Comparison

Fingering Strings vs SmartScales

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

Head to head
About

Fingering Strings

This interactive guide helps string instrument players visualize fingerings for various hand positions across different clefs. It allows users to see and hear notes, intervals, and chords, aiding in learning and practice.

Highlights
  • Multiple instrument support (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
  • Extensive hand position library (Simandl, Rabbath)
  • Visual "beginner tape" display
  • Multi-note display (up to 4 notes)
  • Hear notes, intervals, and chords on piano
  • Support for Treble, Alto, Tenor, Bass clefs
Read full description

The highest rated and most comprehensive fingering guide available for Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass (Simandl and Rabbath positions). See up to 4 notes at the same time. Decide which hand position would be best for the interval or passage. See and hear the written note, interval, or chord on the piano. Support for Key Signatures to more easily find a fingering in the music you're working on. • Hand Positions: 15 positions on the Violin, 15 positions on the Viola, 16 positions on the Cello, and 12 Simandl positions or 6 Rabbath positions on the Double Bass. • Display "beginner tape" on the fingerboard as well as string names and colors. • Notate one to four notes in Treble, Alto, Tenor or Bass clef. How to Use: Pick a written note (touch the staff) and have the fingering displayed and concert pitch played on the piano. Play a concert pitch on the piano, and have that pitch's fingering displayed and the transposed note written on the staff. Written and concert pitches are the same for all but the double bass, which transposes, sounding an octave below what is written. • Use the ‘Play' button(s) to repeatedly hear the note(s) being displayed. Selecting a Pitch: Using the Staff (transposed for the current instrument): Simply touch and slide up and down on the staff to select the note, slide to the right or left of the note for sharps and flats. Using the Piano (concert pitch): drag in the area below the keyboard to move the keyboard, touch to play notes, touch & slide to change the pitch. When you glissando up the keyboard, notes will be notated as a raised value (sharps), when you glissando down, notes will be notated as lowered values (flats). Use the up and down arrows to move chromatically up and down without touching the music staff or piano keyboard.

About

SmartScales

This app transforms scale and arpeggio practice into an engaging experience with specially composed backing tracks. It closely aligns with the ABRSM syllabus, offering interactive scores, adjustable tempos, and a built-in metronome. Explore various music styles and practice with looping exercises for instruments like piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Highlights
  • Interactive scale and arpeggio practice
  • ABRSM syllabus alignment
  • Specially composed backing tracks
  • Adjustable tempo control
  • Looping exercises
  • Built-in metronome
  • Toggleable audio tracks
Features
Read full description

SmartScales makes practising scales and arpeggios interactive and fun! A collaboration between highly experienced music educators and leading music software developers, SmartScales ensures you’ll be making beautiful music thanks to specially-composed backing tracks in a broad range of styles. The graded exercise packs, available as in-app purchases, closely follow the syllabus of the ABRSM, the UK’s largest music education body and the world’s leading provider of music exams. Free content allows you to try exercises in each grade before buying. Content for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass available today, more instruments coming soon! • Follows the complete ABRSM syllabus*, including all exercise variations • Choice of music styles for every exercise • Fully interactive score follows the music • Adjustable tempo as you build towards ABRSM's suggested playing speed • Loop the exercise so the music goes on while you play • Built-in metronome helps you keep in time • Toggle lead, backing and metronome tracks on and off • Music can be used as jam along tracks * The syllabus on which SmartScales is based is © by The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is reproduced by permission of the copyright owner.

Screenshots

SmartScales4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SmartScales at Free against Fingering Strings's $3.99. SmartScales also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (38 vs 4). Fingering Strings's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 17). On ads 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

SmartScales is free to download; Fingering Strings costs $3.99 up front. SmartScales sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Fingering Strings asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fingering Strings holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmartScales has 38 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Fingering Strings's written reviews are positive against 67% of SmartScales's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fingering Strings ships an update every 17 months, SmartScales every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Fingering Strings versus SmartScales: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFingering StringsSmartScales
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.2 (38 ratings)
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings438 — better
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatrick Q. KellyGreater Heights Media Ltd

Customer experience

Fingering Strings

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%

SmartScales

All ratings38 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral15.0%
Negative18.3%

Bugs and requests

Fingering Strings

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SmartScales

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Cannot delete app from iPad
  • In-app purchase server connection issues
  • App crashes after purchase
  • App crashes after opening
  • Unable to locate in-app purchases
Show 5 more
  • App crashes after 1 second
  • App crashes on iPad
  • App doesn't load
  • App keeps re-downloading
  • Doesn't get past unpacking files screen

Requested features

22 requests
  • Add ABRSM clarinet options
  • Add ABRSM piano syllabus updates
  • Pro version for school use with all grades enabled
  • Search for key signature and browse octaves
  • Add MIDI support
Show 17 more
  • Add guitar as an instrument
  • Add brass instruments
  • Add wind instruments
  • Add band instruments
  • Add classical guitar
  • Add woodwind instruments (clarinet)
  • Add tuba
  • Add more instruments (orchestra)
  • Add tuner
  • Add drone (chord or single tone)
  • Include all three and four scale octaves
  • Offer alternative backing tracks (e.g., piano sound)
  • Check intonation and provide analysis
  • Highlight or change note head color
  • Add fingerings or display pitches
  • Create new rhythm patterns
  • More than 2 note slur option (3,4,6,8)

In-app purchases

None

Fingering Strings

No in-app purchases

17 purchases

SmartScales

One-time17
  • Cello Grade 1$0.99
  • Violin Grade 1$0.99
  • Piano Grade 1$0.99
Show 14 more
  • Piano Grade 2$1.99
  • Double Bass Grade 3$1.99
  • Violin Grade 5$2.99
  • Viola Grade 5$2.99
  • Violin Grade 7$3.99
  • Cello Grades 1 to 4$4.99
  • Violin Grades 1 to 4$4.99
  • Piano Grades 1 to 4$4.99
  • Double Bass Grade 8$4.99
  • Cello Grades 5 to 8$9.99
  • Violin Grades 5 to 8$9.99
  • Cello Grades 1 to 8$12.99
  • Violin Grades 1 to 8$12.99
  • Viola Grades 1 to 8$12.99

Questions

Is Fingering Strings free?
Fingering Strings costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SmartScales free?
SmartScales is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Fingering Strings or SmartScales?
Fingering Strings is rated higher. Fingering Strings averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while SmartScales averages 4.2 from 38 ratings.
Do Fingering Strings or SmartScales have ads?
Neither Fingering Strings nor SmartScales shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fingering Strings or SmartScales?
Fingering Strings ships an update every 17 months, and SmartScales every 5 months. Most recently, Fingering Strings was updated on October 1, 2026 and SmartScales on October 13, 2026.

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