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NWC as an Ear-Training Tool
User Tip #: 42 Offered By: G. Adam Stanislav Last Modified: N/A

You can use NoteWorthy Composer as an ear-training tool. Simply use the eartrain.nwc (melodic intervals) and harmonic.nwc (harmonic intervals) files which can be found in the enclosed eartrain.zip (3K) file.

I suggest that you make a print-out of the two files, so you can easily find the measures you want to practice with (press Ctrl-G and type the measure number).

Once you have located the measure, press F5 to start listening, and F6 to stop. When you are confident that you can recognize various intervals, ask a friend to play random intervals for you. Listen to the intervals, and tell your friend what intervals are being played. Ask your friend to tell you whether you are correct.

Remember, some of the intervals with different notation sound the same. For example, a diminished second and a perfect prime are different in theory, but the same in practice. You should, therefore, ask your friend to test you from within a specific group, such as perfect intervals, augmented intervals, etc.

Note that melodic intervals can appear in an ascending or a descending order. Harmonic intervals contain two notes sounding simultaneously, so with them there is no ascending or descending order involved.

Some Definitions

• Diatonic interval: The upper note is from a major scale built on the lower note.
  
• Perfect interval: A diatonic prime, fourth, fifth, or octave.
  
• Major interval: A diatonic interval that is not perfect.
  
• Chromatic interval: Any interval that is not diatonic.
  
• Minor interval: The upper note is ½ step lower than a major interval.
  
• Diminished interval: The upper note is ½ step lower than a minor or a perfect interval.
  
• Augmented interval: The upper note is ½ step higher than a diatonic interval.