Ear Training

Interval Trainer

Train your ear to recognize intervals. Listen to two notes and identify the distance between them. Free ear training for all musicians.

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Ear Training for Musicians

Interval recognition is the foundation of ear training. When you can identify the distance between two notes by ear, you unlock the ability to transcribe melodies, recognize chord qualities, improvise confidently, and play music by ear. This trainer presents random intervals within an octave — your job is to identify the distance between the two notes.

Tip: Associate each interval with a familiar song. The Perfect 4th sounds like the first two notes of "Here Comes the Bride." The Minor 6th is the first leap in "The Entertainer." Building these mental references makes interval recognition faster and more intuitive.

Circle of FifthsMusic Theory GuideChord Library

Interval Trainer

Embed this ear training tool on your site. Practice identifying all 12 musical intervals.

Interval Trainer — Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our virtual instruments, practice tools, and music theory workspace.

What is an interval in music?

An interval is the distance between two notes.

Intervals are measured in semitones (half steps) and given names like Minor 2nd (1 semitone), Major 2nd (2 semitones), Minor 3rd (3 semitones), and so on up to the Octave (12 semitones).

Why is ear training important for musicians?

Ear training is one of the most important skills for any musician.

Being able to recognize intervals by ear lets you transcribe music, improvise more confidently, play by ear, and communicate more effectively with other musicians.

What is the easiest interval to recognize?

Most people find the Octave (P8) easiest to recognize since both notes sound like the same pitch at different heights.

The Perfect 5th (P5) — like the first two notes of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' — is also relatively easy to identify.

What songs can help me remember intervals?

Common reference songs include: Minor 2nd = 'Jaws' theme, Major 2nd = 'Happy Birthday', Minor 3rd = 'Greensleeves', Major 3rd = 'Oh When the Saints', Perfect 4th = 'Here Comes the Bride', Tritone = 'The Simpsons' theme, Perfect 5th = 'Twinkle Twinkle', Minor 6th = 'The Entertainer', Major 6th = 'My Bonnie', Minor 7th = 'Somewhere' from West Side Story, Major 7th = 'Take On Me', Octave = 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.

How often should I practice ear training?

Short daily sessions are more effective than long weekly sessions.

Even 5-10 minutes of interval training per day will produce noticeable improvement within a few weeks. Consistency matters more than duration.

Can I practice intervals without instrument?

Yes.

Our Interval Trainer generates random intervals using Web Audio synthesis — no instrument needed. Listen through your headphones and guess the interval. The trainer tells you if you're correct and shows the right answer.

What intervals are included in this trainer?

All 12 intervals within an octave: Minor 2nd, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Tritone, Perfect 5th, Minor 6th, Major 6th, Minor 7th, Major 7th, and Octave.

How do I use the interval trainer?

Click 'Play Notes' to hear two notes played sequentially.

Listen carefully and click the interval button you think matches the distance between the notes. The trainer shows your score and reveals the correct answer after each round.