# Scales & Modes — user reviews > 84 indexed App Store user reviews of Scales & Modes by Smappsoft, rated 4.50/5 from 13 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scales-and-modes/id357172313/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scales-and-modes/id357172313.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 10 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1 ## Newest reviews (16 of 84) ### 3/5 — I regret the purchase *2021-04-01, version 1.9.2* It doesn’t have good instructions, I have no idea what to do. If someone could explain it to me, I’ll give a better rating. Sorry but I don’t like it. ### 3/5 — It works, but it could be better *2019-04-03, version 1.9.0* Since some people call scales like "Harmonic Minor 5" differently (e.g. mixolydian b9b13), I would appreciate if one could change the modes' names on their own. Thank you! ### 4/5 — Great app for learning modes *2018-05-17, version 1.9.0* This app is a simple yet effective way of learning modes. They have piano and guitar notation for easy playing. The only thing that is annoying is that sometimes the app crashes but hopefully that can get patched up sooner or later. ### 4/5 — Highly recommended *2016-07-19, version 1.7.0* I'm a casual learner, I work this into my spare time whenever my computer's busy with a rendering task. Given my novice status, this app is simple with a high volume of information - the same as a Big Gag Book of Scales, but phone-sized. The interface is easy to read and condensed. I love this app, and I wish they continued to make it for iPad Pro and iPhone6. Very handy. ### 3/5 — It's ok.. *2015-10-12, version 1.7.0* The octave should be lower for the sheet notes on guitar. Also, you should be able to switch between showing sharps and flats. I don't like using flats and if say I want to use sharps, my only option is to select the key of E# which doesn't even exist in theory. This scale actually has an F## in it which is a G, why, just why... ### 4/5 — Great but... *2014-10-13, version 1.7.0* Love the app but it would be great if we could change key within a mode without having to go out, select a new key, then select the mode once again. For this reason I don't use it as much as I'd want to and find myself looking for other alternatives. Shame because, apart from that, it's great idea. ### 4/5 — Useful App, some suggestions for updates *2014-04-29, version 1.6.0* The explanations regarding music theory or easy to understand. I am a guitar player of 12 years that is currently learning the violin. Since there are no frets, playing along with the audio for scales is amazingly helpful. One major improvement that would help: add scales that have 2 and 3 full octaves so that we can utilize the entire range of the music bar and our instrument. ### 3/5 — Expensive *2013-05-15, version 1.6.0* Should be more informative. Current price is too much. ### 5/5 — Like *2013-05-08, version 1.6.0* I like it. The parchment paper look is easy on the eyes. My son likes playing the scales too. It could be expanded. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2013-05-06, version 1.6.0* Highly recommend for ANYONE struggling with their scales and modes or just wants to learn a couple of extra scales to try. Would love to see some more scales in there. Well done! ### 4/5 — Good *2013-04-29, version 1.6.0* Lots of great information. More types of scales than expected. We wish it would allow you to play a multiple octave scale. ### 5/5 — Very good! *2013-03-31, version 1.5.1* How about examples of well known tunes in the different modes? ### 5/5 — Omg *2013-01-17, version 1.5.1* This will bring me to my next level ### 5/5 — Music Student *2012-09-23, version 1.5.1* IMHO, best & clearest way to understand and study Major and Minor scales, modes, triads, tetrachords and blues scales! It's disciplined practice from here on in. ### 5/5 — Great for professional musician and student *2012-08-02, version 1.5* A well designed music app. Easy and quick to use for a variety of scales. I use it for jazz, while my son uses it at Tanglewood for quick classical scale reference. ### 4/5 — Great app but need more scales *2012-06-17, version 1.5* Need to add jazz scales - bebop, diminish, half diminish, whole tone ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not worth it *2020-03-01, version 1.9.2* Inexpensive but not much to it. If they had a free version to see what it does would be better. Not worth buying. ### 1/5 — Help *2014-02-05, version 1.6.0* It won't let me guess the scale it brings up the choice selection but doesn't have the guess button. Waste of 2 