Comparison

KnowYourNeck vs Guitar Scale Memory

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

Head to head
About

KnowYourNeck

Explore the interconnectedness of musical scales and arpeggios on a guitar fretboard. Visualize chord tones, target notes, and practice with visual overlays for backing tracks. Offers tools for learning intervals, scales, and chords, with advanced features for Pro users.

Highlights
  • Overlay multiple arpeggios
  • Identify target notes between chords
  • Play along with visual fretboard overlay
  • Visualize intervals and scales
  • Display chord voicings and inversions
  • Real-time pitch detection
Features
Read full description

Most guitar apps show you one scale or arpeggio at a time. KnowYourNeck shows you how everything connects. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT • Multi Arp — Overlay up to three arpeggios simultaneously. See the chord tones for an entire progression on the neck at once, so you can practice connecting lines and navigating changes instead of just memorizing isolated shapes. • Target Notes — Identify which notes are safe landing points between chord changes. Overlaying a scale against an arpeggio shows you exactly which degrees work as target notes when you land on a new chord — the key to sounding musical instead of mechanical. • Play Along with Visual Overlay — Practice with backing tracks while the fretboard changes with every chord in your progression. A preview shows the upcoming scale or arpeggio before the change hits, so you can prepare your line in advance. Available in Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk, Bossa, and Drone styles. EVERYTHING ELSE YOU GET • Intervals — Visualize the distance between any two notes across all six strings. • Scales — Every common scale and mode mapped across the full neck with color-coded degrees. • Chords — Triads, Drop 2, Drop 3, and Shell voicings with every inversion drawn as a grip across the neck. • Lick Builder (Pro) — Tap out note sequences on the fretboard and save your lines. • Quiz Mode (Pro) — Test intervals, chord tones, and scale mastery with detailed accuracy and speed stats. • Pitch Detection — Play a note and the app identifies it on the neck in real time. • Zen Mode — Full-screen fretboard with no chrome, for focused practice. BUILT FOR LEARNING Toggle note names or scale degrees. Switch sharps and flats. Show or hide open strings. Chromatic color mode to spot patterns fast. Whether you're working on your first pentatonic or learning to navigate a jazz progression, KnowYourNeck shows you the neck the way it actually works — as a connected system, not a collection of boxes. Free to explore. Upgrade to Pro for the Lick Builder, Quiz Mode, and Play Along.

About

Guitar Scale Memory

Read full description

Guitar Scale Memory helps you learn guitar scales through basic shapes, fretboard maps, and recall practice. Based on the Japanese learning material "究極に覚えやすい最強のスケール記憶法", the app lets you study a shape, apply it to the fretboard, and practice remembering positions. LESSONS Learn how to use the basic shape and practice pentatonic scales. Pro also includes the vertical basic-shape lesson. FRETBOARD MAP Choose a key and scale, then explore basic, diagonal, and full views. Switch between note names and scale degrees, and review chord examples. Pro includes all 16 scales and vertical movement for selected scales. TEST Practice recalling fretboard positions across three levels. Level 1 is free. Free users can practice Levels 2–3 with the two pentatonic scales; Pro expands these levels to every included scale. FREE AND PRO Free includes the basic lessons, two pentatonic scales, and tests. Eligible screens display banner ads and full-screen ads at every 10 eligible actions. The monthly Pro subscription unlocks the full scale catalog, vertical movement for selected scales, and the additional lesson. All ads are hidden while Pro is active. SUPPORTED TUNING Designed for a six-string guitar in E A D G B E standard tuning. Other tunings are currently unsupported. Japanese and English interfaces, with light and dark appearance options. SUBSCRIPTION Pro is an auto-renewable monthly subscription. See the localized store price in the app and the purchase confirmation sheet. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled. Manage or cancel it in your Apple Account subscription settings after purchase. Privacy policy: https://shiga15679-crypto.github.io/apps/scale-memory/privacy/ Terms of use (Apple standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

KnowYourNeck4 screens
Guitar Scale Memory4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: KnowYourNeck at none against Guitar Scale Memory's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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. KnowYourNeck sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Guitar Scale Memory sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KnowYourNeck ships an update every 11 days, Guitar Scale Memory every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
KnowYourNeck versus Guitar Scale Memory: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnowYourNeckGuitar Scale Memory
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdam RhodesSHOICHI HASEGAWA

In-app purchases

2 purchases

KnowYourNeck

Subscriptions2
  • KnowYourNeck Pro$4.991 Month
  • KnowYourNeck Pro$49.991 Year
1 purchases

Guitar Scale Memory

Subscriptions1
  • Guitar Scale Memory Pro$1.991 Month

Questions

Is KnowYourNeck free?
KnowYourNeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Guitar Scale Memory free?
Guitar Scale Memory is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do KnowYourNeck or Guitar Scale Memory have ads?
Guitar Scale Memory shows ads; KnowYourNeck does not.
Which is updated more often, KnowYourNeck or Guitar Scale Memory?
KnowYourNeck ships an update every 11 days, and Guitar Scale Memory every 9 days. Most recently, KnowYourNeck was updated on October 31, 2026 and Guitar Scale Memory on November 6, 2026.

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