Musical Ear Training

For many guitarists their practise regime is concerned with technical ability and little time is dedicated to developing a musical ear. A musical ear may be seen as a natural gift but we are all capable of training this ability over time. Two simple ways of incorporating this into our practise is to 1) try to tune your guitar without the use of electronic tools, and 2) learn songs by listening to them and trying to figure out how to play them.

Additionally, you can use the lessons below as a form of musical ear training. The pitches are from the open low E-string up to the open high E-string. All notes will be on fret 0-4 of one of the strings. Have your guitar at the ready to help you find the notes.

Level 1

This level is designed to help you tune your guitar. Click play to hear a random open string on the guitar being played. All you need to do is identify which string it is.

Play

_Low E
A
D
G
B
E ^High

Level 2

This level will introduce intervals. An interval is the difference in pitch between two notes. We will start simple, using just the Major Second and Minor Third interval. A Major Second is an interval of 2 semitones (2 frets on the guitar), named so because it is the distance between the first and second notes on the major scale. A Minor Third is an interval of 3 semitones. You will hear two notes, all you have to do is identify the interval.

Play

Major 2nd
Minor 3rd

Level 3

This level is similar to the previous one, but with the addition of two more intervals: the Perfect Fourth (5 semitones), and Perfect Fifth (7 semitones). Remember, in standard tuning the strings are tuned a fourth apart (except the G and B string), so if the interval is a fourth then both notes will be on the same fret. Also, power chords are two notes a fifth apart, so remember that shape.

Play

Major 2nd
Minor 3rd
Fourth
Fifth

Level 4

We are going to take a little break from intervals, and try more absolute pitch tests. In this level a note will be played 4 times, all you have to do is find the pitch on your guitar. Remember, the only notes we will use are on frets 0-4, ranging from fret 0 on the low E-string, to fret 0 on the high E-string (two octaves).

Play