Ear Training Quiz

Ear Training

Ear training is the practice of developing your ability to identify musical elements by sound alone. This quiz tests three core areas: intervals (the distance between two notes), chords (groups of notes played together), and scales (sequences of notes following a pattern).

Intervals

An interval is the pitch distance between two notes, measured in semitones (half steps). They can be played melodically (one note after another) or harmonically (both notes together). Common intervals range from the minor 2nd (1 semitone) to the octave (12 semitones). Each interval has a distinct sound character that can be memorized through practice.

Chords

A chord is three or more notes played simultaneously. Major chords sound bright and happy, minor chords sound darker and sad, diminished chords sound tense, and augmented chords sound unresolved. Seventh chords add richness and complexity. Learning to distinguish chord qualities is fundamental to understanding harmony.

Scales

A scale is an ordered sequence of notes following a specific interval pattern. The major scale sounds bright and resolved, while the natural minor scale sounds darker. Other scales like the harmonic minor, pentatonic, and blues scales each have distinctive characters that become recognizable with practice.

Difficulty Levels

Easy: A small set of the most common and distinct-sounding options. Medium: An expanded set including less common options. Hard: The full set of options, including closely related sounds that are challenging to distinguish.

Audio

Sounds are generated using the Web Audio API with sine wave oscillators tuned to equal temperament (A4 = 440 Hz). The root note is randomized each question so you learn to recognize relative pitch relationships rather than absolute frequencies.

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