# Banjo Companion

> Banjo chord and scale reference, practice tools, and musical pattern generator. (iPhone/iPad app by Infinaut Technologies, Inc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-companion/id444269383 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Infinaut Technologies, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/320696115)
- Category: Music, Entertainment
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.70/5 from 27 App Store ratings · 108 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 6.0 · 46 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-06-30
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-companion/id444269383/reviews.md

## What is Banjo Companion?

While we've received alot of great feedback about Banjo Companion, there were some complaints. 

"In landscape mode the fretboard is backwards!", people complained. 

"What about lefties?", several of you asked. 

"How about European notation?" 

"This isn't really a teaching app." 


We've fixed a lot of these problems. The fretboard now turns the correct way on the iPad landscape. Lefty mode for Lefties. European and Japanese notations. 

The "teaching app" part is more difficult. But we have come up with a couple of tools that we'd love you to check out: 

* Patterns - learn scales up and down the neck, and cool ways to play them. These are almost like song idea generators. Seriously, randomly switch through a few, and see if you start to hear a song. 
* Favorites - create songbooks. Jot down interesting chords (or scales) you're trying to remember. 

We've also simplified the pricing. The All Access Pass gives you everything. Ad free, all the skins and beat packs, all the alternate tunings. And in the new Patterns feature, you'll see some "advanced" patterns - these are also included with the All Access Pass. And just think - if we can sell enough of these passes, we can make a living at it, and spend all day thinking about how to make YOU a better Banjo player. It's like... seeing into the future, and being awed at how good a Banjo player you've become. In the future, Banjo Companion keeps getting better and better, and you use it, like, all the time. Future You seems really happy. And your future self looks at you through the time portal, and happily shouts "It's worth it! The All Access Pass is totally worth it!" 

And like before, there are some other features worth mentioning: 

- Huge lists of chords and scales, and a ton of alternate tunings 
- Zoom mode. See everything bigger. 
- On the neck, display notes, intervals, finger positions 
- Metronome and drum beats. Accompany thyself. (Beats go great with Patterns, by the way!) 
- Manually strum the chords (and now scales), and hear how it's supposed to sound 
- Skins. Several flavorful colors to choose from 
- Tuner pegs. Simple. Effective. Within the mathematical reaches of our programmer. 

Thanks for checking us out! We would love to hear what you think of Banjo Companion, and things you need that would make you a better Banjo Player.

## Key features

- Chord and scale library
- Alternate tunings
- Lefty mode
- European/Japanese notation
- Pattern generators
- Metronome and drum beats
- Chord/scale strumming

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Tunings | $3.99 | one-time |
| Country Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Free | $2.99 | one-time |
| C Tuning (c C F B D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| D Tuning (f# D G A D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Double-C (g C G C D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Standard C (g C G B D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Beats | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Skins | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Access Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Open C (g C G C E) | $0.99 | one-time |
| F Tuning (f F G C D) | $0.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Banjo Companion?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Excellent chord and scale reference tool
- 🎵 High-quality banjo sound output
- 💰 Free version with substantial features
- 🎯 Easy to use interface for beginners
- 📚 Comprehensive chord library
- 🎚️ Useful tuner functionality
- ⏱️ Built-in metronome feature
- 🔄 Multiple tuning options available
- 📱 Left-handed mode support
- 🎓 Great learning aid for new players

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing
- 📱 Small buttons and interface elements on iPhone
- 🔍 Fretboard display too small to read easily
- 💸 Aggressive in-app purchase model
- ⚠️ Poor iOS 6 compatibility issues
- 🎚️ Unreliable sound/audio problems
- 📖 Lack of clear instructions or tutorials
- 🎯 Confusing interface navigation
- 🔧 Limited customization options
- ❌ Missing common tunings (tenor, capo support)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or after brief use
- Sound stops working intermittently
- Drone string doesn't play consistently
- App plays single note repeatedly without stopping
- Incompatible with iOS 6 and iPhone 5
- Installation hangs or fails to complete
- Volume control not functioning
- Audio lag when clicking strings
- App freezes on title/splash screen
- Incorrect notes displayed in scale mode
- Ads still appear after ad-free purchase

**Most requested features**

- Fret number markers on fretboard
- Pentatonic scale options
- Melodic/Keith style scales
- Alternative tuning support (Double C, G Modal, Sawmill, etc.)
- Capo functionality
- Custom tuning creation
- Fingering patterns for scales
- Roll/picking pattern simulator
- Larger fretboard display with zoom capability
- Tenor banjo tuning support
- Song tabs or tablature
- Better chord diagram visibility
- Half-neck display option
- Tuning peg display that reflects selected chords
- Barre chord forms and alternative chord positions

## Recent user reviews (10 of 108)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-companion/id444269383/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Heck yeah

*2025-12-13*

Some features are behind a small pay wall, but almost everything the average player needs is available for free and at a high quality.

