Comparison

Touch Tonnetz vs Scale and SticKey

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Touch Tonnetz

Explore Neo-Riemannian music theory with an interactive tonal lattice. Hear chords and notes, visualize harmonic transformations, and build custom progressions. Offers multiple instrument sounds and color schemes for a hands-on theoretical exploration.

Highlights
  • Interactive Tonnetz visualization
  • Real-time harmonic analysis
  • Progression builder
  • Custom chord creation
  • Multiple instrument sets
  • Pinch-to-zoom functionality
Features
Read full description

Touch Tonnetz visualizes Neo-Riemannian music theory through the Tonnetz (tonal network) lattice. Tap any chord or note to hear it, see its Neo-Riemannian transformations, and explore harmonic relationships that go beyond traditional tonal progressions. Key Features: Interactive Tonnetz Visualization — Tap any chord or note to hear it and see its Neo-Riemannian transformations highlighted on the lattice Harmonic Analysis — Roman numeral overlays for any tonic, updated in real time Progression Builder — Create, save, and play back melodic progressions Custom Chords — Build and save your own chords for experimentation Three Instrument Sets — Piano, Brass, and Woodwinds, all high-quality samples Six Color Schemes — Three dark, three light Pinch to Zoom — Explore the lattice in detail at up to 4× magnification 7-Day Free Trial — Full access, no restrictions, no nags Perfect For: Composers looking for harmonic paths outside conventional progressions Music theorists studying Neo-Riemannian transformations Musicians experimenting with chord voice-leading Students exploring music theory hands-on What is Neo-Riemannian Theory? Neo-Riemannian theory is a branch of music theory that studies relationships between major and minor triads using transformational geometry. Rather than treating chords as functions within a key (tonic, dominant, etc.), it focuses on the small voice-leading moves — Parallel, Leading-tone exchange, and Relative — that connect one triad to the next. The result is a rich map of chromatic harmony that complements traditional tonal analysis. Why Touch Tonnetz? The Tonnetz lattice makes these relationships spatial: related chords are neighbors, and transformations are visible paths. Touch Tonnetz lets you see the lattice, hear it, and build with it — turning an abstract theoretical framework into something you can explore by ear and by hand.

About

Scale and SticKey

This app simplifies music theory by visualizing concepts like modes, scales, and chords through an interactive 'Note Team' system. Users can explore different musical structures, listen to scales and progressions, and understand key signatures and tonal centers.

Highlights
  • Interactive Note Team (TM) system
  • Visualizes modes, key signatures, scales, and chords
  • Explore different scale types (pentatonic, blues, bebop)
  • Listen to scales and chord progressions
  • Understand tonal centers and key names
  • Play individual Roman numeral chords
Features
Read full description

Scale and SticKey makes understanding music theory simple and enjoyable by synthesizing 5 theoretical concepts (modes, key signatures, scales, chord progressions, and solfa) into the concept of building a Note Team (TM). To get started (clicking the help '?' icon in the app menu will walk you through these steps): 1. Spin the solfa wheel or drag the solfa slider to put 'do' on a new position. 2. Drag the players around the outside of the wheel so that every player lines up with one of the seven solfa positions. (If you get stuck, click the central circle with the '?' to have the app move the players for you.) 3. Once every player is on a solfa position, you have formed a Note Team (TM)! The team captain has an arrow pointing at his solfa symbol, the key signature is shown in the center of the wheel, and the key is named at the top of the screen. 4. To change modes, either double-click on a new solfa name or use the arrows under the key name at the top of the screen. Each time you change modes, you are changing the tonal center (or tonic), which means your team has a new captain. The key name always begins with the name of the team captain. 5. Listen to the scales by clicking the play arrow under the key name. Change the type of scale by selecting a new icon under the key name. Options include: 7-note (heptatonic), 5-note(pentatonic), 6-note (blues), 8-note (bebop) and raised 7th (harmonic or melodic minor) scales. 6. Listen to chord progressions by clicking the arrow under the chord progression. Change the progression style by selecting a new icon under the chord progression, or switch to a new progression using the previous / next arrows next to the play button. 7. Switch to the chords view in the menu to play individual Roman numeral chords. 8.Return all elements to their original positions by clicking the reset button in the menu.

Screenshots

Touch Tonnetz4 screens
Scale and SticKey3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Scale and SticKey at 100% against Touch Tonnetz's 33%. Scale and SticKey also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Touch Tonnetz's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Touch Tonnetz is free to download; Scale and SticKey costs $2.99 up front. Touch Tonnetz sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Scale and SticKey asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scale and SticKey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Touch Tonnetz's written reviews are positive against 100% of Scale and SticKey's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Touch Tonnetz ships an update every 2 weeks, Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Touch Tonnetz versus Scale and SticKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTouch TonnetzScale and SticKey
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher MichaelisLaura Gabrielson

Customer experience

Touch Tonnetz

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

Scale and SticKey

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Touch Tonnetz

One-time1
  • Unlock Touch Tonnetz Forever$9.99
None

Scale and SticKey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Touch Tonnetz free?
Touch Tonnetz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scale and SticKey free?
Scale and SticKey costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Touch Tonnetz or Scale and SticKey?
Scale and SticKey is rated higher. Touch Tonnetz averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Scale and SticKey averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Touch Tonnetz or Scale and SticKey have ads?
Neither Touch Tonnetz nor Scale and SticKey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Touch Tonnetz or Scale and SticKey?
Touch Tonnetz ships an update every 2 weeks, and Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. Most recently, Touch Tonnetz was updated on November 2, 2026 and Scale and SticKey on November 3, 2026.

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