Tips for identifying intervals by ear:
- Sing them. It is important to get these sounds in to your ear. There is no better way than to play them on the guitar, in numerous place, while attempting to sing along.
- Associate the interval to a song that starts its melody with that same interval.
Here is a list for you:
Unison– Row Row Row Your Boat or Jingle Bells.
min 2nd– Jaws Theme
Maj 2nd – Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer.
min 3rd – Brahms Lullaby, A Ring Around the Roses, Smoke on the Water gtr. riff
Maj 3rd – Kumbaya, Oh When the Saints…, Michael Row the Boat Ashore.
P4 – Here Comes the Bride, The Wheels on the Bus, Amazing Grace, or Oh Xmas Tree.
Tritone – The “Simpsons” or Maria from West Side Story.
P5 – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Star Wars Theme.
min 6th – Black Orpheus or Go Down Moses.
Maj 6th – Intro to Jingle Bells “dashing”, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean or It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
min 7th – Ford Theme – “Have you Driven a Ford Lately”.
Maj 7th – Take On Me by A-Ha
P8 (Octave) – Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Take Me Out to the Ball Game or The Christmas Song.
* If you do’t know some of these songs give them a listen and sing along so you get familiar with the sound of that particular interval.
Previous Lesson: Identifying Major and Minor Chords
Next Lesson: Ear Training Quiz – minor 2nd’s and Perfect 5th’s- coming soon
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