Ear Training Intervals

Interval ear training teaches you to recognise the distance between two notes by ear. Two notes sound in The Ultimate Piano and you name the interval — played upward or downward. It is the foundation for transcribing a melody and for playing by ear, and the app tracks which intervals you reliably get and which you still guess.

An interval is the distance between two notes measured in semitones. Recognizing intervals by ear is one of the most valuable skills a musician can develop.

Open it via Practice → Ear Training — the Intervals tab is the first one. Your selection is still there the next time you open it on this device.

On this page

Practice All 12 Music Intervals

The Ultimate Piano covers all 12 music intervals from the Minor 2nd (1 semitone) up to the Octave (12 semitones), including the Tritone. Each interval is played ascending or descending, starting from a new root on every question — the lower note sits in the octave below middle C. The answer buttons carry the full names: Minor 2nd, Major 2nd … Tritone … Octave.

Available Ear Training Intervals and Directions

Choose how each interval is played under Which Direction?. Tick both for mixed practice.

How It Works

The exercise plays an interval and you click the matching answer button. The full loop is:

1. Configure – Select at least 2 intervals and at least 1 direction
2. Start – Click Start to begin the exercise
3. Listen – Two notes are played one after the other
4. Identify – Click the button matching the interval you heard
5. Feedback – A correct answer shows green and the next interval follows by itself after a moment. A wrong answer shows red with the correct interval highlighted; Listen Again plays it once more, and Next moves on

Use the Repeat button to hear the interval again before answering. The bar at the top shows the round and your correct and wrong answers so far.

Exercise Modes

Two modes control how long a session runs.

Results Screen

When the last question is answered, or when you press Stop, a results screen summarizes your performance:

• Rating – Excellent (90%+), Great Job (75%+), Good (60%+), or "Keep Practicing" below 60%
• Correct / Wrong count – How many you got right
• Score – Your accuracy in percent
• Average response time – How quickly you answered
• Compared with your history – the difference to your average, the rank among your runs, your last runs as small bars and the intervals you missed most today

Your Progress

Above the selection, a status line shows the days you practiced in a row, your average score, the number of runs and your weakest interval. Details opens the full view for this tab:

• Getting better? – your score over the last 7 days, 30 days or all time
• How well you know each one – the recognition rate per interval, with the interval you most often mistake it for
• Mix-ups – a table of the interval that was played against the one you heard

Practice Tips

Beginners:

• Start with just 2–3 intervals (e.g., P5, P4, M3)
• Use ascending direction only
• Associate each interval with a familiar song opening

Intermediate:

• Add more intervals gradually
• Practice both ascending and descending
• Aim for faster response times

Advanced:

• Enable all 12 intervals
• Mix ascending and descending
• Challenge yourself with a fixed number of exercises

Interval Recognition Tips

Interval recognition gets easier when you anchor each interval to a song you already know. These classic associations help you name intervals instantly:

Related: Also try Ear Training: Chords and Ear Training: Scales. Explore intervals visually in Learning Mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do ear training intervals work?

2 notes are played one after the other, and you identify the interval by clicking the matching button. Use Repeat to hear it once more. You can practice ascending, descending, or both mixed.

How many music intervals can I practice?

12 music intervals in total, from the Minor 2nd (1 semitone) up to the Octave (12 semitones), including the Tritone. Select at least 2 intervals to start an exercise.

How is my interval recognition scored?

3 ratings reward your accuracy when a session ends: Excellent (90%+), Great Job (75%+) or Good (60%+), plus your score in percent, your average response time and how the run compares with your earlier ones.

Ready to try it?

Open The Ultimate Piano in your browser — no download needed.