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Ear Training Software
- Learn to instantly figure out a melody.
- Great for Classical, Jazz, Rock, or any other style.
- Learn to transcribe.
- Melodies in many scales and modes.
- For guitar, piano, or anyone who can read music.
Why Train Your Ear?
Because you want to be a better musician. Because you don't just want to wiggle your fingers, you want to make music! Ear training is that hidden element between good musician and artist. Imagine being able to look at a piece of music and hear it with your inner ear. Ear training will do that. Or how about hearing a melody once and being able to play it. Ear training will do that. Or what about composing without putting a finger on an instrument? Yes, ear training will do that too.
But, It's Too Boring...
Who says ear training can't be fun? The Melody Game takes a lighter approach to developing your ear. Yet, it will challenge musicians of any level. Beginners can learn to transcribe simple melodies at slow tempos, intermediate players can work on the modes or pentatonic scales, and advanced players can challenge themselves with atonal or chromatic scales. The possibilities are endless.
The Game
The point of the game is to figure out the computer's melody. You are given 14 tries to hear the melody (or hints or guesses). Each time you listen a line is drawn on the hangman display.
If you figure out the melody before you are hung you win, if not, you lose.
Step One:
Load up the Melody Game. You will be given several choices before you start playing:
You can select to input music via a guitar neck or a piano keyboard (or enter directly on the staff).
Also notice the “Danger Level.” This is where you select the difficulty of the game (members only). Here is a brief summary of the levels:
Level 1: 4/4, Simple, Slow, in C Major.
Level 2: 3/4 or 4/4, Simple, Slow, in various Major/Minor keys.
Level 3: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Slow, in various Major/Minor keys.
Level 4: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Medium, in various Major/Minor keys.
Level 5: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Medium, Modal.
Level 6: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Medium, Pentatonics, Blues, and Other Modes.
Level 7: 3/4 or 4/4, Complex, Fast, in various Major/Minor keys.
Level 8: 3/4 or 4/4, Complex, Fast, Pentatonic's & Modes.
Level 9: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Medium, Whole-Tone, Altered Dominant, and others.
Level 10: 3/4 or 4/4, Average Complexity, Medium, Chromatic/Atonal
Custom: Your Settings.
If you choose to use custom settings you can choose from among the following:
- Meter: 3/4 or 4/4
- Melodic Complexity (Number of Notes): Simple, Average, or Complex
- Speed: Slow, Medium, Fast, and Huh?
- Key: C,Db,D,Eb,E,F,Gb,G,Ab,A,Bb,B
- Scale: Major, Minor, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeloian, Locrian, Whole-Tone, Diminsished, Augmented, Lydian Dominant, Lydian Augmented, Altered Dominant, Blues, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic, Chromatic, and Atonal.
Whew, there are a lot of choices there. Should keep you busy for a while!
Step Two:
Click on “Play.” You will then see the main screen:
There is a lot going on there, so let me give you a one tip before we get started. If ever you can't figure out something visit the blue help circles (
) and they will get you on track.
Now, the point of the game is to figure out the computer's melody. So you need to hear it before you can do anything! To hear the melody click on the play button where it says “Question” (It's the big circle with the triangle in it).
A quick word on what all the other stuff is. The “Click” checkbox turns the metronome on/off. The “Count” checkbox turns the count-off on/off (The count-off is a three or four beat lead in to the melody). You'll notice two sets of controls, one marked “Question” and one marked “Your Answer”. The Question set play the computer's melody, and the answer set play your melody. Both work the same way. To play the melody click the big play button, and to stop it the adjacent stop button. The “start” and “end” number steppers let you start the melody from any measure and stop on any measure. This is useful when you are trying to nail down that last measure and don't want to hear the first three again. (Note: this feature is only available for the question after ten full playbacks). And lastly the “1/2” checkbox allows you to hear the melody at half speed, should it be going by just a little too fast.
Step Three:
Okay, now you have heard the melody, it's time to enter it. Got it all figured out in one hearing, right?
There are several ways to enter your answer.
Staff Entry
For many players entering notes on the staff will be easiest. To enter notes first select a note value:
Or use the shortcut keys which are listed below the note values. Need a sharp or flat? Select them from the accidentals.
Then go up to the staff and click where you want to enter a note:
Let's say you are not one hundred percent sure what the notes are. You might want to test out your answer before writing it down. To do that select the ear tool. It will allow you to click on the staff and hear the notes before entering them:
It's also worth noting that the eraser tool is located right next to it. Not that I'm suggesting you'll need it a lot. Did I mention the eraser has a shortcut key? It's "x" or "0".
Guitar or Piano Entry
Let's say you are new to reading music. That's okay. You can use the guitar fretboard or piano keys to enter your answer.
First select your note value as described above. Then click on the guitar/piano to enter a note. A note will appear where the blue arrow is pointing. The blue arrow can be moved by using the left or right arrow keys, or by selecting the blue arrow from the tools and clicking where you would like to enter something. Note sure exactly what the next note is? Click on the ear tool to test it out.
Step Four: Keep Going
Keep playing the melody and entering yours until you think you have it. If you feel stuck click on “Hint” and that may help you
Step Five:
When you've got it. Click on “Got It!” If you got it right you will be given points and a new question. If you don't quite have it yet you will be informed which measures need work.
Also worth knowing...If you are really tired of one question click on “New Game” and you can start fresh, unfortunately your score starts fresh too.
High Scores
When you have a bazillion points and are ready to show the world click on: “Submit Hi” and if your score is good enough it will be added to the high score board. Bragging rights are included at no extra charge. Also your best score is shown where it says “Best” (members only).
That's it. Have fun!
System Requirements
Works with any computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) with an internet browser (that's you if you are reading this) running flash player 8 or higher. Chances are very good you won't need to install anything, but if you are experiencing difficulty visit Adobe's Flash Download Page.
