A Descending Major 3rd Sounds Like A Doorbell
While putting together some ideas for the interval ear training program I want to create (which I mentioned in my last post) I noticed that a descending major 3rd interval sounds like a doorbell ("ding dong.")
I think that these sorts of comparisons are really helpful because the big key with ear training is to get these interval relationships into your long term memory and something like the sound of a doorbell is probably already in your long term memory so if you can correlate this interval to that sound then you're set.
This is the basic idea behind the interval ear training program I am working on.
It will probably be some time before I complete this project but I'm leaning towards making it a really good program which is worth paying for rather than just throwing together something and making it available for free.
This program will be intended to be used as a companion to the EarMaster Ear Training Software which I strongly recommend to anyone who is working on improving their ears. It really lets you see if you're really improving (by testing you) or if you just think you're improving. It's nice to have a "measuring stick" to work with.
Tags: Ear Training
April 8th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
And I know… I haven’t been writing about recording lately, more about ear training… that’s just what I’m focused on at the moment - I’m sure there will be some more posts focused on recording coming up in the future.
April 8th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
And of course this means a minor 3rd sounds like a “sad doorbell.” …
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Someone else training intervals! It’s really fascinating. Have you ever heard the technique of “leaning” on the 7th to create a keening emotion that just sticks a knife in you (in a good way:))? We call it “the 4th of the 4.” If a song is in G, the four chord is C. The 4th of a C scale is F. If, while playing a song in G, you are playing a C chord and singing an F (sharp in this case) just before resolving to the G, it makes you want to cry.
Fascinating stuff.
Cheers!
Jake Weston
May 3rd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Oh, one other thing. I remember that “My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean” used to feature prominently in training someone how to sing a major 6th. It’s the interval between “my” and “Bonnie.” There’s a bunch more of those I can’t remember. Anyway….
Cool stuff!
Jake