Comparison

Music Theory 101 vs Chord Trees

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

Head to head
About

Music Theory 101

An interactive music theory training app covering classical fundamentals. It features 19 units with audio, exercises, and definitions, mirroring AP Music Theory exam curriculum. Practice skills with over 90 exercise types.

Highlights
  • Interactive music theory course
  • 19 comprehensive units
  • Audio samples and key definitions
  • Skill practice exercises
  • AP Music Theory exam curriculum
  • Over 90 exercise types
  • Aural recognition and dictation
Features
Read full description

Welcome to a new, interactive music theory training app. We offer a comprehensive course presenting the fundamentals of classical music theory. Our course includes 19 interactive units with audio samples, interactive exercises, and key definitions. Alongside this, we offer a streamlined set of skill practice to test core knowledge. This app matches the curriculum of the AP Music Theory exam, which is designed to reflect a knowledge at the introductory college level. We're excited to help you learn. And if you’re a student… good luck with your upcoming exam! Lessons include: - Pitch and Rhythm - Scales, Meters, and Modes - Intervals, Triads, and Seventh Chords - Harmonic Progressions and Cadences - Four-Part Chorale Writing and Two-Part Counterpoint - Embelleshing Notes, Tonicization, and Melodic Techniques The app includes over 90 different exercise types, including aural recognition, melodic/harmonic dictation, and single, two-voice, and four-part composition. Our app is still new! Found something that needs to be fixed? Have an idea for what to add next? We'd love to hear from you as we build out the next features. There are buttons across the app for you to submit feedback or take a quick survey to share your thoughts.

About

Chord Trees

This interactive tool helps musicians visualize and understand chord connections. Explore harmony, compare instrument voicings, and practice ear training with arpeggio loops. Designed for students, songwriters, producers, and teachers.

Highlights
  • Interactive chord tree visualization
  • Piano chord inversions
  • Guitar chord fingerings
  • Diatonic harmony exploration
  • Arpeggio loop playback
  • Multiple instrument sounds
Features
Read full description

Chord Trees is an interactive harmony practice tool by Nathaniel School of Music for musicians who want to see, hear, and understand how chords connect. Build chord trees from notes, explore diatonic harmony, compare piano inversions and guitar fingerings, and loop arpeggios with real instrument sounds. The app is designed for students, songwriters, producers, and teachers who want a visual way to internalize chord progressions. FEATURES * Interactive chord tree visualization * Piano chord inversions and keyboard layouts * Guitar chord fingerings and voicing options * Diatonic mode with major-scale harmony and modes * Arpeggio loop playback for ear training * Instrument combinations including piano, guitar, strings, brass, synth, harp, and marimba * Beginner, intermediate, and advanced learning modes * Works without an account BY NATHANIEL SCHOOL OF MUSIC Built for practical music learning, chord fluency, and composition practice.

Screenshots

Music Theory 1013 screens
Chord Trees4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Music Theory 101 at 74 against Chord Trees's 1. Chord Trees's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chord Trees holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Music Theory 101 has 74 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Music Theory 101 versus Chord Trees: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMusic Theory 101Chord Trees
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (74 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings74 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPoesie IncJason Zachariah

In-app purchases

None

Music Theory 101

No in-app purchases

None

Chord Trees

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Music Theory 101 free?
Music Theory 101 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chord Trees free?
Chord Trees is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Music Theory 101 or Chord Trees?
Chord Trees is rated higher. Music Theory 101 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Chord Trees averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Music Theory 101 or Chord Trees have ads?
Neither Music Theory 101 nor Chord Trees shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Music Theory 101 or Chord Trees?
Music Theory 101 ships an update every 5 days, and Chord Trees every 5 days. Most recently, Music Theory 101 was updated on November 12, 2026 and Chord Trees on October 31, 2026.

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