Knowing interval names is useful. Being able to hear them is powerful. Ear training is like training your palate - once you can taste the difference between cumin and coriander blindfolded, you can cook without measuring.
This lesson gives you reference points for each interval using familiar melodies and easy-to-remember associations.
Song references
Each interval has a character. Linking it to a well-known melody helps your brain recall the sound instantly. Here are widely-used reference songs for the opening interval of each.
Tap any row to hear the interval. Try singing the song reference in your head first, then listen to confirm.
Grouping by character
Rather than memorising all 12 at once, group them by how they feel.
Stable / open
Bright / happy
Dark / sad
Tense / dissonant
How to practise
Ear training is a long game. A few minutes daily beats an hour once a week.
Start with just two: Learn to tell P5 from P4 first. Then add M3 vs m3.
Sing the reference: Before tapping play, try to sing the song reference in your head. Then check.
Listen in music: When you hear a song, try to identify the interval of the melody's first jump.
Use the piano widget: Tap random keys in the interactive pianos and try naming the interval before counting.
Generate and analyse: Use Starts to generate melodies, then identify the interval of each jump in the piano roll.
Key takeaway
Link each interval to a song you know. Group them by character: stable (perfects), bright (majors), dark (minors), tense (m2, tritone). Practise a few minutes daily. Ear training is a lifelong skill that makes everything in music easier.
That wraps up intervals. You now understand the distances between notes - the same distances that define every scale, chord, and melody. Next up: Scales & Keys - how notes are organised into scales, and what being in a key means.
Test your ears with real music
Generate a melody in Starts and try to identify the intervals between consecutive notes.