Archives Tutorials

Tutorials on all aspects of becoming an accomplished musician.

Ear Training 2nds

Now you will listen to an interval and decide if it is a Major or Minor 2nd.

Listen to the two examples here to familiarize yourself with the sound of each.

Analyzing Written 2nds

Now you will read a piece of written music and decide if the interval is a Minor 2nd or a Major 2nd.

To do this, it is critical to remember the pattern W W 1/2, W W W 1/2.

You can also remember that the half steps are between EF and BC.

Scales Advanced Piano

This tutorial will explain more advanced concepts about Scales.

In the previous tutorial, we learned that a Major Scale is made of a pattern of Whole Steps and Half Steps in this order:

Scales Part 1

The names of the intervals, such as Major 2nd, Minor 2nd, etc., come from Scales.

A scale is a series of closely spaced notes in ascending or descending order.

The most common scale is called the C Major Scale.

Major 2nds Dictation

In the next few lessons you will practice hearing Major 2nds played up, down, and as chords.

You will then write them in music notation.

Please press the Exercise button below.

Major 2nds Playing By Ear Chord

In this lesson, you will practice hearing a Major 2nd played as a chord and then playing it on your instrument.

A Major 2nd played as a chord sounds like this:

Major 2nd - Chord

Major 2nds Playing By Ear Down

In this lesson, you will practice hearing a Major 2nd going down and playing it on your instrument.

A Major 2nd descending (down) sounds like this:

Major 2nds Playing By Ear

In this lesson, you will practice hearing a Major 2nd and playing it on your instrument.

A Major 2nd ascending (up) sounds like this:

Please press the Exercise button below.

More on Intervals

Now we will learn about intervals in more depth.

Intervals have a degree, or number, and also a quality, usually Major or Minor.

For example, a Minor 2nd has a quality of Minor and a degree of 2.

Writing Major 2nds

Now you will see a Major 2nd lit up on your instrument and you will write in in music notation.

When deciding to whether to write something as sharps or flats, consider the degree, or number, of the interval.

When writing a Major 2nd, the degree should be a 2nd.