# Jam Assist: Scale Finder — Hear it, see the fretboard

> Listens to music, identifies key/scale, displays on instrument fretboards. (iPhone/iPad app by Maxim Oransky.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jam-assist-scale-finder/id6787274044 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Maxim Oransky](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639941241)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 3 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-07-09
- Data updated: 2026-09-08
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jam-assist-scale-finder/id6787274044/reviews.md

## What is Jam Assist?

What key is this song in? What scale should you play over it? Point your phone at the music and Jam Assist listens, then names the key, scale, and mode it hears - and lights up exactly where to play it on your guitar, bass, and piano.

It is a compass for your ear, not an autopilot. Most tools only help once you already know the key: a chord chart, a tab, a scale diagram to copy. Jam Assist works one step earlier, for the moment you cannot hear it yet. It listens to whatever is actually sounding and tells you where you are: the key, the scale, the mode, live.

That is the missing half. Key finders can hear a song but stop at the name and never show you the fretboard. Scale libraries show you the fretboard but cannot hear a thing, so you have to already know the scale to look it up. Jam Assist does both at once: it hears the music and lays that exact scale under your fingers, in real time.

What you can do with it:
- Jam and improvise in the right key over any track or backing loop
- Work out what scale to solo over by ear, instead of guessing
- Find the key of a song by ear, on guitar, bass, or piano
- Watch the scale shapes light up live while you play
- Learn the modes by hearing them named the moment they happen

What it detects, honestly:
It hears the notes in the room and names the key, scale, and mode: major and minor, all seven modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian), major and minor pentatonic, blues, hirajoshi, insen, and whole tone. It shows you the scale to play, not chords, and it is not a tuner. It reads live sound, so it is never a static scale dictionary you flip through.

Private by design: everything runs on your device, mic in only. No cloud, no accounts, no network, nothing leaves your phone.

Hear it, see the fretboard, and jam in the right key.

## Key features

- Real-time key, scale, and mode detection
- Visual scale display on guitar, bass, and piano
- Live note highlighting on fretboards
- Supports major, minor, pentatonic, and modes
- Offline, on-device processing
- No cloud, accounts, or network required


## Frequently asked questions about Jam Assist

### What key is this song in?

Jam Assist listens to the music playing and names the key it hears. It focuses on identifying the key, scale, and mode rather than chords.

### What scale is this?

Jam Assist identifies the scale and mode being played, providing the degrees relative to the root note. It then displays this scale on your chosen instrument's fretboard.

### Does Jam Assist name chords?

No, Jam Assist does not name chords. Its primary function is to identify the key, scale, and mode of the music it hears.

### Does Jam Assist need internet?

No, Jam Assist works fully offline on your device. It does not require an internet connection for its core functionality.

### Is Jam Assist a tuner?

No, Jam Assist is not a tuner. It listens to music and shows you the scale to play, rather than providing tuning information.

### What scales can Jam Assist recognize?

Jam Assist recognizes major and minor scales, all seven modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian), major and minor pentatonic, blues, hirajoshi, insen, and whole tone scales.

### How does Jam Assist display scales?

It displays scales on guitar (EADGBE), bass (EADG), and piano keyboards. Only the notes within the detected scale light up on the fretboard as they are heard.

### What is the update frequency for Jam Assist?

The app was last updated on July 13, 2026, indicating active development. Users can expect regular updates to improve functionality and add new features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4 — 2026-07-18

The screen now stays awake while listening, and it keeps working after you plug in headphones, take a call, or switch apps.

### 1.3 — 2026-07-13

Improved key and scale detection. Special thanks to Danya Rudoy for his help.

### 1.2 — 2026-07-11

The fretboard now reads more clearly.

### 1.1 — 2026-07-09

This update brings small interface refinements: smoother keyboard rendering, an improved landscape layout, and better fretboard scaling. Thanks for using Jam Assist.

### 1.0 — 2026-07-09

No release notes.

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All apps by Maxim Oransky: https://appshunter.io/developer/1639941241

## Related topics

[ngoni expert](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ngoni-expert)

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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 2026-09-08.*