Ear training: interval exercises

How the exercise works

Each question plays two random notes, starting somewhere between G3 and G4, and you choose which interval they form. You can replay the sound as many times as you like before answering, and your score and streak show how you're doing.

• Basic level: major second, minor and major thirds, perfect fourth, perfect fifth and octave. These are the most common intervals in simple melodies.
• Full level: all twelve intervals within the octave, including the minor second, the tritone, the sixths and the sevenths.
• Ascending, descending or harmonic: the notes sound from low to high, from high to low, or at the same time.

Intervals and their reference songs

An interval is the distance between two notes, and it's measured in semitones. Reference songs help at first: if the leap sounds like the start of a melody you know, it's probably that interval. With practice, the goal is to recognize it by its sound, without going through the song.

Ascending, descending and harmonic

The same interval sounds different depending on how it's played. In ascending mode, the second note is higher; in descending mode, it's lower, and many reference songs stop working because the leap goes the other way. In harmonic mode the two notes sound together, and you have to listen to the color of the combined sound instead of the leap, which is why it's usually harder at first.

Consonances and dissonances

One way to find your bearings in harmonic mode is to listen to how much tension the sound has. The octave and the perfect fifth and fourth sound open and stable (perfect consonances). Thirds and sixths sound full and sweet (imperfect consonances). Seconds, sevenths and the tritone sound tense, as if they wanted to move somewhere else (dissonances).

How to practice

1. Start at the basic level in ascending mode.
2. Sing both notes in your head before you answer.
3. When you're getting almost all of them right, move on to descending and then to harmonic.
4. Turn on the full level to add sixths, sevenths and the tritone.
5. Sing the interval out loud after each answer, using the note names if you study solfège: that's how you lock it into your ear and your voice.
6. Practice five to ten minutes a day; consistency matters more than long sessions.

Common mistakes

• Always relying on the song: it helps at first, but it's slow. Once you recognize it quickly, try answering before you think of the song.
• Practicing only ascending intervals: in real music, intervals also go down and sound together. Alternate all three modes as soon as you're comfortable with the basic level.
• Answering without singing: singing the interval, even quietly, connects your ear to your voice and locks the sound into memory.
• Very long sessions: your ears get tired. Ten minutes of focused practice are more effective than an hour of distracted practice.

From ear to dictation

Recognizing intervals is the foundation of melodic dictation: each new note in a melody is an interval from the one before. Once the full level feels comfortable, try writing down short melodies by ear and comparing them with the score. We explain how in our guide to musical dictation and in our article on what solfège is and how to practice it.

Frequently asked questions