# Play By Ear - Ear Training — user reviews > 104 indexed App Store user reviews of Play By Ear by SuperNonstop.com, Inc., rated 4.40/5 from 79 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-by-ear-ear-training/id361203621/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/play-by-ear-ear-training/id361203621.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 54 · 4★ 15 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Play By Ear? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Great for ear training - 👍 Helps learn to read music - 👍 Excellent for musicians - 👍 Good for piano teachers - 👍 Pitch recognition accuracy - 👍 Customizable exercises - 👍 User-friendly UI - 👍 Free and valuable - 👍 Works with instruments - 👍 Good for beginners - 👍 Helps with tonal memory - 👍 Practical application of skills - 👍 Good for vocal practice - 👍 Effective for practice - 👍 Innovative learning method **Cons** - 🐛 Inconsistent pitch detection - 🐛 Issues with low notes - 🐛 Glitchy chord recognition - 🐛 False errors reported - 🐛 Not ideal for beginners - 🐛 Audio issues reported - 🐛 Crashing frequently - 🐛 Over-sensitive pitch detection - 🐛 Some features not working - 🐛 Unmusical melodies generated - 🐛 Difficulty with certain instruments - 🐛 Limited interval options **Commonly reported bugs** - No audio output - App crashes frequently - Pitch detection not working - Plays single tone only - Loses sound with timer/calls - Currently broken, plays back unison only - Not working with iOS 9 - No audio on iPhone 6+ - Does not work with iOS8 - Doesn't save calibration - Calibration only works sometimes - Problems detecting notes below bottom 'A' on guitar - Doesn't hear low octave notes - App crashes after one or two exercises - Does not play pitch as it should - App keeps crashing after one exercise - Pitch detection issues with voice - Over-sensitive pitch detection - App crashes after OS4 upgrade - Phone doesn't pick up keys played on keyboard - Tendency to crash randomly - App crashes after one exercise - Pitch detection too sensitive for wind instruments - Doesn't pick up electric guitar - Only picks up half notes on acoustic guitar - App crashes, especially on interval section - Mic issues with iPod Touch (not new version) - App crashes after OS4 upgrade - Phone doesn't pick up keys played on keyboard **Most requested features** - Repeat option for phrases - Limit scale patterns to selected scales/keys - Profiles for multi-instrumentalists - Test from the same root note sometimes - Sign in and save practice data - Vary rhythms of melodies - Add bass clef option - Option to randomize ascending, descending, melodic, and harmonic intervals - Add inversions for triads/chords - Add more chord types - Add a playable keyboard - Setting to prevent sleep mode - Ability to mix ascending and descending intervals/chords - Input own phrases for practice - Add rhythm feature - Super-imposed pitch graph for feedback - More forgiving pitch setting for wind players - Option to force exercises in a chosen key - Change clef in which notes are displayed - Super easy version with delayed answer feedback - Keyboard option for public places practice ## Newest reviews (16 of 104) ### 4/5 — A little hard for beginners *2023-06-24, version 1.17* I like this app a lot, and it fills a need, but it’s a little tough for beginners (or people learning a new instrument, like me). A couple of things would make it easier: 1. Provide a “repeat” option: play the phrase, wait, play it again, wait, then give answer. Gives the student two tries. (Could even give a three-tries option.) 2. Allow limiting the scale patterns to a selected set of scales/keys. Maybe the jazz licks one, too. You can fudge this with the random notes by selecting notes to fit a scale, which is what I’ve ended up doing, for now, but it would be nice to have something more melodic. I have not tried anything with chords, yet, because I’m using this with trumpet. Which gives me another suggestion: maybe you could provide profiles for multi-instrumentalists (it would only affect pitch recognition, I suppose, so might not be worth the effort). ### 4/5 — Great App - Would Love Additional Features *2019-02-03, version 1.13* This app has been a great addition to my ear training. After getting a good grasp on my intervals, this has been an awesome way to apply that knowledge without getting overwhelmed. I think every musician can benefit from doing some kind of training like this, and this app makes it