Comparison

Fretboard Sessions vs Dico Pattern

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

Head to head
About

Fretboard Sessions

Visualize chord tones and scales on a guitar fretboard with customizable keys and tunings. Practice soloing and phrasing over a library of high-quality backing tracks that adapt to the music.

Highlights
  • Fretboard visualization
  • Chord tone and scale display
  • Customizable keys and tunings
  • Library of backing tracks
  • Adaptive fretboard with tracks
  • Practice exercises
  • Randomized practice routines
Features
Read full description

Visualize chord tones and scales in different keys and tunings, and practice phrasing or soloing over a growing library of high-quality backing tracks. Fretboard Sessions is a companion app for guitarists focused on taking their playing to the next level, whether they are working with a teacher, taking a course, or studying on their own. Easily Visualize the Fretboard Instead of having to go through pages of charts and diagrams, you can quickly configure the fretboard to show you exactly what you want. Select a key, show chord tones, scales, or both, and choose to show notes or degrees on the fretboard. You can select from different tunings and even focus the fretboard on specific strings or scale degrees. Play Along With Backing Tracks
To help you get better at melodic phrasing and soloing, Fretboard Sessions comes with a library of high-quality backing tracks. There are single-chord grooves, two-chord vamps, common progressions, and more complex backing tracks with extended and non-diatonic chords. The fretboard automatically changes as the backing track plays, making it easy for you to try out different melodies and licks. Each backing track is available in all 12 keys. Practice With Exercises
When you want to review your scales, arpeggios, triads, or intervals, simply select an exercise from the Fretboard Sessions library. Each exercise has a specific focus; for example, there are separate exercises for each of the CAGED shapes. Exercises are also available in all 12 keys. Randomize Your Routine When it comes time to practice or just noodle around, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Tap the shuffle button or shake your iPhone to get a random backing track or exercise. You can shuffle between favorites and even get the backing track or exercise in a random key. Support Fretboard Sessions I created Fretboard Sessions to help me visualize the fretboard in different ways, practice over a variety of backing tracks, and use it as a reference when creating my own music. Fretboard Sessions is helping me become a better player, which is why I want to share it with others. All the app functions, along with a set of backing tracks and exercises, are completely free. For a single one-time purchase, you can unlock all current and future backing tracks and exercises. Your purchase will help support continued development of Fretboard Sessions . Thanks in advance! Feedback Appreciated The app is a work in progress, and I'm still learning, so if you have ideas for making it better, you can provide feedback right from within the app. Also, if Fretboard Sessions is helping you become a better player, consider submitting a review on the App Store.

About

Dico Pattern

Features
Read full description

Years of playing, but your picking hand still holds you back? Dico Pattern is a guitar teacher's method in your pocket: 150 technique patterns, worked from slow to fast, with your progress tracked pattern by pattern. WHAT YOU GET - 150 patterns graded by difficulty, with tab - Built-in metronome, 3 tempos per exercise (slow, medium, fast) - Guided mode: levels unlock as you master them - Practice journal and progress grid - Lab: build your own exercises - Works offline, no account needed HOW IT WORKS Pick a pattern. Play it slow until it is clean, then medium, then fast. Tick the box. The grid fills up, the next level opens. That is the whole method - the one a teacher would give you. WHO MADE IT Cedric, guitar teacher for 20 years and host of the "A la Loop" podcast, where guitar solos are analysed step by step. PRICING Free for 7 days, then a single one-time unlock. No subscription, ever.

Screenshots

Fretboard Sessions4 screens
Dico Pattern4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Dico Pattern at 15.0 against Fretboard Sessions's 17.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Fretboard Sessions sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Dico Pattern sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Fretboard Sessions versus Dico Pattern: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFretboard SessionsDico Pattern
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFretboard Buddy LLCCEDRIC RAOU

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Fretboard Sessions

One-time1
  • All Backing Tracks and Exercises$4.99
1 purchases

Dico Pattern

One-time1
  • Déblocage complet$8.99

Questions

Is Fretboard Sessions free?
Fretboard Sessions is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dico Pattern free?
Dico Pattern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Fretboard Sessions or Dico Pattern have ads?
Neither Fretboard Sessions nor Dico Pattern shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fretboard Sessions or Dico Pattern?
Fretboard Sessions ships an update every 2 weeks, and Dico Pattern every 2 weeks. Most recently, Fretboard Sessions was updated on October 31, 2026 and Dico Pattern on October 28, 2026.

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