# Mandolin Companion

> Mandolin player's all-in-one practice and learning tool with tuner, chords, scales, and metronome. (iPhone/iPad app by Infinaut Technologies, Inc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-companion/id458349872 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Infinaut Technologies, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/320696115)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.70/5 from 35 App Store ratings · 107 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 52 MB
- Languages: American English, Arabic, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean and 6 more
- Released: 2011-08-24
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-companion/id458349872/reviews.md

## What is Mandolin Companion?

Mandolin Companion is a must have for any Mando player.  Several tools in one - handy tuner, chords, scales, metronome, alternate tunings! Look things up. Learn how to play. Join that Bluegrass band! 

Features: 
- Simple Interface 
- Tuner - Learn to tune by ear, click a peg to start or stop 
- Chord Charts - Multiple positions for each chord - over 1,900! 
- Scales - Over 150 scales - from Blues and basics to more obscure charts 
- Alternate Tunings - choose from a wide variety of alternate tunings 
- Show all Chord notes - view all the possible notes at once, build your own chords 
- Display Options - Finger positions, intervals, or notes 
- Auto Strum - Hear the selected chord 
- Manual Strum - Play a chord by swiping across the strings 
- Dynamic String Indicators - Show which string or note is playing 
- Metronome - Basic beats with time signature options 
- Drum packs - Get more out of practice with a variety of drum tracks available 

You want to get faster?  Mandolin Companion.  Want to learn that unique chord?  Mandolin Companion.  Get better.

## Key features

- Tuner with audio cues
- Extensive chord charts (1,900+)
- Large scale library (150+)
- Multiple alternate tunings
- Chord note visualization
- Interactive strumming
- Built-in metronome

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Tunings | $3.99 | one-time |
| Blues Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Country Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Jazz Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rock Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Free | $2.99 | one-time |
| Angel Skin | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dropped D (G D A D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mandola (C G D A) | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Skins | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Access | $9.99 | one-time |
| Alto Guitar (A D F# B) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Octave Guitar (D G B E) | $0.99 | one-time |
| GD (G D G D) | $0.99 | one-time |
| All Beats | $2.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Mandolin Companion?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Comprehensive chord and scale database
- 🎵 Audio playback of chords and scales
- 💰 Free app with quality features
- 🎸 Excellent tuner functionality
- 📚 Great learning resource for beginners
- 🎯 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🔄 Multiple chord fingering positions
- 👈 Left-handed mode support
- ⚙️ Support for alternate tunings
- 🎼 Includes metronome functionality
- 📖 Visual chord diagrams with finger placement guidance

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes on recent iOS versions
- 🎨 Outdated skeuomorphic design
- 🔊 Annoying startup sound (cannot be disabled)
- ❌ No exit button (confusing navigation)
- 🔄 Reversed string orientation in landscape mode
- 📱 Not compatible with iOS 6 and later versions
- 🎓 Steep learning curve for absolute beginners
- 💸 Paywall for some features and tunings
- 🎵 Scales are visual-only (no audio playback)
- ⏱️ Limited metronome time signature options (4/4 only)
- 🏠 Unnecessary home screen startup mode
- 🔍 Incomplete chord library (missing common variations)

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes upon opening (iOS 6 and later compatibility issue)
- Stuck on splash/startup screen
- App freezes and requires reload
- Landscape mode displays strings in reverse order
- Note playback sometimes won't stop
- Orientation detection issues on iPad
- Tuner note labels reversed from actual playback
- Incorrect scale information (e.g., B minor scale showing G#)
- No way to exit app except through review button
- Crashes after iOS updates

**Most requested features**

- Interactive chromatic tuner with ear training
- Arpeggiated chord playback with variable speeds
- Bluegrass 'chop' chord variations
- Scale playback with looping and directional options
- User-contributed chord additions
- Flat chord positions
- Staff notation display for notes
- Ability to disable startup sound
- Remove or skip home screen on startup
- Improved landscape mode string orientation
- Additional metronome time signatures
- Dobro/resonator guitar app version

## Recent user reviews (10 of 107)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandolin-companion/id458349872/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 — Not for beginners

*2025-06-27, version 4.3.3*

This app assumes you have a basic understanding of musical knowledge. 

It will not teach you that. You have to have a foundation before using this app. 

It’s very confusing for me and I cannot understand how to get started or what the target is.

Only spend the $ if you know what you are doing

### 2/5 — User friendliness

*2024-08-07*

As for the chords I am ok with showing me one chord with the notes then I can build a chord from the picture.  My problem is getting out. Of the APP when I am done with it.  The only way I have found is to click on write a review.  You need to put an exit selection in.

