Ear Training
Developing your ear is one of the most valuable skills a musician can have. Learn to recognize intervals instantly using familiar song references, and hear how they sound both melodically (one note after another) and harmonically (both notes together).
Melodic Intervals
Melodic intervals are two notes played one after another, like in a melody. Click the play button to hear each interval, starting from C4 (middle C).
Minor 2nd
Jaws theme
The smallest interval in Western music. That tense, half-step sound that creates suspense and unease—think of the shark approaching.
Major 2nd
Happy Birthday ("Happy birth–")
A whole step apart. This is the interval you hear at the very beginning of 'Happy Birthday' on the words 'Happy birth-'. It's bright and familiar.
Minor 3rd
Greensleeves (or "Hey Jude" opening)
The foundation of minor chords. It has a warm, slightly melancholic quality. Listen to the opening of 'Greensleeves' or 'Hey Jude' to hear it clearly.
Major 3rd
When the Saints Go Marching In
The foundation of major chords. Bright and happy sounding. The first two notes of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' demonstrate this uplifting interval.
Perfect 4th
Here Comes the Bride
One of the most recognizable intervals. Open and stable, yet creates a sense of anticipation. The wedding march makes this one easy to remember.
Tritone
The Simpsons theme (or Maria from West Side Story)
Also called the augmented 4th or diminished 5th. Historically called 'the devil's interval' due to its unstable, tense quality. The Simpsons theme starts with this distinctive sound.
Perfect 5th
Star Wars main theme
One of the most consonant intervals. Powerful and heroic sounding. The iconic Star Wars fanfare opens with this interval—think of those triumphant first two notes.
Minor 6th
The Entertainer (Scott Joplin)
A rich, somewhat melancholic interval. The opening melody of Scott Joplin's ragtime classic 'The Entertainer' features this interval prominently.
Major 6th
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Sweet and pleasant sounding. The leap on 'My Bonnie' in the classic folk song captures this warm, yearning quality perfectly.
Minor 7th
Somewhere from West Side Story
Has a bluesy, jazzy quality. It wants to resolve somewhere. The opening interval of 'Somewhere' ('There's a place for us') demonstrates this longing sound.
Major 7th
Take On Me (verse jump)
Dreamy yet tense—just a half step away from the octave. The distinctive synth melody in A-ha's 'Take On Me' features this dramatic leap.
Octave
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Perfect consonance—the same note in a higher register. The opening leap of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' is one of the most famous octave jumps in music history.
Harmonic Intervals
Harmonic intervals are two notes played at the same time, creating a chord-like sound. Notice how some intervals sound stable (consonant) while others create tension (dissonant).
Minor 2nd
Extremely dissonant
When played together, these notes clash intensely. This harsh, grinding sound is used sparingly to create tension and discomfort in music.
Major 2nd
Tense, unresolved
Still quite dissonant when stacked. Creates a sense of friction and wanting to move somewhere else. Common in jazz voicings and cluster chords.
Minor 3rd
Warm, slightly sad
The building block of minor chords. When heard harmonically, it creates that characteristic minor chord feeling—emotional, introspective, sometimes melancholic.
Major 3rd
Bright, happy
The building block of major chords. Sounds cheerful and stable when the notes ring together. This is why major chords feel uplifting.
Perfect 4th
Open, stable but wants to resolve
Consonant but with a sense of suspension. In traditional harmony, this interval often resolves down to a third. It has an open, medieval quality.
Tritone
Unstable, the devil's interval
Maximum instability. This interval divides the octave exactly in half, creating an unsettled sound that strongly wants to resolve outward or inward.
Perfect 5th
Very stable, powerful
One of the most consonant intervals. Forms the foundation of power chords in rock music. Open, hollow, and strong—think of orchestral brass or electric guitar power chords.
Minor 6th
Rich, somewhat melancholic
Has a bittersweet quality when heard harmonically. Less stable than the major 6th but still relatively consonant. Common in romantic and jazz harmony.
Major 6th
Sweet, pleasant
Warm and agreeable sounding. This interval is often used in added-note chords to create richness without tension. Has a gentle, pastoral quality.
Minor 7th
Bluesy, wants to resolve
The signature sound of dominant 7th chords. Creates that characteristic blues and jazz tension that makes you want to hear the resolution.
Major 7th
Dreamy, sophisticated tension
Close to the octave but not quite there. Creates a shimmering, jazz-like quality. Found in major 7th chords that sound lush and modern.
Octave
Perfect consonance
The same note reinforced. When played together, the notes blend so completely they almost sound like one thicker note. Maximum consonance and stability.
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