Ear Trainer

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Streak
Press play to hear the first one.

How to use

  1. Pick a mode: intervals (two notes played one after the other) or chords (three notes played together).
  2. Pick a difficulty level. Beginner has only the most common patterns; intermediate adds more; full-set covers everything.
  3. Hit Play to hear the example. Listen carefully — you can replay it.
  4. Pick the answer that matches. Green = correct, orange = wrong (with the correct answer shown).
  5. Hit Next to go to the next example. Build a streak.

Why ear training matters

Reading music tells you what to play. Ear training tells you what you're hearing — and that's the foundation of every musical skill that doesn't come from a page. Improvising, transcribing songs, jamming with strangers, identifying chord progressions on the radio, even mixing recordings well — they all rely on the ability to hear an interval or chord and instantly know what it is.

Most musicians improve dramatically with just 5–10 minutes of daily practice. The trick is consistency, not intensity. Run a quick session every time you sit down to play, and within a few months your accuracy will surprise you.

Related tools

Scale ExplorerHear scales and modes side by side. Chord FinderSee and hear any chord on three instruments. Circle of FifthsHow keys and chords connect.

FAQs

What is ear training in music?

Ear training is the practice of recognising musical elements — intervals, chords, rhythms, and melodies — purely by listening. A musician with a trained ear can identify what key a song is in, name the chord being played, or transcribe a melody without looking at any sheet music.

What are intervals in music?

An interval is the distance in pitch between two notes. A minor 2nd (one semitone) sounds tense; a perfect 5th sounds open and powerful; an octave sounds identical but higher. Recognising intervals by ear is the foundation of all transcription and improvisation skills.

How long does it take to develop a good ear?

With consistent daily practice of 10–15 minutes, most musicians can reliably identify all basic intervals within 3–6 months. Chord quality recognition (major vs minor vs dominant 7th) typically takes another 2–4 months on top of that. The key is daily short sessions, not occasional marathon sessions.

Is ear training important for guitarists?

Absolutely — ear training lets you figure out songs by ear, improvise over chord changes without thinking, and communicate with other musicians using the shared language of note names instead of tab positions. Most professional guitarists cite ear training as the skill they wish they had started earlier.

What is the difference between relative pitch and perfect pitch?

Perfect pitch (absolute pitch) is the rare ability to name any note without a reference. Relative pitch is the ability to identify notes and intervals in relation to a given starting note. Relative pitch is a learnable skill — most ear training focuses on it. Perfect pitch is largely innate and not necessary for professional musicianship.