FretBud - Chord & Scales AUv3
Learn, Play, Customize
Free · Designed for iPad
FretBud is a fretboard reference and MIDI tool for guitarists, bassists, and stringed instrument players of all levels.
See any scale or chord visualized across the full neck, in any key and any tuning — instantly. Whether you're learning your first pentatonic
box or exploring modes across the entire fretboard, FretBud makes it visual, interactive, and musical.
REFERENCE
Browse dozens of scales — Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Harmonic Minor, and more — across any root note. Switch to
Chord mode to see triad, 7th, 9th, and extended shapes laid out across the neck. Change the key or mode in one tap and the neck updates
instantly.
Customize what you see on every note dot: note name, pitch with octave, scale degree, interval, or finger number. Color notes by degree,
emphasize the root, or keep it monochrome. Every combination teaches you something different.
TUNINGS
Choose from 80+ built-in tunings — Standard, Drop D, Eb, Open G, Open D, Bass, Ukulele, and many more — or build your own.
The custom tuning builder lets you set any string count and any open-string pitch, so you can map out a baritone, a 7-string, a lap steel, or anything else.
The neck redraws the moment you switch, so you see exactly how your scale or chord lays out before you pick up the instrument.
PLAYABLE SURFACE
Tap any note on the neck to hear it. FretBud includes a built-in sampler so you can play and listen to scales and chord tones directly —
perfect for ear training alongside the visual reference.
MIDI
FretBud outputs MIDI over a virtual port, so tapped notes can drive any Core MIDI-compatible app on your device. Route it into a synth, a
looper, or a DAW session to play your fretboard like a touch instrument.
AUv3 PLUGIN
Load FretBud as an AUv3 MIDI plugin directly inside Logic Pro, AUM, Loopy Pro, Cubasis, and other compatible hosts. The full fretboard reference lives
inside your DAW session — incoming MIDI from the host highlights notes on the neck in real time, so you always know where you are tonally
while you record.
APPLE WATCH
The FretBud Apple Watch companion gives you quick access to key, scale, chord, and tuning controls right on your wrist. Change what's
displayed on your iPhone without putting down the guitar.
CUSTOMIZE
Choose from multiple color themes to match your style. Adjust the visible fret range, toggle fret numbers and string names, and flip the neck
for left-handed playing.
FretBud has been completely rebuilt from the ground up.
- Fully redesigned interface, rebuilt in SwiftUI
- New color themes to match your style
- AUv3 plugin — load FretBud directly inside AUM, Cubasis, and other DAWs
- Apple Watch companion for wrist-level key, scale, and tuning control
- Neck and string flipping
- Expanded scale and chord library
- MIDI output via virtual port
- Built-in sampler — tap the neck to hear notes
- Label modes: note name, pitch, degree, interval, or finger number
- Color modes: by degree, root emphasis, or mono
If you've used FretBud before — welcome back. It's a whole new app.
The developer, Cem Olcay, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Cem Olcay
- Size
- 14.4 MB
- Category
- Music
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 14.0 or later. - iPad
Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later. - iPod touch
Requires iOS 14.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later. - Apple Vision
Requires visionOS 1.0 or later. - Apple TV
Requires tvOS 9.0 or later. - Apple Watch
Requires watchOS 9.0 or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
4+
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2026 Cem Olcay