Functional Ear Trainer

Functional Ear Trainer

Ear training for everyone

3.7K ratings
606 reviews
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • March 17, 2016
  • August 28, 2026

Features

Functional Ear Trainer screenshot #1 for iPhone
Functional Ear Trainer screenshot #2 for iPhone
Functional Ear Trainer screenshot #3 for iPhone
Functional Ear Trainer screenshot #4 for iPhone
Functional Ear Trainer screenshot #5 for iPhone
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About

Develop your musical ear by learning to recognize tones within the context of a specific musical key. This app helps you understand the function of each note, improving your ability to transcribe, improvise, and play music by ear. Suitable for all ages and skill levels, with just 10 minutes of daily practice.

Recognize tones in musical key context
Understand note function
Improve transcription skills
Enhance improvisation
Develop perfect pitch
Daily 10-minute practice
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What users say

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+1

What's New in Functional Ear Trainer

3.32.12

August 28, 2026

Improved stability on iOS 26.6. Enhanced settings structure in: - The main menu. - Playback modes (e.g., "Settings" below the large "Play" button). Ongoing development for modifying mode settings mid-game (scheduled for the next release). Bug fixes and performance improvements.

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1

In-App Purchases

$19.99

Functional Ear Trainer Plus

Discounted one-time purchase

User reviews

The best ear trainer

I tried for months to train my ear. Using sonofield and other resources. But this app, Functional Ear Trainer, it’s just … another level. The method is deceptively simple and yet … it works. In just 1-2 weeks of Functional Ear trainer I can recognize all the degrees of the major scale in less than 1 second each. I’m amazed!
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first review i have ever posted, first time I have ever spent money on an app

absolutely sublime. simple and to the point, no ads, well thought out ui and progression through the levels. This is what every app should be like.

Hoping some day they add a chord progressions level

Too Random

The only problem I have with this app is that the notes given to you in a lesson are too random. You can go through a lesson for a single note, and not hear it once.

Developers: please stop using a completely random value to determine what note should be played next. I would recommend dividing the number of notes being tested by the number of questions the user is given. Use the quotient to determine the minimum number of times each note is played. Then randomly assign the remainder (ideally without adding to the same note twice). Then randomly determine the order of the questions.

Seriously, I would like to be able to practice “Fa”, and “Sol”, but most of the quizzes give me “Do” nearly 50% of the time.
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Reward system

Imo the only things that is missing from this app is a reward system. Something that track your consistency and maybe unlock some titles. Anything that keep you practicing daily. Otherwise this is perfect. More then a fair price for the whole package. Amazing tool

Very functional

It does what it says on the box. It would be nice if there was a more fun game section but my ears are improving with the training nevertheless

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

2 issues

Keyboard display issues when selecting all chromatic notes

Bug

Inconsistent note resolutions in some exercises

Bug

Requested Features

5 requests

Add support for multiple notes/chords at once

Feature

Implement a mode for training key recognition

Feature

Provide more customization options for exercises

Feature

Include voice input to play the notes

Feature

Add support for German/Norwegian key names

Feature

FAQ

What does the Functional Ear Trainer app do?

This app helps you develop your musical ear by teaching you to recognize tones and their functions within the context of a specific musical key. It's designed to improve your ability to transcribe music, improvise, and play by ear, similar to understanding spoken language.

How does this app differ from other ear training methods?

Unlike other methods that focus on recognizing intervals in isolation, this app teaches you to distinguish tones based on their role within a musical key. This contextual approach is designed to be more functional for real-world musical application.

Who is this app for and what are the requirements?

The app is for anyone interested in music, regardless of age or current skill level, from absolute beginners to professional musicians. The only requirement is a commitment to practice for just 10 minutes a day.

Is this app free to use?

The app is free to download and use, offering a foundational ear training experience. Additional features or content may be available through in-app purchases.

What are the benefits of using this ear trainer?

Regular use can significantly enhance your ability to understand music by ear. This includes improving skills in composing, improvising, transcribing melodies, and playing music with others more effectively.