Guitar Highway › Make from the original
Turn a song you love into a practice song
Make from the original song is available from app version 1.0.8. On an older version, update the app on the App Store or Google Play.
Pick an audio file you have, and the app separates the instruments in the song. Then practice in one of three ways — match your score to the original, practice the original's chords, or play along with a backing track without your instrument. The analysis runs on your device, with no internet.
Three ways to practice
| Way | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Match my score to the original (recommended) | You already made a song from a Guitar Pro file or a score photo | Matches your score to the original automatically. You play on the highway over the original, with only your instrument taken out. |
| Chord practice | You have no score | Finds the beat and chord progression in the song and recommends one of 8 strum patterns. |
| Backing only | You want to play or sing freely, with no judging | Plays the original with your instrument's track removed — no highway, no scoring. Save it and listen again under Backing in the My songs tab. |
How to use it
- In the My songs tab, tap Make from the original song.
- Pick the audio. On iPhone, from the Files app or your Music library; on Android, with the audio file picker. Choose the whole song or a Section, then tap Start analysis. The screen shows an estimated time.
- When the analysis is done, choose one of the three ways. To match a score, pick a song you made earlier.
- Choose the instrument you play (guitar, bass, vocals, drums or piano) and the backing is made without it. You can also set how much of that instrument stays in the original (0–100%).
- Tap Save and practice and you start playing.
Good to know
- Analysis time — it depends on the length of the song and your device. The app shows an estimate based on its past speed.
- Songs it can't read — on iPhone, Apple Music streaming, cloud-only and protected (DRM) songs can't be read. Only songs you added yourself or files in the Files app work.
- When the score and the original differ — if the lengths differ (a live or different arrangement) or the score is only part of the song, the app tells you. Listen with both overlaid to check, and adjust if the original is a semitone off (for example an Eb-tuned recording).
- Score photos, PDFs and Guitar Pro files — first turn them into a song with Make my song, then match them to the original. See the Guitar Pro import and sheet music scan guides.
FAQ
What files can I use?
Audio files you own. On iPhone, files in the Files app or songs you added to the Music app yourself; on Android, an audio file from your device. We don't recommend downloading or sharing other people's work without permission.
Do I need internet?
No. The analysis runs on your device, with no internet.
Is my instrument removed completely?
You choose how much of it stays in the original, from 0 to 100%. At 0% only you play that part; at 100% it plays with the original.
Can I use it without a score?
Yes. Pick Chord practice and the app finds the beat and chord progression in the song.
Does it work on Android?
Yes. The Google Play version (1.0.8 and later) has the same feature.
How much does it cost?
It's free, with no ads and no login.