Dave's Tex - Mex, Tejano, Conjunto Site for the Diatonic Button Accordion - Ahora Bilingüe

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**Mission Statement**
**The Tex Mex Accordion**
**The Basics**
**GFC Accordion**
**Señor Maestro Program**
**Major Scales**
**Chromatic Scale**
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Right hand position
**Preparation for 3rds**
**Music Theory**
**Music Theory 2**
Music Theory 3
**Circle of Fifths**
**Arpeggios for the GFC Box**
Practicing with a metronome
Trinos and Apoyaturas
Thirds and Sixes
**Ear Training**
Music Theory Quiz
Music Theory Quiz 2
Music Theory Quiz 3
Finding the Song Key
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Remates and improvisations
Bellows Technique
The Basses
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Ear Training

When you finish studying this, do the Ear Training Test.

Ear training is a huge and important part of becoming a good musician.  Combining Music theory and ear training is even better.  Other than practicing scales and arpeggios and other exercises, there are a large number of  freeware and shareware programs that you can download from the internet and use to help you develop your ear.

Personal Ear Trainer (shareware)
You can use this program without registration but it always asks you to register.

Ear Training Companion (shareware)
This one is also pretty cool.

Ear Master (trial)
This one is the best I have tried and I will buy it soon.  It works for 21 days so once you download it, take advantage of the numerous tests that it provides.
 
This one is great too.  Limited trial time so use it regularly.

Perfect Pitch Ear Training Companion (shareware)
This one doesn't give you all the features but it is cool.

So what is the point?  First the point is to recognize intervals and then chords.  Since chords are made up of intervals, let's start by talking about intervals.

What is an Interval?

An interval measures the distance between two notes.  Intervals are always counted from the lower note to the higher one, with the lower note being counted as one. Intervals come in different qualities and size. If the notes are sounded successively, it is a melodic interval. If sounded simultaneously, then it is a harmonic interval.

Numerical size of intervals

By counting the number of notes in an interval we obtain its numerical size. The first and last note must be counted. For example, from C to E we have a third(C-1, D-2, E-3). 

 The smallest interval used in Western music is the half step. A visual representation of a half step would be the distance between a consecutive white and black note on the piano. There are two exceptions to this rule, as two natural half steps occur between the notes E and F, and B and C.

     A whole step is the distance between two consecutive white or black keys. It is made up of two half steps. 

step_keyboard.gif
Qualities and Size

Intervals can be described as Major (M), Minor (m), Perfect (P), Augmented (A), and Diminished (d).

Intervals come in various sizes: Unisons, Seconds, Thirds, Fourths, Fifths, Sixths, and Sevenths.

2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths can be found as Major and Minor.
Unisons, 4ths, 5ths, and Octaves are Perfect.

So let's look at the Chromatic Scale:
C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B, C
C to C# is a Minor second
D to D is a Major second
C to D# (also called Eb) is a Minor Third
C to E is a Major third (we use these a lot)
C to F is a Perfect 4th
C to F# is a Diminished 5th
C to G is a Perfect 5th
C to G# is an Augmented 5th
C to A is a Perfect 6th
C to Bb is a Minor 7th
C to B is a Major 7th
C to C is an Octave
(it continues on after the octave to 9th, 10th, etc.
I hope that clears up some of the confusion and gives you some ideas on how to go about using the software to recognize the intervals.
Listen to some intervals here.

All the intervals

Minor Second Up

Minor Second Down

Major Second Up

Major Second Down

Minor Third Up

Minor Third Down

Major Third Up

Perfect Fourth up

Perfect Fourth Donw

Augmented Fourth or Flat Fifth

Perfect Fifth Up

Minor Sixth up

Minor Sixth Down

Major Sixth Up

Major Sixth Down

Minor Seventh Up

Minor Seventh Down

Major Seventh Up

Major Seventh Down