INTERVAL COMPARISON

[dave02]

I just bought earmaster, but I am having trouble with the major and minor 2nd. I can't figure them out. I use songs but with no breakthrough. Can someone tell me the best way to figure them out?

[Patricio]

Hej Dave,

Normally the minor is easy to recognize because it sounds disonant, in other words kind of "acid", the major it´s really more tonal ("happier"???).. to remember a song that have these intervals is a posibility, but I don´t think that is the best way, if you are having problems with some intervals, the best is to practice them separatly again and again until you get the differences between both.

good luck!

[V for Vincent]

Well, first of all, it could take a while. You have to work at intervals pretty hard, but don't worry, eventually you will get them. You'll get them so easily you'll be stunned you ever failed to hear the difference.

That said, try combining techniques. Play the intervals you're working on on your instrument, and sing the notes out loud. Associate a feeling with each interval (I would say dark for minor seconds and happier [though not as outright playful as major thirds] for major seconds). If that doesn't help you, compare what you're hearing to a song... And just practise every day.

[dave02]

Thanks guys (Patricio and Vincent). I have been practicing a lot. I am starting to get them now. I an in lesson 8 right now. I do have a question for anyone. How do you sing the interval sounds? Do you try to imitate the sounds, if yes, I have been doing a terrible job doing that. I have been working about 30 minutes a day on one lesson. I just don't wanna forget the previous lessons I've already done. HOW DO YOU SING INTERVALS?

[Patricio]

Hi )..

I´m not sure what you mean when you talk about "imitate the sounds"... when you speak about intervals repetition (singing intervals), you talk, of course, about to imitate the tone (the sound), and you have to, of course, be as acurate as posible when you repeat the tones (sounds) you are working with.

Dear Dave... be patient!.. remember that to train you ears take time and even when you feel that you "forget" the previous lessons, don´t really worry about it. Every time you practice with EarMaster your sense get better in a progresive way, only the time is going to show you your improvements, (in the way you study that´s gonna happen soon)... if I was you, I would sing anything I play, parallel to EarMaster, is the best way to test your improvements... it´s like when you go to the gym for a couple of weeks and then when you try running again, you can allready feel that you are in better physical condition than before.. )

Try it, that´s what I ask to my students and works really good...

saludos,

Patricio Obel
EarMaster Aps.