Membership Required

Subscribe to a membership plan for full access to this course and learning resources!

Start Your Free Trial

Instructor
Yannick Lambrecht
Workshop
Beginner
Intermediate
01:45:35

Have you ever listened to a song and wondered what chords were being played? Learning to hear chords starts with triads, the simple three-note chords at the heart of most music. In this workshop, you’ll learn to tell major triads from minor triads by ear, then follow how chords change throughout a song. It’s one of the most valuable skills you can build as a musician, and anyone can learn it with the right approach.

You’ll practice with familiar songs, starting with simple ones like “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Happy Birthday,” where you’ll listen for the moments the chords shift. These songs use the three most common chords in a key, which makes them a great place to start. Then you’ll take on more challenging examples, like the folk song “Shenandoah,” which uses a wider variety of chords.

Most importantly, you’ll learn a practical process for ear training that you can use with any song. You’ll learn to listen to the lowest note of each chord to follow the harmony, and to play chords one note at a time so you can hear each sound clearly instead of one big block of sound. By the end, you’ll have the tools and confidence to keep developing your ear on your own.

For software ear trainers, we recommend the following: Keyboard Relative Pitch, Note Relative Pitch, Intervals, Scales, Chords

Course Objectives
  • Hear the difference between major and minor triads
  • Identify major and minor chords in a variety of chord progressions
  • Follow the primary chords (I, IV and V) in songs like "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Happy Birthday"
  • Recognize more advanced harmonies in folk songs like "Shenandoah"
  • Use a step-by-step ear training process, including listening to the bass note and arpeggiating chords
Learning Focus
  • Analysis
  • Ear Training
  • Exercises
  • Practice Tips

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Nice beginning for ear training
Nice beginning for ear training. It opens huge ways of progression. I didn’t succeed all steps but I can see how to progress.
Challenging
I have always added playing the 4th & 5th chord at the end of each scale while practicing. I didn’t realize what a benefit it was to my ear training until this course.
Great course
I love the pace of these lessons. So well explained. Exactly what I need.
Eye opening, oops I mean EAR opening
I thought this would be too challenging for me but now I’m filling up some gaps in my learning journey. Fun and rewarding. Thanks for offering this type of knowledge.
Ear training with triads I
Great course. Thank you

Course Lessons

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Nice beginning for ear training
Nice beginning for ear training. It opens huge ways of progression. I didn’t succeed all steps but I can see how to progress.
Challenging
I have always added playing the 4th & 5th chord at the end of each scale while practicing. I didn’t realize what a benefit it was to my ear training until this course.
Great course
I love the pace of these lessons. So well explained. Exactly what I need.
Eye opening, oops I mean EAR opening
I thought this would be too challenging for me but now I’m filling up some gaps in my learning journey. Fun and rewarding. Thanks for offering this type of knowledge.
Ear training with triads I
Great course. Thank you
Related Courses

Take your ear training further by learning to recognize chords even when their notes are rearranged. This progressive, satisfying workshop uses beloved songs like "Scarborough Fair," "Danny Boy" and "House of the Rising Sun."

Train your ear the easy way by connecting musical sounds to songs you already know, like "Amazing Grace." This playful, ear-opening workshop helps you hear music more clearly, one small step at a time.

Learn how to quickly & easily transpose a lead sheet. Using the Number Chart method, we'll analyze a melody and chords, "convert" them to numbers, and apply the numbers to a new key.

Join Us

Get instant access to this Course and other member features with a PWJ membership!


Guided Learning Tracks

View guided learning tracks for all music styles and skill levels

Progress Tracking

Complete lessons and courses as you track your learning progress

Downloadable Resources

Download Sheet Music and Backing Tracks

Community Forums

Engage with other PWJ members in our member-only community forums

Become a better piano player today. Try us out completely free for 14 days!

Get Started