Comparison

BlueScalesTrainer vs AxeChords

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

Head to head
About

BlueScalesTrainer

Learn guitar scales with your own songs. Analyze music to find keys and display matching scales. Practice with visual fretboard views, adjustable speed, and effects. Supports foot pedal control and integrates with your iTunes library.

Highlights
  • Song key analysis
  • Visual scale patterns
  • Fretboard note display
  • Adjustable playback speed and pitch
  • Built-in audio effects
  • Foot pedal control support
  • Playlist management
Read full description

The BlueScalesTrainer was created by good motivation targets for 2019. Not loosing weight this year, but finally know where notes are on which fretboard position on my guitar to play solos. Like everywhere, this require a lot of practice and I started direct in the AppStore looking for suitable apps. Although there is a lot dealing with Scales, it is either too much, visually too small and often not helpful for practicing. The features I missed are now available in the BlueScalesTrainer: * The scales should be displayed while playing, so it needs a music audio player * New songs should be analyzed because I'm not able hear the key of a song * The scales should then be displayed individually in large size and as an overview, matching the selected song * Overview and single view of scale patterns should be switched by foot pedal * A fretboard view provides a complete overview and should also be able to hide notes. Thanks to my app BlueJamPlayer, I already had the basis for the audio player, song analysis and control via foot pedal. I also took over the effect section, so that you can use the 7 audio effects in the BlueScalesTrainer as well. Here are the extensive functions that I have integrated in the BlueScalesTrainer and everything without subscription, InApp Purchase or advertising: - The main Scales are included: Major, Minor, Pentatonic Major, Pentatonic Minor, Blues Major and Blues Minor - In total 360 scales for your training target to master your guitar solos - Per scale type each of the 12 keys and their 5 patterns according to the CAGED system could be selected - Scale view in 3 modes: Pattern single, Summary and Zoom view - New added large fretboard view, where either root notes, chord notes or all notes of the scale are displayed - Switchable display of the notes or note position in the scale - The player can also be controlled via Bluetooth from PagerTurner foot pedals - Alternative scale views can be switched via foot pedal - The pitch can be adjusted without changing the speed - Also the speed is adjustable without changing the pitch - Free configurable effects (reverb, delay, flanger, equalizer, filter) to improve the sound - All songs in your iTunes library can be used - Songs are analyzed for the key, so that the matching scale will be selected automatically - The BPM will also be analyzed and effects Delay/Flanger will be set to this BPM - In order to sort your session better, there is a playlist management with 16 playlists - Especially for practicing difficult passages, the A->B Play mode is optimal - For the direct start 14 loop songs of different styles already available Hope you enjoy learning Scales with BlueScalesTrainer!

About

AxeChords

Read full description

Learn all the basic Major and Minor Chords on Guitar using the CAGED System. (A system based on the open C, A, G, E, and D chords). Learn the foundation of all Jazz Chords with Shell Chords. (Root, 3rd, 7th). Master advanced Chords and their Inversions with Drop 2 and Drop 3 Chords. (2nd or 3rd highest note of a closed position Chord dropped an octave to spread out the voicing). Select any of 12 different Root Notes for each chord form, providing thousands of different combinations! Shows the scale degree of each chord note, as well as the suggested fingerings for each chord. Play each chord to hear how it sounds, choose from several different guitar types with strummed or picked chords. Context sensitive help available on each screen. Plus, you can also add your own custom User Chords!

Screenshots

BlueScalesTrainer4 screens
AxeChords4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: AxeChords at every 3 days against BlueScalesTrainer's every 5 months. AxeChords also leads on price ($1.99 vs $2.99). BlueScalesTrainer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.2). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

BlueScalesTrainer costs $2.99 and AxeChords $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BlueScalesTrainer ships an update every 5 months, AxeChords every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
BlueScalesTrainer versus AxeChords: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlueScalesTrainerAxeChords
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan ArnholdJoseph Svantner

In-app purchases

None

BlueScalesTrainer

No in-app purchases

None

AxeChords

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BlueScalesTrainer free?
BlueScalesTrainer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AxeChords free?
AxeChords costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do BlueScalesTrainer or AxeChords have ads?
Neither BlueScalesTrainer nor AxeChords shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BlueScalesTrainer or AxeChords?
BlueScalesTrainer ships an update every 5 months, and AxeChords every 3 days. Most recently, BlueScalesTrainer was updated on October 13, 2026 and AxeChords on October 4, 2026.

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