# NoteBrainer — user reviews > 118 indexed App Store user reviews of NoteBrainer by James Buchanan21733609631, rated 4.70/5 from 840 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebrainer/id310695461.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 667 · 4★ 107 · 3★ 39 · 2★ 6 · 1★ 21 ## What do users think of NoteBrainer? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Helps with sight reading and note recognition - 💡 Useful for beginners and those wanting to improve music reading skills - 🚀 Effective and efficient for learning notes - 🚀 Improves speed of note reading - 👍 Simple and straightforward interface - 👍 Good for practicing on the go **Cons** - 🐛 Crashes and stability issues on some devices - 🔒 Lacks customization options - 💡 Keyboard range is limited, doesn't cover full octave range - 🔒 Doesn't differentiate between notes in different octaves - 🔒 Doesn't provide rhythm training **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes when getting a note wrong - Back button not working on some screens - Sound not working for some users - Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions **Most requested features** - Expand keyboard range to cover full octave - Add option to require button press to continue after wrong answer - Include rhythm training exercises - Add more customization options - Improve stability and reduce crashes ## Newest reviews (16 of 118) ### 3/5 — It’s cool *2024-04-24, version 3.3* I wish there was more customization but overall good app ### 5/5 — amazing ! *2023-10-04, version 3.3* really good app . helped me read music in a couple of weeks . five minutes a day . accidentally clicked four but meant to click five ! ### 5/5 — Awesome! *2023-09-07, version 3.3* This app is so cool! ### 3/5 — Please, app creator, I beg *2023-08-27, version 3.3* This app is fine, the only one I’m sticking with out of a plethora I’ve tried but also there are three things I beg of you. 1. As other have said, at least 1 additional octave on the piano. This is my least concern. My big ask is #3. Having a 3rd octave or an option for a 3rd octave would make this app excellent. 2. The back button on the play history tab doesn’t work?? I think it’s up too high on the screen to be responsive or something…at times I’m having to quit the app and restart to get back to the Home Screen. 3. This is it. This is the one. I fully expect this to be ignored and I’ve never asked for anything from an app developer a day in my life so here I present my boon request. I really really really really really wish there was a stopwatch option instead of a timer option. As someone trying to focus on accuracy, I’d rather time UP and try to beat a time to see how many ACCURATE notes I can get, rather than feel panic at only having 10 seconds to select any notes at all. Or additionally, a non timed accuracy streak option. That’s it. Thank you for the help learning music, it really has been valuable for my skills, if not my anxiety. Bless and have a good day🙏🫡 ### 5/5 — There are no surprises *2023-07-02, version 3.3* It is what it says on the box. ### 5/5 — Absolutely the best for improving sight reading speed! *2023-05-29, version 3.3* James, you’re the best for making and releasing this for free! My sight reading has always been hampered by learning “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and “Great Big Dogs Fight Animals” as a child, and I still use those crutches to find the right note most of the time. I’m using your app to shed that thinking and wire the note to the key by practicing. This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you! ### 5/5 — Exactly What I Looking for *2023-01-14, version 3.3* Use your MIDI keyboard to answer what note is on the staff, flash card style. ### 4/5 — Good but keyboard doesn’t offer correct range *2023-01-01, version 3.3* I really like this for learning to recognize notes quickly. However, the keyboard for piano is not expansive enough. There should be separate keyboard for treble and bass clefs. For example, ledger notes in treble clef can only be found on the keyboard an octave below because the keyboard ends before the ledger notes can be played. It confuses the brain to have to translate the played note to the one that is an octave below. Otherwise the app is great! ### 5/5 — Really helped make sight reading click *2022-08-27, version 3.3* Exactly what I wanted from an app- show the notes, play the sound, use virtual keyboard to play it, time based and best score. Perfect ### 5/5 — I seem to be learning. *2022-08-12, version 3.3* It seems to be working. I am learning things ### 2/5 — Pretty useless *2022-01-31, version 3.3* Without room of different scales, I don’t see how this can qualify as a note trainer. ### 5/5 — Better after five