This is an ear-training tool in your browser that you can use with your computer keyboard or mouse/trackpad (click the buttons). All you have to do is listen to a piece of music and identify what you’ve heard. It’s simple but effective and keeps you focused on the task at hand.
To begin each round, hit the New challenge button. It will load a new question that matches your selected difficulty. You can choose Easy, Medium, or Hard using the level buttons at the top. Shorter phrases and easier intervals makes up an Easy-mode question while Hard mode includes subtle variations in pitch as well as syncopation and other rhythmic complexities.
How to Use the Ear Training Tool
The status bar tracks your experience points and streak.
The core of the quiz is the Listen button. Tap this to play the target sound (a rhythmic pattern, an interval or melody). In most modes, this will appear as a short melodic, rhythmic, or intervallic snippet. It uses your browser’s audio engine to create the sound in realtime. You can listen as many times as you like to get used to the sound, until you make a selection. Then listen and pick out your answer from selection given.
Depending on the style of quiz (key signatures, interval/modes etc), the interface will vary but you need to adjust accordingly. With key signatures, it’s a grid with major/minor pairs. With bass lines or melodies, you create your answer note by note. With intervals and modes, you simply select them from a list of names. Fill in your response using the appropriate buttons. As you do so, the widget will highlight your selections so you can check that you’ve got it right.
Press the Reveal button if you’d like some help. It will reveal the proper answer. It still won’t count against your score, which is good for those times you’re not sure and want to learn the answer instead of guessing.
Press the Clear button to clear out whatever you have in the answer field. You can then begin selecting again from scratch. Use this if you entered something incorrecty.
The toolbar contains a few controls. The slider lets you control the volume of the generated sounds in the widget. Turn it down to your desired listening level before starting.
The Fullscreen button will expand the widget to take up the whole screen. It’s useful if you have less space (for example on a small device) or if you just don’t like any distractions.
Playing is also made intuitive and faster with keyboard shortcuts: To hear the Listen audio, press the Space bar; to begin another round, press N; to clear what you’ve entered, press Escape; to reveal the answer, press R. The number keys enter notes or scale degrees in melody mode and bass mode. In interval and tuning mode, they chooses the matching answer option(s). This lets you leave your hands on the keyboard as you listen, which makes shortcuts particularly useful in this mode.
Here are some practice tips that will help you make the most of this tool. Begin on Easy mode so you become comfortabley with key signatures and intervals. As you get better at recognizing them, work your way up to Medium then Hard.
Use the Reveal button often to connect the sound you hear with its proper name. Also don’t be afraid to use Reveal because it won’t break your streak. That’s how it teaches you the answer but still maintains your score accuracy.
Here are some details about the different game modes that come with the widget. In the Key Signature Ear Quiz mode, you’ll hear a scale and need to pick out what key it is in. In Interval mode, you have to choose which note interval (distance between two notes) is being played. In Melody mode, you will be asked to play back a brief melody of scale degrees. Each one comes with its own visual aids and controls. Read the help text in each mode for more detailed guidance.
The game bar tracks your progress. You’ll see a streak counter, which tells you how many rounds you’ve gotten right in a row, and the longer the streak, the more experience points you get. As you gain points, it will fill up the XP bar. Making it like a game this way should of helped motivate you to practice consistently (i.e., don’t wait until the last minute; try to practice every day).
It’s designed to be accessible. Keyboard navigation is fully supported, as all buttons are focusable. It follows your OS’s setting for reduced motion. It respects this setting by disabling any animations and transitions when you have a motion sensitivity setting turned on. Buttons and text remain clearly visible thanks to its high contrast colors, and no matter what your motor or visual preferences is, you’ll be able to use the widget just fine.
Depending on your device and browser, you may need to adjust your speaker volume or use headphones. To make sure the sound is crisp and the response time is low, we’re using the Web Audio API for this widget. For the best listening experience, wear a pair of earbuds or headphones. They will help you hear slight pitch variations while blocking out surrounding noises. Check your browser’s settings and ensure that your computer isn’t muted.
We only play audio when you interact with the widget for the first time. If you need to take a break mid-session, that’s fine too. You’ll be able to pick up right where you left off, including what was happening during the last round. However, closing the window or reloading the tab will wipe the game clean. So your XP and streak won’t persist across browsing sessions. Treat every session as a new beginning, and it will help you focus on the practice instead of focusing on long-term stats.
A detailed guide on all modes is available in the help panel. You can click the How to play button to open it up. There’s a list of the rules, along with the keyboard shortcuts for each challenge. If you’re not sure how to answer a question, look at the directions because they are simple and short. We avoid cluttering the main interface while you get the hang of things.
Target your weak areas. Need some work on minor key signatures? Work on that one. Find yourself tripping up over rhythms? Hit the rhythm mode.
The quizzes include several specific modes: Key Signature, Interval, and Melody. Switching the type of quiz changes what it’s asking from you in terms of ear training. Mix ’em up and keep it interesting while also making sure you get all aspects covered.
But it does give some great visual reinforcement to what you’re learning. If you get an answer right it lights up green. If you get an answer wrong, its red, and when you select an answer and hit “submit,” the correct answer is also highlighted. This real-time feedback reinforces your learning by associating names with sounds. The longer you use it, the more you’ll be able to do this from memory rather than relying on the visual clues.
Finally, try to remain calm and patient. Ear training isn’t something you can rush, and it takes time to get used to. Listen carefully, then respond. If you have to, hit repeat on the phrase and listen again. Remember this is a gradual learning process with the widget and continued use will result in noticeable improvements in your musical hearing.
Begin your practice by adjusting the volume to something you’re comfortable with. Hit New challenge and it will pull in the first question. Listen carefully and make your selection. Monitor your progress and try to extend your streak. When you’re ready go ahead and give the widget a whirl… And have fun learning how to train your ear.