Accessibility
Root Note is made for practicing independently, at your own pace and in your own way. That only works if everyone can take part, so we follow the accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.2, level AA). Everything on this page is part of the free version.
You choose how you answer: multiple choice, on the on-screen keyboard, on your own piano or keyboard, or you think of the answer first and then check it yourself.
Who it makes a difference for
Especially when you:
- See or hear less well, or find a mouse or touchscreen hard. Text can be enlarged, everything also works with the keyboard or a screen reader, and everything you need to know is also on screen.
- Need structure and few distractions. Every exercise works in the same, predictable way, the screen is calm, and sound and animation can be reduced.
- Find reading hard. Reading notes without the detour via letter names: you tap or play the key that belongs to the note. Typing is never needed, and texts can be read aloud.
- Are easily distracted. Short rounds of a few minutes, seeing right away whether it is right, and variety: reading, hearing and playing.
- Get nervous when someone is watching. You practice at home, nobody is watching and there is no time pressure. A mistake is "not yet", with no points or rankings.
What Root Note does
Keyboard
Everything works with the keyboard, including the on-screen keyboard and the circle of fifths: Tab takes you there, the arrow keys move across the keys and Enter plays. The shortcuts are listed below.
Seeing
Text can be selected and enlarged, and Light and Dark have enough contrast. Right and wrong are also shown in words, not only by color.
Hearing
Everything you need to know is also shown on screen: right or wrong, and the names of notes and chords. So you can also work through note reading, the circle of fifths and music theory without sound.
Motion
If "Reduce motion" is on on your device (for people who are bothered by moving images), nothing in Root Note spins, slides or pulses any more. The rolling staff keeps moving: that is the exercise itself.
Time
There is no time pressure unless you choose Against the clock yourself. Think time is off by default.
Screen reader
A screen reader reads out questions, answers and right or wrong, including the names of the keys and the segments of the circle of fifths. After a tap the sound waits until the screen reader has finished.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tab / Shift+Tab | To the next or previous button |
| 1 to 4 | Choose an answer (multiple choice) |
| ← → on the answers | To the previous or next answer |
| Enter on the result | On to the next question |
| P | Play the sound (again) |
| ← → on the keyboard | A half step lower or higher |
| Enter or Space on the keyboard | Play or hold the key |
| Ctrl+Enter on the keyboard | Check the chord (Chords) |
| Arrow keys on the circle of fifths | Left and right move round, up and down switch major and minor; Enter chooses |
| Space | Show the answer when you check yourself; in Rhythm your tap |
| Esc | Close a window or the drawer |
With a screen reader
iPhone and iPad (VoiceOver): swipe right or left to go from item to item and double-tap to choose. After an answer you hear straight away whether it was right; then you are at the next question.
Computer (Narrator or NVDA): in a browser your screen reader is in browse mode and keeps the arrow keys and Enter to itself. Caps Lock+Space (Narrator) or Insert+Space (NVDA) turns that off; on the on-screen keyboard and the circle of fifths it happens by itself.
Does the sound play through the speech? Then turn "Play sound automatically" off: sound then never starts by itself, waits after a tap until your screen reader has finished, and you play it with Play or with the P key.
What is deliberately different or could be better
Note reading and the rolling staff are practiced with your eyes: the staff of a question is therefore deliberately not read out (that would give away the answer). The staffs in the lessons and the Reference do have a description, for example "Staff, treble clef: middle C, E and G together".
Best tested with VoiceOver on iPhone and iPad; on a computer it mostly works (tested with Narrator on Windows).
Let us know
Do you use a screen reader, the keyboard or magnification? We would love to hear how Root Note works for you: what goes well and what could be better. Let us know via the feedback form in the app (under More info) or email contact@root-note.nl; we are happy to fix things.
Last reviewed: 28 October 2026