Capo - Learn Music by Ear Reviews

by Buddhajoe

Just downloaded this, expecting to be able to use it with songs from iTunes. There’s absolutely no explanation on how to get going. All it allows me to do is get songs from iCloud (I have no music there) or google drive... useless. Also, a subscription is required - that’s not really what I expected. After reading the reviews (which I should have done first) I can see I’m not the only one who found this to be a waste of time.

Disappointed and will be uninstalling it right after I finish this review. Don’t waste your time

by Murdock Scott

I am pretty sure I paid for this at some point, I have the desktop version as well. I certainly don't mind paying for upgrades when new features are released. But removing functionality and putting it behind a subscription model is one way for sure to lose me as a customer. I am thinking that is what has happened here. I went to see if I could rescan a song I did a long time ago (it did a poor job the first time around) and it warned me that I would lose the saved changes unless I subscribed… OK, time to look for something else that can do this trick. I only use it very rarely to try to figure out chord progressions on my own songs that I recorded long ago and forgot to document, so I can always just do a little more work and NOT pay a crazy subscription. Oh well.

by Dreadpiratecorey

The free version of this otherwise promising program is so useless that I don’t even get a good sense of what the pro version would improve. I despise this sort of “in app purchase” silliness when the product does absolutely nothing otherwise. Rather than driving me to upgrade, I’ve decided to never use a product so cynically marketed. Uninstalling...NOW.

by Roshi_Thel

I originally really enjoyed this app. I think it’s one of the better tools for transcription. But I have since encountered a bug in Capo that prevents me from using it in any meaningful way. This is why I have rated it 1 star.

Here’s my issue:
I have a this app touch Pro subscription, but the this app app will only let me play a 60-second trial of the song I’m trying to transcribe. In the song playback mode it thinks I am a trial user. Capo tells me that I have a current subscription—when I go to “Choose a Plan” under Settings it says as much—but it won’t let me listen to a song for more than 60 seconds. This makes Capo unusable.

I contacted this app support, who was initially quite responsive but weeks later they still have not fixed the problem. I like Capo, but I am very disappointed that I have spent money on an annual subscription that is currently getting wasted as time goes by where I cannot use it. I hope they fix the problem soon so I can use the remainder of my annual subscription.

by Wdav

Subscription services are lucrative for developers, I guess. But, for the user I have to decide which apps to subscribe to (if any) and which ones I have to quit using because I can’t afford a subscription for every app I use. I don’t mind buying an app at all, but having to pay an annual fee is just beyond my means. And so, I will switch my slow-down app to something else other than this app because they, at some point, will go to the next version (x.x or Y.x or whatever) and I will be left in the dust having to subscribe again to enjoy some minor tweak of Capo . If every developer ends up with subscription requirements I will just have to abandon my support for them all. How many $50, $20, $75, $20, $40, $20, $25 services can you afford? For me it’s not many and so I just stop using an app that thinks their product should charge me a monthly or annual fee to use it!! There are plenty of alternatives out there. The smart developer should appreciate their customer’s PURCHASE of an app, like I did with this app years ago, to support their further development of Capo . They should take into consideration that users will have to decide which apps to keep or which apps to abandon. The less used apps I have will be the first to go. And, this app falls into that category as there are many alternatives that don’t require a subscription fee after purchase.

by Scullyeyed

this app is supposed to be able to detect chords to songs and when I read that I thought it would be the right chords but I was thinking like a fool. The slow down feature is the only usable feature of Capo.
Update: after the recent update this app did recognize the the first chord of AC/DC Highway to Hell but after that it totally failed. Good thing they named it this app instead of Capable.

by Black Worm

Spoiler: bitter old man ahead.
I bought the desktop version years ago and was looking forward to trying out the mobile version. But now, an existing customer, had to pay an additional subscription? How crass and dismissive.

Before I get accused of not understanding how things work today, I'll go out in a limb and state I do understand what customer loyalty is and appreciating those who ponied up at the begining.

by Scotty254

It can’t even get the cords right . It need a lot of work . And you need to add note Recognition and where it’s able to pick out every single instrument and be able to edit them . Being a musician I can distinguish every thing that is going on and what instruments is playing what . It don’t even include bass . If this is the best that can be done .. there is no use for AI .

by IceKole

As an amateur musician, I’ve found this app to be the best App out there for learning Jazz solos and the intricate ornamentation of Irish tunes. It provides the cleanest “slow-down” of any of the apps that I’ve tried. The flexibility of its looping and other playback features makes it much easier to breakdown complicated riffs. It’s ability to sort out the key and chord changes is truly remarkable; while not infallible, this provides a great starting point for piecing together transcriptions for both chord and melody instruments. The interface is clean and very well thought out. This becomes even more obvious the longer you use this app, since its many capabilities do require some patience to learn/uncover. I could go on and on.

