Functional Ear Trainer
Ear training focused on hearing scale degrees in context.
About
Functional Ear Trainer is a mobile ear-training app built around the Alain Benbassat method, which teaches listeners to recognize tones by their function within a key rather than by memorizing isolated intervals. The app establishes a key by playing a short chord cadence and then asks the user to identify how a played note relates to that tonal center. Its core Basic Training mode plays a cadence followed by a single tone, and the user identifies the scale degree, training functional pitch recognition through repeated short sessions. An advanced mode extends this by playing two notes sequentially or simultaneously so users can identify scale degrees and the interval between them. The app is designed around short daily practice, and includes configurable playback and label settings, an optional intro game for new users, daily practice reminders, and the ability to share results. It is intended for musicians who want to improve relative pitch for playing by ear, improvising, and transcribing. The app is available on iOS and Android and follows a freemium model, with a substantial set of free exercises and additional features unlocked through paid upgrades.