minutes. *2022-01-27, version 3.3* Adult beginner learning to memorize notes rather than rely on finger numbers. I’m using it in the most basic way and already improving. I can practice anywhere without sound. I recommend it for beginners. ### 5/5 — Great free and ad-free note trainer for bass & treble clefs *2021-12-22, version 3.3* After just a few daily sessions of a few minutes each I’m getting faster. ### 5/5 — So good!! *2021-09-23, version 3.3* I am a clarinetist and I wanted to learn bass clef since I haven’t read any before. Exactly what I was looking for! 10/10 very free. ### 5/5 — Wonderful Musical Tool *2021-08-22, version 3.3* I absolutely love NoteBrainer. It helps me recognize the notes on the staff which helps with my sight-reading. ### 2/5 — Missing octave differenation *2021-08-16, version 3.3* Let’s ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Has not been updated in FOUR YEARS *2023-06-14, version 3.3* The app is buggy, broken on devices after home button was dropped. Also just throws you in—there’s no “training”, these are just flash cards. There’s not even an introduction into how to read sheet music. ### 1/5 — Show the whole keyboard! *2022-10-31, version 3.3* This app is great if your repertoire consists of music that is written using two octaves. A high D is played on the same place on the keyboard as a low D. This would be confusing as hell to new piano players. Why not show the whole keyboard?? ### 1/5 — My Review *2022-08-29, version 3.3* “Meh” ### 1/5 — A second app appeared when installing this one *2021-10-06, version 3.3* Pokémon Unite began installing when I installed the Note brainer app. I don’t even know what that is, didn’t want it, didn’t choose it, completely unsolicited. Worth mentioning. Will likely delete the note brainer app without opening it now because of this. ### 1/5 — Can’t quit *2021-02-19, version 3.3* There’s no quit button and it won’t let me swipe it away on iPhone. Also the keyboard forces you to play in the Erin octave. ### 1/5 — this is horrible *2021-02-08, version 3.3* i am pressing the correct notes and it is telling me i am wrong and i play the piano so i KNOW where the notes are and every time it changes to another random note!!!!!!!!!!!! ### 1/5 — Stupid *2020-03-23, version 3.3* I press xorrect notes and say it’s wrong ### 1/5 — Useless for what I need *2019-05-10, version 3.3* I was hoping to learn to read music but this app assumes you already know it and just quizzes you. I cant be quizzed on something I haven’t learned. Also in the settings you have the option to change your instrument but that only changes what you hear; you’re still working with a piano interface. ### 1/5 — Needs to be updated *2017-01-17, version 2.0* I have an iPhone 7 and this app will not open. It continues to crash. An update is severely needed! ### 1/5 — Doesn't work on ios10 *2016-11-19, version 2.0* Crashes immediately upon opening on ios10. I would have reported via App Support but their website doesn't work either. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-05-19, version 3.3* It is simple to use this. Hear or see the note, select the answer on a keyboard, then go to the next one. There’s plenty of customization. ### 5/5 — Nice *2025-11-06, version 3.3* It's good but when I connect my midi controller with network to my phone this app doesn't make any sound or melody either And when I reinstall it again it's still not working ### 5/5 — Yes yes so grateful *2025-07-28, version 3.3* This all works like a charm and is helping me master piano so much quicker!!! Thank you for making it!! ### 5/5 — Thank you! *2025-05-04, version 3.3* Thank you for this app! The only way kids could nail down notes! ### 5/5 — Easy and fun solution *2025-02-27, version 3.3* I REALLY didnt want to learn to read music. It came a point in my lessons where it wasnt negotiable. I really have always hated to memorize for stuff. This is fun and super effective. ### 5/5 — 5 stars *2025-01-14, version 3.3* Great for practicing notes ### 5/5 — Mmmmm *2024-10-24, version 3.3* Yummy I love eating dogs and cats, because im asian and I use this app. ### 5/5 — The one to get *2024-02-25, version 3.3* Clean, uncluttered and has all the features that paid versions have. The play by ear feature is also great for those who are want to improve their recognition of notes instead of just staff reading. No need to put up with feature crippled apps or be bugged by invasive ads, this is the one to get. Great use of train rides home! ### 5/5 — Very versatile *2023-12-11, version 3.3* Best app I have found to help me learn my notes. ### 5/5 — I have only just started using this and I quite enjoy it. It helps *2023-10-13, version 3.3* . --- *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 2026-09-03.*