Ear'n'Play vs Absolute Ear
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ear'n'Play
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Hear'n'Play — Scientifically-Backed Ear Training for Musicians Develop perfect pitch and master ear training through research-proven methods. Hear'n'Play combines comprehensive ear training courses with scientifically-validated Perfect Pitch development. Training Programs: Perfect Pitch Course Scientifically-designed 12-week curriculum using Active Pitch Memory methodology. Based on 2024-2025 breakthrough research proving adults CAN learn absolute pitch. Includes interference training, spaced repetition, and multi-timbre exercises. Relative Pitch Courses Progressive training covering: - Single note identification across multiple octaves - Harmonic and melodic interval recognition - Chord identification (triads, sevenths, progressions) - Scale recognition (major, minor, modal) Custom Training: - Create personalized practice sessions tailored to your skill level and musical goals. Key Features: - Research-Based Curriculum: 12-week Perfect Pitch program based on peer-reviewed studies - Music Notation Display: Review exercises with proper musical notation - Spaced Repetition System: Optimize learning with Fibonacci-based review scheduling - Progress Tracking: Detailed analytics showing your improvement over time - Dark Mode Support: Train comfortably any time of day - Offline Capable: Practice without internet connection - Voice Recognition: Hands-free training while practicing guitar - Guitar Fretboard Visualization: See notes mapped on the neck - Real-Time Audio Analysis: Advanced pitch from your guitar Why Hear'n'Play? Evidence-Based Methodology Our Perfect Pitch program is based on peer-reviewed research showing 60-80% of users achieve significant pitch identification skills within 12 weeks. Built for Musicians Designed specifically for musicians who want to connect what they hear to what they play — instantly and effortlessly. Adaptive Difficulty From complete beginners to advanced musicians, our algorithm adapts to your current level and optimizes your training path. Perfect For: - Musicians developing absolute pitch or relative pitch skills - Music students preparing for exams or auditions - Teachers seeking effective training tools for students - Songwriters and improvisers wanting faster musical translation - Anyone serious about mastering aural skills Start Your Journey Today Transform passive listening into active skill-building. Learn to: - Identify any note, chord, or progression by ear - Develop scientifically-proven perfect pitch abilities - Master interval and chord recognition - Accelerate your overall musicianship Hear'n'Play — Hear it. Know it. Play it. Download now and discover what scientifically-backed ear training can do for your musical journey.. Terms of Use: https://www.riffroutine.com/ear-n-play/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.riffroutine.com/ear-n-play/privacy
Absolute Ear
Master note recognition, melodic dictation, and interval training with a structured course. Progress at your own pace through over 60 units, with intelligent practice focusing on your weakest areas. Supports multiple instrument timbres and detailed statistics.
- Note recognition
- Melodic dictation
- Interval training
- Intelligent practice
- Multiple instrument timbres
- Detailed statistics
- Session history and streak tracking
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ABSOLUTE EAR - EAR TRAINING Want to hear a melody and know exactly what notes it is? That's what Absolute Ear teaches. This is a structured ear training course that takes you from recognizing your first three notes all the way to mastering all 12 chromatic pitches, melodic sequences up to 5 notes long, all 13 musical intervals, chord recognition by function, and real chord progressions - at whatever pace works for you. WHAT YOU TRAIN NOTE RECOGNITION Hear a piano note. Name it. That's the foundation of playing by ear. Start with just C, E, and G. Unlock new notes as you demonstrate mastery. By the end, you'll identify all 12 chromatic notes across three octaves - including sharps - without needing a reference pitch. MELODIC DICTATION Identify sequences of 2, 3, 4, and 5 notes in a row. This is where note recognition becomes real musical memory. Each unit introduces new notes progressively, so you're never thrown in the deep end. INTERVAL TRAINING Master all 13 intervals: unison, minor 2nd, major 2nd, minor 3rd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, tritone, perfect 5th, minor 6th, major 6th, minor 7th, major 7th, and octave. Three tiers of difficulty: • Tier 1: Fixed C as your tonic - build the foundation • Tier 2: Random root per session - start to generalize • Tier 3: Root changes every question - true interval hearing CHORD RECOGNITION Hear a chord and identify it by its function in C major - not just its name. Every question starts with the I chord to anchor your ear, then you identify the target chord by scale degree. Five modules take you from the Big Three (I, IV, V) through all seven diatonic chords. You'll learn to hear the difference between the lift of IV, the tension of V, and the darkness of vi. CHORD PROGRESSIONS Once you know the chords, learn to hear how their order changes everything. A four-chord loop plays and you tap the degrees in sequence. Five modules cover the most common progressions in popular music - from the classic I-IV-V-I to the pop loop I-V-vi-IV - training you to recognize the patterns behind the songs you hear every day. HOW IT WORKS 60+ structured units span five exercise types across six chapters: single notes, note sequences, interval training, chord recognition, and chord progressions. Units unlock as you hit 80% accuracy - you move forward when you're actually ready. Each session is 30 focused questions. Listen. Answer. Get immediate haptic feedback. The app tracks exactly where you struggle and weights practice toward your weakest notes, intervals, and chords - so every session is time well spent. If you're flying through a session, an early-completion prompt lets you move on early. FEATURES • 60+ course units across five exercise types • Chord recognition by function - hear harmony, not just names • Chord progression training - recognize the loops behind real music • Intelligent practice: weak spots appear more often • Multi-octave training - notes across three octaves • 60+ badges to earn - including some hidden surprises • Detailed stats: per-note accuracy, confusion matrix, accuracy trends, daily practice time • Session history and streak tracking • Apple Sign In - progress saved to your account • Haptic feedback on every answer • No subscription required to get started WHO IT'S FOR • Musicians who want to play by ear without sheet music • Piano and guitar players who want to transcribe what they hear • Music students building aural skills for exams • Anyone who hears a melody and wants to know its notes • Songwriters who want to hear chord progressions by ear • Experienced players sharpening pitch, interval, and harmony awareness Start with three notes. Build from there. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.absoluteear.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.absoluteear.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Ear'n'Play at 13.0 against Absolute Ear's 15.1. 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
Both are free to download. Ear'n'Play sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Absolute Ear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and July 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ear'n'Play | Absolute Ear |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 173 MB | 117 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Romeu Beato | David Ashworth |
In-app purchases
Ear'n'Play
- Monthly$9.991 Month
- Yearly$79.991 Year
Absolute Ear
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Yearly$29.991 Year
- Lifetime$49.99





