Best Ear Training Software

[chouston3]

Going off of the post on absolute pitch. I am interested in software that can be used to improve relative pitch.

Does anyone use any particular products that they like?

Do any particular products have evidence that they work?

[AndrewMeronek]

Probably not a "right" answer, but I think that a typical music notation software can work very well in ear training, because you can use it to help transcribe. Transcribing (from ear, not copying written music to another medium) is one of the absolute best ways to do ear training, in general.

[dwcarder]

When I was learning bass guitar I wanted (needed) to play more by interval, to be able to identify chords by ear, and so on, such that I went down a related path to develop this sort of listening fluency further. I found that there are some apps that are popular in this space, such as "Complete Ear Trainer" or "Perfect Ear" which guide you through various exercises. Search around and see if any of these do what you are looking for or look for similar things to get you started. I believe that's only maybe half the battle though, (not that I am good at it) but learning to sing just innately unlocks the notion of pitch as well.

[Doug Elliott]

I agree with AndrewMeronek that transcribing (no matter how simple) and a notation software (which gives you correct equsl temperment pitches back) is the best ear training.

But if you start with the attitude that you can't do it, you won't improve. Just do it, make sure the playback sounds right, and have somebody else check your work occasionally.

[Sesquitone]

This is not exactly "Software", but it works.

After I retired from teaching (Mechanical Engineering) at The University of Akron, I sat in on a few jazz arranging and improv courses taught by Roland Paolucci and Rich Shanklin. One of the exercises that involved both pitch and rhythm ear-training was to:

(i) Record yourself in class scat-singing along to a (short section of a) Play-A-Long chord-change track in a known key. You may review the changes, if necessary. [Keep it simple.]

(ii) For homework, transcribe that, sound-to-staff—entirely "by ear". Place it in an octave playable on your instrument. But don't play any part of it yet (honour system).

(iii) Back in class, without having previewed what you wrote (on any instrument), play it on your instrument (along with the chord track) and record that. You're allowed a couple of tries.

(iv) Everybody gets to compare the two versions.

(v) Listen to (constructive) criticism from your classmates and instructor.

Sometimes we had different students play what others had written. This almost always picked up mistakes! Most often in rhythm notation that didn't add up to exactly a full measure.

.

[Cmillar]

Here’s a wonderful little app for interval training, remembering a few notes in row, hearing all the intervals, etc.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/interval- ... d361125793

[robcat2075]

Drill is underrated. Don't dismiss the value of an exercise that will quickly challenge you to identify intervals or chords and give you immediate feedback.

It's not as interesting as transcribing something you wanted to transcribe anyway, but more interesting than transcribing something you didn't want to transcribe.

Here is a free web page that will drill you on numerous aspects of musical listening, with selectable complexity.

https://tonedear.com/

It would be even better if it had a mode that presented you with notation to try to sight sing. Perhaps there is a page out there that does.

But I think vocalizing sounds yourself is as essential to developing discernment as listening is. The more the better.

Has any of this or the other suggestions been validated in a double-blind, randomized study? I doubt it. The big research money goes to trifles like curing cancer and diverting killer asteroids.

You haven't said what your current skill is so these were novice and intermediate suggestions.

[chouston3]

I did one year of music school. Got through theory and ear training one and two. I realized that ear training has actually been the most help with my music. I want to polish what I have and maybe add a little bit to it.