Ear Training. I'm having trouble hearing the inversions. Music theory?

Question

Ear Training. I'm having trouble hearing the inversions. Music.?

Is there an easy way to hear the difference between 1st, 2nd, 3rd inversion triads? What about the seventh inversions. I'm having a test!!!

Answer 1

If you're gonna tackle stuff like inversions and modes , etc. , the normal way is to learn and study it on paper at the onset. Things like "shapes" and "color" , these things are easier done by the ear method. BUT - it can be done totally by ear if you like, it's just going to take a while. If you have a test coming up , i'd quickly get to the theory itself , and get that under your hat first, plus once you get it down as written - then you can develop it by ear.

Answer 2

This is going to be a long detailed answer, but I hope it will help you! I think there are two approaches to hearing chord inversions:

1. Identify the bass note
2. "Imagine" the chord in a context

I will discuss practice tips for each approach below:

Practice tips for identifying the bass note:

1. Play the chord in a range where the bass note will be comfortable for you to sing (make sure you also use appropriate doubling and spacing as this is how your instructor will be (or should be) playing the chords).
2. Next play only the bass note and sing that note.
3. Then play the chord again while you sing the bass.
4. Finally play the chord and listen for the bass note you just sang.

If you practice this enough, you will begin to hear the bass easily. Identifying the inversion then will only be a matter of determining if you heard the root, 3rd, or 5th in the bass (or 7th for 7th chords).

Practice tips for imagining the chord in a context (I will discuss major and minor triads):

A. Root position: sounds the most stable, usually the end and often the beginning of chord progressions (pieces). "Does this sound like the last chord of a piece?" yes = root position
B. First inversion: Often the first chord of a recitative (if you are familiar with that). Also commonly occurs in this progression: I, V6, I6 (focus on the I6 in this progression). Sounds less stable than root position--definitely not the end of a piece.
C. Second inversion: most typically occurs at a cadence (I64, V, I). Sounds the least stable of all--sounds like it needs to lead somewhere (focus on the I64).

1. Practice playing the chords in context (write out some progressions and play them)
2. Now play only the chord you are focusing on and then imagine it in context using your “inner ear.”

Either of these methods will help you hear chord inversions. They are applicable to 7th chords as well. Remember, you can use both or either method to help you get the right answer. The more tools you have the better.

Other helpful tips:
1. Try to come up with yes/no questions for yourself. Example: Is this an inversion or not? Focus on being able to reliably answer that question before you move on to more detail (what is the inversion)
2. I assume you will have 2 hearings? One the first hearing just answer the question above, then try to get the specific inversion.
3. Get a friend to play some chords for you after you have practiced. The computer tutorials can be helpful, but a real piano is better.

Finally, I know you have a test coming up, but keep in mind that ear training is a SKILL--it is not a fact that you can cram. Like any skill, it requires daily practice, but it is something you CAN learn to do. Try to set small goals for yourself (like the example I gave of only identifying whether it is an inversion or not) and go from there.

Good luck on your test!

Answer 3

If you have access to a keyboard, you can play them over and over until you recognize the different sounds. And did you mean the 7th interval instead of inversion? I don't know of any inversion in a seventh. Find a song that the first two notes are the same sound as the interval of a 7th and that will help. Once again, listen to them over and over and also sing the intervals. Maybe sing the chords too. Example: 1-3-5; 3-5-1; 5-1-3; 1-3-5. Does that make any sense to you? I don't know how to sound it out for you so, please use your theoretic understanding of inversions to try and figure it out. Anyway, get in front of a keyboard to do all of that and it will help. The singing will help train your ear faster. Good luck!

Answer 4

This site can help you train. They are great!

http://akamai.www.berkleemusic.com/assets/display/870076/berklee_inversion_one_triad.pdf