The developers are solid and seem committed to a quality product for the long term, as evidenced by the updates that have been deployed since this app’s inception (check out their newsletter to get a sense of what their team is about). At $10 a YEAR, Capo is way worth it!

One suggestion. I’d love there to be an option to have the identified/edited chords automatically sound out, while the original recording rolls along in the background - rather than having to tap each and every chord symbol at the appropriate moments.

by Jamaica Blue

I lost my overlong, detailed assessment here just before publishing it & won’t try to recreate it in exasperation, will instead just say:

A slowdown app with region loops & more.

Give Capo some attention.
It is well-designed, has some nice features.

There is a lot here whether you are learning songs entirely by ear, aided by guitar tab, in std tuning or in some of the most frequently altered tunings, or are left-handed. Can also apply to more instruments than guitar.

by Phrankly

If all you want to do is slow down a tune you are trying to learn and find the key and chords, Capo will do it easily. But the more you know about music, the more uses you will discover, as you explore its sophistication. this app Pro is a real bargain.
If I were tasked with improving Capo, I would start with a more organized and detailed user guide to match its innovative structure and potential.

by Steiny143

I’ve nailed many songs in 1/10th the time it normally would. I wish it could be a bit more accurate and I wish I could figure out how best to isolate things but it’s absolutely wonderful! I’m sure in time that it will be close to perfect!

by Bruegrassboy

This is the fastest way I’ve found to quickly get basic chord changes and beat counts from MP3s.
Can also set up loops to keep going over tough parts. Nice.
Uses iCloud storage to save your files and save specs on the device. Which I like.
Development team responds to emails and questions. Which I like.

Disclaimer....No app that does chord recognition is perfect. You may still need to have some musical expertise to fill in some missing pieces. But this one is as good as any and better and faster and easier than others I’ve used.

Me recommend you buy dis

by Done Drinking

I use Capo every day for teaching and my own practice. I don’t know how I lived without it ! Well, I do know: it was cumbersome and aggravating.
Capo does everything : slow down , change keys, loop.
I love it.

by GBP Wiskey

i started using Capo about 15yrs ago when
this app 1st started up , hey Chris!

i remembered how this app taught me every
detail and aspect of learning many hard acoustic bluegrass songs , now I have electric guitars , Yes this app builds your self-esteem as well..
Them songs trip you up?
No problem ...slow it down for timing or hearing that right note at the right time & place, too …improving your guitar speed/rhythms.
Capo does so much way more ..
And forget about using any expensive guitar teachers because your self teaching yourself with this.
Well I'm happy to be back again to learn even more difficult guitar songs after my long hiatus away from my guitars ..

by Rafirafi

I enjoy using this program in preparing for our Sunday Church services...Capo allows for simple use making it easier to focus more on the music itself!

by Marco Polodjwjxjw

The tools you want to apply only take 2-4 taps before you’ve achieved the desired effect. Also, within a few moments of downloading I was able to understand the majority of all the features just from exploring. I can’t imagine how seamless this must be if all of the bottoms are saved into muscle memory. Great job with the interface👍🏼

by Meastrojj

As a music professor, professional musician and tutor, this software has exceeded any other form of ear training and transcription tool out there! I have analyzed Jazz solos, composition and have been able to transcribe elusive chords and sonorities with the spectrum analyzer. By far and away this tool has increased my own musicality triple fold. Absolutely worth every penny if you are a serious musician and professional.

by Cpotters

I’m an avid chorister performing in about a dozen concerts per year - from Mozart, to Verdi, to Rutter, etc. this app has been my main tool for learning new music and preparing for these concerts.

by ThomasJazzDrum

I have used Capo for years. It has been a “Game Changer” in helping jazz drummers hear the rhythms, drums, and sticking of solos by slowing the tempo down. Capo is great because it maintains the sound quality like no other app.

by OjBluzzmn

I’m a composer and love to ad lib compositions, knowing someday day i will have to slog thru the process of listening to chord progressions, analyzing, and writing them down. ugh! that 90% of Creativity can be a bit of a deterrent. Capo is awesome at picking out subtle jazz chords. and, if its wrong, the corrections are ez. I believe it lacks a Lead Sheet option. If so, that would be great in future versions. Seems strange, all this advanced technology, and you still have to manually list the chords. Otherwise, Capo has a lot options for adjustments to bars, speeds, keys, chord names, etc. that make composition and play along a piece of cake.