possible to train without needing a partner to do call and response with - you can do it on your own from anywhere. In my opinion, two additional features would make it a perfect app. Neither are THAT crucial, but would help. 1) vary the rhythms of the randomly generated melodies, and 2) add a bass clef option. Even without those features, I’ll still continue to spend a few minutes a day with this app and I’m sure I will see benefits over time. ### 5/5 — Very Useful *2016-11-16, version 1.13* Simple and well-functioning portable ear trainer. Holds you to accurate intonation. All apps should function this well. ### 5/5 — Exactly what I was looking for! *2016-08-06, version 1.13* What a great way to train your ear! Just started practising on my piano and amazed how the app recognising the notes I press on the piano. I'll include training with this app in my daily piano playing routine. ### 5/5 — Completely worth it *2016-07-28, version 1.13* This app is extremely well designed and perfect for anyone looking to improve their aural skills. It accomplishes more than what other music theory websites like teoria or musictheory.net because it identifies your progress and your errors for you. You can physically see what you got right and wrong. I feel more prepared because of this app for music school!! ### 5/5 — Good for musicians *2016-07-13, version 1.13* Lots of ways to practice developing your ear and ability to visualize. ### 5/5 — Easy app to use *2016-05-26, version 1.13* This app is helping me with intervals. It also won't register a correct pitch if I chip it slightly on my horn. Easy to use too. ### 5/5 — The absolute best *2016-03-11, version 1.13* I hope this app never stops being developed. It's absolutely perfect!! ### 4/5 — Good concept *2016-02-03, version 1.13* Needs marketing ### 5/5 — Great App! *2015-12-19, version 1.13* Amazing and great app! If you play any musical instrument or just love the music and wants to had a training ear, this is the app! Congratulations Rick! ### 5/5 — Ipad air *2015-11-26, version 1.13* Program recognizes pitches quite well on iPhone 5 but on ipad air it is horrible! Please fix! Update 1.10 Are you kidding? Do you even test software before releasing it? Now playback doesn't work (it plays the same note over and over again), app layout is messed up even more then before (ios 7.1 iPad Air). Really disappointed. Latest update: still doesn't work, plays the same note). 1.13 Hallelujah! It works now on iPhone 6s and iOS 9.1 ! ### 5/5 — What a great app *2015-10-07, version 1.13* This is a quite fantastic little app that does exactly what it says it will, and all for free. Auto-calibrates itself. Nice clean design, and a joy to use. I'm a huge fan of Rick's work, and I so appreciate his wonderful generosity in sharing his ear training ideas and applications with the wider community of musicians. This gets all thumbs up from me. Peter Dann ### 4/5 — Great for free but.... *2015-09-30, version 1.12* Would be 5 stars except it almost never picks up the low E and F and sometimes G on my guitars. This is an annoyance when doing intervals because it counts it as incorrect even though I'm playing the correct note. Perhaps because it was designed for a trumpet? I've tried calibrating multiple times to no success. Still a good app though and the only free one I could find. ### 3/5 — Its a good app, but has major error *2015-09-29, version 1.12* It has major error, and i believe it had it before and thats why i deleted it, but it still doesnt work right It only plays the very first note repeatedly. For ex, theres a C triad chord. All you hear is C repeatedly 3times, not C, E, G. Hope it works right Other than that its a good app to practice hearing ### 3/5 — Not working with iOS 9 *2015-09-23, version 1.12* After updating to iOS 9 app does not work just plays single tone! Even before the upgrade there was a problem with app if you used timer on phone or if got call then you lose sound! Sent message no response or updates! ### 5/5 — Practice Must Have *2015-07-10* This is a great little app. It has a lot of options for what it will play (single notes, riffs, chords) and has a lot of variable options as well. And it’s not just for ear training. Try turning the sound off and set it to show notes and you can use it to practice reading too! When I’m feeling uninspired or am not sure what to practice, this app is always a good way to get warmed up. