Modes vs Scale Explorer

Modes is a hands-on music theory lab for iPhone and iPad. Whether you're writing a song, preparing for a lesson, or exploring new harmonic territory, Modes gives you instant access to scales, chords, voicings, and modulation paths, all in one beautiful, distraction-free interface. Now with Siri, Shortcuts, Spotlight search, and Home Screen widgets. SCALE & CHORD FINDER Play notes on the interactive multi-octave keyboard or connect a MIDI controller. Modes identifies the chord you're playing in real time: major, minor, diminished, augmented, extended, suspended, and more. It ranks every matching scale by note coverage. Filter results by scale category (diatonic, melodic minor, harmonic minor, pentatonic, bebop, symmetric, world, and more) to zero in on the sound you're after. 65 SCALES & MODES From the seven diatonic modes through melodic minor, harmonic minor, double harmonic, Neapolitan, bebop, the full set of pentatonic modes, blues, whole tone, diminished, augmented, and world scales like Hirajōshi, Kumoi, In Sen, Persian, and Enigmatic. Every scale is spelled out with interval tokens and highlighted on the keyboard. NOTES IN KEY Pick any root and scale to see every in-key note highlighted across two octaves. Instantly visualise which notes belong and where the root sits. SCALE CHORDS Generate diatonic triads or sevenths for every degree of your chosen scale. View roman numerals, chord names, harmonic function badges (tonic, subdominant, dominant, and 30+ detailed labels), and voiced keyboard renderings, all aligned for easy comparison. 8 VOICING TYPES Build chords in tertian, sus2, sus4, sixth, add, quartal, quintal, and power voicings. Choose from triads up to thirteenths, with every extension automatically labelled. SHARED NOTES & SHARED CHORDS Compare any two keys side by side. See which notes overlap, which are unique, and which chords both keys share. Essential for smooth modulation and reharmonisation. BORROWED CHORDS Analyse your key for native diatonic chords alongside every borrowed option from parallel modes, grouped by source mode. Discover fresh harmonic colour without leaving your tonal centre. CIRCLE OF FIFTHS Interactive dual-ring circle (major outside, natural minor inside). Tap a sector to retune the key. See dominant, subdominant, relative, parallel, and nearby key relationships at a glance, with modulation difficulty badges and key-signature details. CIRCLE OF THIRDS Explore chromatic mediant relationships on a diminished-cycle diagram. Major and minor buttons for every pitch class reveal mediant, relative, and parallel connections. Perfect for cinematic and neo-Riemannian modulation planning. MIDI SUPPORT Connect any class-compliant MIDI keyboard or controller. Played notes merge with on-screen taps for seamless detection. SIRI, SHORTCUTS & SPOTLIGHT Ask Siri or run a Shortcut to show a scale's notes, list the chords in a key, identify a scale or chord, spell a chord, find the interval between two notes, transpose a note, or open the circle of fifths and borrowed chords. Scales and chords are indexed in Spotlight, so you can search for them straight from your Home Screen. HOME SCREEN WIDGETS Add the Scale of the Day and Chord of the Day widgets to your Home or Lock Screen for a daily dose of theory, tappable straight into the app. DESIGNED FOR MUSICIANS • Runs entirely offline. No account, no ads, no tracking • Dark-mode aware interface • Adaptive layouts for iPhone and iPad • Enharmonic spelling: automatic, sharps, or flats • Pinch-to-zoom keyboard from 1 to 9 octaves Whether you're a producer sketching chord progressions, a guitarist learning modes, a pianist studying jazz harmony, or a student preparing for theory exams, Modes puts deep music theory at your fingertips. Fast, visual, and always within reach. Try free for 7 days! After the trial, unlock full access with a one-time purchase — no subscriptions.

Description Scale Explorer is a visual, interactive music theory tool for musicians, students, and curious ears. Pick any root note, choose from nine scale families, and instantly see the notes laid out on a piano keyboard or guitar fretboard, with real instrument sound. Nine scale families. 58 scales. From the seven diatonic modes to pentatonic, blues, bebop, symmetric, and exotic scales from around the world. Every scale is one tap away. • Diatonic — Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian • Harmonic minor modes — including Phrygian dominant and Super Locrian • Melodic minor modes — including Lydian augmented and the Altered scale • Double harmonic modes — Hungarian minor, Oriental, and more • Harmonic major modes • Pentatonic — major, minor, Hirajoshi, In sen, Iwato, Yo, Kumoi, Pelog • Blues & Bebop — minor blues, major blues, bebop dominant, major, and minor • Symmetric — whole tone, diminished, and augmented • Exotic — Persian, Neapolitan, Romanian minor, Enigmatic, and more Hear every note. Play the full scale ascending, strum the tonic chord, or tap individual notes. All with real piano and guitar samples. Watch the notes light up as each one plays. Color-coded by role. Root, third, and fifth degrees are highlighted in distinct colors so you can immediately see the chord tones inside any scale. Piano and guitar views. Switch between a piano keyboard and a six-string guitar fretboard to see where scale notes sit on your instrument of choice. Proper music theory spelling. Notes are spelled diatonically. C harmonic minor shows Eb and Ab, not D# and G#. Accidentals up to double-sharp and double-flat are handled correctly. Available in English, Norwegian, and Italian. All preferences are saved automatically so Scale Explorer picks up exactly where you left off.