Ear training game
Ear Detective: interval ear training
Hear two notes and name the distance between them. Start with a few easy intervals going up, then add more, then hear them going down and played together.
Free to play. No account or download. Turn your sound on, and headphones help.
How it works
- Two notes play. Pick the interval from the choices, or press 1 to 9 on your keyboard. Play the notes again as often as you like.
- After each answer you see which interval it was and how many half steps it spans.
- Ten questions a round. Score 8 out of 10 to open the next level.
- The cheatsheet lists a song that starts with each interval, with a button to hear it. It stays with you on every level except Ear Maestro.
- Choose piano, strings, or winds. Premium adds solo instruments like violin, flute, and French horn.
What you'll practice
Rising, falling, and together
Each level opens when you score 8 of 10 on the one before it.
- StarterMajor 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Octave
- EverydayAdds minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Major 6th
- All 12 going upEvery interval within an octave
- Going downEveryday intervals, descending
- TogetherEveryday intervals played at the same time
Maestro mode Premium
Everything at once, in any direction.
- Ear MaestroAll 12 intervals, rising, falling, and together
A song for every interval
The quickest way to recognize an interval is to match it to the first two notes of a song you already know. These are the songs from the Ear Detective cheatsheet.
| Interval | Half steps | Going up | Going down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor 2nd | 1 | Jaws, Pink Panther theme | Für Elise |
| Major 2nd | 2 | Do-Re-Mi, Frère Jacques | Mary Had a Little Lamb |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | Brahms’ Lullaby, Greensleeves | Hey Jude |
| Major 3rd | 4 | When the Saints Go Marching In, Kumbaya | Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | Here Comes the Bride, Amazing Grace | O Come, All Ye Faithful |
| Tritone | 6 | The Simpsons theme, Maria (West Side Story) | – |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Star Wars main theme | The Flintstones theme |
| Minor 6th | 8 | The Entertainer, Go Down, Moses | – |
| Major 6th | 9 | My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, NBC chimes | – |
| Minor 7th | 10 | Somewhere (West Side Story), Star Trek original theme | – |
| Major 7th | 11 | Take On Me (chorus) | – |
| Octave | 12 | Somewhere Over the Rainbow | – |
Song, show, and brand names belong to their owners. They appear only to help you recognize intervals, and Notelings is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
Tips for training your ear
Sing it back
Hum or sing both notes after you hear them. Your voice remembers distances better than you think, and singing makes the song match easier.
Start with intervals that sound different
The Starter level uses only the major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and octave because they are easy to tell apart. Add the closer ones once those feel solid.
Listen to the color when notes play together
When both notes sound at once, 3rds and 6ths sound sweet, 5ths and octaves sound open and hollow, and 2nds, 7ths, and the tritone sound tense. That color is often faster to hear than the distance.
A little every day
Ear training builds slowly. One or two rounds a day does more than an hour once a week.
Free and Premium
Free
Five levels: rising, falling, and played together. Each opens at 8 of 10.
Premium $9.99, one time
Ear Maestro, every level open from day one, solo instruments.
Questions
Why should I learn to hear and identify intervals?
Intervals are the foundation of every melody and piece of music. Being able to hear intervals in your inner ear will allow you to not only sight-read and sight-sing with better authority, it will also help you figure out how to play your favorite songs when you don't have sheet music.
Do I need perfect pitch?
No. Ear Detective trains relative pitch: hearing the distance between two notes. Almost anyone can learn it with regular practice.
What is a tritone?
An interval of 6 half steps, exactly half an octave. Written on the staff, it is an augmented 4th or a diminished 5th.
Is Ear Detective free?
Yes. All five levels of rising, falling, and played-together intervals are free. Premium opens every level from day one and adds Ear Maestro, with all 12 intervals in every direction, plus solo instrument sounds.
Should I learn to write intervals too?
It helps. Interval Leap practices writing intervals on the staff, so you learn to see what you hear.
Keep going
Pair your ear with your eyes in Interval Leap, or keep your timing sharp with Timekeeper.