### 5/5 — Crashes upon opening every time

*2024-05-03*

This has been my favorite app to learn mandolin with for YEARS! But it crashes every single time I open it now. Is there an update?

I’m using iPhone 13 mini with the latest iOS.

### 2/5 — It works. It’s worth it. But ugly, with annoying start-up sound

*2024-01-20, version 4.3.3*

It’s useful, and I bought the custom CGDA tuning I needed for my tenor guitar. Thank you, kind developer, it gets the job done 🙏🏻

On the other hand, it’s fully skeuomorphic, which makes it look and feel 10 years out of date. It starts every time with a questionably-useful home screen mode. And it always plays a start-up sound, which apparently I can’t configure to shut up.

So, while useful, and worth it, it’s not a _joy_ to use. And the start-up noise is super obnoxious.

I would give it 4 stars if the start up sound could be turned off. And 5 if the home screen was removed, or the app opened on the actual functionality. With these improvements, it could be a fast and indispensable app to support band practices or memory-refreshing while waiting in a queue. Otherwise, its clunkiness makes me want to open it as little as possible, with my phone muted.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work anymore

*2021-04-05*

Doesn’t work anymore, just shuts down when you hit it.... deleted it!

### 5/5 — Great for a beginner

*2021-01-07*

I’ve been playing guitar for 40 years.  I’ve been playing mandolin for 2 days.   I don’t have any reference as to whether this is a good app for an experienced mandolin player.  But for me?  It’s fantastic.  Chords and scales, with sound.  The rest is up to me.

### 5/5 — Optional/Alternate/Open tuning add on

*2020-11-19, version 4.3.3*

Saves enormous time and effort in dissecting the mandolin fingerboard in identifying notes in the various open and alternate  turnings needed to construct chords and ideal sounding progressions. 

The audible strum and tempo features enable personal preference for the 'flavour' of chords being sought without picking up the mandolin. 

The optional tuning feature can be applied to fiddle as well. 

All in all a true Godsend for the Bluegrass mando and fiddle player. The bucks for the multi tuning add on is invaluable.

### 3/5 — Pretty Good

*2020-09-26*

This is pretty good but it is missing many too many alternate chords. Some of the alternate chords missing are easier than the ones showing.  In fact some chords missing are the most common version of the chord.  For example, F Maj.  Look at other chord sites for mandolin.  I question wether the person who put these chords in actually play mandolin.  If they could add these it would be much better than all the other apps.  It would be good to have an option to have users add these chords.

### 2/5 — Terrible

*2020-07-16*

I did not like the ads and the 
fact that there was so much 
to purchase! It was the worst 
mistake I’ve ever made!

## Frequently asked questions about Mandolin Companion

### What does the Mandolin Companion app do?

Mandolin Companion is a versatile tool for mandolin players. It provides a tuner to help you get in tune, a vast library of chord charts and scales for learning and reference, and a metronome for practicing rhythm. It also supports various alternate tunings and offers interactive features like auto and manual strumming.

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

Key features include a simple interface, a tuner that helps you learn to tune by ear, over 1,900 chord charts with multiple positions, more than 150 scales, a wide selection of alternate tunings, and the ability to view all chord notes. It also offers auto and manual strumming, dynamic string indicators, a metronome with time signature options, and optional drum packs.

### Is Mandolin Companion free to use?

The application is free to download and use, offering a core set of functionalities. However, it does include in-app purchases, suggesting that some features or content, such as additional drum packs, may require a purchase to access.

### Who is the target audience for Mandolin Companion?

This app is ideal for anyone who plays the mandolin, regardless of their experience level. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics, an intermediate player wanting to expand your chord and scale knowledge, or an advanced musician seeking practice tools and alternate tunings, this app is designed to assist you.

### How can Mandolin Companion help me improve my playing?

Mandolin Companion aids in improving your playing through its comprehensive practice tools. The tuner ensures you are always in tune, while the extensive chord and scale libraries allow you to learn new musical ideas. The metronome helps develop your timing, and features like auto-strum and manual strumming let you hear and practice chords effectively, ultimately helping you get faster and better.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.3.3 — 2017-08-21

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

Corrected issue with incomplete chords

### 4.3.0 — 2017-08-18

Bringing everything up to latest SDKs

### 3.2.0 — 2012-12-09

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

### 3.1.2 — 2012-10-28

Repair stability issues with older iPods, missing chords in generator

### 3.1.1 — 2012-10-12

Completely revamped app, with new features such as: 

* Alternate Tunings 
* Metronome 
* Skins 
* Rhythm Packs 
* Improved Chords

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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)
- [Banjo Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/banjo-companion/id444269383)
- [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.*