Picture this: you're playing peacefully on stage with your band, fully absorbed by the music. Suddenly, you've come to the end of the sheet. You frantically turn to the next page, and before you know it, your moment of focus is disrupted.
This is where a sheet music page turner can help - a simple device that gets you to the next page of your chord charts, setlist or even metronome playlist, without moving your hands. This post will help highlight a few consideration points when choosing a page turner. For the record, we recommend the Stomp Bluetooth Foot Pedal as our top choice when it comes to sheet music page turners, and we'll explain why!
What to consider when choosing a sheet music page turner?
Reliability
The number one factor you should consider when choosing your page turner should be how reliable it is. This refers to both the Bluetooth connectivity and also how well the foot switches respond when pressed. Stomp remains as one of the top-ranked page turners for both factors. With a 50+ foot range of connectivity, you can rest assured your Bluetooth 4.0 connection will always be consistent.
Durability and portability
If you're a gig musician who's always on the move, some questions you should be asking are: how heavy is the pedal? Is the form factor bulky and jagged, or light and compact? How easy is it to carry in your bag?
Since you will literally be stepping all over this product, robustness is a no-brainer. Some pedals have a very slim design, which is great for travel, but the downside is that it can feel flimsy when you step on it. By contrast, Coda Stomp is one of the most robust page turners in the market thanks to its sturdy metal casing. For musicians who are always on the move, especially electric guitarists, this "road-ready" pedal is perfect. With its palm-sized body and modern rectangular design, you can easily fit the Stomp pedal in your bag on your next tour.
Battery life is crucial, you don't want your pedal to stop working mid-performance. How long can your pedal operate fully charged? How is it powered - internal battery or with a USB port? Stomp runs for 150+ hours on a single 9v battery, which is more than enough for several practice sessions. Ran out of juice? Simply plug it into your phone with the built-in USB port to use.
Press response
Do you prefer a silent touch or a more tactile feedback? Are the foot switches designed to be easily reachable?
If tactile is your way to go, Stomp's metal buttons offer a unique tactile response. Although less preferable for quieter settings like orchestral music, the benefit is you'll be certain if you have pressed the switch.
Customization and usability
Stomp offers a repeat feature that can be switched on or off from the pedal itself. You can even customize its 6 buttons to trigger interactions inside your favorite music apps! With selected apps, you can control multiple devices at once, and turn the whole band's page together. Stomp works with iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac or Windows, and most Bluetooth 4.0 devices.
