#Aural training in pictures install#
#Aural training in pictures windows 10#
#Aural training in pictures software#

To internalise the sound of a second scale degree note, do the same as above, except that this time you should select only the second scale degree from ‘Note Choices’. Only when you can quickly and accurately predict (in advance) how the tonic is about to sound, should you start to learn the sound of second scale degree notes. From time to time, change the instrument in ‘Midi Setup’ to learn the sounds when instruments with different timbres are used. It is best to do this training in frequent brief sessions. You can press ‘Repeat the Question’ as often as you want. Better still, use more than one of these options from time to time (some people find it difficult to sing the words of a song when they have always used the same syllable for a scale degree). When singing, use scale degree numbers, solfeggio, note names or a single syllable like: ‘to’, ‘so’, ‘fa’, ‘la’, ‘go’ etc. ‘Start’ the training and carefully listen to each of the notes (to begin with, they will always be the tonic of some major scale). This setup will only play first scale degree notes (the all-important ‘tonic’) in randomly selected keys. At ‘Note Choices’ select only the first note of the scale. For ‘Key’, select ‘Major’ and ‘Random Key’. Here is how it is done:įirst, you need to set the program up to do it. The task involves learning, through imitation, the sounds (‘personalities’) of scale degree tones, one at a time and within tonal contexts. Here is a different way that beginners can use ‘Functional Ear Trainer’. It’s interactive with concise explanations and corresponding sound examples.įor example, here’s screen #11 of the method explanation. You can get started immediately and the built-in tutorial section explains the functional ear training method step by step. No MIDI sound card settings and initial options to deal with.

#Aural training in pictures software#

Unlike the previous versions this new V2 software is a cross-platform Adobe Air application and there’s no additional set-up required.

#Aural training in pictures install#

Head on over to Alain Benbassat’s site, then download and install the free Functional Ear Training software. Step 1 – Download the Functional Ear Training Software All the principles/exercises can also be transferred to the more up-to-date Functional Ear Trainer App. The screenshots in this article show the legacy software. However, it does not seem to get maintained/developed further anymore.

#Aural training in pictures windows 10#

The original software still runs on my Windows 10 PC. No, because fortunately there’s a better way.Īttention: this is an article that I originally published back in 2011. Now the big question is: how do you do that? Do you just listen to music and hope that those characteristics jump out at you? Should you just sit down at the piano and play individual keys over and over again trying to memorize their sound? It’s your job to learn to recognize that difference in tonal character. And with the different function goes a different sound quality as well. Simply put, the C note plays a different role in the key of B major than in the key of C major.

How come the same C note can sound so different? The identical C note is then played after a B chord.

Notice how stable and resting the C note sounds.

Let’s listen to a C chord followed by a C note. Instead of learning to recognize the sound of individual intervals, with functional ear training you focus on learning the specific sound of a note in the context of tonality. One of the best ear training methods I’ve come across is functional ear training.

It helps you develop the skill of understanding what your ears are hearing. You need the ability to analyze and interpret the incoming sound. However, there’s more to hearing than registering sound waves via your eardrums. Use ear plugs in loud locations (concerts, gigs, rehearsals) – it’s the smart thing to do. I hate to break the news to you, but no, you won’t automatically have Beethoven’s musical skills by becoming deaf like him.

people skills (band members, managers, at venues)īut your most prized possession as a musician is… Your Ears!įirst of all it is essential to protect your hearing at all cost.

an understanding of basic recording technology.

Ludwig van Beethoven contemplating functional ear training 😉