Fingering Strings vs SmartScales
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Interactive scale and arpeggio practice
- ABRSM syllabus alignment
- Specially composed backing tracks
- Adjustable tempo control
- Looping exercises
- Built-in metronome
- Toggleable audio tracks
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Fingering Strings | SmartScales |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 4.2 (38 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 38 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Patrick Q. Kelly | Greater Heights Media Ltd |
Customer experience
Fingering Strings
SmartScales
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
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- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
Fingering Strings
No in-app purchases
SmartScales
- Cello Grade 1$0.99
- Violin Grade 1$0.99
- Piano Grade 1$0.99
Show 14 moreShow fewer
- 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?
Is SmartScales free?
Which has better reviews, Fingering Strings or SmartScales?
Do Fingering Strings or SmartScales have ads?
Which is updated more often, Fingering Strings or SmartScales?
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