bucks ### 1/5 — Full of bugs! Waste of Money *2013-03-24, version 1.5.1* ... And sadly, that is all there is to say. ### 1/5 — No la compren *2012-01-30, version 1.5* No es nada de lo que esperaba… las imágenes ni siquiera van con la aplicación. está muy cara no vale la penas gastar su dinero. Horrible ### 1/5 — This app is bugged *2011-12-23, version 1.5* The sound isn't working! ### 1/5 — Wrong notations! Don't buy. *2010-07-25, version 0* I have no faith in people who can't write even the basic of notes, this app has a few obvious notes which are totall wrong. For example, the blues scale shows an d flat on the stave when in fact it is an e flat show on the piano. Not a great app. Sorry guys but I need someone who really knows about music. ### 1/5 — Damn *2010-07-03, version 0* Not worth a 1.99. Search engine your Scales n modes instead. No outstanding features out functions ### 2/5 — Needs work. Not for professionals. *2012-03-01, version 1.5* Good concept but other programs have substantially more scales. Where are the octatonic, diminished, and whole tone scales? Where are the exotic scales from hungary and asia? Until this gets more content I can't rate this higher. Get the planet waves scale app instead. ### 2/5 — OK For What It Is *2010-09-10, version 0* What about the Half diminished and diminished scales? So sorry your font is too frilly and uncomfortable to read. ### 2/5 — Really hard to understand *2010-09-02, version 0* Why put a million dots on a Fret board to completely confuse who ever is looking at? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — I come back to this app again and again *2021-03-08, version 1.9.2* I really love this app, it is simple and does exactly what I want. It is focused and the presentation is appealing, and easy to navigate. I have had this for years and still open on a regular basis ### 5/5 — This app is overlooked... *2020-11-06, version 1.9.2* I deleted all my other scale apps. The interface is simple & straight forward. The layout is well thought out. I like how this app has info about the scale. I’m happy to say this app hasn’t crashed at all. My only issue with this app is the trivial (different font choice maybe). Hopefully, the developer will add more features. 11/6/20 update: I use this app daily & hope the developer adds more scales. Fantastic app. Easy to use & clean UI. ### 5/5 — I really like the app, could you add more scales? *2019-12-21, version 1.9.1* I really like this app, would you be able to add the octatonic scale, and Messiaen‘s modes of limited transposition. Or maybe a feature to create and quiz your own custom scales too. Otherwise, it’s a very helpful app! ### 5/5 — Cool app I’ve used for years *2019-11-11, version 1.9.1* This is a unique and useful musical app. It has helped a lot In my understanding of the scales and modes. ### 5/5 — Great *2017-12-08, version 1.9.0* I’ve downloaded tons of piano/music theory apps and this is one of my top 3. So simple yet very educational. ### 5/5 — Add more scales? *2016-01-28, version 1.7.0* Awesome app! Can you add more scales, like melodic minor? Thanks! ### 5/5 — Learn scales for piano and guitar *2015-06-12, version 1.7.0* Heard about this app on the MTJC podcast. Switching from guitar to bass on worship team, and finding that I need to learn scales in order to play something other than root notes. This app is a nice tool for practicing these scales. ### 5/5 — Perfect to memorize scales *2014-01-16, version 1.6.0* This app is awesome. It's perfect for beginners to learn and memorize the notes of violin scales and it's sound. ### 5/5 — Champion modes/scales app, plus quiz *2013-10-20, version 1.6.0* Many other apps give you some but not all the features found here. Selectable root, notation of scales toned, highlight of scale on keyboard and guitar fretboard (multiple positions), covers the principle scale types and their modes (major, minor (natural, melodic, harmonic), pentatonic (maj/min), Blues), only obvious omissions are the Augmented and Diminished scales. Best of all, you can test your progress with the inbuilt quiz, to identify a scale by either its notated form, or aurally from playback of the scale, or both, starting from user-selectable root-notes. ### 5/5 — Hello Smappsoft! *2013-06-13, version 1.6.0* Love the app!! I have a suggestion: Can you add in an option to start each scale on a random pitch during the quiz? This would be better aural training since it would keep our mind from having the same tonal memory for two or more scales in a row. Thanks!! --- *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 2026-09-03.*