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.

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

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