Episodes

  • It's all about the Tonic
    Jan 7 2026

    Learning music by ear is a learnable skill, although most musicians don't know where to start. Using the tonic as a point on an aural map to pinpoint all other notes against is arguably the most valuable ear training skill a musician can have. This lesson will teach you how to identify each of the 7 major scale degrees by ear and give you 3 exercises for continual practice and improvement.

    For more practice with scale degrees, check out my collection of 120 progressive ear training exercises.

    View the video edition of this episode for notation and the pitches displayed on a keyboard.

    Download my free guide to the major scales on the piano.

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    1 hr and 7 mins