Immersive Ear Training: Major Scale (1-Hour)

Identify melodies by ear. This exercise trains your recognition of melodic scale degrees against a drone through playing a tone, providing the correct answer, and then repeating the tone so that you can create an association between the feeling of that scale degree and the number representing it. The key is changed every few minutes.

Tips:
- Keep your focus on the "feeling state" of each tone, not the specific pitch. The feeling of each scale degree is always the same regardless of octave or key. This is what we're learning to recognize here.
- If you're just starting out, you don't need to try and figure out which degree you're hearing. Just listen and relax.
- When the tone is repeated, focus on making a connection between the scale degree number and the feeling you experience.

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[pmjohnson]

A progress report: I started listening to this video when it first came out in mid-September, approximately two months ago. The first time I played it, I could only hear the 1, 2, and 7 scale degrees. Since then I have played it for about 10 minutes a day (starting at a randomly chosen spot in the video), for 5 or 6 days out of each week. As of this week, I find that I can identify all seven scale degrees over 90% of the time. Also, I am 65 years old. Takeaways: (1) you don't need to be young or musically talented for your brain to learn to recognize scale degrees (I am neither). (2) It's a marathon, not a sprint. Think months, not weeks or days. (3) Consistency is important. Don't do it once a week, or five times in one day then stop for two weeks. Think of it like weight training.

[dannyboy]

This is the BEST exercise ever! Its been 4 days and my whole approach to music, playing my.acoustic.guitar, listening music or singing with Friends have changed Will stick to 20min a day during 6 months. Happy to share my experience. Dont doubt to launch a simple but effective version of the app!!

[Ratstick]

I just wanna say Max your attitude as an instructor is like... THE best. Please stay that way even as you get big.

[Robertlavigne]

Day 1: 15mins. Strong on 1, 7, 2. Weakest on 3, 4, 5. A few lucid moments where I just knew things were right but a lot of confusion.

Conclusion: after 34 days doing this 30 mins a day all 7 degrees have a strong feeling. Progress was a bit non linear and can’t really be rushed. Consistency and just focusing on the feeling rather than attempting to resolve seems to be key. Thanks so much for this Max! Looking forward to tackling the minor scale next and really excited for the app!!

[bluegorilla]

Really useful thanks a lot! Ever since watching your video on feeling the major scale I've had a breakthrough in my ear training. Learning solfege and feeling the scale degrees rather than focusing on intervals alone is a far superior method.

[repit]

Very useful! Its funny how calming it seems each time you say 1 after all these degrees away from home.

[RahulDas-zyut]

Thank you Max. For really diving deep into the Ear training category. I doubt in you tube there is any content out there just like you.
Thanking you for making me believe that I can do it. You changed my mind set towards ear training with one single line-
" If you can feel chord changes you can train yourself"
This boosted me a lot. With your lessons and through different other approaches I can feel the changes. I am not 100% accurate all the time. But from a guy who can't do any recognition to identifying 8/10 notes correctly is a proof that in future I can do more..
Apart from notes I can feel chord moods. The overall vibe of the song.
And as a result my song listening experience got much better and my playing changed drastically.
Thank u master❤❤❤

[Silh]

Im floored by this approach. Take my money with thé app!

[avivmamraev]

I just watched the entire video while combining it with my meditation, and it was great. I really felt improvement after that hour-long session. The number one problem with the ear training app is that you have to pick an answer, and many times it can be discouraging to see a low score. I believe it's going to be a great app, and I will definitely get it.
I am really hoping to see a functionality that most of that app lacks of, and it is practice audiating, by giving an interval, letting me sing it (or imagine it ) and playing it after that.

[bassboossaful]

I've been playing this video in the background while doing something else, at least once every day in the past week, and am amazed how much my hearing improved! Im starting to recognise unintentionaly melodies of pop songs as their scale notes. I wish there was a listening practice like this video for sound design skills. Like syntorial but something you can play in the background and guess while listening a single parameter from a small set of possible values. Or sound design of drums.

[davidsummerville]

This was invaluable. Please do a chromatic episode. I'm moving on to the minor after 2 or 3 more times on the major. Thanks so much.

[kimberlylebaron]

Thank you so much! That’s I incredibly helpful as a beginner who wants to truly understand music, intuitively!

[masonholmes]

I’ve been wanting something like this for a long time! Can’t wait for the app!

[themathguy]

Thank you for these! I've got these on repeat in my car when I'm driving in to work. Some of the notes are actually starting to take on their colors now in my mind. When I told my wife "6 now feels very red-violet to me, in my mind", she just looked at me like I was crazy though, lol!

[themathguy]

Thanks! I'm going to listen to this on my commute in to work. It's time that would otherwise be wasted.

[rokeley]

Fantastic tool! I've been recommending to a few of my students. A minor and chromatic version would be awesome as well, as some have mentioned. Thank you so much!!

[felipelinares]

It's the best way to practice this Skil. Thanks. You are awesome

[oldharryproductions]

Awesome! Great! Looking forward to app 😊 doing it at least 30 min a day😊

[valentinbonnarde]

A minor scale version would be great ! Thanks a ton !

[Scarshockable]

Can't wait for the app, do you know if you will release it soon?
Thanks for your amazing lessons and ear training videos! You're the best! 💪