Pentatonics vs Pianola
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Pentagon scale-chord visualizer
- Six curated pentatonic scales
- Smart chord filtering
- Two-way transposition
- Layered interval insight
- Highlight chord tones
- Save favorite combinations
Read full descriptionHide full description
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: • Minor 7 (1, b3, 4, 5, b7) • Minor 6 (1, b3, 4, 5, 6) • Minor 7b5 (1, b3, 4, b5, b7) • Major b6 (1, 2, 3, 5, b6) • Major b2 (1, b2, 3, 5, 6) • Whole-Tone (1, 3, #4, #5, b7) Smart Chord Filtering Choose from 14 chord filters to match the sound you want: Major, Minor, Dominant — 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 — 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 — based on harmonic fit, not guesswork. Across all keys and chords, that’s 7,896 ways to explore expressive sounds. Stay in the Flow • Save your favorite combinations for fast recall • History tracking keeps your recent choices just a tap away • Built-in suggestions point you to the most musical options Who It’s For • Musicians breaking out of tired scale shapes • Improvisers searching for expressive new ideas • Composers seeking color and clarity • Teachers looking to simplify complex harmony • 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 — and more about sound. Take five — and play like never before!
Pianola
This app turns your MIDI-capable piano into an interactive music player. Connect wirelessly or via USB to play your MIDI files, control tempo and pitch, and organize your music library. It's designed for an intuitive and effortless musical experience.
- Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection
- USB MIDI support
- Library and playlist management
- Adjustable tempo and pitch
- Background playback
- Includes a starter MIDI library
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pianola transforms your MIDI-capable piano into an effortless musical experience. Whether you have a digital piano or an acoustic piano outfitted with a PianoDisc, QRS PNOmation, or Yamaha Disklavier system, Pianola makes playing your favorite songs as easy as do-re-mi. Connect iPhone or iPad to your piano wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a USB MIDI adapter, browse your MIDI file collection, and let the music play! Key Features • Wireless Bluetooth MIDI — Connect to any BLE-MIDI compatible device with a single tap. • USB MIDI Support — Connect using a USB to MIDI adapter or a USB OTG cable on supported devices. • Simple Library Management — Browse MIDI files from your device, iCloud, or network storage. Create playlists to organize your music. • Tempo Control — Speed up or slow down playback. • Velocity Curves — Fine-tune the dynamics to suit your piano and room acoustics. • Pitch Adjustment — Transpose playback in real-time. Great for vocalists who want to sing along. • Background Playback — Music keeps playing while you use other apps. • Ready to Play — Includes a MIDI library to get the party started. Designed for Everyone Pianola offers an interface that feels familiar and intuitive. Large, clear controls. No hidden menus. No overwhelming options. Just the features you need, right where you expect them. Transform your piano into the jukebox it was meant to be!
Screenshots
Verdict
Pentatonics and Pianola are too close to call on the numbers: across 8 compared parameters — price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Pentatonics costs $0.99 and Pianola $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pentatonics ships an update every 9 days, Pianola fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pentatonics | Pianola |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | $0.99 |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 110 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oliver Richard Erich Naumann | Darrel Farris |
Customer experience
Pentatonics
Pianola
In-app purchases
Pentatonics
No in-app purchases
Pianola
No in-app purchases









