Comparison

Guitarist's Reference vs StrumForge

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

StrumForge

Instantly generate countless guitar chord progressions and practice with built-in scales, tempo, and grooves. Explore various chord types and fingerings, and play along with integrated drum patterns. Designed for musicians to focus on playing and songwriting.

Highlights
  • Generate over 425,000 chord progressions
  • Play along with chord diagrams in tempo
  • Solo over progressions with scale diagrams
  • Lock or randomize key
  • Choose chord types (open, barre, triads, power)
  • Built-in drum groove and tempo control
  • Left-handed chord diagram support
Features
Read full description

StrumForge brings chord progressions, drum grooves, scales, triads, and arpeggios together in one practice app. Work on chord changes, build your timing, and practice improvisation with interactive diagrams and built-in playback. Instantly generate over 1 million unique, theory-based chord progressions across every key. Customize your practice loop, choose your guitar sound and rhythm, and play along at your own pace. No ads. No account required to get started. CHORD PROGRESSIONS • Generate theory-based progressions instantly across every key • Choose 2, 4, 8, 12, or 16 chords for focused loops or longer practice sessions • Select your key, mode, chord types, tempo, and guitar sound • Lock individual chords, change their voicings, or replace them manually • Explore open chords, barre chords, triads, and power chords • Add sevenths, suspended chords, and add9 chords • See chord shapes outlined on your scale diagram during playback or chord preview • Build your own progression to practice specific chord changes RHYTHM & DRUMS • Play along with sampled drum grooves that bring your practice to life • Unlock the full collection of 20 grooves with Pro, including rhythms in 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8 • Customize individual drum parts from light to busy, add fills, and choose an optional metronome click • Explore guitar strumming patterns and choose your strum independently of the drum groove • Adjust guitar and drum volumes to suit your practice • Save your drum settings and guitar strum with each favorite progression TRIADS & ARPEGGIOS • Explore every triad inversion and see how shapes connect across the fretboard • Play along with the Triad Trainer to practice changes in time • Learn moveable arpeggios through CAGED chord shapes • Follow animated TAB that highlights each fret as it plays • Adjust playback tempo, direction, and rhythm to practice at your own pace SCALES & FRETBOARD • Practice improvisation over progressions with matching mode and pentatonic scale diagrams • Explore CAGED scale shapes individually or across the full fretboard • Choose note or interval labels and highlight triads or characteristic intervals • Move diagrams to your preferred fretboard position • Explore chord shapes with interval, note, or suggested finger-placement labels • Use left-handed diagrams in portrait or landscape orientation UNLOCK STRUMFORGE PRO • Unlimited progression generation and longer progressions • Musical styles for mood-based generation • The full drum groove collection, customizable kits, fills, and independent guitar strumming • Triad Trainer and Arpeggio Trainer with animated TAB • Advanced scale tools and individual CAGED scale shapes • Save, revisit, and share favorite progressions, including your chosen scale and rhythm settings • Sync favorites and preferences across devices with an account • Track practice automatically with session stats and streaks • Built-in guitar tuner with popular alternate tunings and reference tones • Full-featured metronome with tap tempo, subdivisions, swing, and saved presets • Additional 12-string, overdrive, and arpeggiated guitar sounds • Dark mode and saved practice preferences From focused chord-change drills to exploring the whole fretboard, StrumForge helps you put music theory into practice—and discover ideas for your own songs along the way. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Guitarist's Reference4 screens
StrumForge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: StrumForge at Free against Guitarist's Reference's $19.99. StrumForge also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 62%) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Guitarist's Reference's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On rating, ads, monetization model 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

StrumForge is free to download; Guitarist's Reference costs $19.99 up front. StrumForge sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Guitarist's Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Guitarist's Reference against 4.9 for StrumForge. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 53 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of Guitarist's Reference's written reviews are positive against 100% of StrumForge's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Guitarist's Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, StrumForge every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Guitarist's Reference versus StrumForge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGuitarist's ReferenceStrumForge
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (16 ratings)4.9 (53 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1653 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMy App Catalog LLCAdam Spain

Customer experience

Guitarist's Reference

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

StrumForge

All ratings53 ratings
Positive96.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

StrumForge

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Guitarist's Reference

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

StrumForge

Subscriptions3
  • StrumForge Pro Weekly7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • StrumForge Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • StrumForge Pro Annual$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$49.99

Questions

Is Guitarist's Reference free?
Guitarist's Reference costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is StrumForge free?
StrumForge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Guitarist's Reference or StrumForge?
StrumForge is rated higher. Guitarist's Reference averages 4.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while StrumForge averages 4.9 from 53 ratings.
Do Guitarist's Reference or StrumForge have ads?
Neither Guitarist's Reference nor StrumForge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Guitarist's Reference or StrumForge?
Guitarist's Reference ships an update every 3 weeks, and StrumForge every 3 days. Most recently, Guitarist's Reference was updated on October 17, 2026 and StrumForge on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons