Comparison

Touch Tonnetz vs Serphonica

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Touch Tonnetz

Explore Neo-Riemannian music theory with an interactive tonal lattice. Hear chords and notes, visualize harmonic transformations, and build custom progressions. Offers multiple instrument sounds and color schemes for a hands-on theoretical exploration.

Highlights
  • Interactive Tonnetz visualization
  • Real-time harmonic analysis
  • Progression builder
  • Custom chord creation
  • Multiple instrument sets
  • Pinch-to-zoom functionality
Features
Read full description

Touch Tonnetz visualizes Neo-Riemannian music theory through the Tonnetz (tonal network) lattice. Tap any chord or note to hear it, see its Neo-Riemannian transformations, and explore harmonic relationships that go beyond traditional tonal progressions. Key Features: Interactive Tonnetz Visualization — Tap any chord or note to hear it and see its Neo-Riemannian transformations highlighted on the lattice Harmonic Analysis — Roman numeral overlays for any tonic, updated in real time Progression Builder — Create, save, and play back melodic progressions Custom Chords — Build and save your own chords for experimentation Three Instrument Sets — Piano, Brass, and Woodwinds, all high-quality samples Six Color Schemes — Three dark, three light Pinch to Zoom — Explore the lattice in detail at up to 4× magnification 7-Day Free Trial — Full access, no restrictions, no nags Perfect For: Composers looking for harmonic paths outside conventional progressions Music theorists studying Neo-Riemannian transformations Musicians experimenting with chord voice-leading Students exploring music theory hands-on What is Neo-Riemannian Theory? Neo-Riemannian theory is a branch of music theory that studies relationships between major and minor triads using transformational geometry. Rather than treating chords as functions within a key (tonic, dominant, etc.), it focuses on the small voice-leading moves — Parallel, Leading-tone exchange, and Relative — that connect one triad to the next. The result is a rich map of chromatic harmony that complements traditional tonal analysis. Why Touch Tonnetz? The Tonnetz lattice makes these relationships spatial: related chords are neighbors, and transformations are visible paths. Touch Tonnetz lets you see the lattice, hear it, and build with it — turning an abstract theoretical framework into something you can explore by ear and by hand.

About

Serphonica

Develop your musical ear with a comprehensive suite of training exercises and practice tools. Features include interval and chord recognition, scale training, rhythm echo, and sight-reading. Includes a chromatic tuner, metronome, and live fretboard.

Highlights
  • Interval training
  • Chord recognition
  • Scale trainer
  • Rhythm echo
  • Chromatic tuner
  • Metronome
  • Live fretboard
Features
Read full description

Serphonica — Ear Training & Music Practice Develop your musical ear with a comprehensive suite of training exercises and practice tools — all in one beautifully designed app. EAR TRAINING • Interval Training — Identify ascending and descending intervals. Build the foundation of relative pitch recognition. • Chord Recognition — Hear a chord and name it. Major, minor, diminished, augmented, seventh — train them all by ear. • Scale Trainer — Learn scales note by note with real-time pitch detection. Play on your instrument and get instant feedback. • Rhythm Echo — Listen to a rhythmic pattern and tap it back. Develop your timing and internal clock. • Echo Mode — Hear a note, play it back on your instrument. Serphonica listens and tells you if you got it right. After 3 tries, a fretboard hint shows you where to find the note. • Sight Reading — Read notes on the staff and play them on your instrument. Real-time detection tracks your accuracy. • Melody Memory — Listen to a melody and play it back from memory. Start with short phrases and work your way up. • Theory Quizzes — Test your knowledge of intervals, scales, keys, and chord construction. • Call & Response — Musical phrases are played for you to echo back, training your ear and technique together. BUILT-IN TOOLS • Chromatic Tuner — Real-time pitch detection with frequency smoothing and adjustable noise gate. Tune with precision. • Metronome — Adjustable BPM, time signatures from 1/4 to 12/4, subdivisions (quarter, eighth, triplet, 16th), swing, tap tempo, and multiple sounds. Visual beat ring with optional flash. • Live Fretboard — Play your guitar and see notes appear on an interactive fretboard in real time. • Reference Charts — Scales, chords, intervals, and guitar charts — everything you need to study music theory. WHY SERPHONICA? • Uses your device's microphone to detect what you play — no MIDI cable needed • Works with guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, voice, or any pitched instrument • Clean, focused design with no distractions • No account required. No ads. No tracking. Whether you're a beginner learning your first intervals or an experienced musician sharpening your ears, Serphonica gives you everything you need to practice — right in your pocket.

Screenshots

Touch Tonnetz4 screens
Serphonica4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Serphonica at 5.0 against Touch Tonnetz's 3.5. Serphonica also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Touch Tonnetz's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Touch Tonnetz sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Serphonica asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Serphonica holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Touch Tonnetz ships an update every 2 weeks, Serphonica every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Touch Tonnetz versus Serphonica: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTouch TonnetzSerphonica
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChristopher MichaelisJoshua Rideout

Customer experience

Touch Tonnetz

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%

Serphonica

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Touch Tonnetz

One-time1
  • Unlock Touch Tonnetz Forever$9.99
None

Serphonica

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Touch Tonnetz free?
Touch Tonnetz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Serphonica free?
Serphonica is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica?
Serphonica is rated higher. Touch Tonnetz averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Serphonica averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica have ads?
Neither Touch Tonnetz nor Serphonica shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica?
Touch Tonnetz ships an update every 2 weeks, and Serphonica every 2 months. Most recently, Touch Tonnetz was updated on October 1, 2026 and Serphonica on October 1, 2026.

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