Comparison

Notey vs Ron Block Banjo Workshop

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

Head to head
About

Notey

This app transforms guitar learning into an engaging game where your instrument acts as the controller. It offers a fun, structured path for beginners, especially children, to learn real songs and skills through interactive gameplay.

Highlights
  • Guitar as controller
  • Learn real songs
  • Structured learning path
  • Progress tracking for parents
  • Interactive gameplay
  • Designed for kids
Features
Read full description

Most kids quit guitar when practice starts to feel like work. Notey is different. Your guitar is the controller, and the game only works when you play it. Kids aren't doing lessons with game elements. They're playing a game that teaches them music. Created by Grammy-winning musicians. Designed to be fun first, educational always. WHY IT WORKS —————————————— >>> REAL GAMEPLAY Not just gamified lessons. Designed to be fun on its own. >>> REAL SONGS. REAL PROGRESS. Start simple and build toward songs kids recognize and feel proud to play. >>> GUIDED WINS, NOT GUESSWORK A clear path means kids always know what to do next. HOW IT WORKS —————————————— - Place your device in front of you and start playing - Your guitar is the controller — Notey listens in real time and responds as you play - Short sessions. Real progress. BUILT FOR FAMILIES —————————————— Created specifically for kids learning guitar at home. - Structured learning path - Progress parents can see and hear - No lesson planning required - While designed for kids, beginner learners of any age are welcome. WHAT YOU NEED —————————————— - iPhone or iPad - Acoustic, electric, or classical guitar CONTACT US —————————————— - Questions or feedback? Email us at marketing@notey.co - Support: support@notey.co - Privacy Policy: https://notey.co/privacy - Terms of Service: https://notey.co/terms

About

Ron Block Banjo Workshop

Learn banjo from a Grammy-winning musician with comprehensive courses, mini-lessons, and song tutorials. Develop your skills from beginner to advanced with practical techniques and creative exercises. Access exclusive content and live Q&A sessions to enhance your playing.

Highlights
  • Beginner to advanced banjo courses
  • Mini-lessons for practice concepts
  • Song and tune tutorials
  • String bending techniques
  • Developing new licks
  • Live Q&A sessions
Features
Read full description

The Ron Block Banjo Workshop is a banjo instruction app designed for every level. Whether you’ve just bought a banjo, or you’re intermediate, or even if you’re an advanced player, there is plenty of material in the app for you. Ron has been playing banjo for over three decades with Alison Krauss & Union Station and has been encouraging and inspiring students in the U.S. and the U.K. for years. All material is designed to create a solid foundation and yet enhance your own creativity on the banjo. Courses: Beginning Banjo is designed to take you from knowing nothing about playing the banjo through chords, rolls, and a tune. Developing New Licks and Ideas shows how to take licks and change them around to make new variations. Creating Melody-Based Solos will give you tools to learn to find melodies quickly. Bending Strings in a Bluegrass Context explains Ron’s string-bending techniques. Mini-Lessons are short clips to give you solid concepts and ideas for practicing and playing. Song/Tune Lessons: “Man of Constant Sorrow,” from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” from Ron’s banjo instrumental album Hogan’s House of Music. Explore syncopation, string-bending, and other core aspects of Ron’s banjo style. “Foggy Mountain Special,” Ron’s solo from the Earl Scruggs tribute album. “The Old Hometown,” Earl Scruggs-style solo from Flatt & Scruggs. “You Don’t Know My Mind,” J.D. Crowe-style solo from a live J.D. Crowe & the New South recording. Banjo Music Videos “Foggy Mountain Rock” - a live video of the tune from Hogan’s House of Music. “Happy Chappy/Marinie’s Melody” – from Banjophonics, Ron second album with Irish tenor banjo wizard Damien O’Kane - Bluegrass blended with Irish/Celtic and other influences. “You Are My Sunshine” – a live video of the tune from Hogan’s House of Music. “’65 Mustang Blues” - a live video of the tune from Hogan’s House of Music. “Trip to Portugal/Giuseppe’s” – from Banjophony, Ron’s first album with Irish tenor banjo wizard Damien O’Kane - Bluegrass blended with Irish/Celtic and other influences. “Hogan’s House of Boogie” - a live video of the tune from Hogan’s House of Music. “Phoebe’s/The Banjo Strikes Back” “Clinch Mountain Backstep” - a live video of the tune from Hogan’s House of Music. And more! The Traditional Banjo Workbook All the Scruggs-style and Crowe-style tablatures from Ron’s long out-of-print The Traditional Banjo Workbook. Banjo Inspiration One-page thoughts designed to keep you moving forward in your playing and practice. Question & Answer Livestreams Regular livestreams in the app will get your banjo questions answered. INFORMATION ABOUT THE APP AND PURCHASE OPTIONS The download of Ron Block Banjo Workshop is free of charge. There is no free trial. Should you use Ron Block Banjo Workshop app, we offer one of the following options: Payment will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account after the trial period and when a subscription renews. A subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. There is no increase in price when renewing. One Time Payments will only be charged one time initially. Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal turned off in Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. Once purchased, refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Readout full Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy: https://passion.io/terms-of-service https://passion.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Notey4 screens
Ron Block Banjo Workshop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Notey at none against Ron Block Banjo Workshop's shown. Notey also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (238 vs 9). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Notey sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Ron Block Banjo Workshop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $15.95 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Notey against 4.4 for Ron Block Banjo Workshop. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notey has 238 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Notey's written reviews are positive against 75% of Ron Block Banjo Workshop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notey ships an update fortnightly, Ron Block Banjo Workshop every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Notey versus Ron Block Banjo Workshop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNoteyRon Block Banjo Workshop
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (238 ratings)4.4 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings238 — better9
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size1.2 GB98 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNotey Inc.Ron Block

Customer experience

Notey

All ratings238 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral5.5%
Negative11.3%
Written reviews122 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral2.5%
Negative13.1%

Ron Block Banjo Workshop

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Notey

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Levels freezing with mic setting screen open
  • Challenges not starting properly after restarting
  • Informational prompts disappearing too quickly

Requested features

5 requests
  • More song/level variety
  • Customizable curriculum and progress tracking
  • Expanded support for different instruments
  • Offline mode or downloadable content
  • Improved performance and stability

Ron Block Banjo Workshop

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Notey

Subscriptions8
  • Notey's World Weekly3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • One Free Month Subscription1 Month trial$14.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Six Month HalfOff Subscription6 Months trial$44.996 Months
  • One Year Half Off Subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Six Month Subscription$69.996 Months
  • Yearly Subscription$99.991 Year
  • Notey's World Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time4
  • Beatcoin 500$4.99
  • Beatcoin 1000$8.99
  • Beatcoin 2000$14.99
Show 1 more
  • Lifetime Access$139.99
2 purchases

Ron Block Banjo Workshop

Subscriptions2
  • Beginner Banjo Workshop$15.951 Month
  • All Banjo Workshops$21.951 Month

Questions

Is Notey free?
Notey is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ron Block Banjo Workshop free?
Ron Block Banjo Workshop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Notey or Ron Block Banjo Workshop?
Notey and Ron Block Banjo Workshop are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 238 and 9 ratings respectively.
Do Notey or Ron Block Banjo Workshop have ads?
Ron Block Banjo Workshop shows ads; Notey does not.
Which is updated more often, Notey or Ron Block Banjo Workshop?
Notey ships an update fortnightly, and Ron Block Banjo Workshop every 2 months. Most recently, Notey was updated on October 17, 2026 and Ron Block Banjo Workshop on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons