Fingering Strings vs Cello by Ear
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fingering Strings
This interactive guide helps string instrument players visualize fingerings for various hand positions across different clefs. It allows users to see and hear notes, intervals, and chords, aiding in learning and practice.
- Multiple instrument support (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
- Extensive hand position library (Simandl, Rabbath)
- Visual "beginner tape" display
- Multi-note display (up to 4 notes)
- Hear notes, intervals, and chords on piano
- Support for Treble, Alto, Tenor, Bass clefs
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The highest rated and most comprehensive fingering guide available for Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass (Simandl and Rabbath positions). See up to 4 notes at the same time. Decide which hand position would be best for the interval or passage. See and hear the written note, interval, or chord on the piano. Support for Key Signatures to more easily find a fingering in the music you're working on. • Hand Positions: 15 positions on the Violin, 15 positions on the Viola, 16 positions on the Cello, and 12 Simandl positions or 6 Rabbath positions on the Double Bass. • Display "beginner tape" on the fingerboard as well as string names and colors. • Notate one to four notes in Treble, Alto, Tenor or Bass clef. How to Use: Pick a written note (touch the staff) and have the fingering displayed and concert pitch played on the piano. Play a concert pitch on the piano, and have that pitch's fingering displayed and the transposed note written on the staff. Written and concert pitches are the same for all but the double bass, which transposes, sounding an octave below what is written. • Use the ‘Play' button(s) to repeatedly hear the note(s) being displayed. Selecting a Pitch: Using the Staff (transposed for the current instrument): Simply touch and slide up and down on the staff to select the note, slide to the right or left of the note for sharps and flats. Using the Piano (concert pitch): drag in the area below the keyboard to move the keyboard, touch to play notes, touch & slide to change the pitch. When you glissando up the keyboard, notes will be notated as a raised value (sharps), when you glissando down, notes will be notated as lowered values (flats). Use the up and down arrows to move chromatically up and down without touching the music staff or piano keyboard.
Cello by Ear
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Learn to express yourself with this beautiful instrument in DAYS and WEEKS instead if YEARS. With our unique learning method you will accomplish just that! This is a very powerful ear training and learning tool for musicians who want a shortcut to fluency on the cello. With this tool you will be able to play the cello it is meant to be played by ear, any melody or solo, you will gain a very deep understanding of chords and the notes they consist of and are surrounded by, they tell you all about this in lessons, but you never actually get to ingrain it. Yet this is the most important skill there is for mastering the cello and play any music by ear. The app allows you to practice with just the smartphone or with your real cello. This exercise might look a little bit tedious, but trust us, you will see very powerful results in your music within days of using the app. You could call it hacking the cello. Provided you possess the basic notes and scale playing skills (youtube will teach you that very easily), you will learn to play the cello by ear in DAYS with Cello by Ear, something other musicians struggle for YEARS for and still not everyone gets there. You will. During the first month. How much money would you pay to obtain such a skill? Consider this your lucky day, because you are on your way for real musicianship whether it is your hobby or you want to pursue career in music, this app sets you up for the best results. Even if you prefer to play looking at the notes, this app will greatly enhance your ability to see music, hear the written music in your mind, understand music more easily and even remember music much more easily.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Fingering Strings at $3.99 against Cello by Ear's $12.99. Cello by Ear's advantage is update cadence (every 5 months vs every 17 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On 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
Fingering Strings costs $3.99 and Cello by Ear $12.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Fingering Strings ships an update every 17 months, Cello by Ear every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fingering Strings | Cello by Ear |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $12.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 140 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Patrick Q. Kelly | Oleg Sokolov |
In-app purchases
Fingering Strings
No in-app purchases
Cello by Ear
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Fingering Strings free?
Is Cello by Ear free?
Do Fingering Strings or Cello by Ear have ads?
Which is updated more often, Fingering Strings or Cello by Ear?
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