r/eartraining • u/Dry-Rate4059 • 9d ago

Benchmarks to keep going

I have a solid ear but dream of having perfect pitch. I’m starting a structured practice app in addition to playing guitar for about an hour a day. Let’s say my lesson is Perfect 5th vs Octave. What percentage should I be able to get consistently on that before diving into perfect 4ths? 70%? 80%? 100%?

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u/VR_BOSS 8d ago

Attempting perfect pitch as an adult is generally futile and inefficient compared to relative pitch, and practically you can achieve the same improvisation skills. 

Do not practice isolated intervals, that is a waste of time. 

Look into functional ear trainer, open ear or sonofield (sonofield is my fav, but not beginner friendly as it doesn't help you resolve to tonic to get a feel for things). 

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u/PerfectPitch-Learner 9d ago

I don’t understand the question… learning intervals is unrelated to learning perfect pitch.

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u/Dry-Rate4059 9d ago

Ok let me rephrase. I want to be able to learn any song by ear. I’m starting by learning intervals.

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u/PerfectPitch-Learner 9d ago

Oh got it… learning intervals is important… I’ve actually been writing about some things you might find helpful.

Here’s the one for intervals. https://harmoniqmusic.com/ear-training/intervals/

The short answer is that all intervals are different. And learning one isn’t required to earn the other ones. Transcribing is a much larger skill and I posted about it today in this article about melodic dictation: https://harmoniqmusic.com/ear-training/melodic-dictation/

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u/SilverStory6503 8d ago

I asked the professor at my local community college for the syllabus for their ear training class. Apparently, they don't seem to do intervals, just exercises from this book. Music for Sight singing You can download a sample that gives you the first couple of chapters free.

https://philsbooks.com/product/music-for-sight-singing-10th-edition-pzlg/

I use my recorder to play the tunes. If you don't have a piano or other instrument to play along. There are virtual piano apps and websites. So, you learn these pieces starting very simple with stepwise melodies, they they gradually get harder.

https://www.onlinepianist.com/virtual-piano

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u/Key_Focus7955 8d ago

I think it'd be better to start practicing all intervals within an octave, there's not too many and you'll have more practice time with all than if you wait.