Comparison

Guitarist's Reference vs Advanced Sound

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

Head to head
About

Guitarist's Reference

This comprehensive suite offers a vast collection of guitar chords, scales, and arpeggios with clear diagrams and detailed theory. It includes tools for finding chord-scale relationships, exploring alternate tunings, and even a virtual guitar for practice.

Highlights
  • 3000+ guitar chords with diagrams
  • 42 scale types including modes and pentatonics
  • Arpeggio finder
  • 36 alternate tunings
  • Chord-scale relationship guide
  • Virtual guitar
  • Guitar tuner
Features
Read full description

Introducing the Ultimate Guitarist's Companion - Your All-in-One Solution for Mastering the Fretboard: - Comprehensive Package: Elevate your guitar journey with an all-encompassing suite of tools and knowledge. Explore Guitar Chords, Chord Progressions, Scales, Triads, Arpeggios, Fretboard Note Mastery, Reverse Chord & Scale Finder, Chord Quizzes, Alternate Tunings, Guitar Tuner, Virtual Guitar and the intricate web of Chord-Scale Relationships. - Guitar Chord Encyclopedia: Unleash the potential of over 3000 commonly used guitar chords. Dive into chord theory and find clarity through easy-reference diagrams. Test your prowess with the Chord Quiz feature – a true test of your skills. - Mastering Guitar Scales: Demystify the realm of guitar scales fearlessly. From the basics to the sublime, our comprehensive scale reference transforms your fretboard knowledge. With 42 scale types spanning major, minor, pentatonic, modes, and more, you'll command all keys with confidence. - Unveiling Chord-Scale Relationships: Say goodbye to chord change anxiety. Our guide deciphers the intricate dance between chords and scales. Elevate your playing by understanding which scales harmonize with each chord, empowering you to navigate complex progressions effortlessly. - Modern Guitarist's Arpeggios: Seamlessly locate any arpeggio, regardless of your reading ability. Presented in intuitive diagram form, this feature benefits both beginners seeking structured guidance and professionals requiring arpeggio references for any musical scenario. - Alternate Tunings Explored: Dive deep into 36 of the most popular alternate tunings, expanding your creative horizons. Whether you're in Standard or Alternate Tuning, access Scales, Arpeggios, and Fretboard Notes effortlessly. Guitar Tuner: Our improved tuning feature now allows you to tune your guitar by ear across a wide range of preset alternate tunings. - Reverse Chord/Scale Finder Tool: Transform your musical ideas into named chords/scales effortlessly. Struggling to name a chord/scale you've crafted? This ingenious tool deciphers your fretboard inputs, revealing the chord/scale's identity. - Virtual Guitar: Immerse yourself in the guitar-playing experience right from your device. Our virtual guitar feature enables you to strum, pluck, and navigate the fretboard with a variety of alternate tunings. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or a beginner, this feature provides a platform for practice, chord and scale experimentation, and the joy of guitar sounds without requiring a physical instrument. Take hold of virtual strings and let your musical creativity flow. Experience an unparalleled guitar journey, where knowledge meets practice in perfect harmony. Unleash your true potential with our All-in-One Guitarist's Package.

About

Advanced Sound

Update the firmware on your Advanced Accessport to the latest version. This application ensures your device has the most current software for optimal performance.

Highlights
  • Update Accessport firmware
  • Access latest firmware versions
  • Ensure optimal device performance
Features
Read full description

This App allows the firmware on your Advanced Accessport to be updated to its latest version.

Screenshots

Guitarist's Reference4 screens
Advanced Sound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Advanced Sound at Free against Guitarist's Reference's $19.99. Advanced Sound also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Guitarist's Reference's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (62% vs 26%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Advanced Sound is free to download; Guitarist's Reference costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Guitarist's Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Guitarist's Reference's written reviews are positive against 26% of Advanced Sound's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guitarist's Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, Advanced Sound monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Guitarist's Reference versus Advanced Sound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuitarist's ReferenceAdvanced Sound
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (16 ratings) — better2.3 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews62.0% of reviews — better25.5% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMy App Catalog LLCADVSOUND, Inc.

Customer experience

Guitarist's Reference

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive62.0%
Neutral15.6%
Negative22.3%

Advanced Sound

All ratings14 ratings
Positive35.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative64.3%
Written reviews47 reviews
Positive25.5%
Neutral6.4%
Negative68.1%

Bugs and requests

Guitarist's Reference

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Chord finder not detecting all chord inversions
  • Issues with alternate tuning functionality
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to overlay multiple scales
  • Customizable chord/scale display options
  • Integrated tuner functionality
  • Support for more alternate tunings
  • Improved chord/scale audio playback

Advanced Sound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Guitarist's Reference

No in-app purchases

None

Advanced Sound

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Guitarist's Reference free?
Guitarist's Reference costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Advanced Sound free?
Advanced Sound is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Guitarist's Reference or Advanced Sound?
Guitarist's Reference is rated higher. Guitarist's Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Advanced Sound averages 2.3 from 14 ratings.
Do Guitarist's Reference or Advanced Sound have ads?
Neither Guitarist's Reference nor Advanced Sound shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Guitarist's Reference or Advanced Sound?
Guitarist's Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, and Advanced Sound monthly. Most recently, Guitarist's Reference was updated on October 17, 2026 and Advanced Sound on October 15, 2026.

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