# Earworm: Ear Training w/ Riffs — Ear Training w/ popular riffs

> Learn to play music by ear using interval-based riff transcription. (iPhone/iPad app by Nicholas Kramer.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earworm-ear-training-w-riffs/id1662701173 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nicholas Kramer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1662701175)
- Category: Education, Music
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 149 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2023-01-03
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earworm-ear-training-w-riffs/id1662701173/reviews.md

## What is Earworm?

If you can sing it, why can't you play it? You have millions of years of evolution and tens of thousands of hours listening to music etching melodies into your brain. You're an expert at hearing music and reproducing it in your head.

How do you close the gap between hearing a melody in your head and producing it on your instrument? You could memorize sheet music. Or blindly follow tabs. But that is akin to painting-by-numbers -- to paint a mural on the Sistine Chapel, you have to dissolve the barriers between you and the music. You want notation, fret numbers, and note names to fade away until speaking with your instrument is as intuitive as humming along to a tune on the radio.

This app uses an interval-based approach (i.e. focusing on a note's function and feeling) to transcribing riffs and licks that you've probably heard hundreds or thousands of times. It has you learn these riffs using nothing but your instrument and your ear.

You will figure out the palette of notes the melody is painted with, and finally jam along, trading bars with the app. Riffs are grouped into levels in a logical progression, slowly stretching your abilities and widening your sonic vocabulary.

If you are on guitar, another goal of this app is to help you build an intuitive grasp of where intervals are, no matter where you are on the neck. Playing the same riff in many different positions using different shapes becomes trivial once you build your intervallic knowledge.

You could continue to read me rambling about musical education philosophy, or you could download the app and start learning some catchy melodies by ear :)

## Key features

- Interval-based learning
- Transcribe popular riffs
- Play by ear
- Intuitive instrument playing
- Progressive difficulty levels
- Learn note positions on instrument

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| drums | $3.99 | one-time |
| instruments | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Access Pass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Intro Blues 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| token3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| token1 | $0.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earworm-ear-training-w-riffs/id1662701173/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great app

*2023-03-22, version 1.3.3*

Super responsive dev!

### 4/5 — A great tool to improve your ear

*2023-01-24*

I’ve tried lots of approaches to improving my ear on guitar, ear worm is the most useful and has really helped me

## Frequently asked questions about Earworm

### What is Earworm's primary learning method?

Earworm utilizes an interval-based approach, focusing on the function and feeling of notes to help users transcribe and learn riffs by ear. This method aims to build an intuitive understanding of music, moving beyond reliance on notation or tabs.

### How does Earworm help with instrument playing?

For guitarists, Earworm aims to build an intuitive grasp of interval locations across the fretboard. It encourages playing the same riff in various positions, making intervallic knowledge more accessible and versatile.

### What kind of music can I learn with Earworm?

Earworm focuses on transcribing popular riffs and melodies that users have likely heard frequently. The app groups these into levels with a logical progression to gradually expand your sonic vocabulary.

### Is Earworm suitable for beginners?

Yes, Earworm is designed with a progressive difficulty system. Riffs are grouped into levels that slowly stretch your abilities, making it suitable for those looking to develop their ear training from the ground up.

### What devices does Earworm support?

Earworm is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices.

### How often is Earworm updated?

The latest version of Earworm is 1.4.2, and it was last updated on March 6, 2024. This indicates a relatively active development cycle.

### What is the age rating for Earworm?

Earworm has an age rating of 4+, making it appropriate for a wide range of users interested in music education.

### Does Earworm have ads?

No, Earworm does not contain advertisements. It is free to download and use, with optional in-app purchases.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.2 — 2024-03-06

New Play Along mode, style pass, API updates

### 1.4.1 — 2023-08-20

Quests, xp tracking, statistics,

### 1.4.0 — 2023-04-29

New app mode, UI nits

### 1.3.8 — 2023-04-22

Massive UI overhaul, UX improvements, level design

### 1.3.7 — 2023-04-09

Sound design, improved timing

## Apps similar to Earworm

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Music Log](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-log/id6449153825) | 4.8 (20) | Free | Education |
| [Chirper Guitar Simulator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chirper-guitar-simulator/id1606317299) | — | Free | Education |
| [GuitEar Music Theory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guitear-music-theory/id1622916408) | 4.9 (8) | Free | Education |
| [Musicated Ear Training](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musicated-ear-training/id1481789483) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education |
| [Fretboard Memorization Toolbox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fretboard-memorization-toolbox/id6464590769) | — | Free | Education |
| [Music Theory by Musicopoulos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/music-theory-by-musicopoulos/id319290362) | 4.6 (43) | $3.99 | Education |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*