Using this trainer will help you recognize piano notes without having an example sound to compare them too. It is designed for you to click on controls with your mouse but if you prefer to interact more quickly, then you can also do it using your computer keyboard.
Try to listen to the note and accurately describe pitch class of the note. Do not worry about which octave it is in. You are only being asked to recognize the notes letter name. Is it a C, D, E, or something else? This central part of the experience are the piano display. Listen to the tone that has been created, then click on the matching key on visual keyboard.
How to Use the Piano Trainer
Alternatively you may wish to use your computer keyboard as an answer. Use the letter keys for playing natural notes (A-G). The letters corresponds to A,B,C,D,E,F,G. That means you don’t have to reach for mouse which will speed up the answering process.
The round controls is located above the keyboard. To create a new pitch, click on the New challenge button. If you’d like to hear the tone once more, press the Listen button. The Reveal button displays right answer and does not count against your score. In other words, if you make a mistake but would still like to learn, this is handy for learning without breaking your streak. The Clear button removes your current attempt.
Your progress and difficulty are managed from the top bar. There’s Easy, Medium and Hard modes that you can toggle through. Easy mode restrict the note pool to just the white keys. Medium and Hard includes sharps and flats. The tone length is reduced in Hard mode too, which means you need to be quicker at picking out the pitch. Here you track your experience points and your streak, which will help you see how you’re improving over time.
The Fullscreen button will expand interface so that it fills your screen. It’s handy when viewing this on a mobile device or just because you want more space for the keyboard. The Volume Slider allow you to control the volume of the tones. This is useful when you’re playing at a certain volume in a quiet place or in a noisier area. The Help button will open up a guide containing keyboard shortcuts relevant to whichever mode you’re in.
Begin with Easy mode to get familiar with natural notes. Don’t forget to play the tone using the space bar on your computer’s keyboard, no need to press the Listen button. When you feel confident, try switching to the Medium mode which includes sharps and flats.
You can miss a note. Use the Reveal button to show what the note should of been, then start another round. Try to keep the volume low enough that you can still hear the pitch clearly without any distortion. If you get the answer wrong, it will reset your streak. If you’re unsure and want to change your mind before submission, you can use the Clear button. That doesn’t count against your score and lets you reset your selection.
When you get the answer right, the experience points fills up. You’ll see this filling up so that you have a sense for how far along you are during your training session. You will get the best results if you practice daily for a few minutes each time. Focus on listening to the note’s pitch class, rather than the specific octave it might be in.
This training is meant to be accessible and flexible. If using a keyboard is easier for you, or if you prefer the mouse, that works just fine. When you’re ready, begin a fresh challange.