Overview
This lesson explains that ear training is fundamentally about recognizing the feeling associated with musical elements, particularly the "tonic," which is the central note or chord in a piece of music.
The Essence of Ear Training
- Ear training is about sensing the feeling state connected to notes, chords, and scales, not just their names or patterns.
- Recognizing feelings in music helps label elements like chords, scales, or modes.
The Tonic: Definition and Importance
- The tonic is the home note, key center, or resting point of a scale, mode, or song.
- The tonic has a unique feeling of rest, completion, or stability.
- Recognizing the tonic feeling is fundamental, as tonal music revolves around it.
- The same pitch can feel different in various contexts; it's the relationship, not the absolute note, that matters.
Three Levels of Tonic Recognition
1. Scale-Based Recognition
- Practice playing or listening to a scale and focus on the feeling when reaching the tonic.
- Sing the tonic to internalize its feeling, regardless of the scale or key used.
2. Chord Progression Recognition
- Play common chord progressions (e.g., I-IV-V-I) and note the feeling of resolution at the tonic chord.
- Try more complex progressions, resolving them internally and singing the tonic.
- Practice improvising progressions and pausing to find and sing the tonic.
3. Tonic in Real Music
- Listen to familiar songs and emphasize the tonic chord or note as it appears.
- With unfamiliar music, try to sense the tonic by pausing and attempting to resolve the music internally.
- Practice stopping a song at random, then singing the note that would resolve it, strengthening your ability to identify the tonic in any context.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Ear Training — developing the ability to recognize musical elements by their feeling and sound.
- Tonic — the home note, key center, or resting point in a scale or song, providing a sense of resolution.
- Chord Progression — a sequence of chords played in succession.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice recognizing and singing the tonic using scales, progressions, and real music.
- Listen to new and familiar songs, pausing to identify and sing the tonic.
- Join music theory or ear training communities for discussion and further learning.