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not too cool *2020-04-13, version 1.13* I've installed the app, but I'm not hearing a peep out of it. I have checked another ear training app and it is fine. It seems like a good idea, but it doesn't work. ### 1/5 — No audio on iPhone 6 *2015-05-17, version 1.12* This app simply does not work on an iPhone 6+. ### 1/5 — DOES NOT WORK WITH IOS8 *2014-09-22, version 1.08* Only plays the recordings once, then never plays any that proceed it, and the microphone does not register anymore Please fix ### 1/5 — FiRe audio *2011-07-08, version 1.06* Do not buy! ### 2/5 — IPhone App? *2012-05-31, version 1.07* Tried this app on my phone to learn ear training on-the-go. The notes were very clear but the interaction on the scale was non existent. For iPhone use I didn't find the app very useful. Two stars are for the tones. ### 2/5 — Crashing *2011-08-08, version 1.06* App keeps crashing after one exercise. Worked great when I first installed it. ### 2/5 — Pitch Detection too Sensitive for Some Instruments *2010-07-16, version 0* This is a great concept, however, the pitch detection is very sensitive. As I play a wind instrument where I am responsible for creating much of the pitch myself, pitch is not always dead on and so I get a lot of unnecessary errors. It would be great if there was a setting for wind players to make the game a bit more forgiving on pitch. Unfortunately, this over-sensitivity makes this app too frustrating to use and so I'll be deleting it. ### 2/5 — Still need fixes!! *2010-07-02, version 0* It's a wonderfull app. But since I've made os4 upgrade it crashes. I've hoped that this new version will solve those bugs, but...... still waiting. Fix this bugs and rating will be 5 stars. ### 3/5 — Stiff program, false errors *2018-08-02, version 1.13* Lots of false errors. If you play the first note of a sequence too long, it will register that you played it for both notes of the interval. It is especially glitchy in chord recognition mode. You can’t play back a chord harmonically, it has to be arpeggiated, and then it often registers errors falsely, or it is listening for one note of the chord when you’ve already moved on to another. Your score ends up being frustratingly inaccurate. The program still feels pretty stiff to use. Also, I couldn’t find an option for randomizing ascending, descending, melodic and harmonic intervals, which would be more useful than only hearing one type of interval at a time. ### 3/5 — Currently broken 9/28/15 *2015-09-29, version 1.12* This app has been great for my guitar playing but it currently only plays back notes in unison. Useless until it gets patched ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Indispensable *2026-05-14, version 1.17* Really great app. I recommend it to all of my fellow musicians looking to train their ear or learn to read on their instrument. ### 5/5 — The Best, It’s a Wow! *2024-07-15* I’m a piano teacher and I still practice 3 hours a day or more. I think this is the best of all the ear training apps that I’ve used and seen. I tell all my students to get this app and use it daily. It’s been a game changer for me because not only does it make you sing your answers but somehow it knows whether you are hearing the note before you sing it. Don’t get anything else. Play by Ear is the real deal. And don’t be fooled by the name. In order to sightread effectively you have to be hearing the notes before you play them. Ply by ear is the best app for developing that hearing ability. ### 5/5 — Hi *2024-05-08* Hi ### 5/5 — A must for a jazz musician ! *2023-05-15, version 1.17* I love this app, super useful for a jazz musician. I wish it had more questions like arpeggios as complement. ### 5/5 — Play by Ear *2023-02-01, version 1.17* Fantastic app for ear training. I am a piano teacher and I am using it personally and giving it to my students. I have not found anything better. ### 5/5 — Works for me *2021-01-13, version 1.13* Excellent. Random root notes good. Would like to test from the same root note sometimes. ### 5/5 — Sign in *2020-02-17, version 1.13* Would be nice if you could sign in and save all your practice. ### 5/5 — Ultra interesting App *2019-12-22, version 1.13* Very helpful! Congrats. ### 5/5 — Good *2019-07-13, version 1.13* Use it ### 5/5 — Good for beginner students *2017-06-17, version 1.13* Good for beginner students. App allows for customization to different grade levels of piano --- *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 2026-07-24.*