This ear training tool includes exercises for learning intervals
and chords. Once you've mastered intervals, you can use
the random melody feature to practice sight-singing and call-and-response
(it also has pre-programmed jazz licks).
The auto looping feature is especially useful so you can
work hands-free, listening to the exercises and playing
them back on your instrument. This ear training tool also includes a
rhythm section feature that dynamically generates
jazz play-a-long tracks for
major, minor, dominant7, II-V7-I, blues, and rhythm changes
chord progressions... and more!.
When learning to play by ear, one of the most effective ear training exercises
is playing familiar tunes by ear. They can be simple songs like
nursery rhymes, xmas carols, or jazz standards and rock/pop hits.
All that matters is that you know them well enough to effortlessly
sing, whistle, or hum their melody. With that level of familiarity you
can then try playing them on your instrument by ear, without reading music.
My simple song randomizer ear training tool streamlines this activity by providing you
with a random song name and starting note.
NOTE: If you're having trouble playing even the simplest of songs
by ear, it might be best to begin your ear training studies by learning intervals with the
ear training tool shown on the left side of this page.
Ear training helps you to identify and play music entirely by ear, without
the aid of written music. The ability to play by ear is essential to any improvising
musician because it's the only way to accurately play the ideas in your
head. Non-improvising musicians can also benefit from ear training as it
allows you to learn new tunes, compose new tunes, and play any melody
entirely by ear.
Here's another way to look at ear training... think of the last time you
were around other people and somebody asked you to play a popular song
on your instrument. Maybe it was an xmas carol, or maybe it was a rock
song. Whatever it was, it was likely something that you could effortlessly
sing yet you probably hadn't ever played it on your instrument.
The question is this: Were you able to pick up your
instrument and play the song by ear, or did you tell the person you couldn't
play the song because you needed written music? I've been in this situation
many times myself and I've always found it demoralizing when I
couldn't play even the simplest of tunes by ear. And that's where ear training
comes in. Regardless of your current ability, ear training can strengthen
your ears moving you closer to the point where you can effortless play
anything by ear.
EAR TRAINING ARTICLES
I've written several articles about ear training at
my jazz blog.
Following are some highlights:
Learning To Improvise - Introduction:
This article discusses my jazz education and the odd absence of adequate ear training.
As you'll read in the article, my lack of ear training and my total inability to play
by ear prevented me from succeeding at jazz improvisation.
Learning To Improvise - Ear Training:
This article discusses the importance of ear training in jazz improvisation.
Play By Ear - Supporting Evidence:
Interviews and masterclass notes where professional jazz musicians and educators
discuss the importance of ear training and the ability to play by ear.
Ear Training - Reader Email:
Selected messages from readers of my jazz blog in which they discuss the
importance of ear training in their musical development.
Suzuki Method & Music Education:
This article discusses some of the ear training principles behind the Suzuki Method and
how those principles help students learn to play by ear.
John Murphy - Ear Training Interview:
In this article, I present an interview I did with University of North Texas professor, John Murphy.
Among other things, John Murphy teaches jazz aural skills (ear training) at UNT's school of music.
John Murphy - Musical Fluency: This is a short article by a University of North Texas
Professor which compares fluency in a language to having strong aural skills.
