Comparison

AxeChords vs Pentatonics

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

Head to head
About

AxeChords

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Learn all the basic Major and Minor Chords on Guitar using the CAGED System. (A system based on the open C, A, G, E, and D chords). Learn the foundation of all Jazz Chords with Shell Chords. (Root, 3rd, 7th). Master advanced Chords and their Inversions with Drop 2 and Drop 3 Chords. (2nd or 3rd highest note of a closed position Chord dropped an octave to spread out the voicing). Select any of 12 different Root Notes for each chord form, providing thousands of different combinations! Shows the scale degree of each chord note, as well as the suggested fingerings for each chord. Play each chord to hear how it sounds, choose from several different guitar types with strummed or picked chords. Context sensitive help available on each screen. Plus, you can also add your own custom User Chords!

About

Pentatonics

This app visualizes five-note scales and their connection to chords, offering a unique way to explore musical expression. It helps musicians improvise, compose, and understand harmony with clear visual aids and smart filtering options.

Highlights
  • Pentagon scale-chord visualizer
  • Six curated pentatonic scales
  • Smart chord filtering
  • Two-way transposition
  • Layered interval insight
  • Highlight chord tones
  • Save favorite combinations
Features
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Pentatonics - Take Five Less notes. More music. Visualized. Step back. Level up. Unlock a new world of musical expression with Pentatonics, the visually driven music theory tool that transforms five-note scales into endless creative possibilities. Whether you’re improvising, composing, or exploring harmony, Pentatonics shows you how to say more with less. What Makes It Different Visualize the Scale-Chord Connection A one-of-a-kind pentagon visualizer shows exactly how a scale maps onto a chord, highlighting chord tones, extensions, tensions, and color with instant clarity. Six Curated Pentatonics These aren’t basic box patterns. Each scale is chosen for its harmonic purpose: β€’ Minor 7 (1, b3, 4, 5, b7) β€’ Minor 6 (1, b3, 4, 5, 6) β€’ Minor 7b5 (1, b3, 4, b5, b7) β€’ Major b6 (1, 2, 3, 5, b6) β€’ Major b2 (1, b2, 3, 5, 6) β€’ Whole-Tone (1, 3, #4, #5, b7) Smart Chord Filtering Choose from 14 chord filters to match the sound you want: Major, Minor, Dominant β€” plus altered, sus, and extended voicings like #11, b9, b13, and more. Two-Way Transposition Transpose chord and scale roots independently. Practice in any key. Compose in any context. Teach with full flexibility. Layered Interval Insight Switch between note names and scale degrees to understand how each note functions inside the harmony. Highlight Chord Tones Color-coded overlays show you roots, thirds, sevenths, and more β€” helping you target the strongest notes in your lines. Smart Starting Points Pentatonics finds 47 unique entry points where each scale fits the chord best β€” based on harmonic fit, not guesswork. Across all keys and chords, that’s 7,896 ways to explore expressive sounds. Stay in the Flow β€’ Save your favorite combinations for fast recall β€’ History tracking keeps your recent choices just a tap away β€’ Built-in suggestions point you to the most musical options Who It’s For β€’ Musicians breaking out of tired scale shapes β€’ Improvisers searching for expressive new ideas β€’ Composers seeking color and clarity β€’ Teachers looking to simplify complex harmony β€’ Students learning how theory works in real music Explore. Visualize. Improvise. Pentatonics isn’t just a scale reference. It’s a launchpad for creative growth. Built for modern iOS with a clean, fast interface powered by SwiftUI, it’s designed to keep you thinking less about theory β€” and more about sound. Take five β€” and play like never before!

Screenshots

AxeChords4 screens
Pentatonics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: AxeChords at every 3 days against Pentatonics's every 9 days. Pentatonics's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $1.99). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

AxeChords costs $1.99 and Pentatonics $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AxeChords ships an update every 3 days, Pentatonics every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 6 level
AxeChords versus Pentatonics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAxeChordsPentatonics
Price$1.99$0.99 β€” better
Positive reviewsβ€”100.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 days β€” betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetizationβ€”Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.2 β€” better17.6
Further details β€” not scored
Size5 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoseph SvantnerOliver Richard Erich Naumann

In-app purchases

None

AxeChords

No in-app purchases

None

Pentatonics

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AxeChords free?
AxeChords costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pentatonics free?
Pentatonics costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do AxeChords or Pentatonics have ads?
Neither AxeChords nor Pentatonics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AxeChords or Pentatonics?
AxeChords ships an update every 3 days, and Pentatonics every 9 days. Most recently, AxeChords was updated on October 4, 2026 and Pentatonics on September 30, 2026.

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