Hello all,
I'm not a banjo player (yet), although I was recently given one. I play guitar to a reasonable level, and decided to build myself an app (iOS only) to help me understand theory, focus on practice routines, and have tools that I would use on a regular basis.
The app dramatically improved my understanding of theory on guitar, how I could embed the theory into my playing, and therefore shift the standard of my playing. So, I decided to build a banjo and ukulele versions.
I'm interested in providing a limited number of free copies of this in return for some honest feedback. If the app is useful for others, then I'd also appreciate you letting others know about it.
I'm not after fake reviews.
If the review is positive, I'd appreciate you providing that great review in the app store, so that others get an honest perspective on how it might be useful.
If it wouldn't be a good review, then I'd appreciate direct feedback so that I can see how to accommodate that feedback into improving the app.
GTK - Banjo Player's Toolkit: apps.apple.com/us/app/gtk-banjo-players-toolkit/id6791771235
Here is the AppStore description:
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When I originally built the Guitar Player's Toolkit, they were tools that I wanted to use, and still continue to use. I have taken those tools and applied them to banjo players. It provides everything from theory, tuning, chord composition, and tempo as well as some good practice utilities.
No ads, no subscriptions, and no internet required.
CHORD TOOLS
This provides support for both 4, and 5 string banjos with multiple tunings and over 10,000 chord entries.
- 5-string Open G
- 5-string C Tuning
- 5-string Open G Low
- 5-string Double-C
- 5-string G Moda
- 4-string Tenor Standard (CGDA)
- 4-string Tenor Irish (GDAE)
- 4-string Plectrum
• Chord Master - Browse by key, build chords note-by-note, or place fingers on an interactive fretboard to discover what you're playing. Hear every chord played in whole, or arpeggiated.
• Chord Library - View thousands of chord diagrams. Search across chord types with strict or fuzzy matching. Filter by key, browse diatonic and borrowed chords, save favourites.
• Custom Chords - Create and name your own chords on an interactive grid. Auto-detect the chord name, play it back, and export/import to share with others.
• Transpose - Move song chords to any other key in seconds, with capo-aware transposition.
THEORY TOOLS
• Scales — 80+ scales across 14 categories: major, minor, modes, pentatonic, blues, jazz, Arabic, Indian ragas, Japanese, Chinese, and more. Interactive fretboard shows colour-coded positions with diatonic chord analysis. Tuning-aware for Standard, Low G, D Tuning, and Baritone.
• Scale Sharing — When playing songs with multiple chords, see where they overlap, if plucking individual strings, then know where the chord homes are (root, 3rd, and 5th). Minimise your hand movement by staying in the same general area.
• Circle of Fifths — Tap any key to explore its modes, and diatonic chords.
• Position Finder — Pick a fret and pick your key. Instantly see which scale modes fit there. Covers major, minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor, and chord tone patterns.
• Mode Converter — See exactly how any mode transforms into another — note by note, semitone by semitone.
PRACTICE TOOLS
• Note Practice — Drill fretboard note names at your own pace. Set tempo (5–120 BPM), choose strings and notes, display as text or fretboard diagram, and hear each note played. Includes a timed challenge mode.
• Metronome — 40–240 BPM with tap tempo, configurable time signatures, first-beat accent, and four click sounds (Woodblock, Click, Cowbell, Bell).
• Chromatic Tuner — Real-time pitch detection with ±1 cent accuracy, visual needle gauge, colour-coded feedback, and Hz display. Covers the full ukulele range (C3–C6).
TECHNICAL
Works completely offline
Adaptive layout for iPhone and iPad
Full light and dark mode support
Your audio is processed entirely on-device and never recorded or transmitted
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Many thanks
Jon
Edited by - jonmach on 09/17/2026 00:27:00
I applied the app toolkit to " When You And I Were Young Maggie" in the key of G and used 1 4 5 series accordingly.
I highly reccommend Pat Clouds Key to the 5 String Banjo book/ cd.
Its not one of those thick books that will intimidate you.
But its full of useful theory and excersizes as they lay out on the banjo fingerboard.
I highly reccommend it
Making information accessible is a wonderful thing.
But…practical efficacy is the goal. Musically, information is as fairy dust if it’s not clearly understood by the student in relation to playing context.
My experience of teaching a variety of ages and background banjo students is that there is generally a desire to play rather than theoretical knowledge that comes through my door. The reality is that care and timing are essential so as not to overwhelm and squash that desire. My simple strategy in regard to theory is to explain it in conjunction with the student actually using what I then subsequently explain. That way the explanation is not ‘abstract’ because the student can hear themselves already doing what I then explain. To say this avoids a ‘block’ or fear of theory is an understatement. People are generally not fearful of what they’re already doing; instead fear becomes directly relevant curiosity and interest. An "Oh, I get it!"
An app containing every imaginable bell and whistle of music theory lacks the gradual, relevant, human paced, point of connection to that information. Instead it is another epic abstract 'wall'. Where’s the door - the way in?
Plain old reference to music theory is available in many, likely more expansive and beautiful, forms. Just putting reference on a phone does nothing new. An app will be relevant to students - and a useful teaching aid - when it has integrated design functionality that easily tracks and connects with what the individual student is actually doing.
Just my penny worth.
Edited by - EEB on 09/17/2026 06:08:39
Thanks for feedback. I would absolutely agree with you.
I wouldn't recommend this for beginners. When I was a beginner, the last thing I was interested in was theory, but as I reached semi-intermediate, it was clear that a disdain for the theory was holding me back. As I leant into the theory, my playing took off, and it did so because I could rationalise why things sounded better (or not).
From my perspective, this wasn't meant to be a theory reference. It was (initially) targeted at guitar with a fretboard showing scale positions, chord composition, etc. The CoF allowed me to understand why diatonic sequences worked. It was on a phone/tablet so that I could pick a scale, and then have it in front of me while a backing track was playing, or use the note practice tool to allow me to learn the notes up and down the fretboard until they became more familiar. I could have multiple chords shown on the same fretboard and switch between them when switching chords.
I completely see where you're coming from. This isn't a tool to learn theory, but a complement to playing a specific instrument where a lack of theory holds people back.
I probably need to be clearer in the app description who this is targeted at, and how best to use it.
quote:
Originally posted by EEBMaking information accessible is a wonderful thing.
But…practical efficacy is the goal. Musically, information is as fairy dust if it’s not clearly understood by the student in relation to playing context.
My experience of teaching a variety of ages and background banjo students is that there is generally a desire to play rather than theoretical knowledge that comes through my door. The reality is that care and timing are essential so as not to overwhelm and squash that desire. My simple strategy in regard to theory is to explain it in conjunction with the student actually using what I then subsequently explain. That way the explanation is not ‘abstract’ because the student can hear themselves already doing what I then explain. To say this avoids a ‘block’ or fear of theory is an understatement. People are generally not fearful of what they’re already doing; instead fear becomes directly relevant curiosity and interest. An "Oh, I get it!"
An app containing every imaginable bell and whistle of music theory lacks the gradual, relevant, human paced, point of connection to that information. Instead it is another epic abstract 'wall'. Where’s the door - the way in?
Plain old reference to music theory is available in many, likely more expansive and beautiful, forms. Just putting reference on a phone does nothing new. An app will be relevant to students - and a useful teaching aid - when it has integrated design functionality that easily tracks and connects with what the individual student is actually doing.
Just my penny worth.
So, you're an existing user?
quote:
Originally posted by banjobob36I applied the app toolkit to " When You And I Were Young Maggie" in the key of G and used 1 4 5 series accordingly.
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