Unison, Minor 2nd, Major 2nd: Lesson 1

Unison, Minor 2nd, Major 2nd

In this first lesson you will be learning how to identify three intervals, as well as beginning the process of embedding your primary anchor note.

Experience has taught me that students who learn how to sing have a much higher success rate with developing pitch recognition. This of course doesn’t mean you need to be a great singer, just someone who can sing each note in tune. The reason singing is so effective for pitch recognition is that it allows you to hear notes in your mind and translate the sound to how a particular note feels when singing.

Can you still use these techniques if you can’t sing? Of course! But singing will make the process easier. So the choice is up to you.

Below is an outline of each section of the lesson.

1. Interval Comparison

Step 1 of the exercises deals with identifying which interval is greater. These exercises are designed to condition your inner ear to begin hearing intervals as having values. After a short amount of practice you will be able to clearly discern which interval is greater.

2. Interval Identification

Step 2 of the Pure Pitch Method is learning how to identify intervals by name. You will be tested on how well you recognize various intervals.

Interval Identification Tips

1.     Always listen to how one note reacts to the following note. This will allow you to systematically assess each interval and name it accordingly.

2.     Pay attention to the unique character of each interval. This unique sound will never change, and will remain constant regardless of the root note. For example, a perfect 5th has a very unique quality which is unchanged when moving from one key to another.

3. Primary Anchor Note

The purpose of step 3 in the Pure Pitch Method is to learn how to start visualizing the sound of notes and embedding them into your mind. This is the secret to developing perfect pitch.

Embedding Tips

1.     When hearing the note it is important that you visualize it ringing in your ear as if you were actually hearing it.

When singing the note pay close attention to the way your vocal cords feel. When you visualize the note imagine you’re singing that same note, not only hearing it, but also feeling the same sensations with your vocal cords.