FretMachine vs Strumetra Studio
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FretMachine
This app allows musicians to sketch guitar parts by placing chords on a fretboard and creating strumming patterns. It offers an intuitive alternative to traditional tab workflows, enabling users to build chord progressions and export ideas as MIDI files for DAWs.
- Fretboard chord input
- Strumming pattern sequencer
- Chord library with advanced chords
- Real-time chord analysis
- MIDI export for DAWs
- Timeline arrangement
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Place chords on the fretboard. Sketch guitar parts with strumming patterns. FretMachine is a guitar chord and strumming sequencer for musicians, producers, songwriters, and DAW users. Unlike traditional tab-based workflows, FretMachine provides a more intuitive way to create guitar parts. Place chords on a fretboard-style interface, create strumming patterns in the rhythm sequencer, and arrange your ideas on the timeline. When you place notes on the fretboard, FretMachine analyzes the shape in real time and shows you the chord name. You can also choose chords directly from the chord library and quickly build chord progressions. Once your chords are ready, create strumming patterns on the rhythm grid, arrange them on the timeline, and export your ideas as MIDI files for further production in your DAW. KEY FEATURES • Strum-Based Sequencing Create guitar ideas around chords and strumming rhythms instead of entering notes one by one. • Pattern-Based Sequencer Arrange strumming and rhythm patterns freely on the timeline to structure your song ideas. • Chord Library Supports Basic Triads, 7th chords, tension chords such as 9th/11th/13th, sus/add chords, Altered chords, and a variety of guitar voicings. • Reverse Chord Finder Place notes on the fretboard and see the chord name analyzed in real time. • Fretboard Input Enter and sequence chord shapes while viewing a visual guitar fretboard interface. • Rhythm & Strumming Pattern Editor Design strumming rhythms on a grid using downstrokes and upstrokes. • MIDI Export Export completed guitar parts as MIDI files and bring them into your DAW. FretMachine helps you quickly build guitar-focused ideas, from chord sketches to pattern-based song drafts.
Strumetra Studio
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Practice guitar with your own sheet music and TAB, build chord changes, keep time with a metronome, and create drum backing patterns. Strumetra Studio brings four practice tools together without an account, ads, or score uploads. SCORE: READ, PLAY AND LOOP Open Guitar Pro, MuseScore, MusicXML, MIDI, CAPX and AlphaTex files. Choose a part, adjust tempo, and repeat difficult passages with bar loops and count-in. Follow notation, tablature and fingering as you play along. Recent files stay within easy reach without covering your score. CHORD TRAINER: BUILD FLUENCY Create and reorder chord progressions. Manual mode offers Previous and Next; Timed mode advances at your chosen tempo; Audio Trigger advances when local microphone input crosses the configured threshold. See the current chord and the next change together. METRONOME: FIND YOUR PULSE Set BPM, use Tap Tempo, choose a time signature and sound, and configure accents and count-in. Volume and Mute respond during playback. DRUM MACHINE: MAKE A BACKING PATTERN Start with a groove or edit the seven-track step sequencer. Choose a kit, adjust tempo and swing, and mute individual tracks. Add drum or metronome accompaniment to score and chord practice. A WORKSPACE THAT FITS Score, Practice, Rhythm and Settings use a consistent layout. Playback controls remain available while you open Options or Settings. Choose Light, Dark or System appearance. iPad uses a landscape workspace with room for notation and controls. YOUR FILES STAY LOCAL MuseScore MSCZ and MSCX files use the built-in importer; no external converter or MuseScore installation is required. Audio Trigger analyzes microphone input locally while running. Microphone audio is not recorded or transmitted. Scores stay on your device. No analytics, advertising or runtime cloud account. OPTIONAL LED FRETBOARD Add visual guidance with supported Bluetooth LED fretboards compatible with Fret Zealot and Fret Zealot 2. Practice tools also work without fretboard hardware. These are third-party compatibility marks. Strumetra Studio is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by their owner. Drum Trainer and MIDI drum-hit scoring have moved to the separate StickSignal app. Drum Machine remains in Strumetra Studio. Bring your own supported score files. The interface is in English. Not all imported formats contain fingering information. Audio Trigger detects sound attacks, not chord correctness.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Strumetra Studio at none against FretMachine's 1. Strumetra Studio also leads on device support (4 vs 2). FretMachine's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. FretMachine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Strumetra Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.
FretMachine ships an update daily, Strumetra Studio every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | FretMachine | Strumetra Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 227 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kyuhwa Choi | Dmitrii Valinovskii |
In-app purchases
FretMachine
- Pro Unlock$4.99
Strumetra Studio
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FretMachine free?
Is Strumetra Studio free?
Do FretMachine or Strumetra Studio have ads?
Which is updated more often, FretMachine or Strumetra Studio?
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