note-noodle vs Study Music Theory

note-noodle provides interactive music theory practice for fretboard work, staff notation, ear training, rhythm, and play-along, alongside a guided curriculum. Play Along grades pitch and timing while a user plays through a microphone, MIDI keyboard, or screen. It accepts MIDI and Guitar Pro files up to 5 MB; free accounts can upload three per month. The curriculum has 35 lessons, quizzes, unit exams, spaced repetition, and seven learning paths. Ear training spans eight categories and four difficulty tiers, with answers by ear, MIDI, or microphone. Four digital instruments send per-note bend, slide, and pressure across up to 15 member channels; hearing per-note bend requires an MPE host such as Live 11. A MIDI Bridge connects those instruments to a desktop DAW over the local network. Free access includes 10 ear-training sessions per day and the first four lessons without an account. Premium costs €7 a month. The service runs on Android, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.

Study Music Theory is a service for learning music theory and ear training, with the aim of helping learners play by ear. Its course spans 12 levels and 1,496 interactive lessons, from notes and scales through jazz and orchestration. Ear-training drills cover intervals, chords, and melodies, with difficulty increasing gradually. A microphone trainer listens to what a learner plays and identifies it. Lessons include playable examples on an on-screen keyboard and fretboard, including guitar open-chord shapes. Additional practice tools include transcription, a play-by-ear coach, transposition, a drone, and a practice planner. The service is available on the web, Android, and iOS. Its mobile apps work offline and do not require an account. Progress stays stored locally unless the learner signs in; an optional account can back it up and enable leaderboard participation. The free plan includes the full course and all eight trainers, with no ads or paywalls. The service says it does not use analytics or advertising trackers and does not sell or share data with advertisers or data brokers.