progression, along with finger placement suggestions for guitar and piano. This is particularly helpful for beginners who are learning to play by ear or struggle with chord recognition. Furthermore, the app offers tempo adjustment, key change, and looping functionalities, which are crucial for effective practice. The metronome function, which automatically syncs with the song's tempo, is also a valuable addition.
Extrack is particularly useful for musicians who want to improve their skills by practicing with their favorite songs. Guitarists can use it to learn solos by ear, bassists can work on their groove, and vocalists can practice their harmonies. The chord analysis feature makes it easier for beginners to learn songs, while the tempo and key change functions allow musicians to adapt songs to their skill level and preferred playing style. It could also be a great tool for karaoke enthusiasts who want to sing along with instrumentals.
The target audience for Extrack is broad, encompassing musicians of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced players. The user-friendly interface and helpful features make it accessible to beginners who are just starting to learn an instrument. Experienced musicians can also benefit from the app's advanced features, such as stem separation and tempo adjustment.
However, the 0/5 rating on the Google Play Store raises significant concerns. While the app description sounds promising, the extremely low rating suggests potential issues with functionality, accuracy, or user experience. Potential users should approach Extrack with caution and consider exploring alternative music practice apps with more positive reviews. It's possible the app has bugs, inaccurate stem separation, or a misleading subscription model. Until the rating improves, it's difficult to recommend this app despite its potentially useful features.
Review published on October 7, 2025