Interval Ear Training: Master Musical Distances
Train your ear to recognize musical intervals. Interactive quiz for musicians to master relative pitch, from minor seconds to perfect octaves.
Interval recognition is the superpower of great musicians. An interval is the distance in pitch between two notes. By learning to recognize these "distances," you can play by ear, improvise freely, and transcribe melodies instantly.
Interval Training
Learn to recognize musical intervals by ear
Intervals in easy mode:
Tip
Pro Tip: Associate each interval with the first two notes of a famous song (e.g., Perfect 4th = "Here Comes the Bride"). Use the reference table below!
What Are Musical Intervals?
In Western music, the octave is divided into 12 semitones. Each number of semitones creates a specific interval with a unique "color" or emotional quality.
Consonance vs. Dissonance
- Consonant (Stable): Perfect Unison, Octave, Perfect 5th, Major/Minor 3rds & 6ths. These sound pleasant and resolved.
- Dissonant (Unstable): Major/Minor 2nds, Major/Minor 7ths, and the Tritone. These sound tense and "want" to resolve to a stable interval.
Song Reference Chart (Ascending)
The easiest way to memorize intervals is to link them to a melody you already know.
| Interval | Semitones | Quality | Song Reference (First 2 Notes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor 2nd | 1 | Dissonant | Jaws Theme |
| Major 2nd | 2 | Neutral | Happy Birthday |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | Sad | Greensleeves (Alas, my love) |
| Major 3rd | 4 | Happy | Oh, When the Saints |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | Stable | Here Comes the Bride (Wedding March) |
| Tritone | 6 | Tension | The Simpsons Theme |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | Open/Power | Star Wars Theme (Main Title) |
| Minor 6th | 8 | Romantic | The Entertainer (Scott Joplin) |
| Major 6th | 9 | Bright | NBC Chimes / My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean |
| Minor 7th | 10 | Unresolved | Somewhere (West Side Story - "There's a place") |
| Major 7th | 11 | Yearning | Take On Me (A-ha) / Superman Theme |
| Octave | 12 | Perfect | Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
How to Practice Effectively
1. Sing It Back
Don't just listen—hum the interval back to yourself. Engaging your vocal cords builds a physical connection to the pitch distance.
2. Ascending vs. Descending
Most people find ascending intervals (low to high) easier. Once you master them, switch the tool settings to Descending or Harmonic (played together) for a real challenge.
3. Harmonic Color
Harmonic intervals (notes played at the same time) are harder to identify by song reference. Instead, focus on the emotion:
- Major 3rd: Sweet, complete.
- Minor 3rd: Melancholy, serious.
- Perfect 5th: Hollow, open, ancient.
- Tritone: Urgent, scary, clashing.
Why Learn Intervals?
- Play by Ear: If you hear a melody, you can play it instantly because you know the distance between every note.
- Improvisation: You'll know exactly where to land to create tension (7ths) or release (roots/3rds).
- Transcription: Write down music simply by listening to it.
- Sight Singing: Look at a sheet of music and know how it sounds without an instrument.
Related Tools:
- Perfect Pitch Test - Can you name the note without a reference?
- Circle of Fifths - Understand key relationships
- Piano Frequencies - Visual reference for pitch