Interval ear training

Interval ear training teaches you to hear the distance between two notes. This trainer plays two notes on a recorded grand piano, and you choose the interval from the buttons below it: minor 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 5th and so on. Ten intervals make a round, and after each answer the two keys light up on the keyboard so you can play them yourself.

What an interval is

An interval is the distance from one note to another, counted in half steps. A half step is the move from one key to the very next, black or white: C to C♯, or E to F. Two half steps make a whole step, C to D. Every interval has a name that describes this distance, from the minor 2nd, one half step, to the octave, twelve.

How the trainer works

• Basic five or All twelve. Basic five uses the major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th and octave. All twelve adds the rest, including the tritone and the sevenths.
• One after the other or Together. Played one after the other, you hear the interval as part of a melody, the lower note first. Played together, you hear it as a harmony, which is harder at first.
• Random notes. The lower note is chosen at random between G3 and G4, so you learn the sound of the distance rather than two particular keys.
• Replay as often as you like. Play it again repeats the interval before you answer.

Songs that help you remember

A familiar tune that starts with an interval is the classic memory aid. These are all public-domain songs:

• Minor 2nd: the opening of Für Elise, E to D♯.
• Major 2nd: Frère Jacques, whose first two notes are C and D.
• Minor 3rd: Brahms' Lullaby, from its first E up to G.
• Major 3rd: When the Saints Go Marching In, C up to E.
• Perfect 4th: Amazing Grace and Here Comes the Bride both begin with one.
• Perfect 5th: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, from the first C up to G.
• Minor 6th: The Entertainer, where the opening climbs from E up to C.
• Major 6th: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.
• Octave: Take Me Out to the Ball Game, on "Take me".

Each song on this site shows its notes as sheet music with letter names and can play itself, so you can check an interval against the tune in easy piano songs.

Tips for faster progress

• Sing the notes back. Humming both notes before you answer makes the distance clearer.
• Compare with the neighbors. A major 3rd is a little wider than a minor 3rd and narrower than a perfect 4th; hearing them side by side on the keyboard below helps.
• Short, regular practice. Two or three rounds a day are enough.

Interval training builds relative pitch, the skill musicians use to play by ear and to sing in tune. To see whether you can name single notes with no reference at all, try the perfect pitch test. For more games, see all piano games.