Comparison

Chords Player 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

Chords Player

Compose, practice, and perform music by creating unique chord sequences. This app offers various playback styles and time signatures, allowing you to build custom songs and exercises. It's a valuable tool for musicians of all levels, including teachers.

Highlights
  • Compose chord sequences
  • Multiple playback styles
  • Various time signatures
  • Loop mode for practice
  • Transpose chords
  • Save and share settings
  • Included mixer
Features
Read full description

„COMPOSE, PRACTICE, PERFORM.“ ** Chords Player is a standalone subpart of our app ‚Improvisation Trainer‘. Feel free to try the features of Chords Player using the free version of Improvisation Trainer. ** CHORDS PLAYER will play back your chord sequences in many different styles and time signatures! With it’s built in features, you can CREATE TRULY UNIQUE SONGS and EXERCISES. CHORDS PLAYER is a great practicing companion for both beginners and professionals in music out of every music field.  CHORDS PLAYER is a indispensable tool for music teachers and provides an ultimate platform for practicing harmonic and melodic instruments. Just get started with one of our presets to give you an idea about the endless possibilities the app can do! DIFFERENT PLAYBACK STYLES INCLUDED • Blues-Shuffle • Bossa Nova • Country (Trainbeat) • Country • Disco • Dico-Funk • Funk • Hip-Hop • Pop • Reggae • Rock’n’Roll • Rock • Samba • Ska • Swing-Ballad • Swing DIFFERENT TIME SIGNATURES • 4/4 • 3/4 • 5/4 • 7/8 • 9/8 LOOP MODE • hear your ideas in a loop • transpose your chords in any key you want SAVE AND SHARE YOUR SETTINGS • you can save all your custom settings to get started quickly • you can easily share the settings with friends, students or other people using e-mail MIXER INCLUDED • with the included mixer, you can decide to only hear chords, bass, or drums and create your unique mix!

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

Chords Player4 screens
Scale and SticKey3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Scale and SticKey at 5.0 against Chords Player's 3.7. Scale and SticKey also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Chords Player's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Chords Player costs $2.99 and Scale and SticKey $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scale and SticKey holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chords Player ships an update every 2 months, Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Chords Player versus Scale and SticKey: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChords PlayerScale and SticKey
Price$2.99$2.99
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.1 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB80 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAppicDesignLaura Gabrielson

Customer experience

Chords Player

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Scale and SticKey

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

In-app purchases

None

Chords Player

No in-app purchases

None

Scale and SticKey

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Chords Player free?
Chords Player costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scale and SticKey free?
Scale and SticKey costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Chords Player or Scale and SticKey?
Scale and SticKey is rated higher. Chords Player averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Scale and SticKey averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Chords Player or Scale and SticKey have ads?
Neither Chords Player nor Scale and SticKey shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chords Player or Scale and SticKey?
Chords Player ships an update every 2 months, and Scale and SticKey every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chords Player was updated on October 26, 2026 and Scale and SticKey on October 24, 2026.

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