Functional Ear Trainer

• Functional Ear Trainer Plus — $19.99

Last verified 7 Aug 2026

4.9 3678 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5This is a great app 😊

   I have been using this app consistently over past several days and I have been improving my note recognition far better than I ever thought I could. I didn’t believe it would work this well and in such a short time. I still have quite a ways to go but I’m confident I will get there. The app is fun to use. Easy to navigate. I am learning quite a bit about music. I’m 54 years old and decided to take up playing the keyboard about 4 years ago. I have been teaching myself using mostly apps and online learning. I have no previous music education before that at all but always wanted to play an instrument. Back in my younger years I was told I didn’t have an ear for it and was refused as a student. Not something likely to happen today. But thanks to apps like this one, I’m finally getting back what was taken from me even though I’ll never be as good as if I had learned it from a young age but I never thought it was possible until recently. Thanks for such a great app. Highly recommended for everyone who wants to learn this. It’s amazingly fun and informative as well.

   CharmieLady · 7 Aug 2026

2. 5/5Every Vocalist Should Use This App

   Normally I don’t ever leave reviews, but I just have to for this app… I’ve been using it for several years now, and the improvements are amazing. I remember first struggling with it in the beginning, but doing 10-minutes a day has done wonders for my pitch. There are times where I get busy, and I’ll probably miss a week or two without doing my ear training. Because of this, I can start recognizing I’m singing off-key again & I immediately go back into training mode! It’s been really helpful with producing music as well. Now that I’ve been training for awhile, my brain automatically recognizes the relationship between notes. Which means I can find notes on a keyboard much quicker when I just hum it out. This used to not be the case before downloading the app! I, by no means, have perfect pitch, nor relative pitch, but understanding the relationship of each note really helps with playing by ear & it’s all thanks to this wonderful app! Really appreciate that the developer keeps the app free and there are no ads either!! In a strange way, it motivates me to continue to use this wonderful tool because I know it exists out of pure love and excitement for teaching - and not for monitory gain. I’ve recommended this app to all my friends who are trying to get into singing and I swear by it! Just keep at it!! Even if you can’t do 10 minutes a day, try and just do 5 minutes. And if you can’t even do 5 minutes, at least do one or two rounds. It’s better to practice a bit everyday than to not practice at all!! Good luck!! You won’t regret it. (:

   AM5r-$Ły · 7 Aug 2026

3. 5/5Really useful app

   Super simple, but powerful. I used to mentally “measure” intervals in my head - not very fast or practical. With a lot of repetition using this app, I now simply “feel” the notes - they begin to take on an unmistakable “personality” within the context of a tonal center that is crystal clear and instantly recognizable without any thinking - almost like you see a color and just know it. Not the actual note (perfect pitch) but the function relative to a tonic. If you know the key and are fluent in theory the note name comes a millisecond after you feel the function so you get a sort of “poor man’s” perfect pitch after a while, haha. I like the app because it focuses on one super important foundational aspect of ear training and does it very effectively. There are a zillion other apps that try to cover everything and are pretty mediocre. This app limits its scope but delivers results. Many thanks to the creator for providing this great tool free of charge.

   Rberthugeman · 7 Aug 2026

4. 5/5Simple and effective

   This app is exactly what I was looking for. I want to learn to play my bass guitar by ear. This app lets me practice finding the right note on my bass without worrying about what it’s called. It has the option to name the notes by letters, numbers, or the do-re- me system. There is a steady level build up from half a scale, to the other half, to a full octave, to multiple octaves, to different scales, etc. I like it very much and have noticed an improvement in just a week of using it. The only thing that could make this app better is if It could recognize the note I play instead of tapping the screen. Right now I listen to the note, then play it on my bass, then tap the corresponding number on the app. Nevertheless, I’m just being picky. Overall this is an excellent app. I highly recommend.

   BigBlocka · 7 Aug 2026

5. 3/5Great Foundation — Needs More Flexibility for Advanced Ear Training

   I’ve been ear training consistently for over a year and a half using a mix of apps, my instrument, and transcribing music by ear. Functional Ear Trainer has been a solid part of that routine, especially when it comes to internalizing scale degrees in a tonal context. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and encourages regular practice — all things that are crucial for developing your ear. That said, as I’ve progressed, I’ve hit some limitations that hold it back from being a complete tool for more advanced training. While the app does offer practice in both major and minor contexts, and allows for chromatic notes within those tonalities, it doesn’t currently support other scales or modes. There’s also no option to build custom scales, which would be incredibly useful for practicing modal, jazz, or world music contexts. Another area where the app could grow is in chord tone ear training. Being able to hear and identify chord tones within a harmonic setting is an essential skill for improvisers and composers, and it’s something I really wish this app offered. Overall, I think Functional Ear Trainer is a great tool for foundational ear training and tonal awareness, especially in major and minor keys. I’d love to see future updates expand its capabilities so that it can continue to grow with the user, rather than cap out once you hit a more advanced level.

   santiitii · 7 Aug 2026

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