Skip to main content

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

macbook pro touchbar piano app
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

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Your next MacBook Air could be even faster than expected
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 laptop propped up at an angle on a desk.

Apple’s upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air could be launching sooner than expected, which is encouraging for anyone who has been waiting for this much-rumored device. But the good news doesn’t end there, as it could also get a sizeable chip upgrade that would leave rival devices in the dust.

For months, it had been suggested that Apple was working on a new 15-inch version of the MacBook Air that was going to be released at a spring event. However, now that Apple has announced it will host its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) -- but not a spring event -- it seems that the latter isn’t happening. That suggests the 15-inch MacBook Air will have to wait until WWDC before seeing the light of day.

Read more
Hoping for an OLED MacBook Pro? We’ve got some bad news
An Apple MacBook Pro 14 sits open on a table.

If you’ve been waiting for Apple to launch an OLED MacBook Pro, there’s some bad news: it might not come out for another three years. That’s a serious wait considering many of Apple’s rivals have already brought out some of the best OLED laptops on the market.

The news comes from display industry tipster Ross Young, who is well-known for having a solid track record when it comes to Apple leaks. Young tweeted a link to a Reuters article outlining Samsung’s plans for an OLED fabrication plant, adding the comment: “This fab is for 14” and 16” OLED MacBook Pros from 2026.”

Read more
Apple could be working on a secret OLED MacBook Air
The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

Apple could be planning a new MacBook Air equipped with an OLED display, according to Korean tech website TheElec. Interestingly, there are suggestions that the MacBook Air could get this high-end tech before Apple’s flagship MacBook Pro models.

Right now, none of Apple’s MacBook laptops come with OLED panels, and instead use Liquid Retina displays based on LCD technology. That could all change if TheElec’s claims are accurate, however.

Read more