Touch Tonnetz vs Serphonica
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Interactive Tonnetz visualization
- Real-time harmonic analysis
- Progression builder
- Custom chord creation
- Multiple instrument sets
- Pinch-to-zoom functionality
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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.
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.
- Interval training
- Chord recognition
- Scale trainer
- Rhythm echo
- Chromatic tuner
- Metronome
- Live fretboard
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Touch Tonnetz sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Serphonica asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
Touch Tonnetz ships an update every 2 weeks, Serphonica every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.
| Parameter | Touch Tonnetz | Serphonica |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 87 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Michaelis | Joshua Rideout |
Customer experience
Touch Tonnetz
Serphonica
In-app purchases
Touch Tonnetz
- Unlock Touch Tonnetz Forever$9.99
Serphonica
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Touch Tonnetz free?
Is Serphonica free?
Which has better reviews, Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica?
Do Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica have ads?
Which is updated more often, Touch Tonnetz or Serphonica?
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