Cadence: Guitar Theory

"A guitar learning app focused on music theory that helps guitarists understand the 'why' behind what they play, not just the 'what.'"
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cadenceguitar.com
Maker: apizon
Currently right above $500/month when including lifetime purchases

Marketing Channels

Primary

Hacker News

Had a sizeable bump in October thanks to blowing up on HN, which also gave an app store boost

Ongoing

App Store (organic)

The HN visibility triggered an App Store algorithm boost, leading to improved organic discovery

Growth Levers

  • Invest in App Store Optimization (ASO) to sustain the ranking boost from the HN spike
  • Create YouTube content demonstrating music theory concepts taught in the app
  • Partner with guitar YouTubers and music educators for sponsored reviews
  • Improve animations and sound effects ('juice') to increase retention and word-of-mouth referrals
  • Add social sharing features so users can showcase their theory progress
  • Target guitar subreddits and music theory forums with valuable content, not just promotion

First Customer Strategy

Launched in September and got a major visibility boost in October by 'blowing up' on Hacker News. The HN spike created a compounding effect by also boosting App Store rankings, leading to sustained organic discovery. The creator acknowledges still figuring out marketing beyond this initial HN-driven growth.

Pricing Insight

Offers lifetime purchases as a pricing option, with revenue above $500/month when including those one-time purchases. This suggests a mix of subscription and lifetime purchase pricing, common in mobile learning apps.

New Market Opportunities

  • Other instruments (piano, bass, ukulele) Music theory is instrument-agnostic at its core; adapting the app for piano or bass could multiply the addressable market
  • Music education institutions Music schools and private guitar teachers could adopt the app as a supplementary theory learning tool for students

Key Takeaways

  • • A single viral HN post can create compounding growth through App Store algorithm boosts
  • • Reaching $500/month within 3 months of launch signals strong early product-market fit
  • • Lifetime purchases provide revenue spikes but complicate monthly recurring revenue tracking
  • • The creator's honest admission of 'still figuring out marketing' is common among technical founders with strong products
  • • Adding 'juice' (animations, sound effects, polish) is a retention-focused growth strategy that improves word of mouth

Sentiment Analysis

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