Guitarist's Reference vs Guitar Chords
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
Guitar Chords
Access a vast library of guitar and ukulele chords with an intuitive interface. Quickly find chords by name or build your own progressions to enhance your musical skills.
- Extensive guitar chord library
- Ukulele chord support
- Chord finder by name
- Chord progression builder
- Easy-to-use interface
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Learn Guitar Chords is the beginner-friendly way to learn guitar step by step. Start with a clear guided path: tune your guitar, explore the fretboard, and complete your first C major chord lesson. Every screen is designed to help you understand what to play next. LEARN GUITAR CHORDS Follow guided chord lessons with clear finger placement Read chord diagrams, open strings, muted strings, and barre shapes Explore 53 guitar chord shapes, from essential open chords to advanced forms Search chord names and compare chord diagrams TUNE AND TRAIN YOUR EAR Use the built-in guitar tuner with microphone detection Play reference notes for every standard-tuning string Learn where notes live on the interactive guitar fretboard Build musical listening skills with guitar-note ear training PRACTICE REAL GUITAR SKILLS Read guitar tabs from open-string drills to fingerstyle exercises Practice chord changes and steady rhythm Test your knowledge with chord quizzes Review weak chord shapes with flashcards and smart review Complete daily chord sprints, earn XP, and build a practice streak FREE STARTER PATH Start with standard tuning, fretboard foundations, starter chord shapes, two beginner tab drills, and a guided C major lesson. UNLOCK PRO Get every chord group, guided lesson, advanced tab drill, alternate tuning, chord quiz, ear-training exercise, flashcard, and unlimited review tool. Pick up your guitar and start building real playing skills today. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://deisyapp.appmakerpro.website/privacypolicy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Guitarist's Reference at 62% against Guitar Chords's 0%. Guitarist's Reference also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.0) and ads (none vs shown). Guitar Chords's advantage is price (Free vs $19.99). On update cadence, 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
Guitar Chords 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.
Guitarist's Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guitarist's Reference has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Guitarist's Reference's written reviews are positive against 0% of Guitar Chords's.
Guitarist's Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, Guitar Chords fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Guitarist's Reference | Guitar Chords |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (16 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 79 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | My App Catalog LLC | Deisy Renteria |
Customer experience
Guitarist's Reference
Guitar Chords
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
Guitar Chords
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Guitarist's Reference
No in-app purchases
Guitar Chords
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Guitarist's Reference free?
Is Guitar Chords free?
Which has better reviews, Guitarist's Reference or Guitar Chords?
Do Guitarist's Reference or Guitar Chords have ads?
Which is updated more often, Guitarist's Reference or Guitar Chords?
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