Open the Instrument Library
Tap the instrument name in the Play mode toolbar — it shows the name of the currently active sound. This opens the Instrument Library, a scrollable list of every sound available to your device.
Open in app
Instrument LibraryBrowse by category
Sounds are grouped by category: Piano, Guitar, Bass, Synth, Strings, Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, World, and FX. Tap any category to expand it. Tap a sound row to hear a short preview — the keyboard plays a short chord so you can compare textures quickly without switching context.
Select a sound
Tap a sound row to select it. A checkmark appears and the sound is active immediately — you can hear it on the keyboard without closing the library. The selection persists across sessions.
Download additional sounds
Sounds with a cloud icon are available from the catalog but not yet on your device. Tap the cloud icon on any row to start the download — most sounds are between 50 and 400 MB. Downloads happen in the background; a progress ring shows on the row. You can use the app normally while it downloads.
Import a custom SoundFont
You can add any .sf2 SoundFont file to the library — thousands of free and commercial options exist online covering orchestral instruments, vintage synths, and more. Imported sounds appear under the Imported by You section at the bottom of the library.
Step-by-step guide covering where to find .sf2 files, how to get them onto your device, and how to import and manage them in Tiny Instrument.
How to import a SoundFontPractice in the app
Learn this on Tiny Instrument
Tiny Instrument teaches music theory through interactive lessons, ear training, and playful practice — all connected in one app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
More guides
Play Mode · Instruments
Import a SoundFont
A SoundFont (.sf2) is a standard file format that packages sampled instrument sounds. Import one to add any instrument — piano, strings, synth, or anything else — to your Tiny Instrument library.
Play Mode · Quick Chords
Explore Chords with Quick Chords
Quick Chords lets you browse every chord in any root, hear it instantly, and highlight the notes on the keyboard.
Play Mode · Live Rewind
Capture Ideas with Live Rewind
Play freely — Live Rewind records a rolling 2-minute buffer in the background so nothing you improvise is ever lost.