### 1/5 — Poor Design

*2024-01-13, version 4.3.0*

The app is poorly designed; you know it’s bad when it starts and welcomes with a guitar name and does not mention the banjo.  The tutorial does not provide a chance to interact. The interface is too busy and the buttons are too small for an iPhone. 
Avoid it, and spend the time with a YouTube instructor. You’ll get more banjo with your time. 
One Star was one too many.

### 3/5 — Tuner soso

*2023-07-03*

Their are other appa that are much better tuners, apps that can actually listen to the banjo.

### 5/5 — Great for learning scales and chords

*2020-06-03, version 4.3.0*

Would like to have fingering on scales

### 4/5 — Fret Board Position Markings

*2020-04-03*

I love this app.  Position Markings or fret numbers on the side would be helpful.  I’d prefer markings or side dots.

### 5/5 — Wonderful tool

*2020-01-30*

This is a wonderful tool to assist beginners on learning chord fingering.

### 5/5 — Easy, straight Forward and comprehensive.

*2019-07-22, version 4.3.0*

Great to use when learning for the first time or refreshing on chords and scales.

### 5/5 — Really useful

*2018-11-18, version 4.3.0*

This app has been really useful to me over the years I’ve had it. I paid for the full version which shows chords for a full range of tunings and I’ve been using that feature a lot, as I play in a number of different tunings that I’m not always very familiar with.

Sure someone with a good grounding in music theory can figure the chords out themselves, but for someone like me, without that kind of training, it’s a great reference source.

### 5/5 — Love this app

*2018-06-08, version 4.3.0*

This has been really helpful and fun!

### 5/5 — Huge list of tunings

*2018-03-14*

Great resource to quickly look up scales and chords for dozens of banjo tunings

## Frequently asked questions about Banjo Companion

### What does Banjo Companion do?

Banjo Companion provides a wide range of tools for banjo players. It includes extensive lists of chords and scales, numerous alternate tunings, and a built-in metronome with drum beats. The app also features pattern generators that can help inspire musical ideas and song creation.

### What are the key features of Banjo Companion?

Key features include a comprehensive chord and scale library, support for various alternate tunings, and a lefty mode for left-handed players. It also offers European and Japanese notation options, pattern generators for musical exploration, a metronome, and the ability to manually strum chords and scales to hear their sound.

### How much does Banjo Companion cost?

The app offers an 'All Access Pass' which provides access to all features, including an ad-free experience, all skins, beat packs, advanced patterns, and all alternate tunings. While the base app may be free, the full functionality is unlocked through this in-app purchase.

### Is Banjo Companion compatible with my device?

The description mentions specific improvements for iPad landscape mode, suggesting compatibility with tablets. While not explicitly stated, it is likely designed for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Users should check the app store for specific operating system requirements.

### How can Banjo Companion help me improve as a banjo player?

The app aids improvement by providing quick access to chords and scales, helping you learn and remember them. The pattern generators can spark creativity, while the metronome and drum beats allow for practicing timing. The ability to strum chords and scales helps in understanding their sound, and the tuner ensures your instrument is in tune.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.3.0 — 2017-07-13

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

Bringing everything up to latest SDKs

### 4.0.2 — 2015-03-14

Upgraded to new version of admob

### 4.0.1 — 2014-06-10

Corrected issue with chord wheel on older devices, added Sawmill tuning

### 4.0 — 2014-05-15

- Practice along with playable Scales at any speed 
- Learn and practice new Strum/Picking patterns 
- Make lists of your Favorite chords for easy access when learning or writing a song 
- Change the direction of the instrument neck by rotating the device. (iPad only) 
- Right or Left handed 
- English, European, or Japanese note representation

### 3.2.0 — 2012-12-03

Zoom in for bigger iPhone view!  Chords and Scales much easier to view!

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## More apps by Infinaut Technologies, Inc

- [Pooper Scooper](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pooper-scooper/id320696112)
- [Guitar Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitar-companion/id443631685)
- [Bass Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bass-companion/id444260483)
- [Fiddle Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fiddle-companion/id447292141)
- [Ukulele Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ukulele-companion/id447292169)

All apps by Infinaut Technologies, Inc: https://appshunter.io/developer/320696115

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*