Press play to hear an interval, then identify it below
Interval ear training — develop relative pitch
Interval recognition is the foundation of relative pitch. Once you can reliably identify intervals by ear, you can hear a melody and know what notes are being played without looking at an instrument. This is essential for transcribing music, improvising, and sight-singing.
The standard trick is to associate each interval with a familiar song. A perfect fifth sounds like the Star Wars theme. A minor third opens the smoke on the water riff. A major sixth is the NBC chime. These song associations make intervals stick much faster than abstract drilling alone. Combine with metronome practice for complete musicianship training.
What is the difference between ascending and descending intervals?
An ascending interval plays the lower note first, then the higher. Descending is the reverse. Beginner mode uses ascending intervals only. Advanced mode includes descending and harmonic (simultaneous) intervals.
Why does the tritone sound so unsettling?
The tritone divides the octave exactly in half — 6 semitones. This creates maximum harmonic tension with no clear pull toward resolution. Medieval theorists called it diabolus in musica (the devil in music). In jazz and rock it is used precisely for that tension and release.